Swami Hariharananda Bharati, a true forest monk in the 5000 year old tradition of Himalayan sages, was born and raised in the foothills of the Himalayas. He spent over 15 years meditating in the Himalayan forests after taking his sanyasa vows from his Guru H.H. Dr Swami Rama. The 600 year old sacred shrine of Tarkeshwar in the Himalayas was his abode for many years where he was the head of the temple and the ashram. His meditation in the enchanted valley of Tarkeshwar blessed him with wisdom and sacred knowledge even though he often asserted he knew nothing but the wisdom of his pure heart shone in his every deed.
Swami Hari’s purity was evident in his frequent and spontaneous joyful laughter which earned him the title of a ‘laughing monk’ by his loved ones. He was renowned as a teacher who guided his disciples into a state of deep meditation. His teachings not only imparted practical knowledge & inspiration to his students but were also laced with humour. His simplicity combined with a cheerful, kindhearted & friendly persona attracted many to become his friends in the countries he visited.
Swami Hari dedicated his entire life in developing facilities to provide the basic requirements for the poor villagers living in the Himalayan mountains, facilities that would eventually develop into a self-sustaining medical facility and an educational & research institute. Swami Hari founded the ‘Swami Ram Nishkam Karmyog Trust’ in Malethi in the year 2005, to provide basic education, vocational training, and overall social development to the underserved local villagers of the Garhwal Himalayas.
Swami Hari left for his heavenly abode in June, 2008, leaving behind a large number of students and friends