OUR GURUNATHAR'S EARLY LIFE BEFORE RENUNCIATION

COURTESY: http://www.xomba.com/about_gnanananda_giri

Sri Gnanananda's life Prior to renunciation

Swami Gnanananda's Purvashram (life prior to renunciation) is surrounded by mystery. In fact, his age itself is beyond one's estimate. It is believed that he lived more than 250 to 300 years.

It is believed that that Swami Gnanananda was born long ago at Mangalapuri in the North Kanara district to an orthodox Brahmin couple Sri Venkoba Ganapatigal and Smt. Sakkubai. The child was named as Subramanya. At his young age Subramanya did not show interest in formal education. He was indifferent to external things of life and deeply absorbed in knowing thy self. At the age of 12 Subramanya followed a divine light and reached Pandharpur. There, he had a divine darshan of Lord Panduranga and-Rukmayi. It is in this place boy met his Guru, Swami Sivaratna Giri of Jyotirmutt, one of the four mutts established by saint Adi Sankara.

Sri Sivaratnagiri Swamiji judged his spiritual depth and accepted him as his disciple. Boy was duly educated in "Ashtanga Yoga, Hindu scriptures, upanishadic truths etc. Subramanya was given "Sanyasa" and was named "Sri Gnanananda Giri."