Discover Sri Amritananda Saraswati's Teachings
Explore the profound wisdom of Guru Sri Amritananda Saraswati, a revered spiritual leader and teacher, guiding countless seekers on their paths to enlightenment and personal transformation.
Sri Amritananda Saraswati, also known as Dr. N. Prahalada Sastry, was born in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, as the eldest child of Sri Narasimha Rao and Srimati Lakshminarasamma. Fondly referred to as "Guruji," he began his spiritual journey early in life, sparked by profound divine experiences during his childhood. These experiences ignited a deep curiosity and yearning for truth, laying the foundation for his later spiritual path.
Initially, Guruji's interests led him to science. He earned a master’s degree in nuclear physics from Andhra University and went on to complete his Ph.D. at the University of Bombay while working at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR). Over 23 years at TIFR, Guruji contributed to numerous research projects, including one focused on air defense. However, his inner spiritual conscience grew uneasy about the destructive potential of his work.
In 1977, a pivotal moment occurred when Guruji visited the Balaji temple in Hyderabad. While bowing before the deity, he experienced an electrifying thrill that marked his first spiritual initiation by Lord Balaji, manifesting as Balatripurasundari. This experience transformed his life. After reflecting deeply, he decided to focus on spiritual pursuits and societal upliftment. He received Sri Vidya Poorna Diksha from Sri Swaprakashananda Natha Thirtha Avadhutha of Anakapalli and was graced with the spiritual name Amrita Saraswati.
While still at TIFR, Guruji’s spiritual quest intensified. A new opportunity emerged when he was offered a professorship in physics at Lusaka University in Zambia. He accepted, viewing it as a chance to introspect and deepen his connection with the divine. During his time in Zambia, he met Sri Wijayaharan, who became his first disciple in the practice of Sri Vidya Upasana.
Returning to India in 1981, Guruji resigned from his scientific career to fully dedicate himself to Sri Vidya worship and service to humanity. Settling in Visakhapatnam, he sought ways to improve the lives of those around him while immersing himself in devotion to the Divine Mother.
In 1983, members of the Putrevu family approached Guruji during a Devi Yagna, offering land to construct a temple dedicated to the Divine Mother. Alongside their donation of three acres, Guruji acquired an additional ten acres, marking the beginning of a profound spiritual endeavor. During his meditations on a nearby hillock, Guruji discovered a site resembling the Kamakhya Peetam in Assam. A vision during meditation revealed the presence of a Sri Chakra Maha Meru buried beneath the earth. Upon excavation, the sacred object was unearthed, affirming divine approval for the temple’s construction.
Guided by visions of the Devi as a radiant sixteen-year-old girl, Guruji oversaw the construction of the Kamakhya Peetam on the hillock and a Shiva temple on its peak in 1984. The creation of the iconic Sri Meru Nilaya temple at Devipuram began in 1985. Designed with three levels and spanning 108 square feet, the temple houses the representations of all the goddesses described in the Devi Khadgamala Stotra. The temple was completed in 1994, culminating in a grand kumbhabhishekam ceremony.
Devipuram remains a unique and inclusive spiritual center, where devotees are welcomed to directly connect with the Divine Mother, upholding Guruji’s vision of blending spiritual enlightenment with service to humanity.
Read the Book: The Goddess and the Guru: A Spiritual Biography of Sri Amritananda Natha Saraswati to find out more about my Guru.
Sri Amritananda Natha Saraswati
Meru Temple built by Sri Amritananda Natha Saraswati
"We believe that Tantra releases traumas coming from suppression, neurotic psycho-somatic disorders, and make for a positive outlook on life. Tantra is universally needed to release floodgates of creativity. But the orthodoxy rigidly imposes that not one word can be changed, not one minute can be saved. The attitude is “take it or leave it. Dire consequences will follow if you violate this rule, incurring wrath of the Guru”. Unfortunately this attitude has done more harm than good in many ways. The Sri Chakra Tantra takes six to 8 hours. Lot of work goes into preparation of specific food offerings. Women who ought to be worshipped are tied up in this work. The real naivedyam of offering pleasure to Goddess is forgotten. Puja just becomes a long, difficult to learn, boring, and sometimes at the end a glorified drinking party. In these modern days, young people are counting seconds, not even minutes: their lives are indeed very short of time. The learning curves are very steep. The genuine teachers are very difficult to even talk to. Our insistence on orthodoxy is thus rejecting 99% of young generation from getting the benefits of tantra. We simply can’t afford to lose the 99% of college going youth if we want to spread the Tantras and to make an impact on society"
Sri Amritananda Natha Saraswati