Who is Swami Premananda?
From time to time great souls are born into this world with amazing qualities. They come with a purpose to remove the suffering of the people and to lead them to the truth. Swami Premananda is one of these very special ones. Swami is a Hindu religious title meaning that he has mastered himself. Prema means pure, divine love. Ananda means the highest joy known to man. Swami Premananda lives up to his wonderful name. He has dedicated his entire existence to the service of others… His extraordinary life conveys his message. Swami Premananda is a rare being indeed - he is a living spiritual
master. What is a spiritual master? A genuine master is an experienced
teacher who removes the clouds of ignorance from the mind. He is an
ever-free radiant spirit who lights the path to our own inner truth. He
is our example of what we can aspire to be in life in the highest sense.
Swami Premananda's name means 'Divine Love and Bliss'. Many around the world regard him as a living embodiment of these qualities. At the beginning of the 20th century, a great saint, Swami Paramaguru of Sri Lanka, foretold Swami Premananda's birth and spiritual power to Swamiji's grandmother. He was born on 17th November 1951 in Matale, Sri Lanka and the elderly saint's predictions steadily came true.
Swami Premananda was born with certain powers such as the ability to materialize objects, to heal people and to know the past, present and future and whatever he said, would happen. This seemed very natural to him and, during his childhood, he thought that everybody could do the same. Slowly he discovered that this was not so. Around the age of 14, through deep meditative states, he discovered that he could use these special gifts to help humanity on the spiritual path. He then decided to dedicate his life entirely to the Divine and to help aspirants know the Truth and purpose of their existence. People from many nationalities and belief systems and from all social levels experience his loving, supportive presence in their day-to-day lives and that he solves their physical, mental and spiritual problems and guides them on their individual spiritual journeys.
Swami Premananda sees the main part of his life work as supporting sincere seekers, to open their inner heart and lead them towards the experience of their own divine nature. He encourages and guides them to realize the Truth within themselves and attain infinite peace of mind and permanent happiness. He does so with tremendous love, patience, self-surrender and humbleness, not to mention a crisp, pointed sense of humour. He is full of energy and actively does service for others 24 hours a day.
Swamiji advises us very practically how to adapt our lives according to spiritual principles leading to self-knowledge and divine experience. He says that his teaching in itself is nothing new. On the contrary, it is natural and in essence is the same as that which has been taught by all spiritual masters and religions throughout the world and ages. He says that his teaching is traditionally known as 'Sanatana Dharma', the Eternal Truth and he is a living example of everything he teaches.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
MY FAMILY BACKGROUND
My grandfather, who was called Sivasami Malavarayer, and grandmother, Seerangam, on my father's side, were born and lived in Balathamangalam in the Papanasam District of Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu in the heart of South India. My father, Somasundaram Malavarayer, was also born and brought up there. In 1924, when he was a young man, he went to Sri Lanka for business matters. He decided to stay there and he settled in Vathumoolai in the Teltheni district of Sri Lanka. He started a successful business which did well.
My grandfather on my mother's side was born in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. He was called Pakirisamy Elamudayar. He also went to Sri Lanka to do business and settled there in Matale. Matale is situated in the central mountain region of Sri Lanka. It is surrounded by a natural hill-country environment with rivers and pure springs. It is famous for its wonderful spices and its powerful temple to Mariyamma, the Divine Mother. My grandmother, Thaiyal Muthammal, was born in Changilibai in Jaffna District in northern Sri Lanka and later moved to Matale. She and Pakirisamy had one daughter, Pushpakanthi, and two sons, Mayilvaganam and Ponnuthurai. Pushpakanthi married Somasundaram in Mandandawela in the Matale District. They had four sons and three daughters. I was their third child.
MY MISSION BEGINS
Soon after my important decisions to serve humanity and help those in need, various problems arose. Firstly, in Matale there were no Hindu monks. Even Swami Paramaguru's Ashram was not functioning due to lack of maintenance. There was no-one who could give me spiritual guidance. My parents and relatives were against my leading a spiritual life. My new 'devotees' (my friend's parents) asked me to stay with them. And so I stayed with the Sountharanayagar Gunaratnam family for some time. New devotees came to meet me at their house. They began to bring their families and friends. I also started to mature spiritually. More and more devotees came. Their numbers increased rapidly and they felt that I should be in a place where all could come freely. Like this, my first Ashram started to form. I was inspired to meditate even more. I meditated nearly 20 hours a day for a period of forty days. I underwent many spiritual experiences.
I recalled that as a child I had tasted the Divine on many occasions but I had not understood too much what was happening to me. Even as a toddler I could will things to happen or wish any articles or food to appear in my hands. At school when I thought too much about different deities or the lives of saints I used to fall down in a semiconscious state. I would feel overwhelmed with an unbearable joy and would faint and leave my body. Sometimes they had to send me home in a taxi! When I was about ten years old I often felt the urge to visit my Auntie in Colombo. I just used to think of her and I found that I would be with her. She asked my mother how come such a small boy was allowed to travel four hours alone to Colombo. Then they discovered that I was actually in two places at once – with Auntie in Colombo and with my mum in Matale. During such times I felt my body as if in a dream. When I was twelve I once locked myself in a room for three days. I told my family I was sick – but actually I was in high state of god-intoxication. On the third day my sister, Babakka, got scared about me and she peeped at me through the skylight on the roof. She was terribly afraid because she saw me covered in rays of golden light, seated upright in the lotus position.
Now I was consciously reaching out for the Divine and for the source of the yogic powers vested in me. On the fortieth day I heard a voice saying "You are blessed with divine power. It is not that your words come true but God speaks through you. Hereafter you should speak about God to your devotees. It is your mission in this world to make as many people as possible understand that the Divine exists." From that day on I mostly began to speak about the Divine to everyone. I told them that I had now devoted my life to direct the devotees towards God. I said that now God is always in my consciousness and is part of my every thought, deed and action, every single day. I promised them that I was trying to share with them this power and knowledge that God was directing through me. I tried to elevate their thoughts and help them to reach out to that great and infinite power we call God which lies beyond the experience of our senses and which is the essential force behind all in the universe.
MY FIRST ASHRAM
HOME OF PEACE FOR ALL RELIGIONS
Without my announcing it, I was regarded as being a Hindu monk, yet my inner feeling was that I loved the essence of all religions and I was a person who respected all faiths. I never did, and still do not, impose any particular religion on anyone. I teach only spirituality to them. Spirituality is common to all religions but it is expressed in different ways in the various religions. My spiritual concept is that we should always try to grow in spirituality and my followers should also mature on their spiritual path according to their own religion. In order to express and emphasize my concepts to the people, I started the "Sarva Matha Shanti Nilayam' in the Gandhi Hall, Matale. The meaning of the title for my new Ashram was, "Abode of Peace for all Religions." However, the different religious leaders did not like this idea at all. The Buddhist monks did not like me to speak about Lord Buddha and Buddhism in front of the pictures of Hindu Gods in my little Ashram. The Christians did not like pictures of Lord Jesus Christ alongside the other 'false Gods'. The Muslims did not like to involve their religion with any other and called it all nonsense. Each wanted to maintain the purity of their own religion and I suffered a lot of anxiety and mental torture about expressing my ideas. I could see that it was not possible to wash away the differences between the religions and instill greater tolerance and understanding between them. Although it pained me a lot, I did not stop my attempt to create unity and harmony and I decided to carry on the same ideals under a new name, "Poobalakrishna Ashram." This means, young Krishna of flowers.
From a very young age I started taking in homeless or unwanted children. I sympathized with them so much because I had experienced rejection and loneliness myself as a youngster. Why, I was hardly grown myself! I was just a small lad of seventeen when I started my mission. The other kids who joined me were from the very young to early teenage. Some of them are still with my mission and others are in regular contact with me. Their number grew very fast and they were cared for by resident devotees giving service. They all attended the local schools. They were cared for very well. Everything was free for them: food, clothing, schooling and shelter. I treated them as if they were my own children. I was very strict. I had been a mischievous youngster myself so I know all the pranks and tricks! Because I was young too, I was able to understand them and help them with all their problems, worries and fears. I also brought them up spiritually. All had to attend daily poojas and prayers and everyone had to sing bhajans. There were Christian, Buddhist and Hindu kids in my orphanage. Most of them loved the religious aspect of our life and a great number of them learned meditation in our beautiful hilltop meditation center.
Hilltop meditation centre
I never discriminated between the children I brought up or the devotees I taught. Even now I am continuing my work to treat all religions equally. Anyone can come to me for guidance and help. They need not be a Hindu. I encourage people to grow within the sphere of their own faith and religion and to deeply understand and feel its true essence.
A NEW START IN INDIA
THE GROWTH OF MY ASHRAM IN INDIA
When I landed at the airport in Chennai (Madras) I found myself in a totally strange land, although it was the land of my forefathers. I knew no-one and no place in India. However, much to my total surprise, as I came out of the airport I found an elderly lady holding a large banner with my name written on it! She was Mrs. Kamalabai Naidu. Later I learned that my Sri Lankan devotees had contacted my London Centre and from there arrangements had been made for my stay in India. Mrs. Naidu took me to her house in Madras and I stayed there.
Thereafter I went on a pilgrimage of all India and saw many famous places, temples and Ashrams. Whilst travelling I visited Trichy. I liked the area very much and I especially loved the two temples to the Divine Mother, Sammayapuram Mariyamman and Vekkali Amman.
The land of the Ashram
I decided to stay there and build up an Ashram with an Orphanage. When I approached the government of Tamil Nadu with my idea they offered me an acre of land. I replied that it would not be sufficient. The government told me that if I wanted more land I should buy it myself. I did just that – I bought five acres of land initially close to Viralimalai in the Pudukkottai District. Slowly I also bought the surrounding lands and began to construct my Ashram and Orphanage there.
The children whom I had left behind in Sri Lanka wished to come to India and stay with me. Just as they asked, I brought them and they lived in the partly constructed Ashram. However, I still continued to stay with Mr. Seeni Thevar in Trichy. Most of my relatives, including my mother (my father died some years earlier), and a fairly large group of close devotees came to settle with me in India. They felt it best to stay close to me. We stayed in various houses in the area. Wherever we went, our little community did daily abishekams and poojas and we held weekly bhajans and speeches. Soon a growing group of Indian devotees started to gather around me.
Sri Premananda Ashram
"I made this Ashram for a particular reason - to spiritually uplift the devotees. I made it for the sake of all of you. You want to develop the highest wisdom and attain realization and so I have created an environment conducive to your development." - Swami Premananda
What is an ashram
according to ancient Indian tradition
The word 'ashrama' means "a place of striving" from the word 'shram' "to exert energy". It is essentially a sacred sanctuary which is the residence and centre of teaching of a saint.
Ashram life finds its roots in a very ancient Indian tradition known as Gurukul. Two thousand five hundred years ago, the rishis (the "seers", saints and sages) were educators who used to live in the forest with their families and those who wanted to learn spirituality. In Ashrams of the ancient days, the rishis trained young people in the principles of vedic culture and right living. Master and student ("guru" and "chela" or disciple) lived and worked together for years.
In these Ashrams, learning meant that a person was empowered to manifest his or her inner potential. Education was, primarily a way of life. The rishis were men of spiritual knowledge who had realized the spiritual truths. In this sense they were called gurus, or teachers. The students lived in the Gurukul for a period of 12 years and after the completion of their studies they returned to their families and married or they could remain celibate and live a life of renunciation.
"In spite of the power of the worldly illusion and the ego-will, there is a way to go towards the truth. Go towards it surely and steadily. Still the mind and bring it to one point. How? First, find the most suitable environment and place to practise. It is said that an Ashram life is best. There you will find peace, knowledge, culture and devotion. There the universal knowledge is vibrating. Wherever holy persons have placed their feet, those places pulsate with grace-full power. When you also walk there that grace enters you automatically. If you attain the spiritual master's grace then God's grace is also yours. With so much divine grace you will surely gain wisdom!" - Swami Premananda
Contact
Sri Premananda Ashram
Fathimanagar PO
Via Edamalaipatti Pudur
Trichy 620012, Tamil Nadu, India
E-mail of the Ashram: contact@sripremananda.org
"The Ashram is in a simple style. It is traditional in order to make the mind clear and uncomplicated. A luxury life leads to a luxury mind. The background is important to change one's mind and lead it to the highest spirituality." - Swami Premananda
More information on the web:
http://sripremananda.org/