User:Ramdass2011/sandbox/Swami Satyanand

Shree Swami Satyanand Ji Maharaj, the founder of Shree Ram Sharnam, was born on 7th April 1868 in Rawalpindi. He had lost his parents in his early childhood. At the young age of 17, he took up the company of spiritual teachers of Jain faith. At the age of 30, he joined the Arya Samaj, and studied Vedanta, Upanishads, and other sacred epics. He spent the following 25 years giving spiritual talks and spreading the spiritual teachings from the sacred epics.

During this period, he also wrote the following books; Dayananda Prakash, Satya Updesh Mala, Onkar Upasna, Arya Samajic Dharma, SandhyaYog, Ishwar Darshan, and Dayananda Vachnamrit.

Lacking inner peace, in early 1925 he went to Dalhousie in the Himalayas, to meditate in solitude to seek God. On 7th July 1925 the day of Vyas Purnima, Swamiji was blessed with the sounds and inner vision of "Ram Naam", and with the realization of his soul’s oneness with God. In 1928, he began initiating his followers with "Ram Naam".

He wrote additional books, namely, Bhakti Prakash, Valmikis Ramayana-sar, Sri Bhagwat Gita, Akadashopnishad Sangrah, Pravachan Piyush (Collection of Swami Ji's Lectures), Prarthna Aur Uska Prabhav, Upasak Ka Anteric Jeevan, Bhakti Aur Bhakt Ke Lakshan, Sthitpragya Ke Lakshan, Bhajan Avam Dhavani Sangrah, and Amritvani. These volumes are published by Shree Swami Satyanand Dharmarth Trust, New Delhi, and are sold at price below cost. Swamiji has written these epics through inner guidance gained in a state of samadhi. Of all these wonderful books, AMRITVANI has uniquely become universally popular because of its deep Spiritual Power. It is presented in a small book and is widely recited because of its unique power in invoking devotion to Ram.

Swami Ji did not start a separate Spiritual Path. He was a God-realized Saint, like Sant Kabir, Guru Nanak, Samarth Ramdas, Goswami Tulsidas, Sri Ramakrishan Paramhansa and Maharishi Dayanand. Goal of his teaching was to intensify devotion to God through concentration on "Ram Naam".

Swami Ji initiated Sadhna Satsangs for serious devotees to practice detachment, devotion, purity of body and mind, and healthy living habits. The first Sadhna Satsang was held in Haridwar, followed by many camps all over India. On November 13, 1960 while chanting "Ram Naam", Swamiji gave up his physical body after transferring his Spiritual Powers to his dear disciple Shree Prem Ji Maharaj, and designating him as the one to replace him. Shree Swamiji’s body was immersed in the Holy Ganges at Neel-Dhara near Haridwar, which has since become a unique Holy Place for all Amritvani devotees....