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Vishwananda

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Paramahamsa Sri Swami
Vishwananda
Personal life
Born
Mahadeosingh Komalram

(1978-06-13) June 13, 1978 (age 46)
Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, Mauritius
NationalityMauritian
Signature
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. 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] All of them have taken a vow to renounce all material things, to follow the principle of non-violence, and to concentrate fully on the divine. The order is rooted in the cultural tradition of India and sees itself as an offshoot of Sanatana Dharma, an "eternal religion".[4]

Life

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Vishwananda was born on 13 June 1978[5] into a Hindu Brahmin family (originated in Bihar) in Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, Mauritius.[6][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.[7]

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.[7]

In 2004, he purchased a property in the small village of Steffenshof in Hunsrück, Rhineland-Palatinate, and expanded into an ashram.[7] There, in July 2005, he established the organisation Bhakti Marga.[2]

Young Vishwananda engaged in prayers

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.[7]

Mahamandaleshwara initiation of Vishwananda

In September 2015 he was granted the title Mahamandaleshwara by Nirmohi Akhada, the first 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] The order is rooted in the cultural tradition of India and sees itself as an offshoot of Sanatana Dharma an "eternal religion"[4]

On September 3, 2023, in Elmira, New York, Vishwananda inaugurated the Paranitya Narasimha Temple and ashram.[13]

In November 2023, CNN called him one of the world's best-known spiritual gurus.[3][14]

Philosophy

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Vishwananda's teachings are based on the idea that God is unique and personal: He can be called by different names and referred to by the different forms He takes at different times, depending on the 'unique religious relationship one builds with Him'. These teachings urge people to transcend the arbitrary boundary lines and divisions associated with religious and cultural traditions, and to seek communion with the divine, and further affirm that the highest form of God is Love, and that the name of that form is Narayana. As part of his teachings, Vishwananda gives spiritual discourses known as satsangs. For Vishwananda, the Hindu religion is open and embraces all paths in the world. It is based on yoga, a term that means 'union of the soul with the divine'. It embraces all ways to realise this union. It does not proclaim to possess a single truth, but speaks of the existence of one truth and of many masters, each of whom reveals it in a different way[15]

Spiritual Practices

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Darshan

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.[16][17][18] 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] Some darshans can last up to 17 hours.[19] Devotees seemingly report that they have intense emotional experiences during darshan, feel a sense of lightness and gain the impression that their everyday worries disappear for that moment. [19]The portuguese newspaper TVI reports: “the religious community of Bhakti Marga welcomes people from all parts of the world and different faiths, and everyone can find their place here.”[19]

Atma Kriya Yoga

Atma Kriya Yoga is a comprehensive spiritual practice developed by Paramahamsa Vishwananda. He explains that the focus of this practice is on purifying the mind, body and soul to lead the practitioner to a deeper connection with the divine. Atma Kriya Yoga is said to combine ancient yogic traditions with modern techniques and is considered to be a method specifically tailored to the needs of modern times.[20]

Rui Patrício, the goalkeeper of the Portuguese national team, started practising Atma Kriya Yoga in 2016. He visited the Shree Peetha Nilaya Ashram in Germany, where he was introduced to the practice.[21][22] Patrício found that practising Atma Kriya Yoga significantly improved his physical fitness and mental concentration, leading to a noticeable boost in his performance, particularly during UEFA Euro 2016. His enhanced mental strength and resilience were praised in media reports. Patrício explained that he incorporated the yoga techniques into his daily routine to reduce stress and maintain balance in both his personal and professional life.[20][22] The claim of Patricio is in line with further studies which suggest an increase in sport performance and mental health due to yoga and meditation[23][24]

Controversies

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In 2001, the Swiss newspaper Tagesanzeiger reported that two former members of Bhakti Marga stole relics from 25 churches and monasteries in Switzerland during a tour. Such relics included the remains of bones believed to be of Mother Mary and Saint Brother Klaus. The case was held in 2003, after one of the culprits voluntarily reported herself to the police. The case was brought before the Baselland Criminal Court in Liestal. Swami Vishwananda did not appear at the hearing due to a tour in America and sent apologies for his absence. The two ex-disciples who were at the court spoke about their "psychological dependence and the manipulative skills of the guru". They also claimed that it was Vishwananda's order to collect as many relics as possible for "an imminent relic war and the end of the world by black magic", and had convinced them that the theft was by "God's will".[25] The court sentenced the main defendant to four months' suspended prison sentence for damage to property and disruption of religious freedom. The 48-year-old woman from Berne received a suspended fine of 3,500 francs, and the 29-year-old woman from Zurich received a fine of 400 francs. Most of the bones, which were in Mauritius and in a French monastery, were taken over to the diocese of Basel, and returned to the places of origin.[25]

In January 2022, Hessischer Rundfunk, a regional broadcast arm of German state broadcaster ARD, released a TV documentary "Just Love - Sektenaussteiger packen aus"[26] in which allegations of sexual coercion were broadcast against Paramahamsa Vishwananda.

The law firm acting on behalf of Paramahamsa Vishwananda sought injunctions at the regional court of Hamburg citing "numerous offences against principles of permissable reporting, untrue statements and blatant rights offences". The court judged that there was 'a lack of evidence to broadcast such a suspicion' and ruled in favour of Paramahamsa Vishwananda, issuing seven injunctions against the TV show which resulted in its removal from the ARD Mediathek platform. Hessischer Rundfunk's serious journalistic failings were further highlighted after they alleged an identifiable follower of Paramahamsa Vishwananda had tried to commit suicide after suffering sexual abuse, without checking with the alleged victim if the allegation was actually true. The follower in question denied any such abuse or suicide attempt ever occurred. The follower took legal action against HR, obtaining injunctions about the misreporting about him and HR admitted their journalistic failure to take simple steps to verify the allegations. HR's journalistic failings were widely reported in major German newspapers such as Der Spiegel and Suddeutschezeitung.[27][28][29][30][31]

In March 2024 German show ZDF Magazin Royale [de] aired a 21-minute segment criticising Vishwananda and Bhakti Marga, including using the debunked controversy of sexual abuses in the organisation.[32] Bhakti Marga members themselves acknowledged the humor in the segment but pointed out that it misrepresented the community. Journalists from the Wiesbadener Kurier, a local newspaper, who engaged directly with Bhakti Marga described their experience as open and transparent, in contrast to the critical tone of the satirical broadcast. Repeated resurfacing of the accusations, despite their legal dismissal, was viewed as misleading and lacking journalistic integrity.[33][34]

Selected books

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  • 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

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  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. ^ a b "Der Guru aus Heidenrod und der Weg der Hingabe". Echo Online (in German). 2024-06-13. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
  5. ^ "PARAMAHAMSA VISHWANANDA'S BIRTHDAY 2023". Bhakti Event. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  6. ^ Sri-Swami-Vishwananda website staff (April 11, 2004). "About Swami". Sri Swami Vishwananda. Archived from the original on 2004-04-11.
  7. ^ 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.
  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. ^ "Paranitya Narasimha Temple Dedicated – Hindu Press International". Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  14. ^ "Vishwananda | CNN Portugal". cnnportugal.iol.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  15. ^ Legorburu, Javier García (2023-11-02). "Izurtza recibe al maestro espiritual hindú Paramahamsa Vishwananda". El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-05-04.
  16. ^ "Ramchandani recibe en España al maestro hindú Swami Vishwananda". El Faro de Ceuta (in Spanish). 2023-11-15. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ a b c Paramahamsa Vishwananda: o nome pode ser difícil de dizer, mas há milhares a seguir e a festejar este guru (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-05-05 – via tvi.iol.pt. Darshan last 17 hours: Min 01:40; intense emotional experiences: Min 00:40; Vishwananda welcomes all: Min 01:21
  20. ^ a b Newswire, Busines (2024-10-17). "Rui Patricio, the Famous Portuguese Goalkeeper, has revealed his secret to staying at the top of his game – Yoga". Business. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
  21. ^ "Saiba quem é o guia espiritual de Rui Patrício". CNN Portugal (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2025-05-04.
  22. ^ a b Dicken, Alex (2018-11-11). "The inside story of Patricio's transfer to Wolves - and the fallout". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 2025-05-09.
  23. ^ Grilli Cadieux, Elena; Gemme, Claudia; Dupuis, Gilles (2021-05-01). "Effects of Yoga Interventions on Psychological Health and Performance of Competitive Athletes: A Systematic Review". Journal of Science in Sport and Exercise. 3 (2): 158–166. doi:10.1007/s42978-020-00104-y. ISSN 2662-1371.
  24. ^ Colzato, Lorenza S.; Kibele, Armin (2017-06-01). "How Different Types of Meditation Can Enhance Athletic Performance Depending on the Specific Sport Skills". Journal of Cognitive Enhancement. 1 (2): 122–126. doi:10.1007/s41465-017-0018-3. ISSN 2509-3304.
  25. ^ a b Hohler, Stefan (June 15, 2007). "tagesanzeiger.ch: Nichts verpassen" [Stealing of bones in churches]. web.archive.org (in German). Archived from the original on 2010-11-08. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  26. ^ "Just Love - Sektenaussteiger packen aus". IMDb. Retrieved 29 Dec 2024.
  27. ^ "Hat der Hessische Rundfunk ein Sorgfaltsproblem?". www.fr.de (in German). 2022-04-11. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  28. ^ Blazekovic, Aurelie von (2022-04-08). "Guru gegen Sender: Wie Bhakti Marga erfolgreich gegen den HR klagt". Süddeutsche.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  29. ^ Hülsen, Isabell (2022-04-08). "(S+) HR-Doku über Missbrauch: Ein US-Amerikaner wird zum Opfer erklärt - doch der Sender hat nie mit ihm gesprochen". Der Spiegel (in German). ISSN 2195-1349. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  30. ^ "Stellungnahme Bhakti Marga zur Berichterstattung des Hessischen Rundfunk". pages.bhaktimarga.org (in German). Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  31. ^ Blazekovic, Aurelie von (2022-04-08). "Guru gegen Sender: Wie Bhakti Marga erfolgreich gegen den HR klagt". Süddeutsche.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-06-09.
  32. ^ Unconditional obedience: Bhakti Marga | ZDF Magazin Royale. ZDF Magazine Royale. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 29 Dec 2024.
  33. ^ VRM. "#215 – Das steckt hinter Bhakti Marga und ihrem Guru ~ Rheingehört! Podcast". podcast.de (in German). Retrieved 2025-03-19.
  34. ^ "Bhakti Marga: Gerichtsstreit mit Medien geht weiter". Wiesbadener Kurier (in German). 2024-03-28. Retrieved 2025-03-19.

Further reading

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  • 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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