Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha

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Saturday, January 28, 2023. 06:00.

Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha.

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ABOUT SWAMIJI ;

Poojya Swamiji is the Founder Saint of Narayanashrama Tapovanam and Centres for Inner Resources Development (CIRD). Swamiji belongs to the Tirtha lineage instituted by Shankaracharya, and received Brahmavidyā initiation from Baba Gangadhara Paramahamsa of Dakshinkhanda (West Bengal). After a period of intense sādhanā he embraced sannyasa at the age of 23.

“All of you should know how a village can shape an individual’s life, instituting cultural and spiritual dimensions of this great Nation. The so-called modernists should remember with respect and humility that proper growth of individuality takes place through this kind of cultural allegiance and discipline.”

Early Life :

Poojya Swamiji was born on 13th May 1933 in an orthodox Brahmin family in Paralikkad village, near Wadakanchery, Thrissur district, Kerala, not far from Kalady, the birthplace of Adi Shankaracharya. His mother was a pious housewife who imparted to the children cultural traditions, religious austerity and value for education and charity. Many of the Sanskrit verses Swamiji chants today, he had learnt in early childhood from his ‘illiterate’ mother. However, the ‘illiterate’ mother was the daughter of a Sanskrit scholar, a saintly person.

Every morning, after taking bath in the temple tank and putting vibhooti (sacred ash) stripes all over the body in the traditional style, young Swamiji would go to the temple wearing wet towel to do soorya-namaskāra (prostration to the sun) chanting “Sooryam sundara-lokanātham-amṛtam …” as taught by his mother. In the beginning he was doing 21 to 51 times. Gradually the number increased to hundreds and even a thousand on Sundays. This practice was a great tapas (austerity) in Swamiji’s life, prompted and motivated by the cultural heritage of his parents and the devotional ambience of Paralikkad village.

Spiritual Unfoldment :

The singular event that led Poojya Swamiji from religious faith and traditional practices to the world of unfettered spiritual discoveries, was meeting his Gurudev Baba Gangadhara Paramahamsa.

Earlier in his life Poojya Swamiji had never heard about Self-realization. Neither did he have any idea of the wonderful role of a spiritual Guru – and the wholesome trust, refuge, and love associated with Guru- śishya relationship – in the unfoldment and fulfilment of a seeker’s life.

The sincerity with which he pursued the religious austerities, now after Brahmavidyā deeksha (initiation), he got immersed in intense meditative absorption with that same dedication.

As the flame of sādhanā became more and more brilliant every day, and the voice of Upanishads echoed in full vigour, thirst for Sannyāsa (renunciation) became insatiable. Swamiji always says that Sannyāsa is not breaking away from the family relationships or banishing the loved ones from one’s “own” sphere. It is an expansion to own up everybody, a call to embrace the whole world. For such a person, the Upanishad says, the whole world becomes a single nest or abode.

As years passed, Poojya Swamiji’s focus shifted from Dhyāna nishtha (dedication to meditation) to Jnāna-nishtha (dedication to knowledge). This exclusive knowledge-orientation made him a sane, natural human being, free of various saintly insignia or ecstatic eccentricities.

Making of an Institution :

In April 1964, Poojya Swamiji along with Mataji Sulabha Devi and a few devotees founded Narayanashrama Tapovanam on a 3.5-acre land on the picturesque eastern slope of the Pandavagiri Hill (Venginissery, Thrissur District).

The Ashram was a true forest hermitage where life was extremely simple and austere. A small mud-cottage with tiled roof and woven coconut fronds for its doors and shutters. The walls and floor remained un-plastered for years. The cottage was surrounded by steep irregular hilly terrain. Heavy rains would suddenly bring streams of gushing water. Sometimes in the night, Poojya Swamiji would go with a spade and umbrella to divert the torrential flow of water.

Only source of income for the Ashram was Rs 25 per month sent by Parvati Ammal’s son. Mataji Sulabha Devi had the task of preparing food. She would pluck edible leaves from the surrounding areas and prepare vegetable for the day. There were days when Mataji could not prepare a full meal for the inmates. Once when asked, Swamiji said:

“Did we starve any time in the Ashram? Yes, we did, though not for many days… I had planted 12 coconut seedlings in front. I used to draw water from the well using a bucket and rope, fill two mud-pitchers and carry them down to each plant daily in the morning…

That day’s watering was over in the morning. Two days without food I was feeling weak; wondered whether next day with a starving stomach I would be able to water the plants as usual! So, after dusk, when visibility was still there, I drew water and filled the pots. Going to each plant I said: “Here is the water for tomorrow. I am not sure whether I would be able to wet your roots tomorrow. What would be the fate thereafter, I cannot say.”

Narayanashrama Tapovanam :

The word ‘Ashram’ (in Sanskrit) stands for an abode of learning or education. It is a pity that even after 60 years of independence; many of us are prone to associate constricted religiosity with the word and dispose off the institutions under such a name as engaged in some sectarian practices.

More than the theoretical knowledge of different subjects, education in our country always meant man-making — purification, fortification and transformation of personality in the holy association of the Teacher, so that the student would become fit to course victoriously through the vicissitudes of life and attain fulfillment.

And Ashrams were the institutions imparting such education. The most important factor underlying the legendary greatness of ancient Bharat was these honored seats of learning – the Ashrams – where the saintly Teacher used to empower the students with lofty values and visions that would guide them throughout their life and make them worthy citizens. The Teachers were not paid employees. Neither was there any Central Board of Education or University Grants Commission. The saintly Teachers pursued their role with utmost dedication out of their own integrity, their devotion to Truth and the Nation, sometimes undergoing abject privation. There were more than thousand kingdoms in India, ruled by different kings. But the subjects and values taught in different Ashrams all over the country were identical. Can we imagine such a widespread but uniform education system which was born solely out of the greatness of the Teachers and the society?

Now we clamour so much about the havoc done to our education by centuries of foreign domination. We criticize the present education system for burdening the students with information, for ignoring value-inculcation and character-building. But we perhaps fail to realize that character-building can take place only in the association of men of character. An Ashram is an educational institution for value-orientation and personality-development depending basically on the virtues and greatness of the Teachers. “Learning”, according to Indian tradition means “becoming” and the institutions where such learning was available were called Ashrams.

Established by Swamiji in 1963, “Narayanashrama Tapovanam” is located on the picturesque slopes of the eastern hill of Pandavagiri, in Venginissery village, Thrissur District, Kerala, India. The Ashram is surrounded by dense thickets of coconut trees on the slopes of the hill, which roll down towards the green fields of paddy. The serene beauty of surrounding nature complements the peace and tranquility of the Ashram, which draws seekers and visitors alike to the place, to benefit from the company of a realized Sage, and seek his blessings and guidance on spiritual and personal matters. What was initially a small hut, thus, gradually grew into an institution of spiritual learning with centers all around the world.

“ My stand has always been: This abode has evolved like a tree. As the growth of branches and leaves depends on the trunk, sustenance of the trunk will depend on the branches and the leaves. The upper and lower growths are inseparably wedded to each other. I have not felt that I am the cause of it. I have no special aspiration or ego. “Vasantavat lokahitam carantaḥ” is our way. Like the spring breeze, I am collecting and spreading fragrance around. Let the seeds take shape in the individual minds and hearts. What all has to be in the years to come will follow naturally. ”

- Poojya Swamiji

WORLD WELFARE

“Genesis of a Mahatma. …Whenever the country had been passing through a dark phase of ignorance and inertia, whenever greed for material possession and over-indulgence in sensory pleasure threatened to disintegrate the society, whenever religious practices and rituals became stale ostentation and socio-political bigotry overpowered the lofty universal values, great spiritual personalities arrived to revitalize the society with universal love and pristine spiritual power.”

(from “A Great Association”)

 

Loka-sangraha means: “lokasya unmārga-pravṛtti-nivāraṇam”. It is the effort to keep society on the auspicious path by removing the degenerative tendencies. The best and the most long-lasting service to mankind is to integrate the society through love and enlightenment.

The focus of Poojya Swamiji’s relentless loka-sangraha mission over the past six decades has been to make people understand that the real purpose of all religious as well as spiritual practices is to purify and transform our own mind.

“As the world is a manifestation of God, loka-sangraha (a Knower’s effort to bring people on the auspicious path) is the creative manifestation of spiritual Wisdom.” – Poojya Swamiji

Jnāna Yajna – Knowledge Dissemination Programmes :

Jnāna Yajna consists of Knowledge dissemination programmes through series of public discourses, workshops, retreats, sessions for youth and professionals, and living in the association of the Knower. These are held every year in different parts of the world organized by the Ashram and the CIRDs. All the lecture programmes are now livestreamed for the benefit of viewers all over the world.

GBGC :

This Convention aims to bring the universal message of Bhagavad Gita to people across the world. Held in reputed universities in East and West Coasts of USA from 2017-2019, and online in 2020, the programme evoked great interest and inspiration in the attendees.

SBTSS :

10-day Knowledge Festival, in which Saints and Scholars explain how the essential values of Śreemad Bhāgavatam can be applied to daily life. Thousands of devotees from rural and urban areas participate in this programme, which concludes with a grand Vishnusahasranama Archana and Yajna.

ATS :

Annual 8-day public discourse series conducted by Poojya Swamiji in Thrissur town (Sri Moolasthanam in front of Vadakunathan Shiva Temple) since 1996. After completing Bhagavad Gita in 2013, Swamiji is now exposing Ashtavakra Samhita.

GL_Public_Discourse_in_Delhi_2019

Public Discourse in Delhi 2019

Social and religious reformation :

Poojya Swamiji’s love for values has made his Saintly life intensely involved in a number of mass movements and legal campaigns (during 1985 to 2005) to reform society and remove degenerative practices from religious institutions.

He is actively involved in petitioning the courts against torturing of temple elephants and illegal hill cutting.

Distribution of food, clothing, medical and educational aids :

Annual distribution of rice and clothing/blankets to indigent families in a large scale in Kerala as well as around CIRD-Delhi, CIRD-Jamshedpur, and tribal areas in Jharkhand. About thirty-eight thousand families got benefited in 2019

Flood and Covid 19 pandemic relief

Regular and monthly support for Village Welfare

The main purpose of arranging these Dāna programmes has been to grow societal awareness and equality in the minds of people and give them the joy of expansion and fellow-feeling transcending the various caste and community barriers. In all these programmes, Poojya Swamiji’s focus has been to welcome the recipients with love and honour, and grow in the giver a sense of gratitude for getting an opportunity to share their fortune.

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