Let us meet some Hindu Monks

Over the time we tend to make generalizations about everything around us. Psychologically such preconceived notions and biases help us live at peace because we no longer are “scared of surprises”. People want to avoid the suspense of discovering new things every day and have deep down fear of the unseen, unheard and new things. Hence, making generalizations and simplistic opinion about matters and things, even if prejudiced or unlearned, helps them with a psychological comfort. One of such biased generalizations is about Sanyasis, Sadhus, Yogis or whom some even call “godmen”.

Someone I know enjoys perhaps sadistic pleasures at calling all Sadhus and Yogis as “illiterates”. If we point out all the engineers from IITs, management grads from IIMs and other exceptionally highly qualified individuals who are part of ISKCON or Art of Living, my friend would definitely correct his position if he were sensible. Just a week back when I was in Bengaluru, I had heard about Nirmalanandanatha Swami who had been anointed as the pontiff (head priest) of Adichunchanagiri Mutt.

Born as Nagaraj Gowda, Nirmalanandanatha Swami completed his MTech degree in structural engineering from the prestigious IIT Chennai. He had lost his father at a tender age and completed his engineering under difficult financial conditions. He was selected as a research scholar at IISc, Bangalore, but he chose to become a monk instead! Having inspirations from Swami Vivekananda since his childhood, he approached Adichunchanagiri Mutt to embrace Sanyasa. As a monk also, he brought out an educational revolution in Kolar and other places and started numerous educational institutions! Therefore Shri Balagangadharanatha Swami chose him to lead the 1,000-year-old mutt…

Ongoing Kumbh Mela in ancient city Prayag Raj also resulted in some of such inspirational news coming up in front of us.

Swami Anandlila Giri was formerly known as Olga in Russia where she was a top fashion designer! Around 13 years ago she got a call for renunciation on the inspiration of her guru Vishnudevanandji Maharaj, the first Russian Mahamandaleshwar of Shri Dasanaam Juna Akhada (Akharas are religious orders of the Hindu religion). And now, Anandlila Giri would be ordained the Mahamandaleshwar (scholarly saint) of Juna akhada at the Kumbh mela! She would be the first Russian woman Mahamandaleshwar (scholarly saint) of the akhada and she considers it a great honor. She said, "I will try to spread the light of sanatan dharm in different parts of the world".

Swami Jasraj Puri, originally Jason from Sydney, Australia, was to become a physiotherapist and was also a hockey player. But fate had it otherwise. He took Sannyas and joined as a disciple of Swami Maheshwarananda. At the age of 42 today, he is to become the first foreign-born Mahamandaleshwar (scholarly saint) of Shri Panchyati Mahanirwani Akhara. Swami Jasraj Puri looks over schools, a 100-bed hospital and around 4-5 gaushalas (cow sheds). He also travels to various parts of world delivering discourses on Yoga and religion.

We also got to know about some more foreign-born Sanyasins, thanks to this year’s Kumbh Mela:

Sadhvi Adityananda Saraswati was a journalist based in Chicago, USA, when she met her Guru Chidanand Saraswati. She currently works with Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, and is handling one of the most important projects of the Niketan related to girl child.

Baba Rampuri, who had come from USA and joined the order of Naga Sadhus more than 40 years ago, has been given the title of international Shri Mahant by Juna akhara.

There is a famous Hindi phrase, “Jaat na puchho Sadhu ki” meaning “Do not ask the caste/creed of a Saint”. But I wrote about their background and nationalities only to make a point - Next time when you hear about some Sadhu or a Yogi, or see someone wearing Saffron dress, do not make a guess just like that!

- Rahul

Note: Views are personal and do not represent views of any organization associated with the author. [Detailed disclaimer]

References:

- Hindustan Times, ‘Russian woman to lead Juna akhada’; January 15, 2013 [URL] accessed on 24-01-2013

- Indian Express, ‘East & West alike, foreigners take pole positions in akharas’, January 19, 2013 [URL] accessed on 24-01-2013

- Bangalore Mirror, ‘Mutt’s new pontiff is an IIT graduate’, January 15, 2013, [URL] accessed on 24-01-2013