Sri Swami Vidyananda Giri was known as Siva Sankara Davey prior to his initiation into Sannyasa. Born to a pious Gujarati Brahmin couple, Sri Balakrishna Davey and Smt. Janaki Bai at Thanjavur, he had his school education there. He was married to Smt. Gangu Bai when he was 19.
As Siva Sankara Davey, he used to visit Tiruvannamalai often and had darsan of Sri Seshadri Swamigal and Bhagawan Sri Ramana Maharishi. A landlord with a few rice mills, he had a deep charitable disposition. He was very much drawn to Kanchi Paramacharya, Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Mahaswami and attended the Vedanta classes conducted by Him.
He heard about Sadguru Sri Gnanananda at Mylapore Kapaleeswarar temple. Once, while returning from Thanjavur to Chennai, when the train stopped at Villupuram, he got down by impulse, proceeded to Tirukovilur and after darsan of Sri Ragoothama at His Moola Brindavana, sought refuge at the lotus feet of Sadguru Sri Gnanananda. Swami welcomed him with great love. On Sankara Jayanti day in 1964, He gave him Sannyasa Diksha with upadesa of Mahavakya. Knowing his proficiency in Vedanta, Gurudev gave him the Diksha Nama, "Vidyananda Giri".
Sadguru Gnanananda made arrangements for Sri Swami Vidyananda Giri to conduct Vedanta classes for other Sannyasins. He blessed him by being present at some classes.
Sri Swami Vidyananda Giri undertook padayatra from Thapovanam visiting various Kshetras. He often used to stay at Sri Vaishnavi shrine at Tirumullaivoyil, near Chennai. He came back to Thapovanam and resumed his Vedanta classes.
Sri Swami Vidyananda Giri accompanied by Swami Nityananda Giri and Swami Poornananda Giri toured North India visiting Varanasai, Pasupatinath, Rishikesh and other Kshetras.
Sri Swami Vidyananda Giri, who was a great devotee of Sri Sadasiva Brahmendra, stayed at Nerur for four months during chaturmasya and conducted Vedanta classes. His classes on Sri Sadasiva Brhamendral’s "Atma Vidya Vilasa", a Vedanta manual were recorded and brought out as a book.
Sannyasa diksha was given by him to Swamis Atmananda Giri, Nityananda Giri, Sankarananda Giri, Poornananda Giri, Satyananda Giri, Sivananda Giri and Gnanasambanda Giri.
In 1986, on Chitra Poornima day, He constituted a Charitable Trust, Sri Gnanananda Niketan, exclusively dedicated to the service of the Vedantic tradition, providing for Sannyasins, Brahmacharis and spiritual seekers all facilities for their permanent stay, study and meditation on Vedanta.
In 1989, he proceeded to Vyasa Thapovanam near Wadakkancheri. He later stayed for sometime at Chennai and subsequently he retired to an ashram, Santi Nilayam in Swaminathapuram near Erode established by his devotee, Sri Mayilsamy Gownder. He attained Mahasamadhi on 10-5-1995, the Aradhana day of Sri Sadasiva Brahmendra. His body was brought to Thapovanam and interred in a traditional manner.
Sri Swami Mukundananda Saraswati (known as T.K. Govindakrishna Iyer prior to his initation into sannyasa) was born in 1895 in Palghat to a pious Brahmin couple, Sri T.A. Krishna Iyer and Smt. Seetalakshmi Ammal.
He served as an engineer in Public Works Department of the State Government of Madras Presidency. He was a keen devotee of Lord Krishna. After retirement in 1950, he undertook pilgrimage to Badrinath. At Rishikesh, he had darsan of Sri Swami Sivananda Saraswati and was drawn to Him. He again returned to Him in 1953, when on Vyasa Poornima Day during Lunar eclipse, he was blessed with sannyasa diksha by Swami Sivananda on the banks of the river Ganges. The climate of the Himalayan foothills did not suit his health and he was advised by his guru to go over to Thapovanam in Tirokovilur in South Arcot district and pursue his spiritual sadhana in the ashram, Sri Gnananada Thapovanam. Sadguru Gnanananda was pleased to accept him as His disciple.He showered his grace on him and made arrangements for his study of Geeta and Upanishads under Swami Vidyananda Giri.
Swami Mukundananda took active interest in the development of the ashram.It was he who introduced Sadguru Gnanananda to many people in Kerala who became His ardent devotees. In fact, the invitation for the first Kumbhabhisheka, which was performed in 1966, was issued in his name as desired by the Sage.
Later, when Sri Gnanananda founded a special retreat centre for Sannyasins in Yercaud Hills in Salem district, He named it Pranava Nilayam and sent Swami Mukundananda and Swami Dasa Giri to stay there.
Swami Mukundananda was often called to Thapovanam. After the Mahasamadhi of Sadguru Gnanananda in January 1974, he constituted a Religious Trust to continue all the religious activities of the ashram and construct the Samadhi Shrine of Grace of Sadguru Gnanananda.
Swami Mukundananda attained Mahasamadhi on 18th April 1977 at the ripe age of eighty two years. It was Solar eclipse day when he was all the time in a meditative mood with Narayanasmriti.
Sri Swami Triveni Giri was known as Sundaram Iyer prior to his initiation to Sannyasa. He was born to a pious Brahmin couple Sri Sankaranarayana Iyer and Smt. Parvati Ammal at Sri Vaikuntam. In 1933, he came to Sri Ramana asram and with the permission of Bhagawan he was engaged in Self Enquiry. He was known as Sundara Arya, and also as Sadhu Swamigal.
Sundara Arya, often had an inner urge to pursue Gayatri Upasana. He mentioned it to Sri Bhagawan Sri Ramana Maharshi and sought His permission to go to Sri Sadguru Gnanananda Giri Swamigal. Obtaining his gracious and ready approval, he became a resident in the asram at Siddalingamadam in 1935.
During his stay for six months he was guided by Sadguru Gnanananda to ignore all experiences and visions. As directed, he proceeded to Chidambaram, being assured that Sadguru’s Grace would ever be with him. He was inspired to take up upasana of Sri Raja Rajeswari. Subsequently he was initiated to Sri Vidya and was performing Sri Chakra pooja.
Sadguru Gnanananda often advised him to go beyond all upasanas and exclusively devote himself to Vedanta Sravana after taking traditional sannayasa renouncing all his ritualistic duties. It was on Mahashivaratri day,in 1965, he was initiated in a traditional manner into Sannyasa and given Maha vaakya upadesa. Diksha nama of Sri Triveni Giri was conferred on him.
After spending some time at Banaras, he was staying mostly at Sri Vaishnovi shrine at Tirumullaivayil, near Chennai. After the Mahasamadhi of Sadguru Gnanananda, he came to Thapovanam and stayed there permanently. He attained Mahasamadhi in the early morning of Mahashivaratri day in 1985.
He was called back to Thapovanam in July 1973 and had the privilege to compile the teachings of the great sage under his personal direction. The book "Gnana Inba Veli" was released on Chitra Poornima Day in 1974.
He helped Sri Swami Vidyananda Giri in bringing out the publications on Vedanta text by the Sannyasins of Thapovanam.
On the request of the prominent devotees of the ashram, a Charitable Trust, Sri Gnanananda Niketan was constituted on Chitra Poornima Day in 1986, with Sri Swami Vidyananda Giri as its President and Swami Nityananada Giri as Managing Trustee. The objectives of the Trust were to provide accommodation and food for Sannyasins, Brahmacharis and spiritual seekers, extent other facilities like library, etc. And bring out publications.
All these services have been properly organized and several publications have been brought out in English, Tamil and Sanskrit.
The book "Sri Gnanananda Darsanam" (Tamil) authored by him gives a very good account of the life and teachings of Sadguru Gnanananda and detailed explanation of the significance of the daily routines of the ashram including the Pada Puja.
Swami Nityananda Giri is well versed in Vedanta and continues the tradition of teaching the scriptures after the lifetime of Sri Swami Vidyananda Giri. He is very much interested in mysticism from all traditions. He was often invited to participate in inter-religious and inter-monastic dialogues around the world. He has travelled widely lecturing on Vedanta and Yoga.
Swami Chitswaroopananda Giri (known as T. K. Ramachandra Iyer prior to his initiation to Sannyasa) was born in Ponnani in Kerala in 1910 to pious Brahmin couple, Sri T.A. Krishna Iyer and Smt. Seetalakshmi Ammal.
Taking a Master’s Degree in Sanskrit from Madras University, he was in Government service and retired as the principal of Government Sanskrit College in Tripunithura where he served from 1959-1965. He translated many Sanskrit literary works to English. His translations are prescribed in the curriculum for Sanskrit education in Kerala.
He studied Advaita Vedanta under the guidance of Sri Narayana Sastri at Kasi.
As his elder brother, Swami Mukundananda Saraswati, was a resident Sannyasin at Sri Gnanananda Thapovanam and a disciple of Sadguru Gnanananda, he used to visit him often and have darsan of the renowned sage. Later, he stayed as a Vanaprastha in Thapovanam asram for a few years.
He was given Sannyasa Diksha and Mahavakya upadesa by Swami Nityananda Giri on 26th May 1993. He was conducting Vedanta classes at Sri Gnanananda Niketan. He attained Mahasamadhi on 6th March 2003 at a ripe age of ninety three.
