Teachers at the Ashram

Quote – Being a sadhu means…

Being a sadhu really means being a person whose mind is resolved about his life.

– Swami Dayananda Saraswati –

Quote – Wise man is happy by himself

A wise man is the one who is happy by himself and because of himself.

– Swami Dayananda Saraswati –

Quote – Goal of Life

The goal of life is to know that the goal has already been accomplished.

– Swami Dayananda Saraswati –

Quote – Nothing more Sacred than Knowledge

In this world, there is nothing more sacred, more purifying than knowledge.

– Swami Dayananda Saraswati –

Swami Dayananda Saraswati

Teachers of the 2020-2023 Vedanta Course

CHIEF ACHARYA

Swami Sakshatkrtananda Saraswati is a senior disciple of Pujya Sri Swami Dayananda Sarasvati. He is the Chairman and managing trustee of Sri Gangadharesvar Trust which manages Swami Dayananda Ashram in Rishikesh. Swami Sakshatkrtananda Saraswati is also the Chief Acharya of the ashram.

Swamiji underwent a long term course study in Vedanta and Sanskrit in Sandeepany Sadhanalaya between 1980-1982 under the tutelage of Svarupa Caitanya (now Swami Viditatmananda Saraswati). Swamiji served Pujya Swamiji and the ashram for many years between 1984 and 2000. He was initiated into the order of sannyasa by Pujya Swamiji in 1992.

Swamiji successfully conducted a three year course at Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Anaikatti, Coimabtore (India) between 2010-2013

Swami Parabrahmananda Saraswati

Swamiji has studied in Rishikesh for a number years with Swami Sakshatkrtananda and other teachers and has been living in the ashram since 1990s. Swamiji is also taking care of the precious collections of books of Pujya Swamiji in the Library.

Medha Chaitanya

Medha Chaitanya is a disciple of Pujya Shri Swami Dayananda Sarasvati. She was a software engineer in US and Japan. She started her study of Vedanta, Paninian Sanskrit grammar, and chanting at Shri Dayananda Ashram in Rishikesh. She completed the 4th long-term residential course (2010-2013) at Arsha Vidya Gurukulam in Anaikatti, Coimbatore, conducted by Pujya Swamiji and Swami Sakshatkrtananda. After the course, she remained in Anaikatti and taught Sanskrit grammar for the next 3 and 1/2 course. Since then, she has been teaching and writing books on Vedanta and Sanskrit grammar.

Past Acharyas of the Ashram

Swami Visaradananda Saraswati

(1985-1993)

Swami Sakshatkrtananda Saraswati

(1993-2003)

Swami Brahmavidyananda Sarasvati

(2003-2006)

Swami Aparokshananda Saraswati

(2006-2008)

Swami Shantatmananda Saraswati

(2009-2019)

Read More About Swamiji

A teacher from Swami Dayananda Ashram, Rishikesh, Swami Santatmanada Saraswati was born to a traditional orthodox family in Chennai. His association and early learning with Sri Swami Paramarthananda sowed the seeds of spiritual interest. After a career in Software Engineering, he completed his Ph.D in Philosophy, receiving the best Ph.D award for his scholarly dissertation comparing Visishtadvaita and Advaita. He took formal training in Vedanta and Sanskrit at Swami Dayananda Ashram in Rishikesh for a period of three years (2003-2006) as a direct disciple of both Pujya Sri Swami Dayananda Saraswati and Swami Brahmavidyananda Saraswati. Since 2009, Swamiji has been the Chief Acharya for two long term courses of study in Rishikesh, and has taught in many short term retreats in the ashram. He has delivered lectures and conducted formal study programs in different parts of the world including UK and South America. Currently he is a teacher of Vedanta and Sanskrit conducting daily classes in CA and occasional classes in Florida. His ability to clearly convey the subtlest concepts of Vedanta in simple language along with his warmth and humility impresses serious mumukshus from Alaska to Puerto Rico.