About my Gurus Guru
Sri Swaprakasananda Theertha Avadhootha
Explore the profound wisdom of Sri Swaprakasananda Theertha Avadhootha, a revered spiritual giant and Master od Sri Vidya Tantra
Sri Swaprakasananda Theertha Avadhootha, affectionately referred to as "Gurugaru" by his disciples, was born in 1915 in the small village of Vidurbarthi in Andhra Pradesh. Coming from the revered Dattatreya lineage, Gurugaru was blessed with an extraordinary grasp of the Vedas and Shastras, as well as proficiency in Sanskrit, despite having no formal education. His wisdom and spiritual depth were attributed to the grace of the Divine Mother.
At the age of 20, Sri Gurugaru encountered some of India’s most esteemed spiritual masters. He received his initial Diksha from Sri Poornananda Yogi, a disciple of the Tibetan guru Maru Maharishi. It was under Sri Kesari Kameswara Rao of the Madhvacharya sampradaya that he was introduced to Sri Vidya Upasana, marking the beginning of his profound journey in the practice of Sri Vidya.
By the age of 32, Gurugaru had been initiated into the Mahavidyas of Sri Rajarajeswari, Vanadurga, and Saptasati Chandi. His spiritual progression culminated in receiving Poorna Diksha from Sri Gnanananda Saraswati of Anakapalli, solidifying his mastery of Sri Vidya and other esoteric traditions.
Sri Gurugaru spent years traveling across India, delving deeper into spiritual disciplines and acquiring immense knowledge. By the time he reached his 40s, he had mastered the 64 Tantras through studies in Orissa and Rajahmundry. At the age of 43, he had gained expertise in 70 million mantras, drawing wisdom from 18 major peetams and numerous spiritual mentors. During this period, he spent considerable time in Kashi (Varanasi), reflecting on the origin and significance of the mantras he had learned. His studies were greatly supported by Sri Dakshinamurthi Paramahamsa of Lalithanagar, Visakhapatnam.
With the grace of Chintamani Mahavidyeswari, Gurugaru achieved the status of a Vedic scholar at the age of 58, further enhancing his spiritual capabilities and siddhis.
By 1980, at the age of 65, Gurugaru felt a strong calling to renounce worldly life and embrace sannyasa. He traveled to the Sri Bhadrakali Mahapeetam near Haridwar’s Saptarishi Sarovar, where he was initiated into sannyasa by Sri Kalyanananda Bharathi Theertha Maharaj. Years later, with his Guru’s blessings, Gurugaru adopted the Avadhootha Ashrama, dedicating the rest of his life to spiritual pursuits and guiding seekers on the path of Sri Vidya.
Read the Book: The Goddess and the Guru: A Spiritual Biography of Sri Amritananda Natha Saraswati to find out more about him and his Guru.
