Mukundananda

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Swami Mukundananda (born December 19, 1960), a senior disciple of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, is a teacher of yoga, meditation and spirituality and is the founder of Jagadguru Kripaluji Yog (JKYog).^[1] He has a distinguished background in technology and management and is a graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi^[2][3] and the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta.^[4][5]

Early Life and Professional Accomplishment

Swami Mukundananda was inclined towards spirituality, yoga, and meditation from a very early age. As a youngster he would often spend long hours in meditation and contemplation on spiritual matter.^[6] While his interest in spirituality was growing stronger with age, he was also a bright scholar. He graduated from one of the premier technical institutes of India, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi with an engineering degree (B.Tech). Subsequently, he also graduated with a post-graduate management degree (MBA) from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Kolkata.^[2] Later, he started working as an executive in a big corporate house in India. However, driven by his ever-increasing hunger for spiritual awakening, he resigned from his job within couple of months of joining.^[7] Soon, he took up the order of Sannyas (renunciation) and set out on a path of spiritual journey across India.^[8] During this time, he happened to closely associate with many enlightened and scholarly saints, read the writings of the great renowned saints of the past, and engaged in devotional practices.^[6]

Spiritual Journey and Meeting his Spiritual Master

After a few years of his spiritual journey, Swami Mukundananda met his Guru, Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj.^[6] Under the guidance of his spiritual master, Swami Mukundananda extensively studied the Vedic scriptures,^[9] Indian and Western systems of philosophy, and the theory and practical aspects of the raganuga tradition of Bhakti Yog. Upon completion of his studies, his Guru entrusted him with the key task of disseminating the ancient Vedic knowledge across the globe.^[6]

Swami Mukundananda has traveled to different countries around the world, such as India, United States,^[10][11]Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Trinidad and Europe , to disseminate the philosophy and knowledge of the Vedic scriptures.^[8][12] In the United States, he has delivered lectures on Vedic philosophy at the fortune 500 companies, such as Google, Oracle, and Intel, and at some of the top universities, including Yale University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Duke University , Princeton University, Stanford University and Kellogg School of Management.^[8][13] His lectures encompass the teachings of the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavata Purana, Puranas, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayan, other Eastern scriptures, and various other Western philosophies.^[14][15][16]

Teachings and Philosophy

Swami Mukundananda was interested in Yoga and meditation since his childhood that he continued practicing while growing up. Later his spiritual master Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj noticed his interest in Yoga and asked him to formulate a comprehensive system of Yoga to correct the aberration in the Western world, where Yoga was being practiced as a mere physical exercise. Following his spiritual master’s instruction, Swami Mukundananda visited the famous Yoga Universities in India while studying their yogic techniques. Later, he combined Hatha Yog best practices with Bhakti Yog and formulated the system of “Jagadguru Kripaluji Yog” (JKYog).^[1] JKYog incorporates both spiritual and material knowledge for physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual well being of humankind under the five Vedic disciplines:^[17]

• Radhey Krishna Yogasan
• Radhey Krishna Pranayam
• Subtle Body Relaxation
• Roop Dhyan Meditation
• Science of Healthy Diet

Organizations and Centers

In (2007) he founded a system of Yoga called JKYog which emphasizes the Yoga of the Body, Mind and Soul,^[18][19] In United States and created an accompanying a nonprofit organization called Jagadguru Kripaluji Yog.^[1] He has also instituted Jagadguru Kripalu Yog Trust, India.

He has established over twenty Satsang centers (congregation center) ^{[17][20][21][22]} in different parts of USA such as Albany, Bay Area, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Fairfax, Queens, Fort Lauderdale, Harrisburg, Houston, Grand Prairie, Los Angeles, Manchester, Maryland, Phoenix, Plano, Frisco, Raleigh, Tampa, Bridgewater.

He has also established several Satsang centres ^[23] in different parts of India such as in the state of Gujarat (Ahmedabad, Anand, Bhav Nagar, Mehsana, Palanpur, Patan, Vadodara, Valsad, Vapi), Madhya Pradesh (Indore, Khandwa), New Delhi (Ashok Vihar, IP Extension, Ranjit Nagar, Rohini & Punjabi Bagh, Vikaspuri), Odisha (Aska, Athagarh, Banki, Baripada, Betanoti, Bhanja Nagar, Bhawanipatna, Boudh, Brahmapur, Chasakhand, Chhatrapur, Cuttack, Dispur, Dhenkanal, Gunupur, Humar, Jajpur, Karanjia, Katuru, Kendrapada, Ladugaon, Malda, Paralakhemundi, Phulbani, Rairangpur, Rambha, Sambalpur), West Bengal (Kolkata).

Devotee members of the organization meet regularly in these centers to participate in the satsang.^[24][25] The regular congregational meeting includes meditation, prayer, kirtan, video lecture, discussion, and arati. These satsang centers also organize Swamiji’s programs in their cities almost every year.^[26]

Radha Krishna Temple

In July 2017, Swami Mukundananda inaugurated the Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas, which now serves as the headquarters of JKYog in United States. ^{[27] [28]}

Discourses on TV

Swami Mukundananda’s programs are broadcast daily on 4 channels: Disha TV, TV Asia, Sanatan Channel, and ITV. Spiritual topics are discussed using references and quotations from Vedic and other religious scriptures.

Most Popular Lecture Series & Youtube Channels

Some of the popular lecture series of Swami Mukundananda include

• Art of Mind Management ^{[29][30][31][32]}
• Grow from Within to Succeed in Life ^[33][34]
• Bhagavad Gita ^[35][36][37]
• Srimad Bhagavatam Mahapuran ^[38]
• Patanjali Yoga Sutras ^[39]
• Narad Bhakti Darshan ^[40][41][42]
• Taittiriya Upanishad ^[43][44][45]
• Ram Katha ^[46]

Bal-Mukund Program

Bal-Mukund^[47][48] is a specially designed personality development program for children, envisioned by Swami Mukundananda. It endeavors to educate young minds in the knowledge of Vedic wisdom to lead a virtuous life with a service attitude, and to help build courage, confidence and faith while expanding the power of concentration and focus.

Books Written

Swami Mukundananda has authored the following books:

• Art of Mind Management ISBN 978-0-9968693-2-4 (2017)
• Bhagavad Gita ISBN 978-0-9833967-2-7 (2013)
• Essence of Hinduism ISBN 978-0-9826675-8-3 (2011)
• Spiritual Dialectics ISBN 978-0-9826675-9-0 (2011)
• Yoga for the Body, Mind and Soul ISBN 978-0-9833967-1-0 (2011)
• Inspiring Stories for Children; Vol. 1: ISBN 978-0-9826675-0-7 (2010)
• Inspiring Stories for Children; Vol. 2: ISBN 978-0-9826675-1-4 (2010)
• Inspiring Stories for Children; Vol. 3: ISBN 978-0-9826675-2-1 (2010)
• Inspiring Stories for Children; Vol. 4: ISBN 978-0-9826675-3-8 (2010)
• Bal-Mukund Festivals of India ISBN 978-0-9826675-4-5 (2010)
• Bal-Mukund Wisdom Book ISBN 978-0-9826675-5-2 (2010)
• Bal-Mukund Saints of India ISBN 978-0-9826675-6-9 (2010)

Spiritual Retreat

Every year Swami Mukundananda conducts four spiritual retreats ^[49][50][51] in different parts of USA. They are typically organized in the following locations -

• Florida (in the month of April)
• Fresno, West Coast (Memorial day weekend)
• East Coast (in the month of July)
• Dallas (Labour day weekend)

These retreats include yoga, meditation, subtle body relaxation, Keertans, spiritual discourses, outdoor chantings, cultural events, Q/A sessions, and other activities. In addition to these programmes for adults, specific programmes are organized for children (Bal-Mukund programme) and youth that focus on character building.

• 
  Retreat Lecture
• 
  Retreat Discourse
• 
  Retreat Yoga
• 
  Retreat Bal-Mukund
• 
  Retreat Parikrama

External links

• jkyog.org
• Bhagavad Gita commentary by Swami Mukundananda
• Daily Sadhana
• Bal-Mukund Playground for Vedic Wisdom
• Radha Govind Dham India

References