| Swami
Jnaneshvara
was born in 1948 in Ohio, USA, spent most of his youth in
Florida, and later lived in several other states. His education
includes a BS in Management from Florida State University and MA
in Consciousness Studies, with emphasis in Transpersonal
Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University, in
California.
In 1990, Swami Jnaneshvara
received novice monastic initiation, and in 1993 was ordained as a monk of the order of Shankaracharya by Swami Rama.
In 1999, he was initiated in Haridwar, India as dandi swami (the
highest initiation of the monastic order, in which a danda, or
staff is bestowed) by a most revered acharya (teacher) of dandi
swamis. In 2000, he
received initiatory transmissions from the sage Vrati
Baba of Kalimath, Himalayas, at the time of his dropping the body.
For over five years Swami
Jnaneshvara resided at Swami Rama’s Ashram in Rishikesh,
India, where in 1996 he established an ongoing residential
training program at the direct instruction of Swami Rama.
Previously, he was at the Himalayan Institute, Honesdale, PA,
and The Meditation Center, Minneapolis, MN. Presently he teaches
practical aspects of meditation, yoga and Vedanta from his base
in Fort Walton Beach, Florida and his spiritual home of
Kalimath, Himalayas. |
Swami
Nardanand was born in 1958 in a small farming village of Uttar
Pradesh state in North India. He was educated in the ancient way of
training in Sanskrit and spiritual matters, a 12-year intensive
residential program. His school was Gurukul Kangri, which is located
near the Ganges in Haridwar, and is one of the finest such schools in India.
When Swami
Nardanand was graduated, he not only was the leading student of his
class, but also was given a special award for his
expertise, presented in person by the President of India.
At the age of 14,
Swami Nardanand was ordained as a monk of the order of Adi
Shankaracharya of the 9th century by Paramahansa Lakshmananda,
who now resides in the city of Vrindivan. Later,
Swami Nardanand was initiated into the more esoteric spiritual
teachings by his teacher, Swami Shivom Tirtha, a widely recognized adept
who is now in his 80’s and maintains silence in complete seclusion, no
longer seeing anyone publicly.
In 1990, Swami
Nardanand founded Siddha Ashram along the banks of the Shipra River in
Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, India, which is one of the four holy
Kumbha Mela sites. From this most sacred spiritual seat, he
guides many students in meditation, yoga, and Vedanta.
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