Ghanananda Saraswati (born Kewsi Essel; 12 September 1937 – 18 January 2016), commonly known as Swami Ghanananda, was a prominent swami (sannyasi) of the indigenous Hindu community in Ghana, and the first Hindu swami of African ancestry.[1] He was initiated as a swami by the late Swami Krishnananda of India in 1975, and was head of the Hindu Monastery of Africa in Accra, Ghana.[2]
Swami Ghanananda was born as Kwesi Essel on September 12, 1937 in Senya Beraku, a village in the Central Region of Ghana.[3] His family practiced a native Ghanaian faith, but his parents later converted to Christianity. From a very early age Swami Ghanananda was interested in the mysteries of the universe and read various religious texts.[2]
Journey to India
After reading some books on Hinduism, Ghanananda travelled to Rishikesh in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, in northern India. He spent some time there with a spiritual guru who suggested him to open the monastery in Accra.[2]
First meeting with Swami Krishnananda
In 1962, Swami Ghanananda moved to Accra and on 24 November, he formed the Divine Mystic Path Society. He then started correspondence courses on the Hindu way of life (Sanatana Dharma) with the Divine Life Society of Rishikesh, located in the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India, where he first met Swami Krishnananda of India and became his śishya (disciple), and then in 1975 Swami Krishnananda initiated Swami Ghanananda as a swami.[2]
References
^Myjoyonline.com. "Ghana News - Swami Saraswati, first African Hindu monk from Ghana, dies". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
^ abcdJoshi, Rajesh (29 June 2010). "Ghana's unique African-Hindu temple". BBC News. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
^Shankar, Shobana (2021-06-04). "Singing and Sensing the Unknown: An Embodied History of Hindu Practice in Ghana". Yale Journal of Music & Religion. 6 (2). doi:10.17132/2377-231X.1172. ISSN 2377-231X.
swami, ghanananda, saraswati, ghanananda, saraswati, born, kewsi, essel, september, 1937, january, 2016, commonly, known, swami, ghanananda, prominent, swami, sannyasi, indigenous, hindu, community, ghana, first, hindu, swami, african, ancestry, initiated, swa. Ghanananda Saraswati born Kewsi Essel 12 September 1937 18 January 2016 commonly known as Swami Ghanananda was a prominent swami sannyasi of the indigenous Hindu community in Ghana and the first Hindu swami of African ancestry 1 He was initiated as a swami by the late Swami Krishnananda of India in 1975 and was head of the Hindu Monastery of Africa in Accra Ghana 2 Swami GhananandaBorn 1937 09 12 12 September 1937Senya Beraku Central Region GhanaDied18 January 2016 2016 01 18 aged 78 Occupation s Swami Sishya of Swami Krishnananda Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life 1 2 Journey to India 1 3 First meeting with Swami Krishnananda 2 References 3 External linksBiography EditEarly life Edit Swami Ghanananda was born as Kwesi Essel on September 12 1937 in Senya Beraku a village in the Central Region of Ghana 3 His family practiced a native Ghanaian faith but his parents later converted to Christianity From a very early age Swami Ghanananda was interested in the mysteries of the universe and read various religious texts 2 Journey to India Edit After reading some books on Hinduism Ghanananda travelled to Rishikesh in the Indian state of Uttarakhand in northern India He spent some time there with a spiritual guru who suggested him to open the monastery in Accra 2 First meeting with Swami Krishnananda Edit In 1962 Swami Ghanananda moved to Accra and on 24 November he formed the Divine Mystic Path Society He then started correspondence courses on the Hindu way of life Sanatana Dharma with the Divine Life Society of Rishikesh located in the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India where he first met Swami Krishnananda of India and became his sishya disciple and then in 1975 Swami Krishnananda initiated Swami Ghanananda as a swami 2 References Edit Myjoyonline com Ghana News Swami Saraswati first African Hindu monk from Ghana dies www myjoyonline com Retrieved 2016 06 16 a b c d Joshi Rajesh 29 June 2010 Ghana s unique African Hindu temple BBC News Retrieved 24 October 2021 Shankar Shobana 2021 06 04 Singing and Sensing the Unknown An Embodied History of Hindu Practice in Ghana Yale Journal of Music amp Religion 6 2 doi 10 17132 2377 231X 1172 ISSN 2377 231X External links Edit Biography portal Hinduism portalGhana s unique African Hindu temple at BBC News This article about a person notable in Hinduism is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte This biographical article about a religious figure from Africa is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Swami Ghanananda Saraswati amp oldid 1116302884, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
