Swami chidanand saraswati
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Swami Chidanand Saraswati - (also known as Pujya Swamiji or Pujya Muniji) is the President and Spiritual Head of the Parmarth Niketan Ashram parmarth_niketan in Rishikesh, India, one of India's largest spiritual institutions (www.parmarth.com). He was born in 1952 and left his home at 8 years old, under the guidance of his spiritual master, in order to live a life devoted to God and in the service of humanity. Pujya Swamiji spent nine years -- from the age of 9 - 17 -- in meditation, yoga, seclusion and silence in the Himalayas. Today, he is world renowned as a spiritual leader, visionary and divine guide.
He is also Founder/chairman of India Heritage Research Foundation (IHRF), an international, non-profit, humanitarian foundation. Under Pujya Swamiji’s leadership, IHRF runs and sponsors 43 free schools, women’s vocational training programs, a medical clinic, two orphanages/gurukuls, frequent free medical health camps, “Clean, Green and Serene” programs, organic gardening programs, Cow-Care programs, an extensive rural development program, and innumerable other humanitarian projects.
IHRF is in the final stages of compiling the first ever Encyclopedia of Hinduism. This historical project will fill a void in global understanding of this ancient spiritual tradition.
Further, IHRF has been actively involved in tsunami relief in South India. From complete immediate, short term relief to reconstruction of entire villages and construction of an orphanage and home for widowed/abandoned ladies, IHRF has provided relief and rehabilitation to thousands of devastated people. IHRF rebuilt a total of nearly 350 new homes for the tsunami victims in 2 villages of Pondicherry.
Under Pujya Swamiji’s guidance and inspiration, IHRF has also built the first ashrams and medical clinic in the land of Lake Mansarovar and Mt. Kailash in Tibet, at the height of over 17,000 feet. Mansarovar and Mt. Kailash are the holiest lands to Hindus, Jains, Buddhists and adherants to the Bon-po Tibetan tradition.
Pujya Swamiji has been a leader in numerous international, inter-faith summits and parliaments, including the Parliament of World Religions in 1993 in Chicago and in 1999 in Capetown, South Africa; the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders at the United Nations in New York in 2000; the World Economic Forum in 2002; the World Council of Religious Leaders at the United Nations in Bangkok in 2002; the World Conference of Religions for Peace in Kyoto, Japan in 2006; and the Global Youth Peace Summit at the United Nations in New York in October 2006. He is also a leader of frequent world peace pilgrimages across the world.
Swamiji is the recipient of innumerable awards, including the Mahatma Gandhi Humanitarian award, Hindu of the Year Award, Devarishi Award, Bhaskar Award, Prominent Personality Award, by Lions’ Club, Best Citizens of India Award, the Diwaliben Mohanlal Mehta Trust Award for Progress in Religion, the Uttaranchal Ratan (Jewel of Uttaranchal) Award and the Bharat Vikas Parishad 1st Utkrishtta Samman Award.
However, Pujya Swamiji seems unaffected by this list of accomplishments and remains a pious child of God, owning nothing, draped in saffron robes, living a life of true renunciation. His days in Rishikesh are spent offering service to those around him. Thousands travel from across the globe simply to sit in his presence, to receive his "darshan."
