Swami Ghanananda (Ghana)
| Swami Ghanananda | |
|---|---|
| Born |
12 September 1937 Senya Beraku, Central Region, Ghana |
| Occupation |
Swami Śishya of Swami Krishnananda |
Swami Ghanananda (born 1937) is a prominent swami of the indigenous Hindu community in Ghana, and is the first Hindu swami of African ancestry. He was initiated as a swami by the late Swami Krishnananda of India in 1975, and currently heads the Hindu Monastery of Africa in Accra, Ghana.[1]
Biography
Early life
Swami Ghanananda was born in a Senya Beraku village, central region of Ghana on 12 September into a native Ghanaian faith. But his parents converted to Christianity. From a very early age he thought about the mysteries of the universe and tried to find the answers in religious texts.[1]
Journey to India
Swami Ghanananda then read some books on the Hindu faith and embarked upon a new journey which took him to Rishikesh in the Indian state of Uttarakhand in northern India. He spent some time there with a spiritual guru who suggested him to open the monastery in Accra.[1]
First meeting with Swami Krishnananda
In 1962, Swami Ghanananda moved to Accra and on 24 November, he formed the Divine Mystic Path Society. He then started correspondence courses on the Hindu way of life (Sanatana Dharma) with the Divine Life Society of Rishikesh, located in the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India, where he first met Swami Krishnananda of India and became his śishya (disciple), and then in 1975 Swami Krishnananda initiated Swami Ghanananda as a swami.[1]
References
External links
- Hinduism Today - Swami Ghanananda interview
- Hinduism Today - "Africa is Ripe for a Strong Hindu Future" by Swami Ghanananda
- Ghana's unique African-Hindu temple at BBC News