His Divinity Swami Prakashanand Saraswati, lovingly called Shree Swamiji by the devotees, was born in January 1929 on saphala ekadashi, in a religious and respectable Brahman family of Ayodhya, India. In his childhood he heard the story of Radha Krishn, Gopis and maharas and it stuck to his heart. Since then he longed for Radha Krishn and desired to go to Vrindaban where They did maharas.
At the age of twenty-one, in 1950, he renounced the world and went to Jyotirmath in the Himalayas. In 1951 he took the order of sanyas. Seeing his esteem of renunciation and deep feeling of God consciousness, in 1952, he was offered to be the successor of Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath which is one of the most renowned religious thrones of India. He very politely refused by saying, “My final desire is to go to Vrindaban. I have given my life for the service of Radha Rani, so I cannot live forever in the math.”
Shree Swamiji in Braj.
After living the strict discipline of sanyas in the Himalayas for four years, Shree Swamiji decided to go to Vrindaban in 1954 to fulfill his long awaited desire to be in the abode of Radha Rani. When he entered the woodlands of Vrindaban he felt at home, just like someone returning home after a long journey.
There is a place in Vrindaban called Seva Kunj which was almost the center of maharas where Radha Krishn and Gopis danced together. Swamiji went there and found a very small temple surrounded by dense native bushes and enclosed by a high boundary wall. It was totally secluded and no one ever stayed there in the night, but Shree Swamiji stayed three nights there without telling anyone.
Time went on. After one month, Shree Swamiji desired to go to Barsana, the abode of Radha Rani. He arrived in Barsana and climbed up the steps to Shreeji Mandir, the main Temple of Shree Radha Rani atop Barsana Hill where Radha’s palace once stood. He had had nothing to eat the whole day. After the late evening arti at 9:00 p.m., the priest of the Temple gave him some prasad to eat.
The next morning he walked around and found a small deserted temple called Maan Mandir on the other side of the Barsana hill. The temple stood on a small hillock and had only a few rooms with broken floors and no doors. Snakes and rodents lived there, but he liked the place as he could live there uninterrupted by people, focused completely on his Divine Beloved, Radha Rani.
Meeting with Shree Maharajji.
One night, another devotee who also lived in Maan Mandir, showed Swamiji a photo of Shree Maharajji and some leela songs (pads) that were written by him. Swamiji immediately decided he must go to Shree Maharajji who was in Allahabad at that time. The next morning, Makar Shankaranti day of 1955, Swamiji started for Allahabad. At that very same time, Shree Maharajji was having his breakfast. Suddenly he looked to his devotees and announced with no explanation, “Prakashanand is coming from Barsana.”
Shree Swamiji reached Allahabad late that night and met the true beloved of his soul, Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, the supreme Divine descension of this age. For six months he stayed with him like a shadow. Then, upon Shree Maharajji’s request, Swamiji went back to Barsana.
For many years, Shree Swamiji lived in Barsana and other isolated leela places like Govardhan, Charan Pahari and Kamban. With the Grace of Shree Maharajji, scriptural secrets were naturally revealed to him during that time and Radha Rani was ever present to him. Sometimes when he read the Ras Panchadhyayi he felt that the verses of the Bhagwatam became alive for him.
Public teaching and formation of the International Society of Divine Love.
In early 1971, with will of his supremely Gracious Spiritual Master, Shree Swamiji began to spread the teachings of raganuga bhakti (divine love consciousness) in an organized way. First he preached locally and then he made a tour of India. In 1972, it was requested that he travel to Hong Kong, and from Hong Kong he went to Singapore, Indonesia, Fiji, New Zealand, and eventually to the U.S.A. He founded the International Society of Divine Love in India in 1975, in New Zealand in 1978 and in the U.S.A. in 1981, and established ashrams in Auckland, New Zealand, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Vrindaban and Barsana, India.
Once, a devotee came to Shree Swamiji and asked his advice as to which book (in English) he should read to know more about Krishn. Shree Swamiji looked over the available books and found that none of them were philosophically correct—some even failed to accept the Divine supremacy of Krishn’s descension. Shree Swamiji then decided to expound in detail the philosophy of Radha Krishn devotion in English through books and speeches.
His vision about Barsana Dham in the U.S.A.
In 1988 Shree Swamiji revealed his desire to create Barsana Dham in the U.S.A. which could represent the glory of Shree Maharajji and be a representation of Braj where Shree Radha Rani and Shree Krishn appeared. A suitable property for the Temple and ashram was found in Austin, Texas, and the 200 acres of scenic land with a hill and a stream were bought in 1990. Shree Swamiji personally took part in every aspect of its planning, design and construction.
Shree Swamiji’s gift to all devotees.
Always humble, Shree Swamiji says that he has only the love of his soul beloved Shree Kripaluji Maharaj in his heart, and only that he could give to anyone who comes to him. He has great affection for all devotees and he cares for them very much.
When Shree Swamiji speaks, his teachings go deep into the heart, and the warmth of his love develops a desire in the listener’s heart to meet Shree Maharajji and Radha Krishn, the supreme Divine beloved of every soul.
He can expound upon any spiritual topic with such a clarity it is as if he is describing a visual account. His scriptural understanding is unequalled and his books are unique examples of his exceeding knowledge related to the science of the material and the Divine dimensions. The warmth of Shree Swamiji’s love melts the hearts of those who listen to him and drawing close to him opens the path to God.
Swami Chidananda Saraswati (b. 24 September1916) is President of the Divine Life Society, Rishikesh, India. He is well-known in India as a yogi, jnani and spiritual leader. He succeeded as President of the Divine Life Society in 1963, after the death of his predecessor, Swami Sivananda, who founded the Society.
He has authored dozens of books on yoga and spirituality. His most well known work is Light Fountain.
Swami Chidananda Saraswati's birth name was Sridhar Rao. He received his education in both India and in the West, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from Loyola College. He took to a life of renunciation in 1936, and joined the ashram run by Swami Sivananda in Rishikesh in 1943.
He was appointed General Secretary of the Divine Life Society in 1948. He was initiated into the Sannyas order by his guru, Swami Sivananda, on Guru Purnima day, 10 July1949. It was then that he received his monastic name "Swami Chidananda", which means "a renunciate in the highest consciousness and bliss".
He was elected President of the Divine Life Society in August 1963, upon the death of Swami Sivananda.
HIS HOLINESS SRI SWAMI CHIDANANDA SARASWATI MAHARAJ
Sridhar Rao, as Swami Chidananda was known before taking Sannyasa (embracing a life of renunciation), was born to Srinivasa Rao and Sarojini, on the 24th September, 1916, the second of five children and the eldest son. Sri Srinivasa Rao was a prosperous Zamindar (a rich landlord) owning several villages, extensive lands and palatial buildings in South India. Sarojini was an ideal Indian mother, noted for her saintliness.
At the age of eight, Sridhar Rao's life was influenced by one Sri Anantayya, a friend of his grandfather, who used to relate to him stories from the epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata. Doing Tapas (austerities), becoming a Rishi (sage), and having a vision of the Lord became ideals which he cherished.
His uncle, Krishna Rao, shielded him against the evil influences of the materialistic world around him, and sowed in him the seeds of the Nivritti life (life of renunciation) which he joyously nurtured until, as latter events proved, it blossomed into sainthood.
His elementary education began at Mangalore. In 1932, he joined the Muthiah Chetty School in Madras where he distinguished himself as a brilliant student. His cheerful personality, exemplary conduct and extraordinary traits earned for him a distinct place in the hearts of all teachers and students with whom he came into contact.
In 1936, he was admitted to Loyola College, whose portals admit only the most brilliant of students. In 1938, he emerged with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. This period of studentship at a predominantly Christian College was significant. The glorious ideals of Lord Jesus, the Apostles and the other Christian saints had found in his heart a synthesis of all that is best and noble in the Hindu culture. To him, study of the Bible was no mere routine; it was the living word of God, just as living and real as the words of the Vedas, the Upanishads and the Bhagavad-Gita. His innate breadth of vision enabled him to see Jesus in Krishna, not Jesus instead of Krishna. He was as much an adorer of Jesus Christ as he was of Lord Vishnu.
The family was noted for its high code of conduct and this was infused into his life. Charity and service were the glorious ingrained virtues of the members of the family. These virtues found an embodiment in Sridhar Rao. He discovered ways and means of manifesting them. None who sought his help was sent away without it. He gave freely to the needy.
Service to lepers became his ideal. He would build them huts on the vast lawns of his home and look after them as though they were deities. Later, after he joined the Ashram (hermitage), this early trait found in him complete and free expression where even the best among men would seldom venture into this great realm of divine love, based upon the supreme wisdom that all are one in God. Patients from the neighbourhood, suffering from the worst kind of diseases came to him. To Sridhar Rao the patient was none other than Lord Narayana Himself. He served him with tender love and compassion. The very movement of his hands portrayed him as worshipping the living Lord Narayana. Nothing would keep him from bringing comfort to the suffering inmates of the Ashram, no matter what the urgency of other engagements at the time.
Service, especially of the sick, often brought out the fact that he had no idea of his own separate existence as an individual. It seemed as if his body clung loosely to his soul.
Nor was all this service confined to human beings. Birds and animals claimed his attention as much as, if not more than, human beings. He understood their language of suffering. His service of a sick dog evoked the admiration of Gurudev. He would raise his finger in grim admonition when he saw anyone practicing cruelty to dumb animals in his presence.
His deep and abiding interest in the welfare of lepers had earned for him the confidence and admiration of the Government authorities when he was elected to the Leper Welfare Association, constituted by the state - at first as Vice-Chairman and later as Chairman of The Muni-ki-reti Notified Area Committee.
Quite early in life, although born in a wealthy family, he shunned the pleasures of the world to devote himself to seclusion and contemplation. In the matter of study it was the spiritual books which had the most appeal to him, more than college books. Even while he was at college, text-books had to take second place to spiritual books. The works of Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda and Sri Gurudev took precedence over all others. He shared his knowledge with others, so much so that he virtually became the Guru of the household and the neighbourhood, to whom he would talk of honesty, love, purity, service and devotion to God. He would exhort them to perform Japa of Rama-Nama. While still in his twenties he began initiating youngsters into this great Rama Taraka Mantra. He was an ardent admirer of Sri Ramakrishna Math at Madras and regularly participated in the Satsangs (association with the wise) there. The call of Swami Vivekananda to renounce resounded within his pure heart. He ever thirsted for the Darshan (vision) of saints and Sadhus (renunciates) visiting the metropolis.
In June 1936, he disappeared from home. After a vigorous search by his parents, he was found in the secluded Ashram of a holy sage some miles from the sacred mountain shrine Tirupati. He returned home after some persuasion. This temporary separation was but a preparation for the final parting from the world of attachments to family and friends. While at home his heart dwelt in the silent forests of spiritual thoughts, beating in tune with eternal Pranava-Nada (mystic sound of the Eternal) of the Jnana Ganga (river of Knowledge) within himself. The seven years at home following his return from Tirupati were marked by seclusion, service, intense study of spiritual literature, self-restraint, control of the senses, simplicity in food and dress, abandonment of all comforts and practice of austerities which augmented his inner spiritual power.
The final decision came in 1943. He was already in correspondence with Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj of Rishikesh. He obtained Swamiji's permission to join the Ashram.
On arriving at the Ashram, he naturally took charge of the dispensary. He became the man with the healing hand. The growing reputation of his divine healing hand attracted a rush of patients to the Sivananda Charitable Dispensary.
Very soon after joining the Ashram, he gave ample evidence of the brilliance of his intellect. He delivered lectures, wrote articles for magazines and gave spiritual instructions to the visitors. When the Yoga-Vedanta Forest University (now known as the Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy) was established in 1948, Sri Gurudev paid him a fitting tribute by appointing him Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Raja Yoga. During his first year he inspired the students with his brilliant exposition of Maharishi Patanjali's Yoga-Sutras.
It was also in the first year of his stay at the Ashram that he wrote his magnum opus 'Light Fountain', an immortal biography of Sri Gurudev. Sri Gurudev himself once remarked: "Sivananda will pass away, but 'Light Fountain' will live".
In spite of his multifarious activities and intense Sadhana, he founded, under the guidance of Gurudev, the Yoga Museum in 1947, in which the entire philosophy of Vedanta and all the processes of Yoga Sadhana are depicted in the form of pictures and illustrations.
Towards the end of 1948, Gurudev nominated him as the General Secretary of The Divine Life Society. The great responsibility of the organization fell on his shoulders. From that very moment he spiritualized all his activities by his presence, counsel and wise leadership. He exhorted all to raise their consciousness to the level of the Divine.
On Guru Purnima day, the 10th of July, 1949, he was initiated into the holy order of Sannyasa by Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj. He now became known as Swami Chidananda, a name which connotes : "one who is in the highest consciousness and bliss".
In November 1959 Swami Chidanandaji embarked on an extensive tour of America, being sent by Gurudev as his personal representative to broadcast the message of Divine Life. He returned in March 1962.
In August 1963, after the Mahasamadhi of the Master, he was elected as President of the Divine Life Society. After election, he strove to hold aloft the banner of renunciation, dedicated service, love and spiritual idealism, not only within the set-up of the widespread organization of the Society, but in the hearts of countless seekers throughout the world, who were all too eager to seek his advice, help and guidance.
Sri Swami Chidanandaji has toured the length and breadth of India, Malaysia and South Africa to serve the devotees of the Society.
Again in 1968, Sri Swami Chidanandaji undertook the Global Tour at the kind request of numerous disciples and devotees of holy Master Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj and visited all countries of the world. Wherever he went devotees received him cordially and listened to him with rapt attention.
Sri Swami Chidanandaji, right from the beginning is working and serving the Divine Cause of Sri Gurudev's Mission tirelessly and spreading his Divine Life Message far and wide not only in Bharatavarsha (India) but also in countries outside.
On 24th September, 1976 the Headquarters of The Divine Life Society Shivanandanagar (Rishikesh) as well as all Branches of the Society celebrated his 60th Birthday Anniversary (Shashtyabdapurti).
Sri Swami Chidanandaji's Multimedia Gallery
Swami Chidanandaji's Interview with Bettina Gray during the World Parliament of Religions '93. Some of the topics discussed include: World Peace, Selfless Service, Birth Control and the Environment.
After taking darshan of Sri Radharamanjiu, we proceeded to the temples of Sri Radha-Gokulananda where you can take darshan of Sri Radhavinodji the worshipful Deities of Sri Lokanath Goswami and Sri Radha Gokulanandaji, the worshipful Deities of Srila Viswanath Chakravarty Thakur. Within the temple premise, you can do parikrama of the samadhi mandirs of Srila Lokanath Goswami, Srila Visvanath Chakravarty Thakur and Srila Narottam das Thakur. Then just nearby is the temple of Sri Sri Radha-gopinath. You are lucky that Thakurji is giving His darshan in this video. Then finally we took the beautiful darshan of Sri Radha Shyamasundar after first taking shelter of the mercy of Srila Shyamananda Prabhu in his bhajan cave within the temple area. Photography is prohibited in the temple so i wasn't allowed to capture the very interesting and wonderful sringar (outfit and decoration) of Shri Shyamasundar today. But if you know where to pause the video you may have a glimpse of how Shri Shyamasundar is today dressed as a lady gardener in order to meet with His beloved Radhika. Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe! Gaur Premanande!
Today the parikrama party went to Nidhuvan then to the temples of Sri Radharaman, Sri Gokulananda, Sri Radha-Gopinath, and Sri Shyamasundar. This episode covers our parikrama In Nidhuvana where Sri Sri Radha and Krishna's many wonderful amorous pastimes are eternally taking place. Here you can take darshan of Srimati Radhika's kunjas, Visakha kunda, the appearance place of Sri Bankebihari and the samadhi mandir of Swami Haridasji.
Soul after death
Saraswati Vandana Mantra (849): 
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