Guru Lineage
Adi Shankaracharya
Jagat-Guru Adi Shank
aracharya Bhagavapada was born in a Nambudiri brahmin family, most likely in 509AD in the village of Kaladi, Kerala. He left home the age of eight and studied with his guru Govindapada for 8 years, during which time he wrote his famous non-dualistic commentaries on the Bhagavad-Gita, the ten principal Upanishads and the Brahma-Sutras. From the age of sixteen he traveled throughout India, teaching Vedic wisdom, writing poetic works of devotion and esoteric treaties on Yogic and Tantric practice, establishing temples, and reorganizing the Shiva monastic system. Shankaracharya’s four principle disciples: Padmapada, Hastamalaka, Totakacharya and Sureshvaracharya, started the ten monastic orders known as the Dash Nami Sampradaya (ten-named lineage). Believed to be a partial incarnation of Lord Shiva, Shankaracharya left his body in the Himalayan shrine of Kedarnath at the age of thirty-two. His
disciple Sureshvaracharya is the founder of the Saraswati order to which our lineage belongs. He taught, “Those who are always in possession of all wisdom, who are masters in speech and scholarship, who are never interested in the ocean of worldly existence—these are know as Saraswatis.”
aracharya Bhagavapada was born in a Nambudiri brahmin family, most likely in 509AD in the village of Kaladi, Kerala. He left home the age of eight and studied with his guru Govindapada for 8 years, during which time he wrote his famous non-dualistic commentaries on the Bhagavad-Gita, the ten principal Upanishads and the Brahma-Sutras. From the age of sixteen he traveled throughout India, teaching Vedic wisdom, writing poetic works of devotion and esoteric treaties on Yogic and Tantric practice, establishing temples, and reorganizing the Shiva monastic system. Shankaracharya’s four principle disciples: Padmapada, Hastamalaka, Totakacharya and Sureshvaracharya, started the ten monastic orders known as the Dash Nami Sampradaya (ten-named lineage). Believed to be a partial incarnation of Lord Shiva, Shankaracharya left his body in the Himalayan shrine of Kedarnath at the age of thirty-two. His disciple Sureshvaracharya is the founder of the Saraswati order to which our lineage belongs. He taught, “Those who are always in possession of all wisdom, who are masters in speech and scholarship, who are never interested in the ocean of worldly existence—these are know as Saraswatis.”Yogiraj Handiya Baba
His Holiness Yogiraj Handiya Baba Swami Hridayanand
a Saraswati Maharaj was born in 1850, in Bhagalpur, Bihar, on the bank of the holy river Ganga. Even as a child he would spend his time in chanting and meditation. He was married in his youth but lost his wife to sickness. He married a second wife who also died of the plague. Vowing not to remarry he left on pilgrimage, visiting all the important holy sites of India within a few years. While traveling along the Ganga, he met his master Swami Yogananda Saraswati, the guru of the King of Darbhanga, who initiated him into the esoteric practices of yoga and named him Swami Hridayananda Saraswati (meaning “he
art of bliss”). Yogiraj then continued his pilgrimage along the Ganga and in 1880 settled in Allahabad, building a grass hut in a cremation ground near the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers. Here he engaged in intense yogic practice resulting in his illumination. An expert in the advanced practices of yoga, Yogiraj could cure almost any disease through yogic exercises. Seated in lotus pose, Yogiraj left his physical body in 1954 at the age of 104.
a Saraswati Maharaj was born in 1850, in Bhagalpur, Bihar, on the bank of the holy river Ganga. Even as a child he would spend his time in chanting and meditation. He was married in his youth but lost his wife to sickness. He married a second wife who also died of the plague. Vowing not to remarry he left on pilgrimage, visiting all the important holy sites of India within a few years. While traveling along the Ganga, he met his master Swami Yogananda Saraswati, the guru of the King of Darbhanga, who initiated him into the esoteric practices of yoga and named him Swami Hridayananda Saraswati (meaning “heart of bliss”). Yogiraj then continued his pilgrimage along the Ganga and in 1880 settled in Allahabad, building a grass hut in a cremation ground near the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers. Here he engaged in intense yogic practice resulting in his illumination. An expert in the advanced practices of yoga, Yogiraj could cure almost any disease through yogic exercises. Seated in lotus pose, Yogiraj left his physical body in 1954 at the age of 104.Swami Vishnudevananda Saraswati
His Holiness Maha-Y
ogi Swami Vishnudevananda Saraswati Maharaj was born into a pious brahmin family in Calcutta, India on holy Makara Sankranti day, 14 January 1904. He lost his parents in youth and grew up with relatives in the villages of Bengal. With an inner knowing that something lay beyond his meager life, he renounced the material world at the age of nineteen and traveled throughout India in the company a Tantric adept in search of the ultimate Truth. During the 1930 Kumbha Mela at Prayag, Allahabad, he met his guru, the great saint Yogiraj Handiya Baba. Under his spiritual guidance he practiced Vedanta, Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga fervently and realized the Supreme Truth in 1934. An illumined yogi, Guruji lived his long l
ife enjoying inner peace and spiritual bliss at his ashram, the Yoga-Vedanta Kutir, at Prayag (Allahabad), where he trained his monastic disciples and shared his experience and wisdom with his many devotees and students. In 1960 he began learning English on his own and authored more that ten books. He made his first voyage to America in 1978 and visited there annually during the summer months. Guruji left his mortal body in 1997, leaving his holy ashram to his dear disciple and servant Swami Omananda. Guruji’s saintly character, ideal life and divine teachings continue to inspire and guide his disciples and grand-disciples worldwide.
ogi Swami Vishnudevananda Saraswati Maharaj was born into a pious brahmin family in Calcutta, India on holy Makara Sankranti day, 14 January 1904. He lost his parents in youth and grew up with relatives in the villages of Bengal. With an inner knowing that something lay beyond his meager life, he renounced the material world at the age of nineteen and traveled throughout India in the company a Tantric adept in search of the ultimate Truth. During the 1930 Kumbha Mela at Prayag, Allahabad, he met his guru, the great saint Yogiraj Handiya Baba. Under his spiritual guidance he practiced Vedanta, Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga fervently and realized the Supreme Truth in 1934. An illumined yogi, Guruji lived his long life enjoying inner peace and spiritual bliss at his ashram, the Yoga-Vedanta Kutir, at Prayag (Allahabad), where he trained his monastic disciples and shared his experience and wisdom with his many devotees and students. In 1960 he began learning English on his own and authored more that ten books. He made his first voyage to America in 1978 and visited there annually during the summer months. Guruji left his mortal body in 1997, leaving his holy ashram to his dear disciple and servant Swami Omananda. Guruji’s saintly character, ideal life and divine teachings continue to inspire and guide his disciples and grand-disciples worldwide.Swami Omananda Saraswati
His Holiness Pujya
Swami Omananda Saraswati Maharaj comes originally from the Indian state of Orrisa. He left home at an early age wandering throughout India in search of a yogic guru. During his stay in the famous orthodox Kailash Ashram in Rishikesh, he was asked by the abbot to manage their satellite ashram in Allahabad. While in this holy city he met Swami Vishnudevananda and began the study of the difficult practices of Hatha and Raja yoga. He was initiated into the order of Sannyasa and serve
d Guruji with the attitude that “Guru is God.” Before Guruji’s passing, he left his holy ashram to Swami Omananda saying “Your pocket is my pocket. Your body is my body.” Swamiji manages the ashram training his disciples in the practices of yoga and dharmic living. Swamiji also supports many poor brahmin boys, taking full responsibility for their food, lodging and traditional Sanskrit education.
Swami Omananda Saraswati Maharaj comes originally from the Indian state of Orrisa. He left home at an early age wandering throughout India in search of a yogic guru. During his stay in the famous orthodox Kailash Ashram in Rishikesh, he was asked by the abbot to manage their satellite ashram in Allahabad. While in this holy city he met Swami Vishnudevananda and began the study of the difficult practices of Hatha and Raja yoga. He was initiated into the order of Sannyasa and served Guruji with the attitude that “Guru is God.” Before Guruji’s passing, he left his holy ashram to Swami Omananda saying “Your pocket is my pocket. Your body is my body.” Swamiji manages the ashram training his disciples in the practices of yoga and dharmic living. Swamiji also supports many poor brahmin boys, taking full responsibility for their food, lodging and traditional Sanskrit education.Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati
Swami Bhajananand
a Saraswati is a Western born monastic disciple of Swami Vishnudevananda Saraswati of Allahabad. In his early teens he came in contact with the life-transforming personality and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. Through His grace, he became immediately drawn to Indian philosophy and culture and to the devotional traditions of japa (mantra meditation), kirtan (singing of God’s names) and puja (ritualistic worship). He has enjoyed the holy company of saints, monks and devotees continuously since that time. While still in high school, he met Guruji Swami Vishnudevananda Saraswati, then in his late 80s, who gave him the name Bhajanananda (meaning “bliss of worship”. He made his first of many pilgrimages to India in 1990. He was initiated into brahmacharya (monastic postulant) in 1995 by Guruji, who left his mortal body in 1996. On 14 March 1998, at the age of 28, Swami Bhajanananda received his formal sannyas-diksha (monastic ordination) into the ancient Dash Nami Vedantic order by his senior brother-disciple Swami Omananda at the sangam (confluence of the holy Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers) in the holy city 
of Prayag (now Allahabad). Swamiji holds a degree in Religious Studies from U.C. Berkeley. He is the main pujari (priest) at Kali Mandir, a public temple to the Divine Mother in Laguna Beach, California, where he serves the awakened deity of Ma Dakshineswari Kali. He also teaches at U.C. Irvine, through their Yogic Studies program.
a Saraswati is a Western born monastic disciple of Swami Vishnudevananda Saraswati of Allahabad. In his early teens he came in contact with the life-transforming personality and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. Through His grace, he became immediately drawn to Indian philosophy and culture and to the devotional traditions of japa (mantra meditation), kirtan (singing of God’s names) and puja (ritualistic worship). He has enjoyed the holy company of saints, monks and devotees continuously since that time. While still in high school, he met Guruji Swami Vishnudevananda Saraswati, then in his late 80s, who gave him the name Bhajanananda (meaning “bliss of worship”. He made his first of many pilgrimages to India in 1990. He was initiated into brahmacharya (monastic postulant) in 1995 by Guruji, who left his mortal body in 1996. On 14 March 1998, at the age of 28, Swami Bhajanananda received his formal sannyas-diksha (monastic ordination) into the ancient Dash Nami Vedantic order by his senior brother-disciple Swami Omananda at the sangam (confluence of the holy Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers) in the holy city of Prayag (now Allahabad). Swamiji holds a degree in Religious Studies from U.C. Berkeley. He is the main pujari (priest) at Kali Mandir, a public temple to the Divine Mother in Laguna Beach, California, where he serves the awakened deity of Ma Dakshineswari Kali. He also teaches at U.C. Irvine, through their Yogic Studies program. Hari Om Tat Sat
“The root of meditation is the guru’s form. The root of worship are the guru’s feet. The root of mantra are the guru’s words. The root of liberation is the guru’s grace.”
~Sri Guru Gita