Founder and President of over 600 Geeta Ashrams around the World
During the struggle for Independence, he marched against the British Raj by the side of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. At the age of 25 he was the chairman of the Sind Chapter of the Indian National Congress party. As a young man in his thirties, he drew the wrath of the British Empire for his patriotic fervor and was exiled to Rajasthan. Through the efforts of Subhash Chandra Bose, he was spared a prolonged exile.
Then he began his long and arduous spiritual quest, traversing the mountains and forests of India for nearly two decades. After deep reflection, he came to the conclusion that in the Bhagavad Geeta lay the key to spiritual satisfaction, and since then he has travelled the continents of the world spreading its message.
In 1947, after independence, Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru offered him the Ministry of Education and again in early fifties, Mr. Madan Mohan Malavia offered him the Chancellorship of Banares Hindu University. In both instances, he declined stating that he would be happy to head up a Spiritual Educational Institute if one was offered to him. His dream of an institute, that would offer education in all the disciplines of Arts, Science, Medicine and Spirituality, will come to fruition in the form of
![[Geeta Dham]](dham.gif)
before the end of this century.
At the age of 98, he is a living legend and world authority on the philosophy of Bhagavad Geeta. For more than 60 years, His Holiness Swamiji Maharaj has expounded this philosophy to vast congregations throughout the world, bringing peace and tranquility to all peoples of the world transcending race, color, creed and nationality.
In 1949, Guruji founded the first Geeta Ashram on the holy bank of river Jamuna at the city of Mathura, the birth place of Lord Krishna. This was followed by a Geeta Ashram in Delhi (the present headquarters of all the Geeta Ashrams), the foundation stone of which was laid by the late Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, former president of India.
His Holiness Swamiji Maharaj has illustrated to the world, through his living example, man’s ability to control and purify body and mind by having abstained from water, salt, grain and cereal for more than 70 years. Described as "One of the greatest TAPASVIS of the present era" by Jagad Guru Shankaracharya Ji, His Holiness is the Radiant Personification of the Bhagavad Geeta in our time. It is indeed a blessing to come close to such a great Yogi whose only purpose in life is to serve mankind.
In 1982, Swamiji also established a unique institute called The Universal Spiritual Geeta Research Center (USGRC) on the premises of the Geeta Ashram in Delhi. USGRC serves as an International Center for post graduate research for promoting the Insight that The Bhagavad Geeta provides to mankind for a better life and a better world.
