Swami Vishnu Tirth
Swami Vishnu Tirth Maharaj, also known as Munilal Swami, was born in Jazzar of the District of Rohtak in Haryana State. He always had a love for spiritualism. While still a young man, he had a divine experience that occurred while living in a hostel as a student. He was resting on his roof at night when he saw a huge circle of fire approaching. Ultimately this circle of fire entered into his person and disappeared. He thereafter experienced a sort of intoxication and trembling in the form of automatic movements and breath control. After passing his matriculation, Munilal stayed with his uncle who was employed by the Railways at Nagpur, where he obtained his undergraduate degree. After graduation, he married and was employed as a teacher in Bilaspur in Madhya Pradesh. While teaching, he simultaneously obtained a postgraduate degree and passed the L.L.B. from Aligarh University. Thereafter he began practicing as a lawyer in Ghaziabad Tehsil of the District of Meerut. The seeds of spiritualism were deeply rooted in him from the very beginning. At first, he was not clear about the meaning of his strange experience. He met a number of holy persons and practiced Yoga. He devoted himself to deep study of Indian classics and scriptures. His life was very simple and truthful. Naturally the job as a legal practitioner did not suit him well. There was a judge named Mehra in Ghaziabad. Shri Yoganandaji Maharaji was his Guru. Learning of this, Munilal wrote a letter to Shri Yoganandaji and very soon afterward received a favorable reply. His wife had expired already and his son and daughter were both married. He was thus free from the burden of his family. All these factors soon led him to decide to renounce the world in search of enlightenment. This decision took him on a path straight to Rishikesh. Munilal met Shri Yoganandaji in the Swargashram at Rishikesh and received Shaktipat initiation from him. This was in the year 1933. Afterwards he traveled to many religious places around Badrinath and Kedarnath. In 1939, Munilal expressed a desire for initiation into the system of Sanyas, and Yoganandaji directed him to Swami Shankar Purushottan Tirth Maharaj in Benaras. Swami Shankar Purushottan Tirth initiated Munilal into the system of Sanyas in the Mohan Ashram of Haridwar near the bank of the holy river Ganges. His name became Swami Vishnu Tirth Maharaj after the initiation. As per the direction of Shri Yoganandaji, Swami Vishnu Tirth Maharaj proceeded toward Indore and finally settled in Dewas where he laid the foundation of Narayan Kuti Sanyas Ashram. Swami Vishnu Tirth Maharaj initiated many spiritual aspirants into the system of Shaktipat and wrote a number of books including Sadhana Sanket, Shaktipat, Adhyatma Vikas, Atma Prabodh, Prana Tattva, Upanishadvani, Geetatatwamrit, Shiva Sutra Prabodhini, and a commentary on Saundrya Lahiri and Prityabhigyahridyam.. He wrote one memorable book in English titled Devatma Shakti which is a rare contribution to the field of Yoga philosophy. Swami Vishnu Tirth Maharaj had a profound love for the Ganges River and he spent around two months a year near the river in Rishikesh. His disciples soon carried out the construction of a center in Rishikesh in 1965 which came to be known as Yoga Shri Pith. Swami Vishnu Tirth Maharaja occupies a prominent place in the galaxy of Shaktipat Gurus. He was highly educated and had a sharp and brilliant mind. He left his mortal body in 1969 dissolving into the Absolute. Books available in English by Swami Vishnu Tirth Maharaj are: Devatma Shakti. An indepth study of the Divine Power (Devatma Shakti) and the science of Shaktipat. This work is based on traditions recorded in ancient scriptures supplemented by direct experiences of divine revelation. This book is considered a classic in the field of Shaktipat and the awakening of internal consciousness. SWAMI SHIVOM TIRTH MAHARAJ Shri Swami Shivom Tirth Maharaj was the most favorite disciple of Swami Vishnu Tirth Maharaj. The field of activity of Shri Swami Vishnu Tirth Maharaj was considerably wide and he set a number of milestones in the expansion of the movement of the Shaktipat system. His successor Shri Swami Shivom Tirth Maharaj, the present Guru Maharaj of Ashrams in India and the USA, has, however, gone beyond the horizon after solidifying the work of his revered Guru. Swami Shivom Tirth Maharaj was originally named Om Prakash when he was a householder before joining Shri Swami Vishnu Tirthji Maharaj. He was born in 1924 in the village of Gujrat in Punjabi into a respectable family. He had a deep interest in religion and a strong liking for spiritualism from the very beginning. He studied for his undergraduate degree in Lahore. Afterwards he started leading a simple but highly ideal life. Om Prakash and his family were duly affected by the partition of the country which consequently compelled him to leave Lahore along with his family. He took a job in Punjabi but soon left and devoted himself to higher objectives and began searching for a competent teacher. After coming to know about the spiritual attainments of Shri Swami Vishnu Tirthji Maharaj, he sought his permission to join him. On receiving Swamiji's consent, Shri Om Prakash bid farewell to his family and was thereafter called Brahmachari Shivom Prakash following his initiation in 1959. Shri Shivom Prakash, while attaining considerable spiritual elevation in the company of his Guru, dedicated himself completely to the alteration, modification and improvement of the newly established centers at Dewas and Rishikesh. His unmatched dedication and total surrender to his Guru was a model for others. His steady silent devotion can be well compared with Eklavya, the unrecognized disciple of Dronacharya, who once happened to beat the great warrior Arjuna but ultimately sacrificed his right thumb when demanded by his Guru, Drona. What we see today at the Narayan Kuti Sanyas Ashram in Dewas is the result of the incessant labor of Brahmachari Shivom Prakash. He was concurrently undertaking a deep study of all the important Hindu classics and scriptures. Swami Vishnu Tirthji was very much impressed by the selfless surrender of Shri Shivom Prakash. He arranged for the Brahmachari to in be in the company of many spiritual personalities and took him around to many important religious centers. After receiving initiation into the order of renunciation (Sanyas), which he took in 1963 from Shri Narayan Tirth Maharaj (Kashi), he was given the new name of Swami Shivom Tirth. Shri Swami Vishnu Tirthji Maharaj afterwards authorized Swami Shivom Tirth to succeed him and propagate the system of Shaktipat for the welfare of all people. Since then, Swami Shivom Tirth has accomplished the task of >>kindling the fire of knowledge<< in different countries of the world, all of which Swami Gangadhar Tirthji had predicted. Swamiji is all loving and embracing. His charming and dignified personality attracts people from every walk of life and almost captivates them by the magnetism of his personality. He holds among his following Hindus, Muslim, Sikhs, Christians, Jews, Chinese, and Japanese. The system of Shaktipat has already gained ground in Europe and America. Swamiji has also undertaken foreign trips whenever he has felt his need abroad. The special trait of Swamiji's character is that each and every follower believes that he is the one most liked by Swamiji. This is for no other reason except that Swamiji is constantly showering universal grace and he has a natural affection and sympathy for those in need. His knowledge is unfathomable and humility touching. He is extremely simple and yet at times remarkably witty. The following are some of his important works in English: A Guide to Shaktipat. This book is written in a question and answer format, and covers many of the commony asked questions concerning Shaktipat, Pantanjali's Yoga Darshan, methods of awakening the kundalini power and meditation. This book also contains an introduction to the tradition of Shaktipat. Although the system of Shaktipat is very old, the system witnessed a revival during the late nineteenth century through Swami Gangadhar Tirth Maharaj. The history of the transmission of Shakti from Swami Gangadhar Tirth Maharaj through each successive guru in this notable line up to the present time is reviewed. Jana Kiran (Rays of Ancient Wisdom), by Shri Swami Shivom Tirth Maharaj. Selected lectures by Swami Shivom Tirth on Shaktipat, Karma Yoga, the mantra, and meditation. Sadhan Path: A Guide to Meditation, by Swami Shivom Tirth Maharaj. This newly published book is a rich source of information on meditation. First published in 1961, the Hindi version of this book was widely received. Now in English for the first time, this book deals with requirements for those entering the path of meditation, necessary mental preparations, the necessity of finding a qualified guru, and meditation and the experience of divine ecstasy. Shivom Vani: The Songs of Shivom, by Swami Shivom Tirth Maharaj. Also new, this is the first English translation of the beautiful poems of Swami Shivom Tirth Maharaj. These poems have been set to music in India by musicians of national reputation. These poems have been described as moving, haunting, and inspiring, and are considered by many to be the author's finest work. This work represents not only the great wisdom of a true spiritual master, but also a significant work of creative art in metaphysical poetry. All of the books mentioned in this article are available from the Swami Shivom Tirth Ashram, New York. Their address is: Swami Shivom Tirth Ashram 1238 State Route 97 Sparrow Bush NY 12780 USA If you have any questions, please contact Narayan Prakash by E-Mail at 73122.1631@compuserve.com, by writing or by calling 914-856-1121.
Narayan Prakash Swami Shivom Tirth Ashram 1238 State Route 97 Sparrow Bush, NY 1278 telephone: 914-856-1121 email: 73122.1631@compuserve.comVersion 1.0, August 1995
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