Sachidanand

Swami Sachchidanand is a monk, writer, philosopher and social reformer from Gujarat. He was named for the Padma Bhushan in 2022 in the field of literature and education, from Gujarat ^[1].

Study and vows

Sachchidanand was born on 22 April 1932 at Moti Chandur in Gujarat ^[2]. He studied for eleven years in Kashi (Varanasi), took vows as a brahmachari at the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj and later took sannyas in Firozpur, Punjab ^[2]. He earned the Vedantacharya degree in Advaita Vedanta, coming first in the university with a gold medal ^[2].

Writer and speaker

He has given more than 5,000 lectures and written more than 142 books, translated into Hindi, English and Marathi ^[2]. His first book grew out of lectures on the Brahma Sutras and Indian philosophy ^[2]. His books Sansar Ramayana and Shri Krishnalila Rahasya won the Gujarati Sahitya Parishad’s gold medal, and Mara Anubhavo won a Narmad gold medal ^[2].

The ashram’s work

He founded the Bhakti Niketan Ashram at Dantali, near Petlad, and a secondary school and hostel at Suigam ^[2]. The ashram runs three old-age homes and clinics and gives scholarships, help for widows, medical aid and clothes and blankets to poor families ^[2]. He has funded the deepening of lakes and the building of check dams and classrooms in Gujarat, donated an oxygen plant to the civil hospital at Petlad during the Covid-19 pandemic, and supports a cremation ground in Petlad that supplies wood for one rupee to everyone, whatever their caste ^[2].