Swami Rudrananda Views

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In 1962, Rudi became a student of Swami Muktananda in India. In 1966, Rudi traveled to Ganeshpuri with the intention of obtaining the title of 'swami' from Muktananda. Muktananda did not want to give Rudi the title, and so Rudi spoke with Chakrapani Ullal, a Vedic astrologer, about the situation. Chakrapani Ullal agreed with Rudi and persuaded Muktananda to give him the title, 'Swami Rudrananda'. In 1971, Rudi dissolved his affiliation with Muktananda.[1]

Swami Rudrananda (Muthukrishnan) was born in Tamil Nadu, India in March 1901. He was sent to Fiji by the Ramakrishna Mission, in 1939, to assist the Then India Sanmarga Ikya (T.I.S.I.) Sangam in its religious and cultural activities. Swami Rudrananda consolidated and expanded the activities of T.I.S.I. Sangam based at Sangam Ashram in Nadi. He acquired properties for Sangam. These included freehold land at Savusavu (130 acres) and Madhuvani, Rakiraki (1037 acres). The Sangam Sarada Printing Press was started, on 15 August 1948, to cope with the educational needs of the community at large. Publications like Sangam in Tamil, Pacific Review in English, Jagriti in Hindi, and Na Pacifica in Fijian were published and circulated to give vent to the voice of the Indian community as a whole.

In 1951, Rudrananda attempted to amalgamate the Sangam and Ramakrishna Mission into a single organisation. This was seen by some South Indians as an attempt by the Mission to take over the assets of the Sangam. There was widespread protest, although the founder of the Sangam, Sadhu Kuppuswami, supported Rudrananda. A compromise was reached when the Sri Vivekananda High School was transferred to the Mission and the Sangam ran its own schools.

In 1962, Rudi became affiliated with a fellow disciple, Swami Muktananda, who had assumed responsibility for the ashram at Ganeshpuri. Rudi described this relationship as “a struggle between two spiritual heavyweights.” Continuing a relationship with Muktananda was necessary, however, so that Rudi could continue to gain access to Bhagawan Nityananda's shrine. Rudi said of his experiences at Ganeshpuri, After Bhagawan Nityananda took mahasamadhi, I have had many encounters with him there. During those times, he is as real to me as any living person. In 1966, Muktananda formally acknowledged Rudi’s connection with Bhagawan Nityananda and the lineage by giving him the title, Swami Rudrananda.