Pattaabhisheka Ceremony for Shri Swami Govinddev Giriji Maharaj
on 12th May 2013 in Haridwar

The very auspicious day of "Akshaya Tritiya", which fell this year on Sunday, 12th May 2013, became also a historic day for the great Saint, Sanskrit Scholar and famous Katha-Vachak, Acharya Shri Swami Govinddev Giriji Maharaj.

Shri Govinddev Giri is known for his wonderful Kathas, and he has made it the aim of his life to promote studies of Vedas and Sanskrit. He has founded up to now more than 22 Vedic Schools all over India, where young Sanskrit students get best facilities to study and practise the Vedic Culture.

Swami Satyamitrananda receives a Flower Mala from Swami Vishveshwarananda.

Shri Swami Govinddev Giriji has become a great friend of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, specially its President, Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, since Shri Govinddevji had experienced for himself, that in this Ashram, and through the lives of Swami Vishveshwarananda and other Disciples of Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati, real Saintliness expresses itself, along with an ideal living of the Vedic Culture in its purest form.

Therefore Shri Govinddev Giriji made it a point to personally invite Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji, President Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, and Kumari Somashekhari, General Secretary Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, to come and attend the great event of his Pattaabhisheka in Haridwar, on Sunday, 12th May 2013, when he was going to be appointed as the Successor of the renowned Mahamandaleshwar Shri Swami Satyamitranandaji.

Shri Satyamitrananda Giri, the Founder of the famous Bharat Mata Mandir in Haridwar, has a great following in India and also abroad. He is known for his exceptional knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and his excellent way of preaching and explaining them to countless devotees.

In the morning of 12th May 2013 Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati reached the Bharat Mata Mandapam in Haridwar, along with Kumari Somashekhari, General Secretary Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas and Shri Sukumarji, Trustee.

They were cordially welcomed by Acharya Pranava Joshi, an important Disciple of Shri Govinddev Giri, who requested them to sit in the front row of the Mandapam, in front of the stage. After some time Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji and Kumari Somashekhari were called up to the Dais on the stage, where selected VIP Swamis and VIP Guests were seated.

Nyayamitra Sharma, Trustee of Bharat Mata Mandir,
Haridwar, greets Swami Vishveshwarananda.

Pattaabhisheka for the great Kathavachak Acharya Shri Govinddev Giri Maharaj.

The whole Mandapam was filled with exclamations of joy and chanting, when in a grand procession Shri Swami Satyamitranandaji along with Shri Swami Govinddev Giriji entered, accompanied by a huge cheering crowd of devotees. Both were moving slowly up to the Dais among showers of flower-petals.

Swami Vishveshwaranandaji and Kumari Somashekhari were offering beautiful flower garlands and shawls to Swami Satyamitranandaji and Shri Govinddev Giriji.

When the welcome ceremony was completed, Shri Swami Satyamitranandaji joyously explained to the huge audience, which had assembled in the Mandapam, about the importance and purpose of this special function.

He told, that he was in search of a deserving Successor, whom he could make responsible for representing himself in many functions and for helping him to execute his many duties, which he has as a Founder of a huge Temple and Ashram and as a spiritual Guide for Thousands of Devotees.

Acharya Shri Govinddev Giriji had taken Sannyasa Diksha from Mahamandaleshwar Shri Satyamitrananda Giriji.

Satyamitranandaji explained further, that he has many excellent Sannyasi Disciples, but after observing Shri Govinddev Giriji's exemplary life, he felt, that Shri Govinddevji would be the most deserving one among his many Sannyasi Disciples to become his Successor.

Addressing the audience, Shri Swami Satyamitranandaji again and again emphasized strongly, that this is a purely spiritual function and not a political one. He said, that Swamis and VIP's, belonging to different political parties or not belonging to any political party at all, have assembled on this occasion peacefully, in order to celebrate in a united manner the Pattaabhisheka Coronation of Shri Swami Govinddev Giriji.

This being a total non-political function was also the reason, why Swami Vishveshwaranandaji and other Delegates from Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas had agreed to join it. Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas is famous for being strictly non-political and engaging only in purely spiritual, educational and cultural activities.

The most awaited moment started, when Shri Satyamitranandaji, assisted by Pandits, performed the holy ritual of Pattaabhisheka for Acharya Govinddev Giriji, making him thereby his spiritual Successor.

Among Vedic Chanting, holy water from white Shankhas (conches) and showers of flower-petals were poured over Govinddevji, and then Shri Satyamitranandaji lovingly offered a big shawl to Govinddevji and put a beautiful, sparkling golden crown on his head, as a symbolic sign, that he is handing over his spiritual powers and also his responsibilities to him.

The whole ceremony was very impressive and one could see, that both Saints were deeply moved and almost in tears.

After this event Shri Satyamitranandaji requested some of the most important VIP Saints and Guests, seated on the dais, to say a few words of blessings.

Because of lack of time not all got the opportunity to speak, but Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President of Omkarananda Ashram, was given the great honour to address the audience on this rare occasion.

Swami Vishveshwarananda, President Omkarananda Ashram,
delivers his speech in front of Mahatmas and Mahamandaleshwars.

Swami Vishveshwaranandaji first read out a beautiful message, written by his Gurudev Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati, which had been specially sent to Shri Satyamitranandaji, 30 years ago, on 5th May 1983, on the occasion of the Inauguration of the beautiful Bharat Mata Mandir, Haridwar, which is a very unique Temple in India.

Swamiji then mentioned, that he personally knows Swami Satyamitranandaji since more than 30 years and that he had the golden opportunity to be with him in England, where Swamiji has a huge following of devotees.

Further Swami Vishveshwaranandaji informed the audience that Swami Satyamitranandaji had visited Omkarananda Ashram in Switzerland and was so enchanted by what he saw, that he exclaimed: "This is the Benares of Europe!"

Some years ago Shri Swami Satyamitranandaji also did a longer spiritual retreat in a beautiful building of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, at the Ganga, in Sheshdhara, Muni-ki-Reti, and he took part in special Hawanas and cultural functions organized by Members of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas.

A huge crowd is watching the great historic event.
In the background camera men are recording for the live telecast.

Swami Vishveshwaranandaji described Swami Satyamitranandaji as an exceptional Saint and Scholar and he expressed his immense joy, that he had chosen Swami Govinddev Giri as his Successor. Swamiji remarked, that only a real Saint can recognize another real Saint.

Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati and Shri Swami Govinddev Giri had come to know each other, since Govinddevji had several times visited Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas and had the Darshan of its most beautiful Temples. Further on Govinddevji had invited Swami Vishveshwaranandaji to some of his extraordinary Kathas.

Swamiji praised the character and highly disciplined living-style of Govinddev Giri, and he told the audience: "For us he is a walking God !"

The audience received Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswatiji's speech with a huge and rousing clapping !!

Some of the VIP Swamis, sitting on the Dais, including Swami Vishveshwaranandaji, were honoured with most beautiful big garlands, made out of real fresh, fragrant cardamom pieces.

After some more speeches everybody got up for an Arati, dedicated to Divine Mother Bharati or Bharat Mata Devi.

Then this grand historic function was completed.

Swami Vishveshwarananda, Shri Sukumar and Kumari Somashekhari
surrounded by Vedic students after the function.

It was extensively covered by Television Teams, specially the Sanskar Channel, which broadcasted live the whole event all over the world.

Again in the evening time this historic function was repeatedly telecast worldwide in Aastha and Sanskar Television Channels.

On the same day, immediately after the function, Shri Swami Govinddevji had to rush to Delhi, since he had to take the flight for Australia, where he was going to conduct spiritual Kathas.

In spite of his hectic schedule Shri Govinddevji sent a message for Swami Vishveshwaranandaji through his close disciple Acharya Pranava Joshi, who personally came in the evening from Haridwar to the Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas Headquarters, in Muni-ki-Reti, Rishikesh, to thank Swami Vishveshwarananda on Swami Govinddevji's behalf for attending the Pattaabhisheka Function and for giving such a brilliant speech.

Some weeks later, when Shri Govinddevji had returned to India, he visited Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas and while talking to Swami Vishveshwaranandaji, he affectionately thanked him again personally for his superb speech during the historic function of Pattaabhisheka, on 12th May 2013, in Haridwar.