Jainism
This article is part of a series on Jainism
Jain Prayers
Ṇamōkāra mantra · Micchami Dukkadam
Philosophy
Anekāntavāda · Syādvāda · Nayavāda · Cosmology  · Ahimsa · Karma · Dharma · Nirvana  · Kevala Jñāna  · Mokṣa · Dravya · Navatattva · Asteya · Aparigraha · Gunasthana · Samsara
Major figures
The 24 Tirthankaras · Rishabha · Mahavira · Acharya  · Ganadhara · Siddhasena Divakara · Haribhadra
Sects
Digambara · Śvētāmbara
Texts
Kalpa Sūtra · Āgama · Tattvartha Sutra · Naaladiyar · Sanmatti Prakaran
Other
Parasparopagraho_Jivanam · Jain symbol · Jain flag · Timeline · Topics list
Festivals
Mahavir Jayanti · Paryushana · Diwali
Jainism Portal v t e

Adishwar Temple, one of the Dilwara Temples, Mount Abu.

The Gomatheswara at Shravanabelagola 978-993 AD.

In Jainism, a tīrtha (Sanskrit: तीर्थ "ford, a shallow part of a body of water that may be easily crossed") is used to refer both to pilgrimage sites as well as to the four sections of the sangha. A tirtha provides the inspiration to enable one to cross over from worldly engagement to the side of nirvana^[1].

Types[link]

Tirtha sites include:^[2]

• Siddhakshetras or site of liberation of an arihant (kevalin) or Tirthankaras like Ashtapada Hill, Shikharji, Girnar, Pawapuri, Palitana and Champa, capital of Anga
• Atishayakshetras where divine events have occurred like Mahavirji, Rishabhdeo, Kundalpur etc.
• Puranakshetras associated with lives of great men like Ayodhya, Vidisha, Hastinapur, and Rajgir
• Gyanakshetra: associated with famous acharyas or centers of learning like Mohankheda, Shravanabelagola and Ladnu

Locations[link]

Geographically, the tirthas are divided into six quarters:^[3].

• North India: Hastinapur, Taxila, and Ashtapada
• South India: Shravanabelagola, Moodabidri, Humbaj, Anantnath Swami Temple near Kalpetta
• Eastern India: Shikharji, Pawapuri, Champa, Pundravardhan
• Western India: Palitana, Girnar, Mount Abu, Mahavirji, Shankheshwar, Mahudi
• Central India: Vidisha, Kundalpur, Sonagir
• Overseas: Siddhachalam, Nava-ashtapada, Siddhayatan

See also[link]

Jainism portal

• Jain temple

References[link]

External links[link]

• jainuniversity.org, Jain Tirtha all over India
• http://www.jainteerth.com
• http://tirth.jinvani.com
• http://www.jainpilgrimages.com
• http://www.jaintirths.com
• http://www.siddhayatan.org First Hindu-Jain Tirth in North America
• http://www.jainheritagecentres.com
• Shri Nageshwar Parshwanath
• Jain Tirth Darshan on jainreligion.in

v t e Jainism topics 24 Tirthankars of Jainism  · Rishabha or Adinath · Ajitnath · Sambhavanath · Abhinandannath · Sumatinath · Padmaprabha · Suparshvanath · Chandraprabha · Pushpadanta · Sheetalnath · Shreyansanath · Vasupujya · Vimalnath · Anantnath · Dharmanath · Shantinath · Kunthunath · Aranath · Mallinath · Munisuvrata · Naminatha · Neminath · Parshva · Mahavira Philosophy  · Anekāntavāda · Aparigraha · Syādvāda · Nayavāda · Jain Cosmology · Ahimsa · Karma · Dharma · Nirvana · Kevala Jñāna · Mokṣa · Dravya · Navatattva By country  · India · Canada · Europe · United States · Japan · Singapore · Hong Kong · Pakistan · Belgium Jainism Portal

Bhakti Tirtha Swami
Religion	Gaudiya Vaishnavism
Other name(s)	John E. Favors, Toshombe Abdul, Swami Krishnapada, Ghanasyama Dasa (pre-sannyasa)
Personal
Born	February 25, 1950
Died	June 27, 2005
Senior posting
Predecessor	A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Religious career
Post	ISKCON Guru, Sannyasi
Website	Official Site

Bhakti Tirtha Swami (February 25, 1950 – June 27, 2005) (previously known as John Favors and Toshombe Abdul)^[1], also known as Swami Krishnapada, was a leading guru^[2][3] and governing body commissioner^[2][4] of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (commonly known as the Hare Krishnas or ISKCON).^[2] He was the highest-ranking African American in ISKCON.^[2][5] Bhakti Tirtha Swami met with prominent world figures such as Nelson Mandela and Zambia's president Kenneth Kaunda, was frequently interviewed in the media,^[2] wrote 17 books on religious topics^[2] and led community development projects in the United States and other countries.^[6] He was the founder and director of the Institute for Applied Spiritual Technology^[6] in Washington, DC, "a nonprofit, nondenominational organization whose membership represents a variety of spiritual paths and professional backgrounds".^[7] He traveled the world constantly and served as a spiritual consultant.^[6] He also served as chairman of the Third World Coalition.^[6] On February 7, 2006 the Council of the District of Columbia recognized "His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami Krishnapada for dedication to social change that has impacted civil and human rights for residents in the District of Columbia".^[7]

Biography[link]

Bhakti Tirtha Swami was born John Edwin Favors on February 25, 1950 into a poor Christian family living in Cleveland, Ohio.^[2][7][8] His parents instilled in him the values of self-confidence, religiosity and a spirit of generosity demonstrated by giving to persons less fortunate than others.^[7] As a child, John Favors appeared on television to preach Christianity.^[6] He excelled in his academic achievements while attending East Technical High School in Cleveland^[7] and received a scholarship to attend the prestigious Hawken School,^[7] where he spent an additional year of college preparation in philosophy and political science.^[6] While at Hawken, he was a member of the football and wrestling teams.^[6]

In 1968 he came to Princeton University.^[2] While at Princeton, he was a leader in Martin Luther King's civil rights movement^[6][7] being "at the forefront of political activism on campus, a leader of the Association of Black Collegians (ABC)^[3][8] and a founder of the Third World Center".^[2] He also served as a president of the student council.^[6][7] In 1972, he earned a B.A. in psychology and African American studies.^[2][6][7]

Attending lectures at the university and reading books on different subjects, "he began feeling the futility of acquiring knowledge, which would become obsolete very soon".^[5] After Princeton, he joined the Hare Krishna Movement and "began a career of worldwide travel, study, teaching, lecturing, and writing".^[2] On February 16, 1973 in Los Angeles he was initiated into the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition by ISKCON's founder A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, whereupon he was given the name Ghanashyam Dasa^[9] (meaning servant of Krishna). In the 1970s, Ghanashyam Dasa preached Gaudiya Vaishnavism in Eastern Europe by distributing religious books and working with scholars.^[6]

On March 13, 1979 during Gaura-purnima festival at New Vrindaban, he was initiated into the Vaishnava sannyasa order of renunciation by Kirtanananda Swami and given the name Bhakti Tirtha Swami. In the same year, he became the first devotee of the Hare Krishna Movement to visit Nigeria and preach there.^[10] Later he went on to become a senior leader and one of the most prominent preachers^[3] within ISKCON and a member of its management body known as the Governing Body Commission.^[6] He was the first person of African descent to become an initiating guru in the disciplic succession of the ancient Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya.^[7] As a religious leader, Bhakti-tirtha Swami made a friendship with celebrities and served as a spiritual consultant, specializing in international relations and conflict resolution to high ranking members of the United Nations and world leaders, including former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela.^[6][7] Ex-member of ISKCON Nori Muster, who worked for ten years as a public relations secretary and editor of ISKCON's newspaper, the ISKCON World Review, recalls in her book Betrayal of the spirit: my life behind the headlines of the Hare Krishna movement (published by the University of Illinois Press in 1997):

By design, the ISKCON World Review was limited to pro-ISKCON good news from GBC zones around the world. We also printed profiles and covered activities of preachers in the movement. One of our favorites was Bhakti-tirtha, a Princeton graduate who once called himself Toshombe Abdul, president of his university's Association of Black Collegians. Bhakti-tirtha had a way of striking up a spontaneous friendship with celebrieties such as Muhammad Ali. In one issue we reported Bhakti-tirtha's visit to the Zambian statehouse, where he had dinner with the country's president, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda. He met the president through a judge, Aiyadurai Sivanandan, who had become a devotee. We also printed a photo of Justice Sivanandan, dressed in his black judge's robes and powdered wig, with tilak on his forehead. The jurge resigned his post in Zambia to serve ISKCON temple in India. One of ISKCON predecessors had predicted that in the dawning of Lord Chaitanya's golden age judges would wear tilak and become devotees. I spelled this out in a sidebar story.^[3]

In 1990 Bhakti Tirtha Swami was coronated High Chief in Warri, Nigeria, West Africa in recognition of his reputable work performed there.^[6][7] Bhakti Tirtha Swami died June 27, 2005, of complications from melanoma, at Gita Nagari, the Gaudiya Vaishnava community in central Pennsylvania.^[2] Bhakti Tirtha Swami is survived by four sisters, Bernadette Satterfield, Julia Henderson, Frances Myers, and Marguerite Brooks; a brother, Paul Favors; and numerous nieces and nephews.^[2]

On February 7, 2006 the Council of the District of Columbia adopted ceremonial resolution, in which it "recognized His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami Krishnapada for dedication to social change that has impacted civil and human rights for residents in the District of Columbia".^[7]

In 2007, his biography was released entitled Black Lotus: The Spiritual Journey of an Urban Mystic,^[11] the 410-page book is complete with full-color pictures, interviews with loved ones, and comprehensive Index. The author, Steven J. Rosen is senior editor of the Journal of Vaishnava Studies and associate editor of Back to Godhead, the magazine of the Hare Krishna movement.^[11] According to Princeton University website, the book "explores the life and mission of His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami (1950-2005), an African-American seeker who rose from impoverished conditions in the Cleveland ghetto to become a global spiritual leader of the Hare Krishna movement".^[11]

Bibliography[link]

• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Leadership for an Age of Higher Consciousness I: Administration from a Metaphysical Perspective. — 1st ed. — Largo, MD: Hari-Nama Press, 1996. — 324 p. — ISBN 1-885414-02-1
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Leadership for an Age of Higher Consciousness II: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times. — Largo, MD: Hari-Nama Press, 2002. — 162 p. — ISBN 1-885414-11-0
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Reflections on Sacred Teachings Volume I: Sri Siksastaka. — Washington, D.C.: Hari-Nama Press, 2002. — 247 p. — ISBN 1-885414-13-7
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Reflections on Sacred Teachings Volume II: Madhurya-Kadambini. — Washington, D.C.: Hari-Nama Press, 2003. — 196 p. — ISBN 1-885414-14-5
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Reflections on Sacred Teachings Volume III: Harinama Cintamani. — Washington, D.C.: Hari-Nama Press, 2004. — 283 p. — ISBN 1-885414-15-3
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Reflections on Sacred Teachings Volume IV: Sri Isopanisad. — Washington, D.C.: Hari-Nama Press, 2005. — 320 p. — ISBN 1-885414-19-6
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Reflections on Sacred Teachings Volume V: Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's Sixty-four Principles for Community. — Washington, D.C.: Hari-Nama Press, 2007. — 235 p. — ISBN 1-885414-21-8
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Reflections on Sacred Teachings Volume VI: Radha-Sunya: Missing Mercy. — Washington, D.C.: Hari-Nama Press. — 147 p.
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Spiritual Warrior I: Uncovering Spiritual Truths in Psychic Phenomena. — Largo, MD: Hari-Nama Press, 1996. — 201 p. — ISBN 1-885414-01-3
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Spiritual Warrior II: Transforming Lust into Love. — Largo, MD: Hari-Nama Press, 1998. — 238 p. — ISBN 1-885414-03-X
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Spiritual Warrior III: Solace for the Heart in Difficult Times. — Largo, MD: Hari-Nama Press, 2000. — 296 p. — ISBN 1-885414-06-4
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Spiritual Warrior IV: Conquering the Enemies of the Mind. — 1st ed. — Washington, DC: Hari-Nama Press, 2004. — 285 p. — ISBN 1-885414-16-1
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Spiritual Warrior V: Making the Mind Your Best Friend. — Largo, MD: Hari-Nama Press, 2003. — 275 p. — ISBN 1-885414-17-X
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami Spiritual Warrior VI: Beyond Fanaticism, Terrorism, and War: Discover the Peace Solution. — Largo, MD: Hari-Nama Press, 2006. — 306 p. — ISBN 1-885414-18-8
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami The Beggar I: Meditations and Prayers on the Supreme Lord. — 1st ed. — Washington, D.C.: Hari-Nama Press, 1994. — 160 p. — ISBN 1-885414-00-5
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami The Beggar II: Crying Out for the Mercy. — Washington, D.C.: Hari-Nama Press, 1998. — 162 p. — ISBN 1-885414-04-8
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami The Beggar III: False Ego: The Greatest Enemy of the Spiritual Leader. — Washington, D.C.: Hari-Nama Press, 2002. — 194 p. — ISBN 1-885414-10-2
• Bhakti Tirtha Swami The Beggar IV, Die Before Dying. — Washington, D.C.: Hari-Nama Press, 2005. — 155 p. — ISBN 1-885414-22-6

Footnotes[link]

References[link]

• Council of the District of Columbia (2006), "ACR 16-1 83, His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami Krishnapada Ceremonial Recognition Resolution of 2006", District of Columbia Register 53 (9): 1502–1503, http://newsroom.dc.gov/file.aspx/release/13468/03-03-06_4-5.pdf 
• Bhardwaj, P. (1980), "The Man From Hare Krishna", Viva 6-7, http://books.google.com/books?id=qAKyAAAAIAAJ 
• Bryant, Edwin; Ekstrand, Maria (2004), The Hare Krishna Movement: The Postcharismatic Fate of a Religious Transplant, Columbia University Press, ISBN 0-231-12256-X, http://books.google.com/books?id=mBMxPdgrBhoC 
• Dwyer, Graham; Cole, Richard J. (2007), The Hare Krishna Movement: Forty Years of Chant and Change, I.B.Tauris, ISBN 1-84511-407-8, http://books.google.com/books?id=l4cE-nzXLx8C 
• Ezekwugo, Charles Maduabuchukwu (1992), Philosophical concepts: esotericism, religiosity, metaphysics, the stolen legacy of African heritage, Agatha Series Publishers, ISBN 978-31622-0-9, http://books.google.com/books?id=eCIvAAAAYAAJ 
• Kent, Stephen A. (2001), From slogans to mantras: social protest and religious conversion in the late Vietnam War era, Syracuse University Press, ISBN 0-8156-2923-0, http://books.google.com/books?id=ORO7AAAAIAAJ 
• Muster, Nori Jean (2001), Betrayal of the spirit: my life behind the headlines of the Hare Krishna movement, University of Illinois Press, ISBN 0-252-06566-2, http://books.google.com/books?id=Dw3-xD05wnoC 
• Yahya, M. T. (2006), Issues in the practice of religion in Nigeria, Nigerian Association for the Study of Religions, ISBN 978-2331-01-5, http://books.google.com/books?id=GtUQAQAAIAAJ 
• Rosen, Steven J. (2007), Black Lotus: The Spiritual Journey of an Urban Mystic, Hari-Nama Press, ISBN 1-885414-23-4, http://books.google.com/books?id=SKDCHgAACAAJ 
• The Class of 1972 (2 November 2005), "John Edward Favors '72", Princeton Alumni Weekly, http://paw.princeton.edu/memorials/13/39/index.xml 
• McCray, Melvin R. (1983), "The Two Lives of John Favors: A Political Activist becomes a monk in the Hare Krsna Movement", Princeton Alumni Weekly, http://www.btswami.com/?id=236 

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bhakti Tirtha Swami

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Bhakti Tirtha Swami

• Bhakti Tirtha Swami's Official Website
• Harinama Press, the publishers of Bhakti Tirtha Swami's books
• Reflections by Adisajion the Life & Times of Bhakti Tirhta Swami

Tanikella Bharani
Born	(1956-07-14) July 14, 1956 (age 55) Secundrabad, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Occupation	Actor, Writer and Director
Years active	1984 to present
Spouse	Durga Bhavani
Children	Maha Teja, Soundarya Lahari
Parents	Sethu Ramalingeswara Rao, Laxmi Narasamma.

Tanikella Bharani (Telugu: తనికెళ్ళ భరణి) (born on 14 July 1956) is an Indian film and theater actor, dialogue writer, screen writer, poet, magazine editor, playwright and director. He has worked in more than 500 films (Including Tamil, Kannada and Hindi).

Early life[link]

Tanikella Bharani was born in Secunderabad at Gandhi Hospital(then it was King George Memorial (KM)), Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh to TVV Setu Ramalingeswar Rao and Laxminarasamma of Brahmin community. He is a commerce graduate, B.Com and a PG Diploma in Theatre Arts.

His great grand father is Diwakarla Venkatavadhani, a Telugu scholar and Divakarla Tirupati Sastry. His uncle is Viswanatha Satyanarayana.

Career[link]

Bharani did stage plays in the mid 70s and during this time he made the acquaintance of Rallapalli, a Tollywood actor. With his help Bharani started writing small dialogues and stage scenes. Later, he took a diploma in Theatre arts. Following Rallapalli's advice he moved to Chennai.

He started his career as a dialogue writer for Kanchu Kavachum in 1984. and has written dialogues for various movies like Ladies Tailor (1985 film), Sri Kanaka Mahalakshmi Recording Dance Troupe (1987), Varasudochhadu (1988), Chettu Kinda Pleader (1989), Swara Kalpana (1989), and Seenu Vasanthi Lakshmi (2004). Bharani also penned and sung the lyrics of Gundammagaari Manavadu (Bhale Bhaleti Mandu).

He has acted in more than 500 movies starting with 'Ladies Tailor‘ (1985) & Sri Kanaka Mahalakshmi Recording Dance Troupe’ (1987) in which he was seen as Dora Babu. In 1989 he appeared in the hit film Shiva by Ram Gopal Varma which starred Nagarjuna. With the release of the film Shiva, he received much recognition and his character Nanaji impressed the whole Telugu audience. He also played the lead role in the Hindi comedy film Main Tere Pyar Mein Pagal in 1999. His powerful antagonism in ‘Samudram’ got him the Nandi award as the Best Villain.

After 2000, he started playing more mature roles in movies like Manmadhudu (2002), Okariki Okaru (2003), Samba (2004), Malliswari, Godavari (2006), Happy (2006), and more.

He played one of the lead roles in Rajubhai (2007).

He is very much popular in the background of movie industry, often quoted as "Maga Saraswathy" ( Male god of education) by different actors and actresses.

Personal life[link]

Bharani is married to Bhavani and has a son, Maha Teja and a daughter, Soundarya Lahari.

Books[link]

1. Parikini ^[1]
2. Nakshatra Darshanam ^[2]
3. Maathralu ^[3]
4. Endaro Mahanubavulu ^[4]

Awards[link]

State Government Awards (Nandi Awards) 

• Best Villain - Samudram
• Best Character Actor - Nuvvu Nenu
• Sangam Academy award for completing 25 years in Telugu Cinema ^[5][6]

Awards for Short Films (as a Director) 

• Idaho Panhandle Award, Hyderabad International Film Festival Award as the Best Debut Director for Sira, The Ink.
• Sira,the ink:-movie won the `Best Antiterrorism Message Award’ at the 'Idaho Panhandle International Film Festival'. (The movie directed by tanikella bharani and first surrealistic movie in telugu surreleastic:correlating the shattered images of your dream and made as movie)^[7]

• 10th Mumbai International Film Festival Award
• Hyderabad International Film Festival Award as the Best Director for Blue Cross.

[edit] Filmography ^[8]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Tanikella Bharani at the Internet Movie Database
• http://www.filmchamber.com/tmpl.asp?it=privtanikella
• http://www.tanikellabharani.com
• Interview on telugucinema.com

This article may contain wording that merely promotes the subject without imparting verifiable information. Please remove or replace such wording, unless you can cite independent sources that support the characterization. (July 2011)

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2008)

Swāmī Rāma (1925–1996) was born Brij Kiśore Dhasmana or Brij Kiśore Kumar,^[1] to a northern Indian Brahmin family in a small village called Toli in the Garhwal Himalayas. From an early age he was raised in the Himalayas by his master Bengali Baba and, under the guidance of his master, traveled from temple to temple and studied with a variety of Himalayan saints and sages, including his grandmaster, who was living in a remote region of Tibet. From 1949 to 1952 he held the prestigious position of Shankaracharya of Karvirpitham (also Karveer Peeth or Karweer Peeth) in South India. After returning to his master in 1952 and practising further for many years in the Himalayan caves, Swami Rama was encouraged by his teacher to go to the West, where he spent a considerable portion of his life teaching, specifically in the United States and Europe.^[2]

He is especially notable as one of the first yogis to allow himself to be studied by Western scientists. In the 1960s he allowed himself to be examined by scientists at the Menninger Clinic who studied his ability to voluntarily control bodily processes (such as heartbeat, blood pressure, body temperature, etc.) that are normally considered to be non-voluntary (autonomic).

First ashram[link]

After leaving the post of Shankaracharya and going back to the master, he afterwards travelled to Nepal in the Himalayas barefoot with nothing but a kamandalu and tiger mat. It was here he created his first ashram. It is at the outskirts of Kathmandu on the way to Dulikhel on the mountain of Janagal. He later granted it to Swami Vishuddha Dev. The ashram is known as Hansada Yoga Ashram. Now it is the headquarters of the Characterlogy movement. However, other programs are also conducted there.^[3]

Organization and achievements[link]

He was the founder of the Himalayan Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy, which has its headquarters in Honesdale, PA, and branches in the USA, Europe, and India. Swami Rama also founded other teaching and service organizations, some of which are linked below. One of his significant achievements is the establishment of a large medical facility in the northeastern part of India (Dehradun) to serve millions of poor people in the nearby mountains. Until about 15 years ago the rural poor in this region did not have access to health care, water, sanitation, and education. Dedicated disciples of Swami Rama have contributed to make his dream of a region free of poverty come true. Stories of his leadership style and the way he achieved his goals are documented in several books about Swami Rama.^[4]

Swami Rama demonstrated the impact of holistic health approaches on the Dehradun campus. On that campus he also established a medical university with his most senior disciple Swami Veda Bharati (holding a Ph.D. from somewhere in The Netherlands)^[5] being the Chancellor, Vijay Dhasmana as the Vice-Chancellor, and one of his most development-oriented disciples—Ms. B. Maithili (Director of the Rural Development Institute)—as the Registrar.

Swami Rama authored several books in which he describes the path he took to becoming a yogi and lays out the philosophy and benefits behind practices such as meditation. One of the common themes expressed in such books as Enlightenment Without God and Living with the Himalayan Masters is the ability of any person to achieve peace without the need for a structured religion. He was critical of the tendency for yogis to use supernatural feats to demonstrate their enlightenment, arguing that these only demonstrated the ability to perform a feat.

Selected bibliography[link]

Books by Swami Rama

• Enlightenment Without God (Mandukya Upanishad) (ISBN 0893890847)
• Living with the Himalayan Masters (ISBN 0893891568)
• The Science of Breath: A Practical Guide (ISBN 089389057X)
• Meditation and its Practice (ISBN 0893891533)
• Freedom from the Bondage of Karma (ISBN 0893890316)
• Spiritual Journey
• "Yoga & Psychotherapy " (ISBN 13:9780893890360)
• " Perennial Psychology of the Bhagavad Gita" (ISBN 0893890901)
• "Sukhamani Sahib:Fountain of Eternal Joy " (ISBN 089389110X )
• " Book of Wisdom :ISHOPANISHAD " (ISBN 0893890030)
• "Wisdom of the ancient sages : Mundaka Upanishad (ISBN 0893891207)
• " The art of Joyful Living " (ISBN 089389236X)
• " The Royal path :Practical lessons on Yoga "(ISBN 0893891525)
• " Path of Fire and Light volume 2 " (ISBN 0893891126)
• " A Practical Guide to Holistic Health " (ISBN 0893891746)
• " Japji : Meditation in Sikhism " (ISBN 089389107X)
• "Spirituality Transformation within & without " (ISBN 0893891509)
• "Life Here and Hereafter (Kathopanishad) " (ISBN 0893890022)
• "Choosing a Path " (ISBN 0893890774 )
• "Love and family Life "(ISBN 0893891339)
• " Valmiki Ramayana Retold in verse vols I and II "
• "Love Whispers " (ISBN 0893891789)
• "Celestial Song / GoBind Geet " (ISBN 0893891037)
• "Path of Fire and Light volume 1 " (ISBN 0893890979)
• "Sacred Journey " (ISBN 8176210900)
• "Sadhana :The Essence of Spiritual Life " (ISBN 8176210943)
• "OM :The Eternal witness " (ISBN 9788188157433)
• "Exercises for Joints & Glands " (ISBN 10:0893890839)
• "Conscious Living " (ISBN 8188157031)

Biographies

• At the Eleventh Hour: The Biography of Swami Rama, by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait (ISBN 0893892122)
• Walking with a Himalayan Master: An American's Odyssey, by Justin O'Brien (ISBN 0936663197)
• "At the feet of a Himalayan Master :Remembering Swami Rama vol 1 by Dr Prakash Keshaviah "(ISBN 9788188157624)
• "At the feet of a Himalayan Master :Remembering Swami Rama vol 2 by Dr Prakash "(ISBN 9788188157662)
• "A Multi Splendoured Sage :His holiness Dr Swami Rama of the Himalayas by K S Duggal "
• " Swami Rama of the Himalayas :His Life & Mission by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait (ISBN 0893891495)
• "Swami : by Doug Boyd "(ISBN 0893891428)

Other works

• Science Year: The World Book Science Annual—1974, describing scientific research done on Swami Rama
• Nature Science Annual, pages 103–110, Article of Gerald Jones, describing scientific research done on Swami Rama

—

References[link]

1. ^ http://www.rickross.com/reference/swami_rama/swami_rama2.html
2. ^ Tigunait, Rajmani (2004). At the Eleventh Hour: The biography of Swami Rama. Himalayan Institute Press; Honesdale PA.
3. ^ Rama,Swami: Living with the Himalayan masters and hansada yoga ashram.
4. ^ www.hihtindia.org
5. ^ www.bindu.org and www.swamiveda.org

External links[link]

• Swami rama articles
• Biographical work by alleged son
• Himalayan International Institute
• Himalayan Institute Hospital founded in India by Swami Rama
• Swami Rama Center at the Himalayan Institute Hospital in India
• Interview with Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD
• Association of Himalayan Yoga Meditation Societies International
• Swami Veda Bharati, disciple of Swami Rama
• Hansada Yoga Ashram
• Himalayan Yoga Tradition in Australia

Swami Rama Tirtha
Swami Ram Tirtha (in sitting posture)
Born	(1873-10-22)October 22, 1873 Village Muraliwala, Gujranwala District, Punjab British India
Died	October 27, 1906(1906-10-27) (aged 33) Tehri United Province British India
Nationality	Indian
Alma mater	Government College, Lahore
Known for	Preacher of Vedanta

Swami Rama Tirtha (Hindi: स्वामी रामतीर्थ October 22, 1873 – 27 October 1906^[1]), also known as Swami Ram, was an Indian teacher of the Hindu philosophy of Vedanta. He was among the first notable teachers of Hinduism to lecture in the United States, traveling there in 1902. He was preceded by Swami Vivekananda in 1893, and followed by Paramahansa Yogananda in 1920.^[2][3] During his American tours Swami Rama Tirtha spoke frequently on the concept of 'practical Vedanta'^[4] and on education of Indian youth.^[5] He proposed bringing young Indians to American universities, and helped establish several scholarships for Indian students.^[6]

Biography[link]

Ram Tirth was born to Pandit Hiranand Goswami on the day of Deepawali vikram samvat 1930 (22 October 1873) in the village Muraliwala of Gujranwala District, in Punjab (now in Pakistan).^[7] When he was a few days old his mother died, and he was raised by his elder brother Gossain Gurudas. After receiving his Masters degree in Mathematics from Government College of Lahore, he became a Professor of Mathematics at Forman Christian College in Lahore. A chance meeting with Swami Vivekananda in 1897 in Lahore, inspired his later decision to take up the life of a sannyasi.^[8]

In the late 19th century, he became well known in Punjab for his speeches to Krishna and later through lectures and essays on Advaita Vedanta. He eventually entered the monastic Swami Order in 1899 on the day of Deepawali,^[9] leaving his personal life as a Professor as well as his wife, and children. Maharaja Kirtishah Bahadur of Tehri sponsored a trip to Swami Rama Tirtha for Japan to teach Hinduism. From Japan, he traveled in 1902 to the United States of America, where he spent two years lecturing on the essence of Hinduism and other religions, and a philosophy he called "practical Vedanta."^[4]

He frequently spoke about the inequities of the caste system in India, and the importance of education for women and the poor, stating that, "Neglecting the education of women and children and the labouring classes is like cutting down the branches that are supporting us, nay, it is like striking a death-blow to the roots of the tree of nationality."^[8] Arguing that India needed educated young people—and not missionaries—he began an organization to aid Indian students in American universities.^[5] To solve the problem of poverty in India, he suggested bringing young Indians to the U.S. for higher education, and helped to establish a number of scholarships for Indian students during his tour of America.^[10]

Upon his return to India in 1904, he was received with great acclaim. Large audience thronged to his lectures. In 1906, weary of the adoration, he completely withdrew from public life, and moved to the foothills of the Himalaya. There he prepared to write a book giving a systematic presentation on practical Vedanta, which was never finished. He died on the day of Deepawali, vikram samvat 1963, accordingly the date was 27 October 1906. It is believed that, he did not die but took a jala-samaadhi (en.water-drowning) in the sacred river Ganges at Tehri. Not some, but most of the people believe that he gave up his body to the mother river Ganges.^[11] A rare co-incidence was that he was born on Deepawali, took Sannyasa on Deepawali, and left the world on Deepawali. A rare photo of Swami Rama Tirtha just before his departure is given here on the left hand side. It was published in an Indian Hindi magazine 'Prabha' between 1920-30.

Literal appreciation[link]

Indian Revolutionary Pandit Ram Prasad Bismil had depicted the character of Swami Rama Tirtha in the poem Yuva Sannyasi.^[12]

Legacy[link]

Two of his closest disciples- S. Puran Singh and Narayana Swami, wrote the biographies of Rama Tirtha. Puran Singh's The Story of Swami Rama: The Poet Monk of the Punjab^[13] appeared in 1924 and was published in English as well as in Hindi. Narayana Swami's untitled account was published in 1935 as a part of Rama Tirtha's collected works.^[14] His sister's son H. W. L. Poonja, was a disciple of Ramana Maharishi, and later became a noted Advaita teacher on his own. He was known as Papaji amongst his disciples, and was based in Lucknow.

Paramahansa Yogananda was a great admirer of Rama Tirth, translating many of Rama Tirtha's poems from Bengali into English and putting some of them to music.^[15] One of Rama Tirtha's poems, titled "Marching Light", appeared in Yogananda's book of Hindu Chants, Cosmic Chants as "Swami Rama Tirtha's Song".^[16]

'Swami Rama Tirtha Mission Ashram' is located at Kotal Gaon Rajpura, near Dehra Dun in Uttarakhand, India where his teachings are practised regularly.

One of three campus of Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal Central University situated at Badshahi Thaul, New Tehri by the name of Swamiji as the Swami Rama Tirtha Parisar(SRTC). Hemant Goswami, the great grandson of Swami Rama Tirtha is a social activist based in Chandigarh.

Notes[link]

Further reading[link]

• In Woods of God Realization: The complete works of Swami Rama Tirtha. Rama Tirtha Pratisthan. [1]
• Parables of Rama by Swami Rama Tirtha. Rama Tirtha Pratisthan. [2]
• Practical Vedanta Selected Works of Swami Rama Tirtha: Selected Works of Swami Rama Tirtha. 1978, Himalayan Institute Press. ISBN 0-89389-038-3.
• Yoga and the Supreme Bliss : Songs of Enlightenment. Swami Rama Tirtha, 1982, trans. A.Z. Alston. ISBN 0-9508019-0-9.
• Life, Teachings And Writings Of Swami Rama Tirtha, by Prem Lata. Sumit Publications, ISBN 81-7000-158-7.
• Swami Rama Tirtha - A Great Mystic Poet of India. [3]

References[link]

External links[link]