His Holiness Swami Ramakrishnananda, who is called “Gurudev” by his disciples, out of respect and love, is a spiritual master, a yogi, a mystic and a completely enlightened being who has totally dedicated his life to the service of his spiritual master, God and humanity. Swami Ramakrishnananda has become one of the most respected spiritual authorities of our time, both within and beyond the framework of Hinduism.
 

Swami Ramakrishnananda was born in Santiago, capital of the Republic of Chile, on March 21st, 1958. A mystical experience which occurred at the age of eight would determine the course of his life, impelling him to search for the Truth. This experience influenced his early life to such an extent that from his adolescence he dedicated himself to studying and practicing different religions and spiritual paths.

His spiritual inquiry led him to leave his homeland and travel widely throughout India, the Middle East, South America, Europe, and the United States, in search of religious or spiritual authorities who could offer him some information about the transcendental experience that he had experienced in childhood. Due to his inquiry, he visited pastors, rabbis, priests, roshis, gurus, devotees, mystics, shamans, guides and masters of different traditions, lines, paths and religions. It was only after an extended period devoted to the study of Hinduism in all its different aspects, that he adopted that religion as his own.

Consequently, he accepted initiation in sannyas, or the sacred order of renounced life, directly from His Holiness Swami Jyotirmayananda Saraswati, disciple of His Holiness Sivananda Sarasvati of Rishikesh, India. Later, he met His Holiness Swami Viditatmananda, founder of the Tattvatirtha Ashram in Ahmedabad, India and saw in him his eternal spiritual master.  Gurudev requested his initiation and guidance and was accepted by Swami Viditatmananda as his sincere disciple. 

During his years of studies, he has been certified as a guide, instructor and professor of yoga and has also obtained titles from renowned institutions such as Shivananda Yoga Vedanta, Jiva Institute for Vedic Studies of Vrindavan, Prana Yoga Ashram, Swami Shivananda Yogasana Research Center from Tamil Nadu, Ma Yoga Shakti Mission, Yoga Research Foundation, Integral Yoga, Patanjala Yoga Kendra, Rishikesh Yoga Peeth, Vrindavan Institute of Vaishnava Culture and Studies, and Aham Brahmasmi Yog Mandir Trust from Rishikesh, among others. 

Gurudev’s devotion or bhakti, and his constant transcendental experience of the Self or Vedanta, have made him a faithful exponent of the honorable title, Bhakti-vedanta, which he received from the Gaudiya-vaishnava Mission Vrinda. He has also been awarded titles such as Yoga-siromani, Krishna-bhakta and Yogacarya, directly from the hands of His Holiness Swami Vishnu Devananda; Yoga-ratna, received from His Holiness Swami Jyotirmayananda Sarasvati; Bhakti-sastri, from His Holiness Sri B.A. Paramadvaiti Swami Maharaja; and many other titles, such as Pracarya, Yoga-pravina, Yoga-siromani, Veda-vidyalankara, and Yogacarya.

In 2003, inspired by his spiritual master, Gurudev founded the Vishwa Dharma Mandalam mission in New York City, with the objective of spreading his vision of Sanatana-dharma to a wider audience in the West. The organization is constantly expanding, and spiritual seekers who wish to receive guidance and inspiration from Gurudev continue to join the ashram community. 

Swami Ramakrishnananda has taught hatha-yoga for more than 25 years and has prepared and certified scores of trainers, instructors and teachers. With the knowledge received from Gurudev, many of these students teach yoga in their own centers in various countries.

Gurudev’s works, lectures, workshops, courses and activities, and above all his wisdom and devotion have made him worthy of the affection, appreciation, respect and support of his disciples and followers, as well as that of reputable swamis, yogis, pundits and prominent authorities of the respected Hindu community.