Who is Swami Nirmalananda's Guru?

Swami Nirmalananda (Rama) says, "Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it has taken a "therapeutic team" to move me through the process so far."

Swami Nirmalananda (Rama) received shaktipat (Kundalini) initiation from Swami Muktananda, also known as Baba. She honors him with the title of Adiguru, which means Primordial Teacher. She had the great fortune to live and study with him for seven years, and continues to be fully dedicated to him. She describes it this way, "I am an arrow. Baba shot me out of his bow, and I am still on target, flying as fast as I can." In this way, Swami Nirmalananda (Rama) is a member of the Siddha lineage, which Muktananda brought to the USA in several tours in the 1970s. Swami Nirmalananda (Rama) also offers her gratitude and homage to the Gurus who have been supporting her in the years since Baba took mahasamadhi (left his body).

Most prominent is Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, with whom Swami Nirmalananda (Rama) lived and studied for four years after Baba's mahasamadhi. Swami Nirmalananda (Rama) has enjoyed another 22 years of Gurumayi's teachings and subtle support, and continues to study with Gurumayi at every opportunity as well as to support her organization, SYDA Foundation.

Swami Shankarananda was one of the first swamis initiated by Baba, and Swami Nirmalananda (Rama) got to study and work with him as part of his management teach in the Los Angeles ashram. Honored as a Mahant (great being) in India, and a prominent spiritual teacher in Australia, he is one of the world's leading exponents of Kashmir Shaivism, approaching this great philosophy from a practical perspective which makes it accessible to everyone. With Devi Ma, another disciple of Muktananda and leading Australian meditation teacher, he founded the Shiva Ashram in Melbourne. Swami Nirmalananda (Rama) enjoyed a reunion with Swamiji in August 2008, which led to Swamiji offering sannyasa initiation to her. Swami Nirmalananda (Rama) is deeply grateful for his guidance in the beginning of her path as well as the important support he is providing now.

Swamini Mayatitananda, also known as Mother Maya, is a pre-eminent spiritual teacher who emanates silence and wisdom. Mother belongs to India's prestigious Vedic lineage, that of Veda Vyasa. She was carefully tutored by her Guru, Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati, to preserve the precious oral teachings of the Vedas Swami Nirmalananda (Rama) deeply appreciates Mother's personal support and encouragement, and goes to visit her at every opportunity, as well as supporting Mother's organization, Wise Earth Ayurveda.

Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Ph.D., who is the spiritual head of the Himalayan Institute in Honesdale PA. Panditji is the successor of Swami Rama of the Himalayas. An important tantric teacher in the west, he has been lecturing and teaching worldwide for more than a quarter of a century, and is the author of fourteen books. He has been very generous with his personal time and support for Swami Nirmalananda (Rama) in the last two years, as well as speaking at programs she was teaching at Himalayan Institute. Swami Nirmalananda (Rama) is honored to be able to support Panditji's important work as a teacher and humanitarian.

In addition, Swami Nirmalananda (Rama) has spent a lot of time with many other great Gurus, and has deep gratitude for what each has given her. These include:

Sri Swami Chidananda Saraswati Maharaj

Shree Ma

Amma (Mata Amritanandamayima)

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Jean Klein

Yet, when Swami Nirmalananda (Rama) speaks of her Guru, she is speaking of Swami Muktananda. She says, "There is nothing but Muktananda."

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