Sanyasin Life

Sri Sastri. (Sri. Jnananandendra Saraswathi Swami after Sanyasa) in the Path of Renunciation

During July 1980 in his ninetieth year of life Sri. Sastri became a Sanyasi. This was a mere formality as much earlier to this he was already living the life of an ascetic. He entered the order of Sanyasin under the venerable name of Sri. Jnananandendra Saraswathi in a formal ceremony as per Vedic rituals held in front of the Samadhi of his guru, Sri. Satchidanandendra Saraswathi.

For the next two and half years he spent time in Visakhapatnam region of north coastal Andhra Pradesh (A.P) and also in Karnataka. During this period using Visakhapatnam as his base he travelled to many places in north coastal A.P conducting a number of lecture programmes of weeklong duration in the company of Sri. Nikhilananda Gupta a disciple of the same guru. He visited Vijayanagaram, Rajam, Anakapalle, Tuni, Yelamanchilli and gave lectures on Advaita siddhanta and sadhana for realization as well as on BhagavadGita. Similar lectures were given in various places in Karnataka as well. He wrote some of his books during this period. As a Sanyasin, he was sincere in following its tenets of omkar japa, meditation, giving discourses, writing books and continuously immersed in Vedanta vichara. He had a profound beneficiary influence on people whom he came in contact with.

While giving lectures at Vijayanagaram, A.P, in Dec 1982 he became critically ill and attained Siddhi leaving his mortal body on the 11^th Jan 1983 (the thirteenth day of new moon in the month of margashira as per Hindu calendar) in the 92^nd year of his life.

As per his earlier directions his Samadhi was built on the beach located opposite “Sagarnagara” township at Visakhapatnam. The ceremonies connected with the Samadhi function were carried out as per Vedic rituals. The Samadhi is approximately five kilometers from the town of Visakhapatnam on the Visakha-Bhimli beach road. The Samadhi is situated opposite the entrance arch of SagarNagar Township. A little further on the beach road is the ISKCON spiritual centre.

The Samadhi is built on a site measuring 110 x 40 ft. and is protected by a compound. The “Samadhi vedike” itself is brick and concrete structure measuring 12 x 28 ft. The area inside the compound (ashram) has a very serene atmosphere away from the noise of the city very conducive to meditation and study. The main structure was renovated about five years ago by late Sri. Srikanta of Belur under the inspiration and guidance of his venerable guru, Gurunathji of Sakrepatna, who was himself a disciple of the Swamiji. A guest house to provide temporary accommodation to small groups was also constructed by Sri Srikanta. In this endeavor he was actively assisted by Sri. D.V.V.S Raju his close friend. Many small and large groups of visitors have visited the Samadhi. Sri. Srikanta passed away in 2007. The Swamiji’s annual Aradhana is being performed every year for the past 26 years.

A trust by the name Jnanandendra Saraswathi Swami Memorial Trust (JSSM) has been formed to look after the maintenance of the Samadhi premises and also support religious and spiritual activities that Swamiji preached and practiced throughout his life.

Samadhi vedike

Ashram