Throughout history, we human beings are quested to realize the meaning and purpose of life. For countless generations, people have been asking the same questions; who am I? Why am I here? It’s as if we have forgotten our true essence and have fallen into a deep sleep.

Once in a great while an enlightened being comes amongst us to illuminate the truth and nudge us in our awakening. Krishna, Confucius, Buddha, Jesus the Christ, Mohammad and others have come and taught those who would listen in a manner appropriate for their time.

Today in India, hundreds of thousands of people have recognized one such enlightened being: Yug Purush Acarya Mandeleshwar SwamiParamanandji.

In 1938 during the dark of the moon on the auspicious day of Deepawli, the festival celebrating the light returning, SwamiParamanandji was born. Swamiji grew up in a small village in Northern India. As a child he would spend hours meditating and standing on one leg in the sacred river, seeking the ultimate truth.

In 1938 during the dark of the moon on the auspicious day of Deepawli, the festival celebrating the light returning, SwamiParamanandji was born. Swamiji grew up in a small village in Northern India. As a child he would spend hours meditating and standing on one leg in the sacred river, seeking the ultimate truth. While other children of his age played when they got out of school, the boy namedParamanand sought the company of the elders and wise ones. The Great Saint Sri Swami Akandnandji Maharaji recognized the boy’s qualities and took him as a disciple. In order to attain spiritual knowledge,Paramanand renounced the worldly life leaving his home and family. Under his guru’s guidance he became versed in the Hindu scriptures as well as becoming a master of yoga and meditation.

While still a youth he was initiated into Sainthood as SwamiParamanandji. After becoming a Saint and Guru, SwamiParamanand Maharaj did not retreat into the Himalayas but instead entered into society to share the gifts of his experiential knowledge. He chose the path of a Karma Yogi and dedicated his life for the welfare of humanity.

Today, his full title is, Yug Purush Acaraya Mandeleswhar SwamiParamanandji. He is notably being honored and recognized as the Saint of this era. In Celebration of the 50th anniversary of his Sainthood, hundreds of thousands of devotees recently came to pay tribute to this great teacher. As an enlightened scholar, yoga master, teacher and philosopher, Swamiji now has a following from all around the world.

For 5 decades, SwamiParamanand has been guiding others to their own self-realization and working towards the betterment of humanity. He has fostered hundreds of service projects through Akhand Paramdham, the non-profit organization that manages his vast array of projects.

Over 34 spiritual community ashrams, have been established where sadhus and serious spiritual seekers are provided refuge amidst the sacred grounds of devotional temples throughout Northern and central India. Throughout the year, SwamiParamanandji travels to the various ashrams teaching the Vedant, and guiding students in a variety of self-realization techniques in his popular yoga and meditation intensive camps. Typically the days begin before dawn with meditation and yoga followed by a day of spiritual discourses and awareness exercises and ending with a question and answer session before the evening satsang and meditation. In between programs, Swamiji oversees the numerous social projects of Akhand Parmndham as well as implementing new ones wherever he sees the need.

He has established 11 schools and colleges in remote areas of India that provide opportunities for those who otherwise would not be able to get an education. Providing classrooms, room and board and buses for those who need to commute has been a Godsend for thousands of underprivileged children.

Under the kind patronage of SwamiParamanandji, a number of children’s homes have also been established as an alternative to orphanages, women’s shelters and old age homes. The concept is to provide a loving family environment where each child is nurtured, where unmarried women can provide the tender care the child needs, while elder figures who might otherwise be in an old age homes have the chance of playing grandparent roles. There are no blood relationships within the family but each person contributes to the natural well being of the other and emulates a natural family.

To assist the economic empowerment of women, Swamiji has set up programs that teach a variety of skills such as embroidery, knitting, sewing and fabric painting, in various villages in India, enabling women to become independent.

He has also opened large meditation centers where programs are regularly held for the benefit of various communities. These centers teach meditation as a peacemaking tool to achieve cooperation and harmonious relations between people, their communities, the nation and the global village we live in.

Akhand Paramdham has opened 5 hospitals with full modern facilities, which offer aurevedic as well as homeopathic treatment at low or no costs. Over 1000 people are being served in any given day. Professional doctors and nurses who are devotees of SwamiParamanandji consider it an honor to provide their services to humanity.

In an effort to promote cultural nationalism as well as international unity, all of Akhand Parandham’s projects seek to instill cooperation, diversity and an awareness of the divinity within all of life.

SwamiParamanandji first came to America when he was invited to address the World Millennium Peace Summit of Spiritual leaders in the year 2000 at the United Nations. He has returned to the US every year since, sharing his knowledge wherever he is called. SwamiParamanand now travels worldwide teaching and giving darshan and imparting knowledge as an initiation, passing on Divine dynamic power to those who are ready to receive it.

Today he has hundreds of thousands of devotees around the world. Dozens of books have been written about his teachings and techniques and 7 have been translated in English. Akhand Parandham also publishes a quarterly magazine in English, featuring his discourses and his engagement schedule. Many audio CD’s as well as video CD’s and VCD’s are also now available of Swami’s teachings.

Swamiji’s personal lifestyle and concern for humanity is evident by his tireless selfless service. His message is simple; ‘Know Thyself’…and his techniques to attaining this knowledge are as vast as the ocean. Under his guidance, many have been led to recognize the eternal divinity that resides within each and every one of us. Swamiji tells us that we are the Ocean, but that momentarily we have forgotten who we are and think that we are an individual wave instead. We are in the process of remembering our true essence. It is through understanding and experiencing ourselves that we can attain our true soul consciousness and remember who we are and why we have come here. It is then that we may be the playful wave that knows it is the Ocean, and retain a deep peace within the Oneness.

Om Shanti