Swami Atmanand Paramhans
(1934 - 1993)
Om
Shri Guruve Namah
(I bow to my teacher)
Knowledgeable of all past-present and future, “know-it-all”, complete God form, Swami Atmanand Paramhans was born on 20th Dec 1934 A.D. on Aghain full moon day in village Hardiya post – Barhariya district Siwan, Bihar in a highly respected Brahmin family, for the welfare of all life forms. His childhood name was Shri Ramanand Pandey. His father Shri Chandrabhushan Pandey was a generous and well mannered person. He was doctor of high order in the science of Ayurveda. Swami jee’s mother Shrimati Parvati Devi was very simple hearted and loving lady.
Pics of his Birth Place
Swami Ramanand received his primary school education in Barhariya and higher education in Siwan. Since childhood, he was very sharp minded, talented and always topped in his examinations. Inspite of being born in Brahmin family, Swami jee did not have any feeling related to untouchability, casteism, and discrimination on the basis of sect and religion.
Ramanandajee, in his student life took the stand of always being an atheist. He used to say if God exists he should manifest himself in person to him. Till he did not feel the presence of God, he will not believe in him. Whenever there were debates in school on this topic, he used to take the atheist’s side. Inspite of taking the side of being atheist in his student life, he had in his heart strong curiosity to discover what is God, what is that reign which governs all the changes in the world, changes that form the basis of God, what is soul, what is Universe, what is devinehood, what is “Brahmatva”, what is the outcome of our deeds (Karma).
Many such questions always used to continually reverberate in his heart. After completing intermediate in science in first division, Ramanandajee got job in secretariat in Patna, but nearly after two years of service, Ramanandajee resigned from his service and took over the job of assistant teacher in B M Secondary school Siwan.
While working as a teacher, Ramanandajee came in contact with Pujyapada Swami Paramanand Paramhansjee whose ashram (heritage) was nearby the school at the bank of small river, Daha (Bana-Ganga) at village Tandwa. Swami Paramanandjee, considering Ramanandajee as an able disciple and also realizing his strong curiosity to discover ultimate truth, enlightened him at Tandwa ashram and also removed all his doubts from time to time.
Pics Of Tandwa Ashram
After being blessed by his guru, Ramanandajee began disciplined practice. By the influence of wise guru, tendency of Ramanandajeechanged from being a strong non believer in God to a believer.Ramanandajee’s inclination drifted towards yoga sadhana (practice, “Naad-Bindu-Sadhana”) along with Vedanta and yoga. During this pressing tenure, Ramanadajee had several divine experiences.As Ramanandajee’s interest got shifted towards meditation and practice, he gradually became disinterested in teaching at school and he started spending more and more time in meditation room at Tandwa ashram, even spanning across whole nights in meditation at several occasions. Ramanandajee considered it better to forget the worldly things in the continuity of meditation. SwamiBrahmanadajee tested Ramanandajee very hard on several occasions during his meditation period. After sometime, Ramanandajee stopped going to school and inspite of bad financial, family situation and resistance from family, he resigned from his job and took the decision to abandon his home and start living at Tandwa ashram permanently. Realising strong desire of Ramanandajee, Swami Paramanandjee gave him “sanyas” (shunning worldly pleasures) on the evening of Deepavali day in 1959 and gave him the name “Swami Atmanand Paramhans” after the name of an earlier saint of high order, Atmanandjee; and was ordered the task of religious preaching.
Being influenced by Swami jee’s simplicity, ease, natural love and heart touching discourses in simple language, the number of disciples of Swami jee increased very fast. After some time, Swami Atmanand Paramhans went on the journey of Uttaranchal after leaving Tandwa ashram. He returned to Siwan after strong tapasya(long hard abstinence from worldly pleasures to attain spiritual targets) in Uttaranchal and several other pilgrimages in North India. After some time, Swami jee accepted to stay in the wrecked ashram of Daharidasajee in Kalkalha village, Barauli, district Gopalganj at the behest of local people. Swami jee changed the name of this place as Shri Sanatan Dharma Ashram, Premnagar, Barauli. With cooperation from local public, the Premnagar Ashram was reconstructed. After several years, in 1985, Swami jee established the Prem Dhaam Ashram at Aloknagar, Bareiiy, U.P.
Swami jee did spiritual journey across the length and breadth of the country in order to propagate the “AdvaitVedanta”and meditation yoga. He was considered as the best speaker in the World Religion Conference in 1965. While all the speakers were allocated 2.5 minutes of time to speak, the audience preferredlistening to Swami jee for 2.5 hours. For this, the organizers were forced to concede to the demand of the people.
“Vishwa Hindu Parishada” was established in the fort of kingJaychamrajaWadiyar of Mysore in 1966. Swami jee chaired its first session in Mysore. Swami jee knew the cure of cronic diseases and also used to distribute free medicines.
Swami jee’s articles and discourses have been broadcasted from akashwani(radio station) Lucknow and Ranchi.He delivered discourses in English at places like Andhra Pradesh, Madras, Hyderabad, Patyavanda, Kajipet, Khammam, Bhadrachalam, etc. Andhra’s contemporary education minister and Member of Parliament, Shri Lakhsmikantam, after being influenced by him, travelled along with him for several days. Swami jee’s discourses have been delivered in whole of India. He also travelled to Canada at the behest of his devotees for propagating religion. He was the president of the Bihar branch of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and later remained member of the advisory committee of Bihar Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Sarvashree Prabhudatt Brahmachari and mahanta of Bodh Gaya, Bodhabhikshu Bhante Gyan Jagatjee have also been members of this advisory committee. In 1982, he was chosen as the best speaker in “Akhil Bhartiya Gita Sammelan” (All India Gita Conference) organized by Bharat SevaSamaj in the proceedings of Vishwa Hindu Parishad at Lal Mandir in Delhi in 1982. His last words in his last discourse on 26.08.1993 were as follows:
“Ja Marne Se Jag Dare, Kabira Mana Anand
Kab Mari Haun Kab Payi Haun, Puran Paramanand”
(World is scared to die, Kabira is happy in his heart
When one dies, he attains bliss of God)
While propagating religion, he embraced “Mahasamadhi” at Abohar, Punjab on 28.08.1993 on “Bhadra Krishna Ekadashi”. His followers gave him “Samadhi” at PremDham Ashram, Aloknagar, Izzatnagar, Bareily, U.P. Today his grand Samadhi temple stands tall at this place.
Swami Atamanand Paramhans incarnated on the stage of this world to enlighted the hearts of his devotees with knowledge and devotion. His whole life is full of magical, out-of-the-world happenings and experiences. At present he has innumerable devotees and followers in India as well as the whole world. His devotees have recorded and written several important magical experiences and sharpness of practice and involvement during his propagation of religion whilst covering his spiritual journey across the country. While remembering the moments passed with Swami jee, even today his devotees get filled with emotional feelings.
Though he has accepted Shri Sanatan Dharma (religion) yet feeling of coordination of all religions lie within him.He considers intensely expressing aboutGod’s and whole world’s modern and basic religion, Sanatan Dharma and merging in selfless service as his primary responsibility.