Swami Prabhavananda

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Swami Prabhavananda (December 26, 1893 – July 4, 1976) was an Indian philosopher and religious figure.

Born in India, he joined the Ramakrishna Order after graduating from Calcutta university in 1914. He was initiated by Swami Brahmananda. In 1923, he was sent to the United States of America. Initially he worked as an assistant minister of the Vedanta Society of San Francisco. After two years, he established the Vedanta Society of Portland. In December 1929, he moved to Los Angeles where he founded the Vedanta Society of Southern California in 1930.

Under his administration the Vedanta society of Southern California became the largest Vedanta Society in the West, with monasteries in Hollywood and Trabuco Canyon and convents in Hollywood and Santa Barbara.

Swami Prabhavananda was a scholar who authored a number of books on Hindu culture. He was assisted on several of the projects by Christopher Isherwood or Frederick Manchester. His comprehensive knowledge of philosophy and religion attracted such disciples as Aldous Huxley and Gerald Heard.

Swami Prabhavananda died on the bicentennial of America's independence, July 4th 1976.

Books by Swami Prabhavananda

• Original Works

1. The spiritual heritage of India - an encyclopedia on Indic religions
2. Vedic Religion and Philosophy
3. The Eternal Companion (Life and teachings of Swami Brahmananda)
4. The Sermon on the Mount according to Vedanta
5. Religion in practice
6. Yoga and Mysticism

• Translations

1. The Wisdom of God (Srimat Bhagavatam)
2. Shankara's Crest-jewel of discrimination (Viveka Choodamani) - with Christopher Isherwood
3. The Upanishads - with Frederick Manchester
4. The song of God: Bhagavad Gita - with Christopher Isherwood
5. How to know God, the Yoga aphorisms of Patanjali ( Patanjala Yogasutra) - with Christopher Isherwood
6. Swami Premananda: Teachings and reminiscences

[edit] External links

• Vedanta Society of Southern California.