SWAMI SATYANAND - A SHORT BIOGRAPHY
Published by Shree Swami Satyanand Dharmarth Trust
'मैं सत्, नित्य, शुद्ध चैतन्य, शक्तिमय, आत्मा हूँ |'
ऐसा बार-बार चिंतन करना चाहिए |.
‘I am the unchanging, ultimate truth, the eternal, pure, conscious, powerful soul.‘
One must repeatedly contemplate this.
…. Swami Satyanand
'मैं सत्, नित्य, शुद्ध चैतन्य, शक्तिमय, आत्मा हूँ |' ऐसा बार-बार चिंतन करना चाहिए |.
‘I am the unchanging, ultimate truth, the eternal, pure, conscious, powerful soul.‘
One must repeatedly contemplate this. …. Swami Satyanand
Swami Satyanand, the composer of Amritvani and founder of Shree Ram Sharnam, illuminated
a unique spiritual path for living a life of devotion, love, compassion, and service.
Born in 1868, Swami’s life-journey spanned nearly a century. His spiritual quest began as a
young orphan when he joined the Jain faith and spent ten years as an ascetic mong. In 1891, he
returned to Hinduism, joining the Arya Samaj, donning the ochre robes of a Sanyasi. Following a
deep study of classical Sanskrit scriptures, he became one of Arya Samaj’s most charismatic
leaders in the decades when it was at its peak in north India.
Divine quest led Swami Ji to retreat to the Himalayas in 1925. After intense meditation, he was
rewarded with Celestial Darshan of the Divine. Mystic experiences led him to compose the
Amritvani and carve out a distinct path rooted in classical Hinduism, which can be practiced
every day in a simple way in the complex modern world. Rejecting caste, class, status and
gender distinctions, Swami ji did not form a new sect. Yet he showed how the ideal of
renunciation could be practiced even by householders, leading a life free from anger, greed and
envy.
Swami Ji’s fascinating journey is the focus of this well-researched biography. Written lucidly, it
will appear to those interested in contemporary Hinduism, as also all those in search of a
spiritual pathway for leading a simple, fulfilling and evolved life.
Swami Satyanand, the composer of Amritvani and founder of Shree Ram Sharnam, illuminated a unique spiritual path for living a life of devotion, love, compassion, and service.
Born in 1868, Swami’s life-journey spanned nearly a century. His spiritual quest began as a young orphan when he joined the Jain faith and spent ten years as an ascetic mong. In 1891, he returned to Hinduism, joining the Arya Samaj, donning the ochre robes of a Sanyasi. Following a deep study of classical Sanskrit scriptures, he became one of Arya Samaj’s most charismatic leaders in the decades when it was at its peak in north India.
Divine quest led Swami Ji to retreat to the Himalayas in 1925. After intense meditation, he was rewarded with Celestial Darshan of the Divine. Mystic experiences led him to compose the Amritvani and carve out a distinct path rooted in classical Hinduism, which can be practiced every day in a simple way in the complex modern world. Rejecting caste, class, status and gender distinctions, Swami ji did not form a new sect. Yet he showed how the ideal of renunciation could be practiced even by householders, leading a life free from anger, greed and envy.
Swami Ji’s fascinating journey is the focus of this well-researched biography. Written lucidly, it will appear to those interested in contemporary Hinduism, as also all those in search of a spiritual pathway for leading a simple, fulfilling and evolved life.
Contents
List of Map and Images
Foreword
Acknowledgements
1. Birth and Childhood
2. Early Spiritual Experiences: Swami Ji as Jain Yati
3. Entry into Arya Samaj and Sanyaas
4. Himalayan Sojourns and Sakshaat-kaar
5. Envisioning Shree Adhishthaan Ji
6. A Near Fatal Attack
7. Leaving the Arya Samaj
8. Swami Ji’s Core Beliefs and Findings his own Path
9. Naam-Daan and Sadhna-Satsang
10. Swami Ji’s Bhajans and Dhuns
11. Formation of Shree Swami Satyanand Dharmarth Trust
12. Swami Ji’s Compilation of Ramayana and His Corpus of Granths
13. Construction of Shree Ram Sharnam, Haridwar
14. Pujniya Swami Ji and Shree Prem Ji Maharaj
15. Ill-Health and Antim Darshan
16. Shree Ram Sharnam, New Delhi
17. A Glorious Legacy
Appendices
1. Granths Composed by Swami Ji Maharaj
2. Swami Ji Maharaj’s Words of Wisdom
3. Inspiring Episodes about Swami Ji Maharaj
Glossary
KEY PLACES ASSOCIATED WITH PARAM PUJNIYA SWAMI JI MAHARAJ
Foreword
This Short Biography recounts the life of Swami Satyanand, the founder of Shree Ram Sharnam,
and the composer of Amritvani, a Celestial Prayer and Mantra, which has become universally
popular because of its deep spiritual efficacy, Born in 1868, Pujniya Swami Ji’s life was marked
by an intense spiritual quest for self-realization which spanned several decades. Its fulfillment
came in 1925, when after ceaseless meditation, he received the bounty of Sakshaat-kaar,
coming face to face with the Divine Presence, which manifested in the form of ‘Ram-Naam’.
Pujniya Swami Ji’s life spanned almost a hundred years and he lived through a century which
also saw as his contemporaries a galaxy of Saints. These include Swami Dayanand Saraswati,
Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Swami Vivekananda, Sai Baba of Shirdi, Sri Aurobindo, Ramana
Maharishi and, not the least, Mahatma Gandhi. Swami Ji was God-realized Saint, who devoted
his life to distribute the Prasad of ‘Ram-Naam’ lovingly and selflessly among the multitudes of
his followers.
This Short Biography aims to recount Swami Ji’s journey, touching upon its main milestones,
from the adverse circumstances of his early childhood to his years in the Jain faith, and almost
three decades he spent in the Arya Samaj as one of its much revered preachers, It highlights his
mystic spiritual experiences and his deep study of classical Sanskrit scriptures. It draws
attention to Swami Ji carving out a distinct and unique spiritual pathway, which embodies
singular devotion to Ram Naam and the resolute belief in One God, One Guru, One Mantra,
while emphasizing the righteous path of duty and compassion and love towards all. By
illuminating this pathway Swami Ji did not establish a new sect. Rather, he encapsulated the
essence of spirituality, which can be practiced in everyday life in the contemporary world.
Swami Ji rejected hierarchies of social status, caste, gender, age and sect, as also ritual and
superstition. He emphasized qualities of good conduct, compassions, love and tolerance.
This Short Biography is a collective effort by Swami Satyanand Dharmarth Trust to introduce
Swami Ji’s life-journey and his teachings in a simple, easy to read narrative. It is based upon
meticulous research and draws entirely upon authenticated sources. These include the original
letters, writings and manuscripts of Pujniya Swami Ji, historical sources available in different
archives and libraries, old newspapers, books and journals and oral history interviews
conducted with devotees who were fortunate to come in direct contact with him. An effort has
been made to carefully verify and authenticate, all the fats relating to Swami Ji’s life. However,
the Trust alone is responsible for any error of fact or interpretation that may have crept in
inadvertently.
It is hoped that this easy-to-read and accessible work will introduce Swami Ji’s exemplary life to
the younger generation. It is being published by the Swami Satyanand Dharmarth Trust as a
humble tribute to its Founder, on the occasion of the Centenary Celebration of the Sakshaat-
kaar of Pujniya Swami Ji. A companion volume is also being published on Swami ji’s Sadhna
Paddati (‘Spiritual Practice’).
This Short Biography recounts the life of Swami Satyanand, the founder of Shree Ram Sharnam, and the composer of Amritvani, a Celestial Prayer and Mantra, which has become universally popular because of its deep spiritual efficacy, Born in 1868, Pujniya Swami Ji’s life was marked by an intense spiritual quest for self-realization which spanned several decades. Its fulfillment came in 1925, when after ceaseless meditation, he received the bounty of Sakshaat-kaar, coming face to face with the Divine Presence, which manifested in the form of ‘Ram-Naam’.
Pujniya Swami Ji’s life spanned almost a hundred years and he lived through a century which also saw as his contemporaries a galaxy of Saints. These include Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Swami Vivekananda, Sai Baba of Shirdi, Sri Aurobindo, Ramana Maharishi and, not the least, Mahatma Gandhi. Swami Ji was God-realized Saint, who devoted his life to distribute the Prasad of ‘Ram-Naam’ lovingly and selflessly among the multitudes of his followers.
This Short Biography aims to recount Swami Ji’s journey, touching upon its main milestones, from the adverse circumstances of his early childhood to his years in the Jain faith, and almost three decades he spent in the Arya Samaj as one of its much revered preachers, It highlights his mystic spiritual experiences and his deep study of classical Sanskrit scriptures. It draws attention to Swami Ji carving out a distinct and unique spiritual pathway, which embodies singular devotion to Ram Naam and the resolute belief in One God, One Guru, One Mantra, while emphasizing the righteous path of duty and compassion and love towards all. By illuminating this pathway Swami Ji did not establish a new sect. Rather, he encapsulated the essence of spirituality, which can be practiced in everyday life in the contemporary world. Swami Ji rejected hierarchies of social status, caste, gender, age and sect, as also ritual and superstition. He emphasized qualities of good conduct, compassions, love and tolerance.
This Short Biography is a collective effort by Swami Satyanand Dharmarth Trust to introduce Swami Ji’s life-journey and his teachings in a simple, easy to read narrative. It is based upon meticulous research and draws entirely upon authenticated sources. These include the original letters, writings and manuscripts of Pujniya Swami Ji, historical sources available in different archives and libraries, old newspapers, books and journals and oral history interviews conducted with devotees who were fortunate to come in direct contact with him. An effort has been made to carefully verify and authenticate, all the fats relating to Swami Ji’s life. However, the Trust alone is responsible for any error of fact or interpretation that may have crept in inadvertently.
It is hoped that this easy-to-read and accessible work will introduce Swami Ji’s exemplary life to the younger generation. It is being published by the Swami Satyanand Dharmarth Trust as a humble tribute to its Founder, on the occasion of the Centenary Celebration of the Sakshaat- kaar of Pujniya Swami Ji. A companion volume is also being published on Swami ji’s Sadhna Paddati (‘Spiritual Practice’).
Anil Dewan, Chairman
Shree Swami Satyanand Dharmarth Trust
Shree Ram Sharnam, International Centre, New Delhi.
Shree Swami Satyanand Dharmarth Trust is devoted solely to advancing the spiritual work of Venerable Swami Ji. Established under the Direction of Swami Ji in 1936 in the city of Lahore, its primary objectives are the publication and circulation of Swami Ji’s writings and overseeing the activities of Shree Ram Sharnam, headwuartered in New Delhi, and its over 90 centres across India and Abroad.
This biographical work is the outcome of the Trust’s research and publications team and draws upon Swami Ji’s original writings and correspondence.
BOOK IS AVAILABLE in SHREE RAM SHARNAM CENTRES
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