Biography of his Holiness Vishwaguru Mahamandaleshwar Paramhans Sri Swami Maheshwarananda of Panchayati Maha Nirvani Akhara

His Holiness Vishwaguru Mahamandaleshwar Paramhans Sri Swami Maheshwarananda Puri of Panchayati Maha Nirvani Akhara, affectionately known as Swamiji, is the disciple and successor of Hindu Dharmsamrat Paramhans Sri Swami Madhavananda.

Since 1970 he lives and works in Europe. Through his longlasting activities in the West Vishwaguruji became familiar with the way of life and the many problems people face in modern world, with psycho-somatic consequences of a wrong way of life, stress, fear for life and mental illness. He developed a comprehensive master system called "Yoga in Daily Life", based on original yoga tradition and specially directed to the situation and needs of modern civilization. The system can be lived and practiced independently of age, social status, nationality and denomination.

The main points of Vishwaguruji's teachings are:

• physical, mental, social and spiritual health
• respect for life
• tolerance for all religions, cultures and nationalities
• global peace
• protection of human rights and values
• protection of environment and preservation of nature.
• The realization of these fundamental principles of life shall lead man to spiritual development, Self-Realization and Realization of God.

Vishwaguruji's selfless service, his tireless care and love for all living beings, his lectures and satsangs are a source of inspiration for thousands of people from all over the world, who are striving for spiritual realization. 

In recognition of his humanitarian and spiritual merits Vishwaguruji received many thanks, awards and honouring titles from all over the world. At the Maha Kumbha Mela in Haridwar/India (April, 1998) he was appointed to Mahamandaleshwar of Maha Nirvani Akhara.

Especially during the communist era his spiritual and humanitarian work provided great moral support to the people of the Eastern European countries Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Yugoslavia. For his selfless efforts during nearly 20 years he received a letter of thanks by the President of the Czech Republic, Mr. Vaclav Havel. In the year 2002 Croatian President Stjepan Mesic acknowledged Vishwaguruji's humanitarian service to Croatia over the last 30 years by awarding him the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Katarina Zrinska:

2002 Zagreb, Croatia - The President of Croatia, His Excellency Stjepan Mesic, has received a visit from H.H Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda and on this occasion has given him the decorative award of Danica Order of Croatia, with the image of Katarina Zrinska. This award is in recognition of Vishwaguruji's lasting achievements in developing ecological awareness, peace and tolerance between cultures, nations and religions of the world.

Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda's books and scriptures have been published in many languages (English, Hindi, German, Czech, Slovak, Croatian, Serbian, Slovenian, Hungarian, Spanish, French and Russian). His distinguished charitable, humanitarian, religious and environmental work as well as his untiring efforts for tolerance and world peace have been acknowledged by social, medical, religious and political dignitaries in different parts of the world.

Recognising the urgent need to promote and develop awareness of world peace Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda has initiated worldwide Interreligious Dialogues and World Peace Prayers with representatives of world religions and public figures, and takes an active part in international congresses and conferences:

2009

• Keynote speaker at the Conference on Ayurveda and Yoga, Sydney, Australia,
• Officially honoured by the Prefect and the Mayor of Salzburg, Austria
• Planting a World Peace Tree in Linz, capital of Upper Austria
• Planting a World Peace Tree in Maribor, with City Mayor Franc Kangler, May 21, 2009
• Meeting with the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia & Hercegovina, Zeljko Komsic, Sarajevo

2008

• Meeting with Religious Leaders in Melbourne, Sharing the Wisdom of Religious Traditions
• 7th International World Peace Summit 2008, Wellington, New Zealand, 29 March
• Celebrations of 20 Years of Yoga in Daily Life in Slovenia. Meetings with Mayors of Ljubljana, Novo Mesto, Maribor, Domzale, Piran/Portoroz and Celje. Planting Peace Trees in Novo Mesto, Domzale, Portoroz and Celje.
• Inauguration of the 1st Embassy of India in Slovenia;
• Meeting with Minister of Environment of the Slovak Republic
• Meeting with Mayors of European capital cities and religious celebreties, by invitation of the Mayor of Ljubljana
• Keynote speaker at 7th International Conference on Peace and Nonviolent Action, by Anuvrat Global Organization (Anubhiva), Jaipur
• Award with the title Ambassador for Peace by the Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace, in the presence of the UN Chapter of California, Los Angeles represented by Mrs. Norma Foster.
• Honoured by a Certificate of Recognition for his worldwide work to promote global peace, protection of the environment and religious tolerance, as an International Peace Ambassador, by Mr. Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor of Los Angeles and the Council of Los Angeles
• Interfaith Gathering at ringing of the World Peace Bell in celebration of the Peace Week in Los Angeles
• Planting a World Peace Tree with Fred Segal at Canyon Peace Park
• Planting a World Peace Tree in Augarten Vienna with the Ambassador of India, H. E. Kumar, the Head of the 2nd Vienna District, Mr. Kubik, and Father Albert, Parish of Donaucity
• Meeting with the President of Croatia, Stjepan Mesic and with Mrs. Holjevac, President of the Zagreb City Assembly
• Inauguration of a Memorial Stone at the World Peace Tree in Bratislava (planted in 2007), and opening of Bratislava Ashram of Yoga in Daily Life in presence of the Ambassador of India, H. E. Mrs. Homai Saha and the Mayor of the Petrzalka District, Mr. Ftacnik
• Planting a “World Peace Tree“ at Vysehrad, Prague with the Ambassador of India, H. E. Srivastava and Czech cultural, religious and political leaders
• Speaker at the 7th Conference of Peace and Non-Violent Action, launched by Anuvibha, Jaipur

2007

• International World Peace Summit – The Message of Sri Swami Madhavananda and Mahatma Gandhi, Bratislava, Czech Republic

2006

• Initiator of the International Youth Conference on Environmental Protection, Jadan, India. Speakers: H.H. Gaj Singh, Maharaja of Jodhpur, High Court Judges, Politicians and Educators and the youth of Vishwadeep Gurukul Vidyale, Jadan.
• Guest of honour at the Word Council of Elders of the Ancient Traditions and Cultures, Jaipur, India
• Planting of a Peace Tree in Split, Croatia
• Planting of a World-Peace-Tree in Ljubljana, Slovenia, 14 Oct. 2006
• 4th International Youth Conference, Zlin, Czech Republic
• Initiator and keynote speaker in the 5th International World Peace Summit - The Message of Sri Swami Madhavananda and Mahatma Gandhi, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 13-15 Oct. 2006
• Reception at the Mayor of Ljubljana, Mrs. Danica Simsic on the occasion of the WPS in Ljubljana, 14 Oct. 2006

2005

• Guest of honour at the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas - Conference of non- resident Indians, Bombay, India
• Special guest invited by the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr. Narendra Modi, at the Vibrant Gujarat Conference, Ahmedabad, India
• International Conference on Environment and Sustainable Health at Om Vishwa Deep Gurukul Swami Maheshwaranananda Ashram Education & Research Center, inaugurated by the Minister of Environment in Rajasthan, Sri Laxmi Narayan Dave, India
• Initiator of a multi-faith gathering, Brisbane, Australia

2004

• Guest of honour at International Conference on World Peace in Ahmedabad, India
• Guest of Honour at YOGACON 2004 - International Yoga Conference in Jaipur, India
• Meeting with the Premier of South Australia, Hon. Mike Rann, discussing a possible co-operation in projects of reforestation and rainwater harvesting, Australia
• Participation in the Assembly of Montserrat and in the Parliament of the World's Religions, Barcelona, Spain
• Initiator of International World Peace Summit and the Message of Mahatma Gandhi, in Brno, Czech Republic

2003

• Meeting with Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, President of the Republic of India, New Delhi, India
• Initiator of the The World Peace Forum 2003 - Peace, Ethics and Sustainability in Sydney, Australia under the auspices of Australia's former Governor General, Sir William Deane
• Foundation stone ceremony of the Austria Hospital in India that will be built with in the area of Sri Vishwa Deep Gurukul Swami Maheshwarananda Ashram Jadan, in presence of the Ambassador of Austria to India, Her Excellency Dr. Stefan Bastl

2002

• Earth Dialogues Forum, Speaker on the Spiritual and Religious Leaders Roundtable, Lyon, France
• Interreligious Dialogue with Heads of various denominations (Catholic Church, Anglican Church, Judaism, Islam, Sikh, Baha'i, Unitary Church, and others), Adelaide, Australia World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa
• Inauguration of a Chamber of Slovakian Culture in Sri Vishwa Deep Gurukul Swami Maheshwarananda Ashram Jadan through the ambassador of the Republic Slovakia to India, Ladislav Volko, and the former Defence Minister of Slovakia, Dr Pavol Kanis
• Initiator of the International Conference World Peace and the Message of Mahatma Gandhi under the co-sponsorship of the World Conference on Religion and Peace at UN in Vienna, Austria
• Official visit of Croatian President , Stipe Mesic to Sri Vishwa Deep Gurukul Swami Maheshwarananda Ashram Jadan and inauguration of a Chamber of Croatian Culture

• Interreligious Dialogue with the Catholic Archbishop Leonard Faulkner and Heads of Christian Churches of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
• International & Interreligious World Peace Prayers in numerous cities in Croatia, Austria, Spain, Germany, Slovenia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India
• Forum 2000 organised by President Vaclav Havel on behalf of “Human Rights”, Prague, Czech Republic

2000

• Millennium World Peace Conference of Religious and Spiritual Leaders New York, USA

He continuously contributes his efforts to peace, tolerance and understanding among nations in his numerous meetings with political leaders:

1992 — President of Hungary, Arpad Goencz
1993 — President of Slovakia, Michal Kovac
1999/2000 — President of Slovakia, Rudolf Schuster
2000-2009 - annual meetings with President of Croatia, Stjepan Mesic
2000/2002 — President of Slovenia, Milan Kucan
2001/2002 — Prime Minister of Slovenia, Janez Drnovsek
2003/2004/2005 — President of Slovenia, Janez Drnovsek
2005 — President of Austria, Heinz Fischer

Read more about A QUEST FOR WORLD PEACE and the SRI SWAMI MADHAVANANDA WORLD PEACE COUNCIL

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