SRI SRI SRI GANAPATHY SACHCHIDANANDA SWAMIJI
WHO IS HE? WHAT IS HIS RELATIONSHIP TO DATTA?
His Holiness Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji was born to mother Jayalakshmi and Nrsimha Sastri. As a child he was known as Satyanarayana or Satyam.
As a young girl Jayalakshmi lived in the Sahyadri mountains of Mekedatu with her parents. The place where they lived was a regular pilgrimage spot and many sages frequented the area. Jayalakshmi would serve the sages in Mekedatu. Two of the saints, Karapatra Swami and Fakir Tatha took interest in Jayalakshmi and gave her special spiritual instructions. She did many different types of penance and austerities, including service to the villagers.
Datta was pleased with Jayalakshmi’s penance and good deeds. He told her he would be born as her son. Jayalakshmi later married Nrsimha Sastri.
Satyam was born to Mother Jayalakshmi under special circumstances. She would often go to the edge of the river and sit in meditation. On the day of his birth Mother Jayalakshmi had gone to the edge of the river and was immersed in meditation. Waking from her meditation, she found the child Satyam on her lap. He had special holy malas around his neck and was covered with holy ashes or vibhuti.
His father named him Satyanarayana, meaning the "end of knowledge".
Satyam's mother taught him yoga and gave him special spiritual disciplines to follow daily. Satyam later became known as Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji.
His life is a monument to mankind with his tireless efforts in humanitarian service.
His Holiness Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda engages himself in humanitarian service through the following :
1. Free hospital and medical service at his ashrams, mobile clinics in India to service rural villages and support of the differently abled,
2. Production of acres of food and provision of free food daily at the Mysore ashram, encouraging devotees to perform annadanam (giving of food in charity),
3. Establishing schools and providing free education to students,
4. Establishing homes for children (who are abused or whose parents are unable to support them) and homes for the elderly
5. Spreading the eternal truths of life through discourses on answering the fundamental question of "who am I?"
Focusing on training & maintaining the ancient knowledge through vedic schools for the youths.
6. PropagatingDatta Kriya Yoga (science of breath) & nadi shuddhi exercises (simple effective physical exercises) which yield the main benefits :
(i) enhances the functioning of the internal organs of the body
(ii) improves focus and concentration in life (studies, work and other facets of life)
(iii) help reduce stress and improves emotional state of persons leading to emotional stability
7. Protection of the environment through the bonsai garden and herbal gardens which preserves plants that have medicinal qualities that are useful to mankind
8. Protection of endangered birds through his rehabilitation center for birds
9. Propagation of the eternal tenets of life through music, researching the benefits of music for healing, use of music to raise the consciousness of the world and the use of seed sounds (beejaksharas) for the peace and protection of the world.
10. Dollar a Day Service which is used to help the less fortunate in society.
Above are a few of the activities Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji engages himself in for the welfare of the world. He works tirelessly and sets a stellar example for everyone to follow in leading a noble life dedicated to service. He has given music, yoga practices and discourses for you to benefit personally in every aspect of your life (physical, mental, emotional, material and spiritual).
The teachings of the twenty four (24) nature teachers is exemplified in His life.
His works are too numerous to list!
Some call Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji as a God-man on Earth but whatever name is given to him, he definitely shows the path of righteousness.
In this age, Nature's Teachers are Sri Ganapathy Sachchidanada Swamiji's gift to us on the Path of Righteousness and Path to Self Realization.