Mahamandaleshwar Swami Nityananda

Born in Mumbai, India in 1962, Swami Nityananda was trained from childhood by the renowned Shaktipat Guru, Baba Muktananda. He was initiated into the mysterious path of the Siddha Gurus, learning the various yogic practices including meditation and Sanskrit chanting and studying the philosophies of Vedanta and Kashmir Shaivism.

In 1980, at eighteen years of age, in accordance with his Guru's wishes, he was initiated into the Saraswati order of monks and received the name Swami Nityananda, the name of Baba Muktananda's Guru. In 1981, Baba Muktananda declared Nityananand his successor and in 1982, at the conclusion of a five-day Chandi Yagna, transferred to him and Swami Chidvilasanand all his power and knowledge in the presence of Mahamandaleshwar Swami Brahamanand Giriji Maharaj.

Swami Nityananda founded Shanti Mandir in 1987 as a vehicle for continuing his Guru's work and subsequently established the three ashrams. He travels between the ashrams each year, sharing the spiritual practices in which he has been trained and passing on the knowledge.

In 1995, at the age of 32, at a traditional ceremony in Haridwar, India, the Acharyas and Saints of the Dashnami tradition, established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century AD, installed him as a Mahamandaleshwar of the Mahanirvani Akhara. He is the youngest person in history to have received this exalted spiritual title.