- Tapovan Maharaj
Swami Tapovan Maharaj (1889-1957) was a Hindu
Sannyasi andVedanta scholar who taught bothSwami Chinmayananda , the founder of theChinmaya Mission Movement andSwami Sundaranand .Born in
Palakkad ,Kerala as Subramanian Nair, Tapovan Maharaj exhibited a thirst for spiritual knowledge and self realisation, also being an accomplished public speaker. He left the modern education system early and dedicated himself to the study ofSanskrit and theVedanta . After his brother became employed as a lawyer, he entered the order of Sannyasi.Tapovan Maharaj did not believe in the system of "ashrams", and was known for his strict solitary lifestyle in the Himalayan region of
Uttarkashi .He authored two books on his travels through the Himalayas: "Wanderings in the Himalayas" ("Himagiri Viharam") [Chinmaya Publication Trust 1960, Madras-3, India - Translator T.N. Kesava Pillai] and "Kailasa Yatra." Tapovan Maharaj exhibited a deep love for nature and his accounts of his travels demonstrate such. His autobiography, written in
Sanskrit is titled "Ishvara Darshana". He attained Mahasamadhi at the age of 68 in 1957.Swami Sundaranand is believed to have received sprititual transmissions from Swami Tapovan Maharaj on Swami Tapovan's passing [Personal Time with Swami-ji (film, 157mins, 2007, The Center for Healing Arts) [http://thecenterforhealingarts.com/Yoga-Swami_Sundaranand-Yoga_Film_Himalayas] ] on January 16, 1957.References
External links
*http://www.chinmayamission.org/html/swami_tapovan_maharaj.php3
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