Gaṇanāthāmṛtānanda Svāmī came into the physical body on the sacred festival day of Makara Shamkranti in 1979. From an early age, Swamiji has had a profound intuitive awareness. In school, Swamiji avoided dating, sports, and other recreational activities which his peers engaged in, favoring study of philosophy, religion and charitable work. Around the age of 6, Swamiji declared to his Western parents that he would eat a vegetarian diet, which concerned his parents very much as vegetarianism was practically unheard of at the time. Swamiji was very persistent in his efforts to always do what he felt was right, despite the criticism, ridicule, or punishment of his peers and elders. As a child he was deeply concerned and troubled by the suffering he saw around him. He left school at about the age of 14 and helped start a soup kitchen to feed local homeless people. At the age of 19 he began sadhana (spiritual disciplines) and tapasya (penance) for the peace of the world. Swamiji has spent much time in solitude performing tapasya (austerities for spiritual-realization) including intense periods of fasting from food and water. Sometime around 2006 while Swamiji was making the Sandhya offerings before the setting Sun, his Guru blessed him with the experience of Nirvikalpa Samadhi. Swamiji experienced this as awareness centered upon the breath which he saw extending throughout the universe as the life of all life and the source of all movement throughout the galaxy. By the grace of his Gurus, he experienced the dissolution of individual awareness and saw the true Self, the universal consciousness and formless source pervading all things in the universe. Swamiji works daily to awaken and deepen this experience of Divinity, to integrate it into his waking consciousness, and to share it with all the world. It is his purpose in this life to share the Light of God with spiritual seekers from all backgrounds.
Swamiji's Activities and Teachings
Swamiji spends time each day immersed in sadhana (spiritual practice) for the peace of the world and the mitigation of society's karmas. Swamiji teaches that he is far from perfect and continues his sadhana for self-betterment and for the peace of the world. It brings him joy to serve those who seek truth and light, so he works ceaselessly to ease the suffering of all. Swamiji claims that he is no different than any other person, and that he simply feels honored and blessed to humbly serve those who serve the Lord. He teaches people to serve in the world by seeking spiritual truth within and by helping others with compassion, equanimity, patience, humbleness, and Love. He teaches that when a person learns to bow to the Divinity within all things, that all Divinity pours through that soul for the peace of the three worlds. Then miracles occur effortlessly not by the attainment of the seeker, but by the grace of God which flows through them once they have humbled themselves to the Lord's will for them. He encourages people to cultivate the quality of compassion for all, and teaches that when there is love and compassion, all things are possible. Swamiji is the director of the Soma Matha Spiritual Center and is working to build the Shakambhari Devi Temple near Charlottesville, Virginia, where he lives.
Swamiji's Mission
Swamiji is working to open the Soma Matha Spiritual Center and Shakambhari Devi Temple in Virginia. Swamiji has profound knowledge of Yoga, Meditation, Mantra, Puja, Yajnam, Ayurveda, and Vedic Astrology. Swamiji gives spiritual teachings and blessings to all and provides spiritual initiation for serious seekers who prove their dedication and qualification over time. He affirms that the Vedic sciences have been revealed by the Sages for the benefit of humanity and teaches these mystical traditions to qualified men, women, and children of all castes, creeds, and nationalities.