Swami Bhaskarananda Saraswati
Encyclopedia
Swami Bhaskarananda Saraswati (1833–1899) was a noted 19th century sannyasin and saint of Varanasi
, India
. He wandered over India for thirteen years before settling in Anandabag near the Durga Mandir, in 1868. A Sanskrit and Vedic scholar turned ascetic of Shaivaite Dandi sannyasi order, many kings visited him to seek advise, and he also reported be an advisor counsel to Kashi Naresh (Maharaja of Kingdom of Kashi
), today his samadhi
shrine is situated at Durga Kunda, adjacent to the historic Durga Mandir in Varanasi.
family in Kanpur district
, Uttar Pradesh
, was invested with the sacred thread at the age of eight and was married at the age of twelve. From his age eight to seventeen year he was a diligent and most successful student of Sanskrit
. A son was born to him at the age of Eighteen years old. By this event he was, in his own opinion, freed from any further social obligations. So one day he disappeared from his father house and went on foot to Ujjain
, where he put up a temple of Siva. He continued his Vedantic studies and also started practicing yoga. He then traveled all the parts of India and devoted to study Vedanta philosophy from noted masters including Pandit Anant Ram of Patna
, who was at Haridwar
at the time. At about age 27, he was initiated into the holy order of Sanyas by Pararaaliamsa Sri Purnanand Saraswati of Ujjain, and christened Sri Swami Bhaskaranand Saraswati, a name by which he was known afterwords.
For Thirty five years Swami traveled about India, always practicing tapas
. From his long ineffable knowledge he had desired, he settled down for the remainder of his life in sacred city of Varanasi
and miracles of healing were attributed to him.
Today, his samadhi
shrine situated at Durga Kunda, adjacent to the historic Durga Mandir in Varanasi is maintained by a small trust.
, she studied yoga with the great Swami Bhaskarananda (of Varanasi), who lived the whole year in a rose garden. He too was reputed to have yogic powers, and had foreseen his own death. Though his influence spanned all sections of society, the transformation of character of several notorious pandas wrought by his influence is especially worth mentioning. Jang Bahadur
as known as Maharaja Jung Bahadur Rana, the King of Nepal and founder of the Rana dynasty of Nepal, has written a pamphlet about Swami. Ernest Binfield Havell (1864–1937), a close friend of Indologist Sir John Woodroffe was also devoted to him.
's non-fiction travelogue Following the Equator
(1897), who met Swami in Varanasi
. Apart from that American explorer couple, Fanny Bullock Workman
and William Hunter Workman also met him at the Ananda Bagh garden.
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He wandered over India for thirteen years before settling in Anandabag near the Durga Mandir, in 1868. A Sanskrit and Vedic scholar turned ascetic of Shaivaite Dandi sannyasi order, many kings visited him to seek advise, and he also reported be an advisor counsel to Kashi Naresh (Maharaja of Kingdom of Kashi
Kingdom of Kashi
The Kingdom of Kashi was an independent Bhumihar Brahmin state until 1194, became a British territory in 1775, and became a state in 1911. It is the site of Ramnagar Fort and its museum, which are the repository of the history of the kings of Benares and since the 18th century has been the home of...
), today his samadhi
Samadhi
Samadhi in Hinduism, Buddhism,Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools is a higher level of concentrated meditation, or dhyāna. In the yoga tradition, it is the eighth and final limb identified in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali....
shrine is situated at Durga Kunda, adjacent to the historic Durga Mandir in Varanasi.
Biography
Swamiji real name was Matiram Misra. Born into a BrahminBrahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
family in Kanpur district
Kanpur District
Kanpur district is one of the districts of the Uttar Pradesh state of India. It is a part of Kanpur division and its district headquarters is Kanpur. Due to increase in population of Kanpur District, for proper administration it has been divided into two. The term Kanpur refers to the combination...
, Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, was invested with the sacred thread at the age of eight and was married at the age of twelve. From his age eight to seventeen year he was a diligent and most successful student of Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
. A son was born to him at the age of Eighteen years old. By this event he was, in his own opinion, freed from any further social obligations. So one day he disappeared from his father house and went on foot to Ujjain
Ujjain
Ujjain , is an ancient city of Malwa region in central India, on the eastern bank of the Kshipra River , today part of the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the administrative centre of Ujjain District and Ujjain Division.In ancient times the city was called Ujjayini...
, where he put up a temple of Siva. He continued his Vedantic studies and also started practicing yoga. He then traveled all the parts of India and devoted to study Vedanta philosophy from noted masters including Pandit Anant Ram of Patna
Patna
Paṭnā , is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar and the second largest city in Eastern India . Patna is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world...
, who was at Haridwar
Haridwar
Haridwar is an important pilgrimage city and municipality in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, India...
at the time. At about age 27, he was initiated into the holy order of Sanyas by Pararaaliamsa Sri Purnanand Saraswati of Ujjain, and christened Sri Swami Bhaskaranand Saraswati, a name by which he was known afterwords.
For Thirty five years Swami traveled about India, always practicing tapas
Tapas
Tapas are a wide variety of appetizers, or snacks, in Spanish cuisine. They may be cold or warm ....
. From his long ineffable knowledge he had desired, he settled down for the remainder of his life in sacred city of Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
and miracles of healing were attributed to him.
Today, his samadhi
Samadhi
Samadhi in Hinduism, Buddhism,Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools is a higher level of concentrated meditation, or dhyāna. In the yoga tradition, it is the eighth and final limb identified in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali....
shrine situated at Durga Kunda, adjacent to the historic Durga Mandir in Varanasi is maintained by a small trust.
His followers
Alexandra David-NéelAlexandra David-Néel
Alexandra David-Néel born Louise Eugénie Alexandrine Marie David was a Belgian-French explorer, spiritualist, Buddhist and writer, most known for her visit to Lhasa, Tibet, in 1924, when it was forbidden to foreigners...
, she studied yoga with the great Swami Bhaskarananda (of Varanasi), who lived the whole year in a rose garden. He too was reputed to have yogic powers, and had foreseen his own death. Though his influence spanned all sections of society, the transformation of character of several notorious pandas wrought by his influence is especially worth mentioning. Jang Bahadur
Jang Bahadur
Maharaja Jung Bahadur Rana was a ruler of Nepal and founder of the Rana dynasty of Nepal...
as known as Maharaja Jung Bahadur Rana, the King of Nepal and founder of the Rana dynasty of Nepal, has written a pamphlet about Swami. Ernest Binfield Havell (1864–1937), a close friend of Indologist Sir John Woodroffe was also devoted to him.
In popular culture
He also finds mention in Mark TwainMark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
's non-fiction travelogue Following the Equator
Following the Equator
Following the Equator or More Tramps Abroad is a non-fiction travelogue published by American author Mark Twain in 1897....
(1897), who met Swami in Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
. Apart from that American explorer couple, Fanny Bullock Workman
Fanny Bullock Workman
Fanny Bullock Workman was an American geographer, cartographer, explorer, and mountaineer, notably in the Himalayas. She was born in Worcester, Massachusetts and usually travelled in conjunction with her husband Dr. William Hunter Workman...
and William Hunter Workman also met him at the Ananda Bagh garden.
External links
- The Holy Man of Benares - Swami Bhaskarananda Saraswathi (LOC) by William Henry JacksonWilliam Henry JacksonWilliam Henry Jackson was an American painter, Civil War, geological survey photographer and an explorer famous for his images of the American West...
, 1843-1942 photographer - Swami Bhaskarananda at Hindupedia.