15 Facts About Brahmananda Saraswati

Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, known as Guru Dev, was the Shankaracharya of the Jyotir Math monastery in India.

Brahmananda Saraswati's disciples included Swami Shantanand Saraswati, Transcendental Meditation founder Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Svami Swarupananda Sarasvati and Swami Karpatri.

Brahmananda Saraswati was from a well to do, land owning Brahmin family.

Brahmananda Saraswati was called Rajaram in his younger days and was known as Maha Yogiraj.

Brahmananda Saraswati's parents wanted him to marry and live the life of a householder and asked their family guru to convince Rajaram to forget his dream of a reclusive life.

Brahmananda Saraswati then became the favorite disciple in his master's ashram and, according his master's instructions, he retired to a nearby cave and visited his master only once per week.

At the age of twenty five, Svami Brahmananda Sarasvati emerged from his cave and permanently rejoined his Master at his ashram.

In 1941, at the age of 70, after repeated requests over a period of twenty years, Brahmananda Saraswati accepted the position of Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math, a position that had been vacant for more than 150 years.

Brahmananda Saraswati was seen as the embodiment of the qualifications mentioned in Vedic texts, and this assisted in his unhindered ascension to the position at the age of 70.

Sankaracarya Svami Brahmananda Saraswati Sarasvati was charged with reconstructing the temple and institution at Jyotir Math.

Brahmananda Saraswati supervised the final construction of the Shrine of Purnagiri Devi about 100 yards in front of the new monastery, which "the Darbhanga ruler" had begun just prior to his death.

Brahmananda Saraswati's leadership was instrumental in re-establishing the Jyotir Math as "an important centre of traditional advaita teaching in northern India".

Brahmananda Saraswati spent most of his time as Sankaracarya traveling around northern India giving lectures in an effort to re-establish the correct understanding of Shankara's teachings.

Sankaracarya Svami Brahmananda Saraswati's disciples included Swami Shantanand Saraswati, TM founder Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Swami Swarupananda Saraswati and Swami Karpatri.

Five months before his death in 1953, Brahmananda Saraswati made a will naming his disciple Swami Shantanand Saraswati as his successor as Shankaracharya of the Jyotir Math monastery.