Ganapathi Sachchidananda

Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji, popularly known as His Holiness Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji, is a Hindu avadhuta known for his healing abilities.

Dr.Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji
ಗಣಪತಿ ಸಚ್ಚಿದಾನಂದ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ
His Holiness Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji.
Personal
Born	26 May 1942 Mekedatu, Southern India
Religion	Hinduism
Parents	Sri Narasimha Sastry (father) Sri Jaya Lakshmi Mata (mother)

Avatara and early life

Avadhoota Datta Peethadhipati Jagadguru Parama Pujya Dr. Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji was born at Mekedatu in southern India on May 26, 1942. According to lore, a saint had predicted to Sri Swamiji’s parents, Sri Narasimha Sastry and Sri Jaya Lakshmi Mata, that their child would have supreme wisdom and was destined to uplift mankind.

His birth legend claims that Sri Swamiji’s actual birth occurred on a rock in the river Kaveri. Sri Swamiji’s mother Sri Jaya Lakshmi Mata was in deep meditation and the child was born covered with holy ash. The child was named Satyanarayana. Sri Swamiji’s mother, whom he calls his first Guru, initiated him into spiritual life before her passing away in 1951. Satyanarayana completed elementary school education.

Initial days as ascetic

Initiated by his mother, Sri Swamiji spent a 12-year cycle in spiritual Sadhana. During this period, he spent time in Proddutur, India, in a strict disciplinarian spiritual training under his aunt Yogini Venkamma and in Mysore.

In the early days of Ascetic Deeksha, Sri Swamiji spent time in Kesare, a small township in Mysore. He chose the place to initiate his activities and in 1966 Sri Swamiji moved to the present site of the Mysore Ashram on Ooty road, which in the early days was only a straw hut in a field. It was there, at Mysore, that Sri Swamiji became Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji. Since then Sri Swamiji has been helping people in his unique way. People come to him for help with their worldly affairs, or to get healed of physical/mental afflictions, or for guidance in their spiritual practice. Many come to hear Sri Swamiji's Bhajans (divine songs). They also come to celebrate the special festivals in the Vedic traditions.

Philosophy and teachings

Spirituality and influence

Sri Swamiji had been serving fellow humans, helping them with their problems since his childhood. Sri Swamiji was able to understand their situations, knew their past, present, and future and helped them overcome their difficulties. Some of them became Sri Swamiji's first disciples who were soon followed by more. Sri Swamiji sang Bhajans and kirtans for them and started giving yoga classes in small village huts or on river banks, while wandering the countryside as a monk. Sri Swamiji acquired a large following, which demanded all of his time and attention.

Dharma Prachaara

Dharma is the eternal principle, which differentiates humans from other creatures and Dharma alone upholds the peaceful coexistence of various beings in the creation of God. Though many pantheons (different from each other) prevail universally, the principle remains the same. Dattatreya has preached the essence of Universal Brotherhood..

Places of worship and temples

Espousing that philosophy of our Sanatana Dharma from Vedic tradition, as taught by Dattatreya, Sri Swamiji has toured the length and breadth of India, establishing various Ashramas (branches of Datta Peetham also called as Gnana Bodha Sabhas) in many states. Each Ashrama consists of a temple for Dattatreya, Annapoorna Mandira (free feeding hall), community hall for bhajans, prayers, meditation; a charitable clinic and important public utility activities. Pujya Swamiji has consecrated more than 85 branches in India including 16 Ashramas dedicated to the 16 incarnations of Dattatreya; Datta Kashi; Datta Rameshwaram; 9 Kshetras dedicated to Nava Nathas; SriPada Vallabha Anagha Datta Kshetram in Pithapuram (Andhra Pradesh, India) dedicated to SriPada Vallabha Swamy, the first incarnation of Datta in Kali Yuga and Sri Narasimha Saraswati Guru Paduka Kshetram dedicated to Swamy Narasimha Saraswati in Ganagapura (Karnataka, India).

Vishwa Manava Dharma

The most important feature of Sri Swamiji's mission is to preach and make people realize the oneness in them. Thus Sri Swamiji always emphasizes that practising humanity (Maanavataa) should be our motto. Accordingly, Sri Swamiji's message has been widely appreciated in many communities of both Eastern and Western hemispheres. Nationality, creed, sect, caste, race, gender and religion never meant a barrier for Sri Swamiji, across the globe. He has been welcomed by community and religious leaders around the world. Sri Swamiji's discourses, sessions of music for meditation and healing, Yoga classes and other beneficial activities have been conducted in countries such as Holland, Romania, England, USA, UAE, Russia, Malaysia, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, Japan, Mexico, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, and Austria.

Ancient Vedic Dharma

Sri Swamiji is the upholder of the ancient Vedic tradition. He has been supporting Vedas and Vedic activities from the beginning. The Mysore Ashrama has a dedicated Gurukula-style Veda school. The Shankara Shiva Vaidya Hari Veda Mandira, of Mysore Ashrama teaches all available Shakhas of all branches of Veda. It is run in the ancient Rishi kula style with a Vidyadhikari, Pracharya and Adhyapakas for each shakha in addition to dedicated schools of Smarta and Agama. Many Ashrama branches have a similar style school if not of the same magnitude.

iSERVE

Sri Swamiji has founded iSERVE, the Institute of Scientific Research on Vedas. iSERVE has worked hard to identify, classify, publish and propagate the knowledge of Vedas in simple language. There were at least 200 books and papers published in addition to conducting dozens of seminars and workshops on the scientific aspects of Vedas.

Music – Nada Yoga

Sri Swamiji is an accomplished Nada Yogi with very deep knowledge of music, scale systems and usage of music for divine purpose in addition to the societal benefit. As Nada Yogi and Nada Brahma and renowned for his healing music, Sri Swamiji has composed many different and unique Ragas (tunes) to help the music system of the world.

Healing and meditation music[1]

Sri Swamiji's healing music is currently being used in several healthcare centers across the world, including hospitals, research centers, civic utility centers in the United States and Europe. In addition to the therapeutic effect, the efficacy of his music in leading positive and stress-free transformation is being put to use where there is a need for social transformation, in places of high stress like the prisons and in the departments of law enforcement across multiple places in India.

Raga Ragini Vidya

Sri Swamiji performed continued research for over three decades on before bringing out the therapeutic effects of music. As part of the research, he conducted several experiments on himself understanding the true nature of music and its healing power. The ancient Raga Ragini Vidya has been brought out by Sri Swamiji and is popularized. Sri Swamiji conducts music therapy sessions and healing music concerts worldwide.

Live music concerts

With the ability to use music as medium to supplement medicinal healing, Sri Swamiji was invited by various nations to conduct live music concerts with the celestial message troupe. In addition to music, he uses astronomy, astrology, gem therapy, psychology, hydrotherapy, crystal therapy and the like when conducting live concerts.

His music concerts are very well received with performances all over the globe in almost all of the prestigious theaters. The Opera House in Sydney, The Lincoln Center of New York, The Esplanade of Singapore, the Royal Albert Hall in London, and LB Stadium in Hyderabad, India, Palace Grounds, Bengaluru, India, Rashtrapathi Bhavan, New Delhi, India are a few of the many hundreds of venues where he has performed.

His concerts were conducted in closed-door auditoriums as well as open grounds where the attendance ranged from a few hundreds to a few hundred thousands.

Music Therapy Center and holistic healing center

Based on the decades of research, Sri Swamiji has established the Music Therapy center, in Mysore, which is a 50-seat healing center. This center has piping music based on the personal attributes of the audience and can be used for specialized, community or focused healing sessions. This is part of the holistic healing center Sri Swamiji has established with many branches globally. This center supplements the other branches of medicine in use at the charitable hospitals in Mysore Ashrama and several other branches.

Nama Sankirtana (devotional singing aka Bhajans)

Another form of music is the traditional Nama Sankirtan - singing the glory of the Lord using his names. This form of music has an equal appeal to the layman and the most devoted. There are several methods in this ranging from singing only one name of the God to singing complex compositions with very high literary values.

Sri Swamiji is a composer of Bhajans. He has written more than 2000 songs in Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi and Hindi in praise of various deities. Sri Swamiji is endowed with a gifted voice. More than hundred albums containing speeches and Bhajans of Sri Swamiji have been published so far.

Digital and recorded albums

Sri Swamiji's healing music and Nama Sankirtana albums along with the discourses – wonderful stories laced with melodious bhajans - are the most sought after by devotees and disciples across the world. Sri Swamiji has permitted the recording and digital printing of his voice along with the various principles of life taught during several discourses.

The live recorded albums as well as studio recorded collections are over 200 from Sri Swamiji. They were in several forms ranging from LPs to online albums. Many of his albums were chartbusters for several weeks on the online audio stores, like iTunes, Google Play and video sites like YouTube and Vimeo.

Yoga

Sri Swamiji was initiated into Yoga by his mother Jaya Lakshmi. Sri Swamiji's path has been ‘Savikalpa Samadhi’, which is to be in his own contemplative, meditative state always – still actively attending to different activities. The pantheon was of Raja Yoga and Sri Vidya, which later got strengthened by the Hatha Yoga practice under Aunt Venkamma in Proddutur. Sri Swamiji is considered the Yoga Brahma with all the eight Siddhis realized in him right from the descent of the Avatara.

Yoga teachings

In the initial days of the Mysore Ashrama, circa 1966, Sri Swamiji personally taught several aspects of Yoga to the aspirants. His routine used to start at 4AM with teaching Surya Namaskara to several batches of Yoga students. These initial batches had students even from the US and Europe, who graduated to the Atindriya Yoga classes, an advanced course in Yoga with a deep understanding of how Yoga works and why Prana is important.

Kriya Yoga

The advancement of Yoga classes got him working on reviving the most important discipline of Yoga – Kriya Yoga. He has further improvised this Raja Yoga and Hatha Yoga encapsulation to capture the important Nadi Shuddhi Kriyas, making it simple to practice.

Datta Kriya Yoga Center (Internation)

Sri Swamiji's method of teaching Kriya Yoga quickly became very popular and he was invited to various countries to conduct workshops and classes. In the process an independent Datta Kriya Yoga Center was established to work worldwide and help propagate Kriya Yoga in its purest and most practical form. Sri Swamiji has further made it easier for the young adults to follow the path of Yoga by prescribing the discipline of Kumara Kriya Yoga.

Sumeru Dhyana Mandira

As the Pranayama-based Kriya Yoga advances, it leads into meditation that transcends the senses. There are several Kriyas the practitioners will learn and practice as they land in meditation. This Nirguna meditation is further enhanced by advanced Yoga courses and regularly supervised practice in addition to the camps conducted at various places by him.

As a formal abode and a practice place for meditation, Sri Swamiji has established a monumental structure in Mysore Ashrama, called, Sumeru Dhyana Mandira. This meditation hall is built in a specific structure that attracts the energy, following a Sumeru (or Sri Chakra) in its form. This is an open meditation center that any seeker can come and practice meditation in an enhanced ambiance of falling water from the tip of the building to provide the needed concentration as well as energy.

International tours

Sri Swamiji's mission has required him to undertake over 150 Vishwa Dharma Vijaya Yatras (overseas tours) to many countries. In due course, he has established over 15 centers abroad in UK, US, Malaysia, Europe, Trinidad, Canada and Australia.

Universal peace

The purpose of his global tours is to espouse the sanatana Dharma that teaches the universal brotherhood and Vishwa Manava Dharma – the basic principles of Sri Swamiji's mission. His tours, are always laced with activities promoting Yoga, music, meditation, silence, peace, universal brotherhood, compassion and uplifting discourses.

Music concerts

Healing music concerts and/or the Divya Nama Sankirtana sessions are an integral part of Sri Swamiji's activities during his tours. More than 250 such healing and meditation concerts were conducted so far with millions of attendees.

Mouna seminars

Another feature of his tours, particularly to Europe, is the unique Mouna Seminar. The devotees of Germany, Switzerland and France are awe inspired by the power of silence, Mouna, as explained by Sri Swamiji. Motivated by the instruction and the display of the potential of Mouna – the devotees have been seeking the silent meditation from Sri Swamiji for over four years now. The number of participants kept increasing year after year and the average age has been coming down showing the growing interest in silence and meditation in younger generations.

Ashrams and Datta Yoga Centers

Domestic and international

The devotees across the globe, have been approaching and appealing to Sri Swamiji to establish a center in their respective places for them to be able to congregate, join for Satsang programs and be able to worship together. Sri Swamiji has established Datta Yoga Centers in places of convenience for devotees of multiple places to come together.

Sri Swamiji has established Gnana Bodha Sabhas, the Satsang groups in India and Datta Yoga Centers outside India to advance his mission of universal peace and brotherhood. These centers work towards providing all the civic needs and in carrying out the vision of Sri Swamiji for the humanity in general. All the centers are involved in free feeding, social service, charitable medical activities, education (where possible) and the likes.

About 85 such centers are established as of 2016 all over the world and are dedicated to public. Notable among the centers outside India were Jesus Datta Retreat Center, a minimal facility meditation center in West Pennsylvania. This is a deep forest land with three large identified healing rocks named as Brahma, Vishnu and Siva rocks. People come here to meditate near the rocks which emanate blissful spiritual vibrations. Another Temple established in Frisco, Texas near Dallas is one of the largest prayer halls attached to a temple complex in the United States with a seating capacity of more than 3,500 where the Sanctum Sanctorum is dedicated to the rare green stone (Marakata) Karya Siddhi Hanuman.

Yet another temple complex is in Trinidad & Tobago, South America where Sri Swamiji has established the tallest Hanuman outside of India, standing at 85’.

Social service activities

Social cause

Sri Swamiji's generosity has transcended all limitations of language, faith or region. Sri Swamiji is equally at ease while raising donations for the renovation of a cathedral in Romania, or for free feeding of hurricane ravaged localities in the US, or to rebuild ancient temples, or to provide stipend to impoverished students among Muslim brethren or to organize orphanages in Peru and Trinidad. Sarva Dharma Samanvaya seminars and prayers by various communities in Datta Peetham - are regular features of Sri Swamiji's activities.

Social harmony and promotion of universal brotherhood have been the underlying focus of all of Sri Swamiji's activities. In support of his vision and mission, Sri Swamiji has dedicated time, organizational efforts and resources at various places in the world for the important causes like education, healthcare, worship place dedication, social events etc., in his own inimitable style crossing the regular help provided by many an organization.

Education

Identifying the need to provide continued support for the education of specially-abled children, Sri Swamiji has established SGS Vagdevi Vidya Samsthe, to provide the much needed help in the field of education for the hearing impaired and visually challenged. Dedicated staff, specialized in teaching the specially-abled children work n this school in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

In addition, Sri Swamiji's SGS Vidya Samsthe has charitable schools in multiple localities catering to the students of the local under privileged communities providing them the world class education.

Charity

The dedicated help and support activities in each field will help the identified beneficiaries. However, there is still a large section of the under privileged across the world seeking help and support. To ensure that all sections are covered to the extent possible, Sri Swamiji makes an annual effort in donating multiple items of life and livelihood support to identified sections of people through all the Ashrama branches across the world. Products of home employment and self-employment support, transportation support for the challenged, commercial three-wheelers for the unemployed youth – are some of the support program features initiated by Sri Swamiji. Creating employment support, health activities and supporting the government machinery by donating ambulances to police units, emergency response vehicles to hospitals and the likes are some of the other activities.

Share Your Food

With the scarcity of food grains increasing world over, Sri Swamiji has advised all the devotees to take a pledge on not just minimizing the wastage, but also to ensure that the food is shared among fellow beings. The Share-Your-Food is a strong going campaign where all the devotees globally, give up one meal to conserve the food and share that meal with the under-privileged.

Healthcare

Identifying the acute need for healthcare support across the globe, Sri Swamiji has made it a regular feature in his Ashrama activities. Every branch of an Ashrama will have a charitable clinic providing free consulting services and medicines for the visiting patients.

The holistic healing center in Mysore is the guiding light for all the medical activities of the Ashrama and its branches. The center in Mysore has dedicated facilities, staff and support in all the fields of medicine, viz., allopathy, Ayurveda, naturopathy and homeopathy. Several thousands of nearby places and visiting patients get the benefit of the free medical support from this center. Regularly conducted specialist camps attract the public from all over to benefit from the super specialist physicians available to support them. Hundreds of free cancer screening, diabetes, cardiac, dental, vision and many more such camps are conducted in the center. Special mention is for the veterinary hospital in some of the Ashramas not leaving the animal friends away.

Rural healthcare

In addition to these services, Sri Swamiji is supporting the rural healthcare by having the fully equipped mobile hospitals reach the deep and interior places of limited transportation on a regular basis to conduct health camps and provide medical assistance.

Rural education

Sri Swamiji's vision of supporting the rural and difficult to reach places is not limited to healthcare. He supports rural education by constructing, furnishing and providing education support to chosen deep and interior places where there was previously no education.

Annual titles

To promote, uphold and propagate the ancient wisdom, in respect of the scholars of various fields, Sri Swamiji has established the practice of honoring personalities of chosen expertise annually.

The coveted titles of

• Veda Nidhi
• Shastra Nidhi
• Nada Nidhi
• Kala Nidhi
• Asthana Vidwan
• Vishwa Bandhu
• Jaya Lakshmi Mata award
• Shuka Vana Award

are very prestigious for the Peetham as well as the recipients.

Mass marriages

Another important annual feature of Sri Swamiji's activities is to support local communities of weaker sections by conducting mass marriages. Every year at least 100 marriages were supported and the event celebrated with much fanfare among the communities. The special feature is Sri Swamiji's presence and blessing the young married couples who tie the knots in the special ritual supervised by the Ashrama Veda staff.

Temple construction and dedication

“The society that prays together stays together” – says Sri Swamiji. To enable the communities to pray together and celebrate the festivals, Sri Swamiji supports the temple and worship place construction in various localities. The support of such activities is much appreciated by the public and is shown in the way it is consumed. There are several such temples established under Sri Swamiji's guidance running independently, supporting the worship needs of the communities helping and improving the social harmony.

Research activities

It is an education to learn all of Ashrama objectives, objects and Sri Swamiji's activities and how helpful they are to all the people. To that extent all the above are open for research. Supporting such initiatives, Sri Swamiji has opened multiple research centers having personally spent significant effort in all such research initiatives.

Several such research initiatives are supported by Sri Swamiji, which are formally being recognized by universities globally, including research on his music therapy and research in the avian activities.

Research theses were submitted by multiple doctoral graduate aspirants on his music therapy and the healing effects of his music.

Currently, there is a unique in-house research being carried out at Shuka Vana, the avian rehabilitation center of the Ashrama, to find the path breaking gene structure associated with parrots and their varying levels of talking ability. This is expected in the coming 12–18 months to be published and appropriately recognized.

Vishwam Museum

Vishwam, the unique museum in Mysore Ashrama is an extended support of all the research activities and the doctoral, post-doctoral graduate students can work on their own initiative to research the life and works of Sri Swamiji using the documented artefacts available.

Vishwam is a museum of the rarest collection of all articles, artifacts and catalogued supporting items that can help such ongoing and future research for any registered, interested student community and/or institution.

Healing music research

A recorded research of the healing aspects of music on an under developed baby delivered has been documented by a South American student which thesis was awarded doctoral degree for the work.

Psychiatric Research Institute, Arkansas

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the Psychiatric Research Institute Center of Arkansas have conducted independent research on Sri Swamiji's music and its therapeutic effects. The center prescribed Sri Swamiji's recorded healing music albums for several patients who have shown a remarkable progress in their mental health. The recorded readings of the mind maps and neurographs were made available for any further studies.

Environment

Sri Swamiji's love for greenery and ecology is legendary. The Gardens in the Ashrama have developed over the past four decades under the enduring and affectionate attention of Sri Swamiji. The horticultural activities in Ashrama started with the planting of hundreds of organic coconut trees on its western boundary. Followed by cultivation of flowers and herbal plants and shade-giving palm trees – Ashrama has become a hub of horticultural activity. From 1986, Sri Swamiji dedicated gardens to specific aspects of creation: Rashi Vana (plants connected with signs in the zodiac system), Nakshatra Vana (plants connected with the 27 stars of Indian astrology), Raga Vana (plants connected with the sounds of Indian music scale), Saptarshi Vana (seven plants connected with the seven great Indian sages – the big dipper) and Panchayatana Vana (five gardens of plants connected with worship)

Bonsai culture and support

Being a keen nature lover, Sri Swamiji has special interest in developing spiritual gardens thereby enlightening people about the divinity of Mother Nature.

Sri Swamiji has been at the forefront of Bonsai development. Kishkindha Moolika Bonsai Garden is an exquisite collection of more than 1,000 carefully shaped and miniaturized trees including herbal medicinal plants grown over a hectare. The trees have been aesthetically displayed in oriental garden setting amidst the tranquil surroundings.

The various gardens described above stand testimonials to Sri Swamiji's innovative zeal and zest for evolving new paradigms for adoring and worshiping nature. The Bonsai garden in the Ashrama is shining gem in the glittering crown called Avadhoota Datta Peetham in Mysore.

Avian support and Shukavana[2]

Sri Swamiji has established Shuka Vana, an avian park, the rehabilitation center for birds – in the serene premises of the Ashrama in Mysore. This park has over 2,100 rare birds of more than 470 endangered and extremely endangered exotic species.

Shuka Vana accomplishes Sri Swamiji's mission of providing shelter and rehabilitation to injured or uncared for birds with a high degree of commitment and compassion. A unique bird hospital is at the center of Shuka Vana taking care of the birds.

Organizations founded

Sri Swamiji's Avatara descended with a multi-faceted and elaborate plan and the mission is supported by many initiatives. To ensure that the purpose is served and is eternally supported, Sri Swamiji has founded many organizations with specific responsibilities:

Avadhoota Datta Peetham

An umbrella organization supporting Sri Swamiji's vision and mission. The only entity responsible for providing guidance for all other organizations.[3]

Datta Yoga Centers

The organizations supporting the activities outside of India are known as Datta Yoga Centers. DYCs are established in almost all the countries of Sri Swamiji's tours and devotee Satsangs viz., USA, UK, Germany, Holland, Russia, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UAE, Malaysia, Mexico, Japan and Singapore.[3]

Gnana Bodha Sabhas

The Satsang Sabhas and the Ashrama organizations in India known as Gnana Bodha Sabhas started appropriately with the capital city of New Delhi Gnana Bodha Sabha registered in 1970. There are over 100 GBS organizations supporting the mission of Sri Swamiji across India working hand in hand with the Matru Mandali, Anna Dana Trust and volunteer organization.

Jaya Lakshmi Matru Mandali

Women are the leading light of the society. Their participation and leadership in the service activities, including but not limited to the large scale free feeding is the vision of Sri Swamiji. To fulfil such support functions, Sri Swamiji initiated the women-only organization Sri Jaya Lakshmi Mata Matru Mandali, which is a default entity in every Ashrama/GBS/DYC branch.

Jesus Datta Retreat Center

The pristine ambiance of lush and deep green forest to the north west of Pittsburg was identified around 1986 as a divine field with natural spiritual aura from large healing rocks. This area later was decorated with a small Pagoda style temple and a minimal facility onsite dormitory for people who come to meditate near the rocks. The three rocks were named – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva rocks with Shiva rock completely inside the temple structure, Vishnu rock partly inside and Brahma rock completely outside the temple. Named Jesus Datta Retreat Center, the Ashrama is a blissful retreat from the mundane and busy city life for a spiritual seeker.

Euro Church Datta Center

Year 2010 saw a dilapidated church building in Central London getting ready to close for want of funding and being a keen observer of all-faith-unity, Sri Swamiji readily came forward to help the organization. Later, it became the Euro Datta Church Center where a huge prayer hall complex stands tall today welcoming followers of all faiths.

Yoga Sangeeta

Yoga Sangeeta is established in 2009 by Sri Swamiji with an intent to promote Music that helps yoga enthusiasts, yoga practitioners, music pundits, enthusiasts and everyone alike. His personal research of more than 30 years and experiments with music's therapeutic powers led to the conviction that the healing powers of music should be available to everyone and Yoga Sangeeta carries the mission. Yoga Sangeeta is unique as it gives first-hand experience of the meditation and healing music to everyone.

Sri Jayalakshmi Mata Nitya Annadana Trust

Free feeding and poor feeding are regular activities of all the Ashramas established by Sri Swamiji, across the globe. To support the initiative and provide guidance, an organization in the name of Parama Guru, Sri Jayalakshmi Mata was found and appropriately named the Nitya Annadana Trust. Headquartered in Mysore, SJLMNAT supports and oversees the otherwise self-sufficient activities of Annadana and poor feeding inspiring the hundreds of Matru Mandali committees all over the world to carry out charitable activities.

Swami Narahari Teertha Medical Mission

The healthcare activities and day-to-day operations of the several charitable hospitals, specialized camps conducted during event times and/or the mobile medical services being taken up by various Ashrama branches, across the world are guided by Swami Narahari Teertha Medical Mission.

Raga Ragini Trust

Raga Ragini trust headquartered in Mysore has the responsibility of all his publications. It ensures that his voice reaches the millions of devotees across the globe, carefully handling all of Sri Swamiji's video, audio and writing works.

Amma Vodi

To address the plight of untold misery of discriminated and under privileged women, Sri Swamiji has established a rehabilitation center in Hyderabad, called Ammavodi, spread over a sprawling two acres of landscaped greenery, in Dundigal, near Hyderabad, India.[4] Amma Vodi, meaning Mother's Lap is a Social welfare project that exclusively addresses the needs of helpless, forsaken and poor women who cannot fend for themselves.

Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple

One of the largest prayer hall complexes with a formal temple established by him is the Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple in Frisco, TX – USA. Consecrated and dedicated to public in July 2015, this temple complex with Marakata (Green Stone) Hanuman as the presiding deity attracts thousands of devotees even on a normal weekend day.

SGS Raga Sagara

SGS Raga Sagara is an organization with the sole responsibility of compiling, cataloguing and distributing Sri Swamiji's healing music and the concerts among the devotees and the interested seeker.

Monumental works

Nada Mantapa

Nada Mantapa, is a great edifice offered by Sri Swamiji as a tribute to the entire music world. This world-class indoor auditorium has a hand fan shape with ornate Tanpuras (string musical instrument used as drone) settled on the frontage of the building both outside and within. They are 22 in number indicating twenty two Shrutis (tune scales). There are 72 pillars supporting this structure representative of 72 melakarta ragas in Indian classical system – the originating tunes for many generated tunes.

Unique Sapta Swara Devata Pillars

Within the Nada Mantapa, to the left corner is a temple dedicated to the presiding deities of the important seven musical notes (Sapta Swara Devata). These Note deities structured in pillars have a unique feature to sound the note when gently touched.

Monolithic Karya Siddhi Hanuman

An awe-inspiring and attractively devotional monolithic Karya Siddhi Hanuman was established in Mysore Ashrama in December 2012. This Hanuman stands tall on a pedestal of 30 feet under which a small shrine of the deity is made available in an octagonal temple structure for devotees to offer prayers. This was a large project right from the selection of the stone, transport of the huge 200-tonne material, transformation to Hanuman Murthy and all the way to the inauguration attended by devotees from 40 countries. The crown jewel of this monumental work of Sri Swamiji is his own guidance to use technology to map a depiction of Hanuman Chalisa – discussed in technology usage section.

Moolikeshwara

Vedas, the primordial texts of Sanatana Dharma, adore and worship all forms of herbs and plants given by Mother Nature. Sri Swamiji gave a form to that and established the Lord Moolikeshwara, a 40’ tall terracotta statue invoking all the herbs of the universe. This is the form of the Lord available for the visitors for prayers.

Dharma Dhwaja

A towering 50’ monolithic octagonal pillar structure right beside the Moolikeshwara is the Dharma Dhwaja depicting all the important world religions and their symbolism. A special sound and light show narrates and proves that all faiths lead to the same truth.

Karya Siddhi Hanuman (Trinidad and Tobago)

Yet another monumental and tourist attraction that he gave to the South American country of Trinidad and Tobago is the tallest installation of Hanuman outside India. This towering Hanuman stands with his protective gesture at 85’ as if he is displaying his Vishwaroopa from Srimad Ramayana.

Vishwam

The Vishwam museum in the Ashrama is another monumental attraction with all the rare items and gift collections offered to him. Containing the items from the bicycle used by Sri Swamiji in the early days to the egg fossils of dinosaurs, philately collection of all stamps released since Indian independence, is not only a museum but a hub of research activity.

Unique birthday pillars

Each day has a presiding deity based on Astrology and Numerology. Sri Swamiji has painstakingly depicted all of them on stone pillars of symmetrical size and installed them around the Ashrama in Mysore. It is beneficial for people to go around the pillar of their birthdate and offer their respects.

Akaala Moksha Sthoopa

Standing in the midst of the various herbal gardens is the Akala Moksha Stupa. It is a gigantic terra cotta shrine dedicated to the worship of those who have met with unnatural deaths, such as accidents or suicides.

Marakata Raja Rajeshwari Temple, Vijayawada

One of the monumental temples consecrated by Sri Swamiji is the Marakata Raja Rajeshwari temple in Vijayawada, India. The temple is unique that there is no cement or concrete used in the construction and it is pure stone Sumeru-shaped structure reviving the ancient practices of building temples.

Recognitions

Guinness World Records for World Peace

Recognizing the work Sri Swamiji has done, Guinness World Records has offered 9 World records so far, for various activities conducted. All of those record events were dedicated for world peace and universal brotherhood.

• On 31 January 2015, in Tenali, India more than 220,000 people gathered together to offer prayers for world peace and the Most People Chanting Together world record was broken when the number reached over 128,000 people.[5]
• On 6 April 2015, Opera House, Sydney witnessed the wonderful music therapy session, where the lesson was taken by the record number of participants and Sri Swamiji conducted the lesson.[6]
• On 31 July 2015, at Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple in Frisco, Texas, more than 580 people gather to offer prayers for universal peace participating in a continuous marathon chanting lasting for over 24 hours.[7]
• In July 2015, Milpitas, USA has seen the largest Yoga lesson given for the wellbeing of the society.[8][9]
• .31 July 2016, the tallest Hanuman outside India, became a witness for the world's largest online video album with over 40,000 people from 30+ different countries dedicating a prayer chant for the universal brotherhood.[10]
• On 26 May 2017, during the Avatara Vajrotsava, 75th birthday of Sri Swamiji, the largest Hindu scripture was dedicated to the world for inspiring everyone to follow Sanatana Dharma leading to universal collaboration and friendliness.[11]
• The same day Sri Swamiji was offered the World Record title for the largest display of Bonsai trees in December 2016, with a tally of over 2600 trees during the World Bonsai convention in Mysore Ashrama.[12]
• Shuka Vana was recognized with a Guinness World Record for providing shelter for over 2000 birds of 468 exotic speciess.[13][14]
• The largest special stamp measures 2.87 m² (30.94 ft²), achieved by Sri Ganapthy Sachchidananda Swamiji (India) at Avadhoota Datta Peetham, Mysuru, India, on 26 May 2018. The original stamp was issued by the Indian Postal Department commemorating the Vishwam Museum which houses a wide variety of rare artefacts and precious stones. This was the 9th record achieved by Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji within three years.[15]

Doctorate awards

• Sri Krishnadevaraya University of Andhra Pradesh has recognized Sri Swamiji's contribution to the world of music by offering him a doctorate on his treatise, Raga Ragini Nada Yogamu, a wonderful study of the therapeutic effects of music.
• The University of World Languages, London has recognized Sri Swamiji's literary works by offering him an honorary doctorate in the field of Literature

Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji Day

World over, several countries and cities have declared the days of Sri Swamiji's visit to their place as Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Day in honor of him and his benedictions to their communities.

Honorary mayor / honorary citizen

Numerous Cities in the United States have offered to Sri Swamiji, the keys to their city, the honorary mayorship and honorary citizenships marking their respect to the yeomen services Sri Swamiji rendered and continuing to render to the communities to live in peace and harmony.

Digital outreach

Sri Swamiji entered the social media and digital arena, as the current day youth is available only on these increasingly popular platforms. He comes down to the level of the devotee to make them tread the righteous path. As part of that, hundreds of initiatives and projects have been taken up by him. Sri Swamiji is a very technically savvy and hands-on expert. He has provided guidance to several technical and digital initiatives. Some of them are the Yoga Sangeeta, SGS Datta Seva, SGS Raga Sagara and the likes.

Nandana

The year 2012, Nandana, has seen a steady flow of short messages of moral and spiritually uplifting nature from Sri Swamiji. Several millions of people received those messages and Ashrama was flooded with communications to inform that the messages were so appropriate for daily life situations and that many followers got immense benefit from these short messages.

SGS Posts

An ever busy post man delivering God's message to the people and people's prayers to the Lord, Sri Swamiji uses a mobile application SGS Posts to provide his wisdom through the short and sweet messages every day in multiple languages.

Digital albums

Sri Swamiji's digital albums have been topping the charts in various social and video networking platforms online. Sri Swamiji's videos have been world's top in number of views in more than three categories. All of his online music albums have been chartbusters for a long time, particularly the weeks of new album releases.

Movies

Sri Swamiji has also stepped into the movie field, with Sri Datta Darshanam a movie based on the script from Sri Swamiji's epic book widely popular among the devotees.

Technology usage

Sri Swamiji wanted to ensure that the healthy body is an abode of a healthy mind. Knowing the youth and young adults are the future of the world, Sri Swamiji walked into and adopted new age technology to capture the hearts of the audience. In addition to the outreach using the various social media forums, Sri Swamiji has been the first to utilize virtual reality, augmented reality and the projection mapping like technological advancements.

SGS Dhyana Brahma

A great way of meditating with himunder his direct guidance and instruction manifested as one of the first usages of Internet of Things for spiritual purposes. This wearable device driven guided meditation application provides weekly meditation classes/sessions with him where he can directly monitor and correct the participants in real-time.

Spatial augmented reality – Hanuman Chalisa

Project mapping is a known technique to use video projection on irregular surfaces to turn them into displays. The monolithic 45’ Karya Siddhi Hanuman established by Sri Swamiji in Mysore is projection mapped to display the Hanuman Chalisa in an awe-inspiring way. This is a show that runs on every weekend day for the benefit of the visitors.

Augmented reality – Divine Darshan

It is not just the story of Hanuman that uses technology, but the new age augmented reality is also put to use by Sri Swamiji to provide his vision to the devotees in their respective homes. The mobile application Divine Darshan maps Sri Swamiji's video blessings to an identified area of the devotees’ home/office/any chosen backdrop.

Literary works

Sri Swamiji has been a very active and a voracious writer. His writing prowess has been known to the world for over five decades. The most complex Swarakshara Kritis, Swara Devata Kritis, Tora bandha Kritis, Vajra Bandha Kritis, Nama sankirtan bhajans in various languages – have all been testimonies for the Vaaggeyakara in him.

In addition. Sri Swamiji has written treatises, simplified epic puranas, modern day useful quotes and many more. Many of his literary works have been translated into multiple world languages. All of his publications went for reprints multiple times.

One of his detailed works has been the Raga Ragini Nada Yogamu – a treatise on the therapeutic aspects of music explaining how music heals. His Chutuku Sahitya is reviving an age old technique of limerick writing which gave more than 700 small verses guiding the daily life of humans.

Books published

Sri Swamiji's collection of poems, Sachchidananda Neeti Mala, Chutuku Sahitya, Vedanta Geetalu in Sanskrit, Kannada and Telugu respectively have been a beacon of light for seekers. They illustrate the essence of life in a very simple and lucid language.

There are at least 100 books written by Sri Swamiji in multiple languages in addition to the hundreds by devotees on him and his spiritual guidance, their experiences and the compilation of his discourses. There were several other books which are translations of his original works carried out by many literary enthusiasts.

Volunteer corps

Sri Swamiji has established a very strong and service oriented volunteer corps, Sri Datta Humane Services, as part of his world renowned institution for the social, and spiritual welfare of mankind. This entity reminds people of their social responsibility towards their fellow beings and encourages them to participate in social welfare as well as service activities.

The volunteer corps supports multiple initiatives of the Ashrama and some are below:

Blood bank support

There is always a need for blood in various hospitals and banks. Sri Swamiji's instructions made a virtual blood bank open up for operation by SDHS. A 24x7 phone line helps the needy across India get blood in time from donors.

Social service activities

Sri Swamiji's instructions to carry out the social service is the only constitution for the volunteer corps. The volunteers participate in various activities including but not limited to:

• Hurricane & flood devastated are/people support
• Food distribution
• Free food delivery
• Medical camps
• Free specialist camps in rural and hard-to-reach areas
• Organizing free artificial limb camps
• Supporting civic events of very high attendance (to the tune of millions of participants)
• Abandoned dead body disposal support with other organizations

Sri Swamiji's volunteers are all over the activities with no regard to the scale, skill and/or hygiene barriers.

References

1. Ranjani Govind. "Music extends a healing touch". The Hindu.
2. "Shuka Vana: Rehabilitation centre for birds". Star of Mysore. 18 January 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
3. Jones, Constance A.; Ryan, James D. (2007). Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Encyclopedia of World Religions. J. Gordon Melton, Series Editor. New York: Facts On File. p. 121. ISBN 978-0-8160-5458-9. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019.
4. "Aid Datta Ashram projects". The Times of India. 10 April 2003.
5. "World Record gathering for Chanting of Hanuman Chalisa in Tenali, India - 31 Jan 2015". SGS Hanuman Chalisa. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
6. "Largest music therapy lesson". Guinness World Records. Guinness Book of World Records. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
7. "Guru Purnima & Guinness world record at Hanuman Temple". dattapeetham.org. Avadhoota Datta Peetham. 1 August 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
8. "Guinness World Records Recognizes Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji for Creating World History at India Community Center, Milpitas, CA, USA". prweb. 11 July 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
9. "Pujya Swamiji in Bay Area 9-11 July 2016 Hanuman Chalisa & Yoga world record". Avadootha Datta Peetham. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
10. "HH Swamiji in Trinidad 2016 Kumbhabhisheka & Chanting". Avadootha Datta Peetham. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
11. Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple (27 May 2017). "3 Guinness World Records🎖awarded on HH Swamiji's birthday". Facebook. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
12. "Largest display of bonsai trees". Guinness World Records. Guinness Book of World Records. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
13. "Most bird species in an aviary". Guinness World Records. Guinness Book of World Records. 6 May 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
14. "Vajrotsava". Star of Mysore. 20 May 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
15. "World's Largest Postal Stamp: Seer Gets 9th Guinness World Record". Star of Mysore. 27 May 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.

External links

• Avadhoota Datta Peetham (Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Ashram)
• SGS Birds Shukavana website
• Raga Sagara Concerts website
• Yoga Sangeeta: What is the theory behind Raga Ragini Vidya?
• NADA Music of Divinity: Music for Healing and Meditation c