Daṇḍī Svāmī Nārāyaṇānanda Sarasvatī
Dandi Swami Narayananand
Saraswati
(1923-2010)
Dandi Swami Narayananand Saraswati
Shankaracharya Nagar, Thursday 9th
November 2000
photo: Premanand Paul Mason
"I am
seventy-two years old. I lead a very disciplined life.
My main message to the people is to go through holy scriptures and
remember God always.
If you live in this way, your life will be happy and blissful."
- Dandi Swami Narayananand Saraswati, 1995
'One
brief look at his radiant face is enough to convince that this dandi
swami is definitely a high soul, his eyes reveal deep jewelled pools of
light that twinkle and dance.'
- Premanand Paul Mason
a chance meeting in the jungle on 4th November 2000,
described in 'MALA - A String of Unexpected Meetings'
"He is very guru, he has enlightenment!"
- Devendra Singh Thakur. an Indian TM teacher
speaking of Dandi Swami Narayanananda Saraswati
Thursday 9th November 2000
'Dandi Swami Narayanânanda Saraswati, who is now (2003) in his seventies. He was [with]
the Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math. He lived in separation in Rishikesh,
where I 'found' him in November 2000. I visited him again in May 2001
and in April 2002 and 2003. The Swami does not teach, but he showed no
hesitation in answering my questions.'
- Rob van Dijk, Advaita author (1951-2011)
'I met Narayananda in 2001. I wandered over to the ashram, which I'd never seen before, and there he was, hanging some clothing out to dry. We chatted as best we could in English. I came back the next day, with a papaya and some bananas, and we talked some more. One memorable moment: I asked what he thought about in his solitude. I said, "Do you think about God?" and he said, "I used to think about God. Now God thinks about me." Blew my mind. I asked what he meant. He said, "I was out of food and would have to walk into the village and hope someone gave me food. (He had diabetes, and explained that his feet were not up for walking.) Then you came with food. God was thinking of me." I returned two more times with a translator. It was incredibly wonderful to be with him.' - Phil Goldberg
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नारायणानन्द
Nārāyaṇānanda
Nārāyaṇa = Supreme Being + ānanda = bliss, ecstacy
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Dandi Swami Narayananand Saraswati was a student of Swami Brahmanand Saraswati, Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath (1941-1953).
Shankaracharya Swami Brahmanand Saraswati in Mussoorie,
23rd September 1952
disciples pictured appear to include
Narayananand
ji, behind the guru,
&, to the right, Brahmachari
Mahesh (later Maharishi Mahesh Yogi)
Shankaracharya
Swami Brahmanand Saraswati in Mussoorie, 23rd September 1952
Narayananand ji appears to be
standing behind the guru
Shankaracharya
Swami Swami Brahmanand Saraswati - Mussoorie, 23rd September 1952
Narayananand ji appears
to be standing behind the guru
Shankaracharya Swami Brahmanand
Saraswati aboard mobile dais,
Old Square, near Mussoorie Library, Mussoorie, 23rd September 1952
note the steering wheel and
front light of the vehicle
Narayananand
ji appears to be standing behind the guru - Brahmachari Mahesh
pictured to front right
On the passing of the guru, he became a disciple of the guru's successor, Shankaracharya Shantanand Saraswati (1913-1997) from whom he received sannyas (the rite of intiation as a monk). Let us celebrate his life.
Apparently, when Swami Shantanand decided to retire, he offered Narayananand ji the post of Shankaracharya, but Naranayananand declined and it was agreed that he should instead pursue a solitary existence.
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