Swami Sandeepananda Giri is the founder and spiritual head of Salagramam. Swamiji’s inspiration is the life and work of Swami Chinmayananda, whom he reveres as his spiritual guru.
From a very young age, Swami Sandeepananda Giri was deeply interested in the scriptures of our country and the philosophy of the different cultures of the world. Swamiji’s journey of learning through a wide range of texts on the scriptures, its study and application and introspection on other traditions, have reiterated his belief that the wisdom of our rishi parampara- the legacy handed down to us by the sages- and spirituality have a very practical side. In fact it is the adaptation and practice of this heritage in everyday transactions that give life and meaning to the whole concept of spirituality.
Sanyasam, to Swamiji, is a state of mind - an inner culture that looks beyond the notion of the saffron robe and the popular interpretation of detachment. Swamiji projects the message contained in the powerful symbol of the lotus that appears as a leit-motif in Indian tradition. “Be like the lotus flower that stays rooted even in the midst of mud and mire, yet holding its own at a higher level and looking ever upwards.” The hallmark of a true sanyasi would be the aptitude to maintain a meditative mood- the dhyanavastita manas- which is fine-tuned to every particle in the universe and dances to the cosmic rhythm even in the midst of chaotic worldliness. Swamiji believes that this state is, and should be attainable by every one.
Swami Sandeepananda Giri’s discourses have found their way to the hearts of millions. He speaks the language of love, with a vocabulary of words that comes straight from his heart. Swamiji sees the pristine in every human being. He ever reminds and cajoles one to wake up and be aware of the presence of the endless potential within. As Swamiji often quotes from the Gita:
“Uddhared atmanatmanam na atamanam avasadayet
Aatamaivayaatmano bandhur atmaivaripuratmanah” (6.5)
“Let a man lift himself by his own self alone, and let him not lower himself; for, this self alone is the friend of oneself, and this self is the enemy of oneself.”
Swami Sandeepananda Giri’s dynamic vision and tireless efforts to the cause he believes in are living proofs of the above dictum.
SALAGRAMAM is the realization of Swamiji’s dream of a mission with a vision.
BIO - PROFILE
Swami Sandeepananda Giri
- A Profound Stream of Inspiration
Swami Sandeepananda Giri, the founder and Director of Salagramam Public Charitable Trust, is a visionary teacher, greatly revered and accepted among persons from all walks of life. He is an equally accomplished speaker who reaches out to peoples’ hearts. A keen environmentalist, Swamiji’s focused work for the protection of rivers, as an extension of practical spirituality, has won wide acclaim.
Initiated into monastic life as Br. Sandeep Chaitanya in Chinmaya Mission, Swami Sandeepananda Giri was ordained sannyasam by H.H.Dwadashadarsanacharya Ananthasrivibhooshita Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Kashikananda Giri Maharaj at Haridwar.
Swami Sandeepananda Giri took up formal philosophical and spiritual studies and underwent the Vedanta Course at the Chinmaya International Foundation, Adi Sankara Nilayam, Kerala. Joining the Chinmaya Mission in 1994, he served in various capacities from grass roots level to initiating many new projects of the Mission. In 2006 Swamiji founded the School of Bhagavad Gita so as to effectively benefit a wider section of the population. The activities of the organization were formally inaugurated in Delhi by Smt. Sheila Dixit with the blessings of the then President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
For the past 16 years Swamiji has been conducting innumerable discourses and lecture series on the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads and other texts, all over the country and abroad.
Swamiji created history with the 108 day continuous Bhagavad Gita Discourse series in Trivandrum in 2003 - 2004, followed by a similar one in Cochin in 2005 - 2006, attracting live audiences of close to 2000. The Art of Man Making, a 45 day long event held in The Indian Consulate hall, Dubai, was a mile stone, whereby discourses on the entire Gita were held for the first time ever in the UAE. The Pre - Parliament event of the Parliament of the World’s Religions hosted by the School of Bhagavad Gita in Trivandrum, had internationally known personalities assembled to ‘Make a World of Difference’.
CONFLUENCE OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY AND AGE OLD WISDOM
Swami Sandeepananda Giri has conceptualised and conducted many innovative projects related to the visual media, publishing, youth and the environment.
The Sampoorna Gita Jnana Yajnam by Swamiji was telecast on Doordarshan, the national TV network of India. The fact that it was telecast continuously each day for two and a half years since April 2006, and viewed globally, proves its acceptance and popularity. Television channels regularly feature talks by Swamiji and programmmes made by His Vision, the visual production wing of the School of Bhagavad Gita.
To preserve and popularize the invaluable heritage of our country, Swamiji sees to the documentation, translation and publication of such work in the form of books and CDs to be made available to the public. PIRAVI is the positive outlook magazine published under his guidance. The Gita published in Malayalam Braille for the first time and distributed free of cost, proved to be a blessing for the visually impaired.
K.E.E.P. - SAFE KEEPING NATURE
Initiated by Swami Sandeepananda Giri, Project K.E.E.P - KERALA ENVIRONMENT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME, is a wide ranging project that is a promise to care for the ecology of Kerala and the world at large. The 3 month long, state - wide comprehensive programme of talks and campaigns to protect the environment, followed by the national Sagar- Ganga Darsan Yatra, carried Swamiji’s message of the harmony of spirituality, practical life and social commitment to new heights.
A NEW DIMENSION TO PILGRIMAGES
The several pilgrimages including Kailas- Manasarovar yatras, Himalaya yatras, the Holy Land tour and so on organized and guided by Swamiji, have extensive participation and give a new dimension to spiritual journeys.
A GLOBAL FORUM, AN OPEN HOUSE
Swami Sandeepananda Giri’s ashram, SALAGRAMAM - the Temple of Knowledge - houses the headquarters of the School of Bhagavad Gita in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of the beautiful state of Kerala in South India.
Facilities at SALAGRAMAM include accommodation, meditation hall, class-rooms with audio-visual equipments, dining hall, conference hall, book store and cultural center. A key feature is the library that is a storehouse of all available literature on the Bhagavad Gita, other scriptures, rare manuscripts and digital documents.
Located in serene surroundings along the Karamana river, Swami Sandeepananda Giri envisions SALAGRAMAM as a global forum and an open house for all seekers of knowledge.
A VISION FOR THE FUTURE
Swami Sandeepananda Giri has traveled widely within India and abroad to the USA, UK, Canada, the UAE, Sri Lanka, Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries. The centers of the School of Bhagavad Gita established by Swamiji in the U.K, USA, Canada and the UAE underline the global outlook of the organization. Swamiji was invited to address the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Melbourne. This recognition from the World Parliament states:
“We hold in high esteem your many years of spiritual guidance and service to humanity and will be most honored by your presence at this historic interfaith gathering, to offer your wisdom and your vision for the future. We are deeply grateful for your commitment to interreligious understanding and your work for peace and the upliftment of society.”
Swami Sandeepananda Giri’s words and deeds not only illuminate his erudition and depth of knowledge, but also amply demonstrate the practical aspect of spirituality, which is the core of Indian heritage.
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