Swami Niranjanananda
Encyclopedia
Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati (born 14 February 1960) is the successor of Paramahamsa Satyananda
, founder of Satyananda Yoga, who passed on the worldwide coordination of Satyananda Yoga to Swami Niranjanananda in 1988.
Born in Rajnandgaon
, Madhya Pradesh
, India
, Swami Niranjanananda is considered by his followers to be a yogi from birth.He was named 'Niranjan' (the Untainted One) by his guru Swami Satyananda. He began his training at Bihar School of Yoga
in India at the age of four. At the age of ten, he was initiated as a sannyasi. In 1971, he extensively toured Europe, America
and Australia
. This experience gave him a deep understanding of the Western mind and society. In 1983 he returned to India
and was appointed the Head of Bihar School of Yoga. For the next eleven years, he spearheaded the research and development activities at Ganga Darshan, Shivananda Math and Yoga Research Foundation.
In 1990, he was initiated in tradition of Paramahamsa
and in 1993 he was chosen as the successor of Paramahamsa Satyananda
. In 1993, he organised a World Yoga Convention on the occasion of the golden jubilee of sannyasa
of his guru. In 1994, he established Bihar Yoga Bharati
as the centre for higher studies in the field of yoga
.
Swami Niranjanananda is a modern master of yoga, whose understanding spans both the scientific Western culture and the mystical wisdom of the East
.It is believed that his guru
Swami Satyananda made a spiritual resolve to appoint Swami Niranjanananda as his successor as early as 1960. That was four years before Niranjanananda was born,so in effect, Swami Satyananda used his power of spiritual sankalpa to call down a divine being to take birth as the future Swami Niranjanananda.
At present he is the Paramacharya of Bihar Yoga Bharati
(Institute for Advanced Studies in the Yogic Sciences) in Munger
, Bihar
. Swami Niranjanananda appointed Swami Surya Prakash as his successor, though the latter currently holds the administrative duties of the ashram
, while Swami Niranjanananda remains the spiritual guide. He is fluent in English, Hindi, Spanish, French and many more.
Swami Satyananda Saraswati
Swami Satyananda Saraswati , was a sannyasin, yoga teacher and guru in both his native India and the West. He founded the International Yoga Fellowship in 1956 and the Bihar School of Yoga in 1963...
, founder of Satyananda Yoga, who passed on the worldwide coordination of Satyananda Yoga to Swami Niranjanananda in 1988.
Born in Rajnandgaon
Rajnandgaon
Rajnandgaon is the primary town of Rajnandgaon District, in the state of Chhattisgarh, India. The population of the city is 143,727 . It came into existence on 26th Jan' 1973, by way of division of district Durg. The District headquarters of Rajnandgaon is on the Bombay - Howrah line of...
, Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
, 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...
, Swami Niranjanananda is considered by his followers to be a yogi from birth.He was named 'Niranjan' (the Untainted One) by his guru Swami Satyananda. He began his training at Bihar School of Yoga
Bihar School of Yoga
The Bihar School of Yoga is an internationally acclaimed school of Yoga founded by Swami Satyananda Saraswati in 1964 to fulfill the instruction given by his Guru, Sri Swami Sivananda of propagating the ancient wisdom of yoga from door to door and from shore to shore...
in India at the age of four. At the age of ten, he was initiated as a sannyasi. In 1971, he extensively toured Europe, America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. This experience gave him a deep understanding of the Western mind and society. In 1983 he returned to 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...
and was appointed the Head of Bihar School of Yoga. For the next eleven years, he spearheaded the research and development activities at Ganga Darshan, Shivananda Math and Yoga Research Foundation.
In 1990, he was initiated in tradition of Paramahamsa
Paramahamsa
Paramahamsa , also spelled paramahansa or paramhansa, is a Sanskrit religio-theological title of honor applied to Hindu spiritual teachers of lofty status who are regarded as having attained enlightenment. The title may be translated as "supreme swan," and is based on the swan being equally at home...
and in 1993 he was chosen as the successor of Paramahamsa Satyananda
Swami Satyananda Saraswati
Swami Satyananda Saraswati , was a sannyasin, yoga teacher and guru in both his native India and the West. He founded the International Yoga Fellowship in 1956 and the Bihar School of Yoga in 1963...
. In 1993, he organised a World Yoga Convention on the occasion of the golden jubilee of sannyasa
Sannyasa
Sannyasa is the order of life of the renouncer within the Hindu scheme of āśramas, or life stages. It is considered the topmost and final stage of the ashram systems and is traditionally taken by men or women at or beyond the age of fifty years old or by young monks who wish to renounce worldly...
of his guru. In 1994, he established Bihar Yoga Bharati
Bihar Yoga Bharati
Located near Munger, in the Indian state of Bihar, Bihar Yoga Bharati is a yoga institute for the study of yoga in a gurukul environment. BYB is dedicated to the Indian Rishi tradition, Vedic lifestyle and Sanatan Sanskriti of yoga....
as the centre for higher studies in the field of yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
.
Swami Niranjanananda is a modern master of yoga, whose understanding spans both the scientific Western culture and the mystical wisdom of the East
Eastern philosophy
Eastern philosophy includes the various philosophies of Asia, including Chinese philosophy, Iranian philosophy, Japanese philosophy, Indian philosophy and Korean philosophy...
.It is believed that his guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
Swami Satyananda made a spiritual resolve to appoint Swami Niranjanananda as his successor as early as 1960. That was four years before Niranjanananda was born,so in effect, Swami Satyananda used his power of spiritual sankalpa to call down a divine being to take birth as the future Swami Niranjanananda.
At present he is the Paramacharya of Bihar Yoga Bharati
Bihar Yoga Bharati
Located near Munger, in the Indian state of Bihar, Bihar Yoga Bharati is a yoga institute for the study of yoga in a gurukul environment. BYB is dedicated to the Indian Rishi tradition, Vedic lifestyle and Sanatan Sanskriti of yoga....
(Institute for Advanced Studies in the Yogic Sciences) in Munger
Munger
Munger town is the headquarters of Munger district, in the Indian state of Bihar. Historically, Munger is known for its manufacturing of iron articles such as firearms and swords. One of the major institutions in Munger is Bihar School of Yoga. It is one of the foremost learning center in the...
, Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
. Swami Niranjanananda appointed Swami Surya Prakash as his successor, though the latter currently holds the administrative duties of the ashram
Ashram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
, while Swami Niranjanananda remains the spiritual guide. He is fluent in English, Hindi, Spanish, French and many more.
See also
- Bihar School of YogaBihar School of YogaThe Bihar School of Yoga is an internationally acclaimed school of Yoga founded by Swami Satyananda Saraswati in 1964 to fulfill the instruction given by his Guru, Sri Swami Sivananda of propagating the ancient wisdom of yoga from door to door and from shore to shore...
- Bihar Yoga BharatiBihar Yoga BharatiLocated near Munger, in the Indian state of Bihar, Bihar Yoga Bharati is a yoga institute for the study of yoga in a gurukul environment. BYB is dedicated to the Indian Rishi tradition, Vedic lifestyle and Sanatan Sanskriti of yoga....
- Yoga NidraYoga NidraYoga-nidra or "yogi sleep" is a sleep-like state which yogis report to experience during their meditations.The practice of yoga relaxation has been found to reduce tension and anxiety. The autonomic symptoms of high anxiety such as headache, giddiness, chest pain, palpitations, sweating, abdominal...
- Paramahamsa Satyananda
- Swami SivanandaSwami SivanandaSwami Sivananda Saraswati was a Hindu spiritual teacher and a proponent of Yoga and Vedanta. Sivananda was born Kuppuswami in Pattamadai, in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. He studied medicine and served in Malaya as a physician for several years before taking up monasticism...