Beloved to all of us, Mahamandaleshwar Swami Brahmanand Giriji Maharaj left his body at 11:33 a.m. on Thursday, August 18 (India time) at his ashram, Surat Giri Bangla, Kankhal, Haridwar, India.  He was 88 years old.  Precious and dear to us and all who knew him, with great gratitude for having had his darshan - we offer our heartfelt pranams.   

To most of us, he was known affectionately as Maharajji. The sacred river, Ganges was his chosen deity.  Maharajji’s body was immersed into the Holy River Ganges - Jal Samadhi, August 19^th evening.

Recently he wrote to the devotees at Shanti Mandir in Walden.  He spoke of the time a few months prior when his physical health was in steep decline.  “The doctors declared that there was no hope beyond one week. At that time I said now return me to the banks of the Ganges.”  Indeed, upon returning from the hospital in May, he was brought to his beloved river for her darshan and went on to live in relative comfort at his ashram for 12 more weeks.  Although he relapsed a few days ago, his final passing was quite quick.

Moments before he departed, a few drops of Ganga water and Tulsi leaf had been placed in his mouth. Gurudev Nityanand, along with Mahamandaleshwars Swami Vishveshvaranandji and Swami Abhedanandji were with Maharajji at the time of his passing.  “He was not in pain and there was no suffering,” said Gurudev.   

Maharajji was the head of the centuries old Surat Giri Bangla Ashram in Kankhal, Haridwar and of Sannyas Ashram in Mumbai, both now headed by his successor, Mahamandaleshwar Swami Vishveshwaranandji.   

A notice was sent to all of the Shanti Mandir devotees, many of whom knew Maharajji from their time spent with their own Guru, Baba Muktananda. Brahmanandji in fact performed not only the Sannyas initiation for Baba’s Swamis, making Maharajji their Acharya Guru, but he also presided over the installation ceremonies of Baba’s two successors, Swami Nityanand and Swami Chidvilasanand.

Remembrances of Maharajji are now pouring in.  The devotees are remembering his warmth, his quiet serenity, his deep wisdom and his absolute acceptance.  He was a beacon of light, knowledge and friendship.  He had the ability to welcome everyone with tremendous love – he never judged.  He witnessed the world in all its inherent goodness – his thoughts and words revealed this.

He was a scholar, a perpetual student of the scriptures. He was educated in the tradition of the Vedic Sanatan Dharma, having studied Vedanta, Logic, and Sanskrit Grammar; Maharaji held a degree of Shastri in Nayaya (Logic) and degree of Acharya in Vedanta 

His humility was beyond description; he always praised and encouraged the greatness of all.  He never rushed his guidance; he was patient beyond words.  Should someone come to him with a question, he would savor the moment, slowly discussing all the aspects of his answer, whether he offered a scriptural reference or a practical suggestion.

Everyone who was ever in his presence will recall his outpouring of affection, as he patted our cheeks, touched our heads, or offered prasad.  Still he was a strong protector of righteousness and those who upheld it.

To Gurudev Nityanand he was steadfast in his encouragement and support in all respects.  He held a special place for Gurudev and lovingly urged him always to go forward and spread the dharma.  Maharajji was instrumental in Gurudev’s selection for the great honor of becoming a Mahamandaleshwar and he blessed the further development and expansion of Shanti Mandir numerous times.

In July 2002, Gurudev was talking of Brahmanandji Maharaj and his description included a heartfelt personal experience:
“…When most of us took sannyas with Baba Muktanand, he invited Mahamandaleshwar Swami Brahmanandji Maharaj, to be the officiating acharya, to actually perform the sannyasa ceremony that is done in the middle of the night - first in the place of residence (at the ashram), and the second part at the river. Then we came back to Baba and Baba would give the mantra and the clothes. And it was not necessary for Baba to invite Maharajji to come and do the ceremony, Baba could have done it himself, being a sannyasin that he was. Often as I have looked back in retrospect, I realize there was a purpose, there was a meaning in why, or the reason why Baba did it. Comparing myself to a field in which a farmer has, (meaning Baba has), planted a wheat crop for example, where the farmer puts up a scarecrow. I haven't seen too many of those in America but we have a lot of them in India, especially if you go now in the monsoon months when the farmer has planted his rice. Whatever he plants, he plants something to scare away the birds that might come and eat the seeds, eat the rice, eat the plant, as it grows. He wants his crop to grow. So I was thinking that in my life Maharajji has served that purpose of scaring away the wolves, the birds that come to peck on me. It’s not that the birds stay away completely, they still come, they come even today, but still, the thing that's growing, feels that the scarecrow is watching over me. It takes security in the thought that there is somebody that is watching. So in the same way, I feel that Baba left Maharajji to be there, to play that role  - to foster me – to keep making sure that no matter what happens on the outside in my life -  to remember there is a commitment, there is a dedication, there is a purpose, and everything in life has its meaning.”

The 16th day celebrations "Shodashi" will be on September 2. The Shraddhanjali sabha (gathering for offerings - of memories)  will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Shodashi - Sept 2, at Surat Giri Bangla in Haridwar. The ceremony will honor 16 people with 16 different items.  Shanti Mandir will offer orange cloth to all of the Sannyasis present and white cloth to the Vidyarthis (Vedic and Sanskrit students).