- Edited
Guru Paramparā Publication
https://give.srividya.org/tirtha-dandi-sanyasi-parampara-ebook-english
2024 - An Auspicious Year
Throughout his illustrious spiritual journey Śrī Svaprakāśānanda Tīrtha Hamsa Avadhūta (Gurugaru) received initiation and was guided by number of esteemed gurus such as Śrī Pūrṇānanda Rājayogi, Śrī Brahmānandanātha, Śrī Jayantī Maṅgayyagaru and Śrī Jñānānanda Sarasvatī among others. However, Śrī Kalyāṇānanda Tīrtha, Gurugaru's final guru, who granted him sannyāsa dīkṣā in 1980, held a special place in his heart. Gurugaru deeply revered Kalyāṇānanda Jī, describing him as a Brahma Jyoti—a beacon of spiritual light. A poignant photograph from 1993 captures Gurugaru bowing before Kalyāṇānanda Jī after completing the Chardham Yatra, vividly illustrating the profound respect and devotion he felt for his guru. This image alone speaks volumes about their spiritual bond.
2024 appears to be a landmark year, resonating deeply with the numerology of Śrī Cakra. This year we celebrate the 81st (8+1=9) birthday of Haran Aiya, who is notably the 9th child. Additionally, it marks the 90th anniversary of our Guruji, Śrī Amṛtānandānatha Sarasvatī, alongside the 9th anniversary of his Mahāsamādhi. This year we also commemorate the 30th anniversary of the mahākumbhābhiṣekam of Devipuram. Finally, this year’s Guru Pūrṇimā also falls on Gurugaru’s birthday (janmatithi). In celebration of the auspicious occasion of Guru Pūrṇimā, we are thrilled to release a publication that traces the sannyāsa lineage that has been passed down to us through Gurugaru and Kalyāṇānanda Jī.
Unexpected Breakthrough
The SVTS 2022 Guru Malar, aimed to cover the entire expanse of our Guru Paramparā, a quest that started six years ago. Yet, as is typical in the realm of deep spiritual exploration, new avenues emerged unexpectedly. During the research for that publication, intriguing leads hinted at a possible connection to Śrī Ghanāśyāmānanda Tīrtha, the founder of Mumukṣu Bhavan in Vārāṇasī. However, concrete evidence directly linking him to our lineage was elusive, prompting us to momentarily pause this line of inquiry.
The breakthrough came in September 2023 when Dr. Rakesh, the first person in our midsts to meet Kalyāṇānanda Tīrtha in 1991, unexpectedly reappeared at the Rush Pīṭh after a 32 year absence. During his discussions with Aiya, he revealed that Kalyāṇānanda Jī had directly told him that his guru, Rajarājeśvarānanda Tīrtha and paramaguru Ghanāśyāmānanda Tīrtha were part of Mumukṣu Bhavan in Vārāṇasī. This information had prompted Dr. Rakesh to visit Mumukṣu Bhavan in March 2005, seeking further insights into our paramparā.
It is only through the grace of the Divine Mother and our Gurus, and the fortuitous return of Dr. Rakesh, that we have been able to significantly advance understanding of our spiritual lineage which now spans aprox. 1,200 years, contains over 50 Gurus tracing back to Ādi Śaṅkarācārya himself and incorporates three additional Vārāṇasī pīṭhams/maṭhs: Mumukṣu Bhavan, Kāmarūpa Maṭh, and Rājguru Sumeru Maṭh.
Our Illustrious Paramparā
The 'Tīrtha' part in Gurugaru’s dīkṣā-nāma signifies the affiliation with one of the Daśanāma sannyāsī orders established by Ādi Śaṅkarācārya. As outlined in the Maṭhāmnāyasetu, a foundational text for the main pīṭhas established by Ādi Śaṅkarācārya (i.e. Śaradā (Kālikā) Pīṭha, Govardhan Pīṭha, Jyotiś Pīṭha and Śṛṅgerī Pīṭha), Tīrtha sannyāsīs are associated with the Śārada Dvāraka Pīṭh. This connection was affirmed through extensive research into our lineage as noted below.
After Dr. Rakesh's confirmation that Ghanaśyāmānanda Jī of Mumukṣu Bhavan (a branch of Kāmarūpa Maṭh) indeed belonged to our lineage, further insights were gleaned from the Hindi text, Śrī Guruvamśa Purāṇa (Kaliyuga Khaṇḍa), which spans four volumes and encompasses biographies and lineages of various saints and gurus. This text not only provided biographies of Ghanaśyāmānanda Tīrtha and his Guru Īśvarānanda Tīrtha, but also traced their lineage to Kāmarūpa Maṭh in Vārāṇasī.
Kāmarūpa Maṭh (a branch of Śārada Dvāraka Maṭh) was established around 1550 CE by its first Mahant, Mahādevānanda Tīrtha, formerly known as Sarvānanda Ṭhākur, who was a tantric luminary and a cornerstone of our paramparā. This extraordinary Bengali saint, credited with being the first to realize the siddhis of the 10 Mahāvidyās, authored notable works like Sarvollāsa Tantra and has been prominently featured in the writings of Arthur Avalon (Shakti and Shakta) and Robert Svoboda (Aghora). Dr. Alexis Sanderson mentions that the earliest dateable evidence of the 10 Mahāvidyās known to him is to be found in the Sarvollāsa Tantra compiled by Sarvānandanātha.
In addition to being a Mahant of Kāmarūpa Maṭh he also served as the Mahant of Rājguru Sumeru Maṭh (branch of the Śāradā Dvārakā Maṭh) which holds a venerable place in Vārāṇasī's spiritual landscape. Established by Ādi Śaṅkarācārya, it is possibly Vārāṇasī's oldest Maṭh and maintains a lineage of over 60 Mahants. This intriguing overlap was corroborated by the sannyāsīs from both Rājguru Sumeru Maṭh and Kāmarūpa Maṭh. The details surrounding this dual role remain elusive, subject to ongoing research efforts.
During a period of its decline, Sarvānanda Ṭhākur played a crucial role in reviving Rājguru Sumeru Maṭh establishing a tradition of Bengali Mahants, which is unique among the Vārāṇasī Maṭhs.
Disclaimer
In compiling the Guru parampara we tried to exercise every possible precaution to ensure the accuracy of the information gathered. Our team endeavored to verify data through both textual resources and oral sources. We had representatives on the ground in Vārāṇasī who visited numerous temples and maṭhs during the information-gathering phase. However, for aspects of the information related to centuries-old events, we often had to depend on oral tradition due to the absence of written records. The information presented here reflects the most current and reliable data available to us as of July 20, 2024.
Final Words
We sincerely hope that this newly discovered parampara will open new horizons for practitioners and inspire a deeper commitment to sādhana. By honoring our guru lineage, to whom we are deeply indebted for passing on sacred knowledge through the ages, we can draw inspiration from their examples. Their dedication, wisdom, and spiritual achievements serve as a beacon for us, illuminating the path towards spiritual enlightenment. Let us strive to follow in their footsteps, delving deeper into our practices and embodying the principles they upheld, so that we too may contribute to the perpetuation of this sacred tradition of Śrī Vidyā and experience the profound spiritual growth they exemplified.