Vishwananda

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Vishwananda
Personal
Born
Mahadeosingh Komalram

(1978-06-13) June 13, 1978 (age 45)
ReligionHinduism
NationalityMauritian
SectNeo-Hinduism
Founder ofBhakti Marga
PhilosophyVishishtadvaita

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]

Life[edit]

Vishwananda was born on 13 June 1978[4] into a Hindu Brahmin family (originated in Bihar) in Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, Mauritius.[5][3]

He claimed 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. 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]

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 2, 2016, he received the Bharat Gaurav Award, which honours Indian nationals.[9]

On July 24, 2021 he established the Hari Bhakta sect.[3] In November 2023, CNN called him one of the world's best-known spiritual gurus.[3][10] In October 22, 2023, in Elmira, New York, Vishwananda inaugurated the Paranitya Narasimha Temple and ashram on September 3, 2023.[11]

Allegations made by Hessischer Rundfunk[edit]

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.[12][13] In response, Bhakti Marga filed suit against Hessischer Rundfunk in Hamburg Regional Court for false reporting in a TV and podcast production.[14] Vishwananda denied all allegations of sexual transgressions, filing an affidavit at the court through his lawyer.[15]

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.[14] Seven provisional injunctions were issued by the district Court of Hamburg in March 2022 which prohibited public allegations of sexual misconduct against Vishwananda.[13][12]

Personal life[edit]

According to the podcast of the Hessischer Rundfunk Vishwananda married the German citizen Eva Diehl around the turn of the century.[16]

Selected books[edit]

  • 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[edit]

  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 Maus, Robert (10 September 2018). "Der Ashram im Taunus" [Ashram in Taunus]. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in German).
  3. ^ a b c d 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 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. ^ "Awardees". Bharat Gaurav Awards. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  10. ^ "Vishwananda | CNN Portugal". cnnportugal.iol.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  11. ^ "Paranitya Narasimha Temple Dedicated – Hindu Press International". Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  12. ^ a b Hülsen, Isabell (8 April 2022). "Mann wird zum Missbrauchsopfer erklärt" [Man has been declared abuse case]. Der Spiegel. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  13. ^ a b von Blazekovic, Aurelie (8 April 2022). "Ein Guru vor Gericht" [A guru at court]. Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ "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[edit]

  • 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.

External links[edit]