Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha

Life And Mission     "Vedanta is not reserved for ascetics and scholars. It is certainly not a pastime for the old. It, infact, enables man to understand life in the right perspective and helps him attain perfection, harmony and fulfilment. It inspires and empowers man to excel in whatever field he is."

True to this statement of his, Poojya Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha Ji has been expounding the universal truths of Vedanta in India and abroad for over four decades, revealing inspiringly their relevance to the life of the modern man of action. His rational exposition of the science of Self-knowledge and its application in the art of refining, strengthening and elevating the human mind, has benefited and transformed countless professionals, householders and students. Swamiji presents Bhagavadgeeta as an 'Administrative Gospel' especially meant for inculcating excellence in people involved in highly responsible and challenging activities.

Swamiji's special effort has been to make seekers understand that the real focus 

• of devotional practices is not God, but the devotee's own mind and behaviour, 
• of karmayoga is not action but the yogic orientation of the mind of the actor,
• of knowledge is not knowledge, but the self-improvement and self-purification of the practitioner. 

This means essentially to make the outgoing mind look inward for the solution of any problem in human life. In his mission to reveal to people that "there is a way of living in this world without being bound or troubled by it", Swamiji has been travelling throughout the world like a moving university. He has authored a number of enlightening books and also publishes a monthly English journal "Vicharasetu - the Path of Introspection". Inspired by his teachings, seekers in various cities in India and abroad have formed Brahma Vidya Centres that further his mission by holding Jnaana Yajnas and Satsangs, publishing books and doing social services.

One significant aspect of Swamiji's Loka-sangraha is the religio-cultural revolution brought about in Kerala by organizing mass-movements to stop some of the age-old derogatory and superstitious practices prevailing in the name of religious rituals and festivals. Besides freeing some famous temples from barbarous or vulgar indulgences, and removing from some others the unfair caste-discriminations, these movements have wrought a revolutionary change in the attitude of people by cultivating in them a rational view - supported fully by the scriptures - towards the socio-religious practices.

Poojya Swamiji, who hails from Kerala, had just  crossed twenty when his inner being was kindled by Baba Gangadhara Paramahamsa, a great Saint from Dakshinkhanda village of West Bengal. Soon Swamiji's dedication to Brahmavidya became exclusive, and he embraced Sannyaasa at the early age of twenty three.

After a short period of parivraajaka life, Poojya Swamiji set up his abode, Narayanashrama Tapovanam, near Trichur (Kerala) in 1963. The Ashram has grown over the years into an abode of learning, catering to the needs of various devotees and seekers all over the world. Swamiji's interactions with various Corporate and Administrative bodies and Educational Centres led to the establishment of the Centre for Inner Resources Development (CIRD) near Delhi. The aim of the Centre has been to help people discover and harness the unlimited resources they have with in themselves, the potential of their own minds, for living a life of excellence and fulfillment.

A fluent speaker in English, Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi and Bengali, Swamiji's analytical and dynamic interpretation of our spiritual texts and Vedanta, revealing their importance and relevance to present times, has transformed numerous professionals, householders and students. For more than four decades now, Swamiji has been addressing audiences in India, Malaysia, Singapore, United States, Canada and the Middle East.

Swamiji, over these years, has discoursed on the Bhagavad Gita, Sreemad Bhagavatam, the Upanishads, the Yogavasishtha and other Indian spiritual literature, to discerning audiences. He has also conducted spiritual discourses on Upadesha Saara of Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi, Viveka Choodamani and Aparokshaanubhuti of Sri Sankaracharya, Ashtavakra Gita and Uddhava Gita.