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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|06|13}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|06|13}}
| birth_place = [[Beau Bassin-Rose Hill]], Mauritius
| birth_place = [[Beau Bassin-Rose Hill]], Mauritius
| nationality = Mauriithian
| nationality = Mauritian
| philosophy = [[Vishishtadvaita]]
| philosophy = [[Vishishtadvaita]]
| founder = [[Bhakti Marga (organisation)|Bhakti Marga]]
| founder = [[Bhakti Marga (organisation)|Bhakti Marga]]

Revision as of 01:29, 27 April 2024

Paramahamsa Sri Swami
Vishwananda
Personal life
Born
Mahadeosingh Komalram

(1978-06-13) June 13, 1978 (age 46)
Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, Mauritius
NationalityMauritian
Religious life
ReligionHinduism
Founder ofBhakti Marga
PhilosophyVishishtadvaita
SectHari Bhakta Sampradāya

Vishwananda (born Mahadeosingh 'Visham' Komalram in 1978),[1] known to followers as Paramahamsa Sri Swami Vishwananda (IAST: Paramahāṁsa Śrī Svāmī Viśvānanda), is a Mauritian neo-Hindu religious leader. He is the founder of Bhakti Marga, a neo-Hindu organization that has ashrams and temples in many countries. He lives in Germany, where his main ashram is in the small village of Springen (Heidenrod) in the Taunus, and teaches his own version of kriya yoga called Atma Kriya Yoga.

By the end of 2022 Bhakti Marga had around 10,000 followers and between 30 and 50 ashrams worldwide.[2] By the end of 2023 Vishwananda had around 50,000 followers,[3] which includes 450 initiated male and female Brahmacharis, as well as 50 male and female Swamis and Rishis. [3]

Life

Vishwananda was born on 13 June 1978[4] into a Hindu Brahmin family (originated in Bihar) in Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, Mauritius.[5][3] According to reports from family members Vishwananda had a special spiritual inclination already in his childhood and youth. Instead of playing, he preferred prayer and visits to holy places. Supposedly at the age of five he had an apparition while he was in the hospital of Mahavatar Babaji, whom he recognized as his personal guru.[6]

People said that he could materialize vibhuti (holy ash), jewellery, flowers and even golden lingams. Around the year 2000 he was baptized and said he would receive messages from Jesus and Mother Mary.

Still in Mauritius, when he was around 20 years old Vishwananda made contact with European tourists. Since 1998 he was invited to Switzerland and England,[2] and later to Germany, Poland, South Africa, Portugal and other countries where Bhakti Marga now has smaller centres. More and more followers started to gathered around the seemingly charismatic Vishwananda during darshans. During these events there is singing of Bhajans, the guru gives lectures, and touches his followers at the third eye as a form of shaktipat and distributes vibhuti.[6]

In 2004, he purchased a property in the small village of Steffenshof in Hunsrück, Rhineland-Palatinate, and expanded into an ashram.[6] There, in July 2005, he established the organisation Bhakti Marga.[2]

Vishwananda young, engaged in prayers

In June 2007 the Swiss newspaper Tagesanzeiger reported that Vishwananda stole relics from 25 churches and monasteries with the help of two women who were his disciples and said that he only wanted to save the relics from destruction in an imminent war of relics.[7]

In 2008 he acquired the former conference and seminar house of the "ver.di" trade union in Springen, a larger property near the Rhine-Main area.[6]

Mahamandaleshwara initiation of Vishwananda

In September 2015 he was granted the title Mahamandaleshwara by Nirmohi Akhada, the second guru outside of India to be awarded the title.[8]

On July 11, 2015, a peace pole and a certificate was conveyed to Swami Vishwananda for his outstanding accomplishments for world peace over the last 20 years. Swami Vishwananda, so it says, "helps the people to connect elements from eastern spirituality with elements of the western spiritual tradition gives people access to a very personal experience with the Divine, regardless of culture, gender or age".[9]

On July 2, 2016, he received the Bharat Gaurav Award, which felicitates Indian nationals with iconic personalities and remarkable achievements. Those who always encourage and empower each one to bloom into the next idol of tomorrow. [10]

On July 24, 2021 he established the Hari Bhakta Sampradaya.[3] [11][12]

In 2023, different newspapers report about Vishwanandas travels around the world where he gives "darshans" (blessings) to thousands of people. Newspapers from Spain and Slovenia, for example report about darshans with over 2000 people.[13] [14][15] Heike Kiefer, a Swiss travel agent who has been organizing Vishwanandas events since 2002, reports that he has conducted 331 darshans in 46 countries and 220 cities, and has provided blessings to more than 133,000 persons.[3]

On September 3, 2023, in Elmira, New York, Vishwananda inaugurated the Paranitya Narasimha Temple and ashram.[16]

In November 2023, CNN called him one of the world's best-known spiritual gurus.[3][17]

Allegations made by Hessischer Rundfunk

In a January 2022 television and podcast documentary by Hessischer Rundfunk, the German state of Hesse's public broadcasting corporation, several alleged victims were interviewed and Vishwananda was accused of sexual abuse.[18][19] In response, Bhakti Marga filed suit against Hessischer Rundfunk in Hamburg Regional Court for false reporting in a TV and podcast production.[20] Vishwananda denied all allegations of sexual transgressions, filing an affidavit at the court through his lawyer.[21]

After a thorough examination, the Hamburg Regional Court came to the conclusion that numerous statements containing the core allegation of alleged sexual abuse were procedurally untrue and therefore inadmissible. These statements were also ruled not permissible as statements of suspicion.[20] Seven provisional injunctions were issued by the district Court of Hamburg in March 2022 which prohibited public allegations of sexual misconduct against Vishwananda.[19][18]

Personal life

According to the podcast of the Hessischer Rundfunk Vishwananda married the German citizen Eva Diehl around the turn of the century.[22]

Selected books

  • Vishwananda, S. S. (2012). Just Love: The Essence of Everything. Bhakti Event Gmbh. ISBN 978-3940381194.
  • Vishwananda, P. S. S. (2019). Bhagavad Gita Essentials. Bhakti Marga Publications. ISBN 978-3963430473.
  • Vishwananda, P. S. S. (2023). Nārada-bhakti-sūtra: Commentary on the Perfection of Devotion. Bhakti Marga Publications. ISBN 978-3963430985.

References

  1. ^ Leber, Sebastian (December 2, 2022). "Umstrittene Sekte "Bhakti Marga": Der Wunderguru aus dem Taunus" [Controversial sect "Bhakti Marga": The miracle guru from the Taunus]. Der Tagesspiegel (in German). Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Maus, Robert (10 September 2018). "Der Ashram im Taunus" [Ashram in Taunus]. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in German).
  3. ^ a b c d e f Sharma, Sonu (2021-12-18). "परमहंस श्री विश्वानंद ने मनाया कार्तिक उत्सव". 4PM News. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  4. ^ "PARAMAHAMSA VISHWANANDA'S BIRTHDAY 2023". Bhakti Event. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  5. ^ Sri-Swami-Vishwananda website staff (April 11, 2004). "About Swami". Sri Swami Vishwananda. Archived from the original on 2004-04-11.
  6. ^ a b c d Beck, Heike (August 2013). "Bhakti Marga eröffnet spirituelles Zentrum in Springen/Taunus" [Bhakti Marga opens spiritual center in Springen/Taunus] (PDF). EZW Materialdienst (in German). Evangelische Zentralstelle für Weltanschauungsfragen. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  7. ^ Hohler, Stefan (June 15, 2007). "Knochen in Kirchen gestohlen" [Stealing of bones in churches]. Tagesanzeiger (in German). Archived from the original on 2010-11-08.
  8. ^ Sarkar, Sumita (September 18, 2015). "Swami Vishwananda becomes first Mahamandaleshwar from outside the country". Times of India.
  9. ^ "Peace Pole Gifted to Swami Vishwananda at Bhakti Marga in Frankfurt – GERMANY - May Peace Prevail On Earth International". May Peace Prevail On Earth International -. 2015-10-26. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  10. ^ "Awardees". Bharat Gaurav Awards. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  11. ^ "What is the Lifestyle of a Hari Bhakta?". Bhakti Marga Blog. Bhakti Marga. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Kriya Yoga And Spiritual Guru Paramahamsa Vishwananda To Visit India, Here's How You Can Seek His Blessings". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Ramchandani recibe en España al maestro hindú Swami Vishwananda". El Faro de Ceuta (in Spanish). 2023-11-15. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  14. ^ "El maestro hindú Paramahamsa Vishwananda congrega a más de 2.000 fieles en el frontón de Izurtza". EITB (in Spanish). 2023-11-03. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  15. ^ H, T. (2023-10-30). "Tanja Ribič Djurić in Branko Djurić sta bila na kosilu z enim bolj slavnih ljudi na svetu". TočnoTo (in Slovenian). Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  16. ^ "Paranitya Narasimha Temple Dedicated – Hindu Press International". Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  17. ^ "Vishwananda | CNN Portugal". cnnportugal.iol.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  18. ^ a b Hülsen, Isabell (8 April 2022). "Mann wird zum Missbrauchsopfer erklärt" [Man has been declared abuse case]. Der Spiegel. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  19. ^ a b von Blazekovic, Aurelie (8 April 2022). "Ein Guru vor Gericht" [A guru at court]. Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  20. ^ a b Moser, Irle (11 April 2022). "Hat der Hessische Rundfunk ein Sorgfaltsproblem?" [Does Hessischer Rundfunk have a due diligence problem?]. Frankfurter Rundschau. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  21. ^ Vishwananda, Paramahamsa (27 January 2022). "Paramahamsa Vishwanandas Stellungnahme zur jüngsten Fernsehsendung des Hessischen Rundfunks" [Statement by Paramahamsa Vishwananda regarding the recent broadcast by the HR]. Bhakti Marga (in German). Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  22. ^ "Just Love - Kapitel 3: Der Guru" [Just Love - Chapter3: The Guru]. ARD Audiothek (Podcast). Hessischer Rundfunk. January 28, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2023. at min. 15:14

Further reading

  • Haigh, Martin J. (2022). "Geogpraphical Spread of Hindu Religion and Culture into the West". In Singh, R. S. (ed.). Practising Cultural Geographies: Essays in Honour of Rana P. B. Singh. Singapore: Springer Nature. pp. 224ff. ISBN 978-9811664151.
  • Hawley, J. S. (2020). Krishna's Playground: Vrindavan in the 21st Century. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0190123987.
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