By God's Grace: The Life and Teachings of Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati

(Hardback)

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In this absorbing portrait, American-born author Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati weaves a breathtaking tapestry of exotic journeys, meetings with remarkable people, and practical wisdom from the extraordinary life of a renowned Indian spiritual leader, Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati. The prodigal variety of stories ranges from evocations in a glass of milk to impossible constructions at the mountainous summit of the world, from cacophonous urban battlefields to silent forest retreatsan impassioned life, a one-man civilization drawn in bold strokes and bright colors. Here is a journey of the enlightened life to be cherished again and again. Practical wisdom, a connection to the Divine, and global actionthese are the traits of Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati that have made him one of Indias most renowned and beloved spiritual teachers. This commemorative volume celebrates his sixty years of devotional service to humanity, the environment, and the Supreme. The book traces Pujya Swamis journey from childhood in the jungles of India to the company of world leaders, from Himalayan villages to the podiums of the United Nations, the World Economic Forum, and other venues of global change. His projects are unprecedented, including a cleanup of the 1,560-mile-long Ganges River and a six-million-word encyclopedia of Hinduism. Swamiji's teachings are profoundly simple, frequently wrapped in humor and applicable to all. Elaborately illustrated, this is a fascinating portrait of the life, achievements, and teachings of an acclaimed spiritual pioneer.

Author Bio

SADHVI BHAGAWATI SARASWATI is a renowned spiritual leader, author, and motivational speaker based in Rishikesh, India. Shes the author of the bestselling memoir Hollywood to the Himalayas: A Journey of Healing and Transformation. She is International Director of Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, one of Indias largest spiritual institutions. She is also the Secretary-General of the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, an international interfaith organization dedicated to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene; the president of Divine Shakti Foundation, a foundation that runs free schools, vocational training programs, and empowerment programs; and the director of the world-famous International Yoga Festival at Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikeshwhich has been covered in Time, CNN, The New York Times, and other prestigious publications and has been addressed by both the Prime Minister and Vice President of India. She serves on the United Nations Advisory Council on Religion and on the steering committees of the International Partnership for Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD) and the Moral Imperative to End Extreme Poverty, a campaign by the United Nations and World Bank. She was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by U.S. President Joe Biden for her lifelong commitment to volunteer service. She was also the Managing Editor for the monumental project of the 11-volume Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Originally from Los Angeles and a graduate of Stanford University, Sadhviji has been ordained into the sacred order of Sanyas by her guru HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji and has been living at Parmarth Niketan Ashram for the past twenty-seven years. She oversees a variety of humanitarian projects, teaches meditation, lectures, writes, counsels individuals and families, and serves as a unique female voice of spiritual leadership throughout India and the world. www.sadhviji.org