Hindu Scholar, Founder & Principal of Saraswati Vidya Niketan High School, Guyana
SELECTED VIDEOS AND AUDIOS
Hindus Must Stop Preaching All Religions Are One (Audio)PujyaSwamiAksharananda’skeynoteaddressattheEleventhHindu SangathanDiwas(HinduUnityDay)inNewYorkonJuly24,2005. ChairmanoftheprogramwasthelateShriNarayanKatariaJi.The ChiefGuestattheprogramwasDr.SubramaniamSwamy,formerUnion LawMinisterofIndia.SwamiAksharananda’sspeechhassincebeen added to several websites and cited in several scholarly publications. Click on play to hear the speech.
Mahatma Gandhi on Religious Conversion
Compiled by Pujya Swami AksharanandaEditorialNote:ThesequotationsfromMahatmaGandhiwerecompliedbyPujyaSwamiAksharanandaJiandfirst circulatedby VidyaBharatiNew Yorkas TrackNo.010119.1onJanuary19,2001andithassinceappearedonseveral websites. I Call Myself a Sanatani HinduIcallmyselfaSanataniHindu,becauseIbelieveintheVedas,theUpanishads,thePuranas,andallthatgoesbythenameofHindu scripture,andthereforeinavatarasandrebirth;Ibelieveinthevarnashramadharmainasense,inmyopinionstrictlyVedicbutnotinits presentlypopularanddistortedcrudesense;Ibelieveintheprotectionofcow.Idonotdisbelieveinmurtipuja.(Source:YoungIndia, June 10, 1921)Why I am Not a ConvertHinduism as I know it entirely satisfies my soul, fills my whole being. When doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face, and when I see not one ray of light on the horizon, I turn to the Bhagavad Gita, and find a verse to comfort me; and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow. My life has been full of tragedies and if they have not left any visible and indelible effect on me, I owe it to the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. (Source: Young India, June 8, 1925)I Disbelieve in ConversionIdisbelieveintheconversionofonepersonbyanother.Myeffortshouldnevertobetoundermineanother'sfaith.Thisimpliesbeliefin the truth of all religions and, therefore, respect for them. It implies true humility. (Source: Young India, April 23, 1931)Conversion: Impediment to PeaceItisimpossibleformetoreconcilemyselftotheideaofconversionafterthestylethatgoesoninIndiaandelsewheretoday.Itisanerror whichisperhapsthegreatestimpedimenttotheworld'sprogresstowardpeace.WhyshouldaChristianwanttoconvertaHinduto Christianity? Why should he not be satisfied if the Hindu is a good or godly man? (Source: Harijan, January 30, 1937)No Such Thing as ConversionI believe that there is no such thing as conversion from one faith to another in the accepted sense of the word. It is a highly personal matter for the individual and his God. I may not have any design upon my neighbour as to his faith which I must honour even as I honour my own. Having reverently studied the scriptures of the world I could no more think of asking a Christian or a Musalman, or a Parsi or a Jew to change his faith than I would think of changing my own. (Source: Harijan, September 9, 1935)No Conversion Designs Upon MeI am not interested in weaning you from Christianity and making you Hindu, and I do not relish your designs upon me, if you had any, to convert me to Christianity. I would also dispute your claim that Christianity is the only true religion. (Source: Harijan, June 3, 1937)ConversionConversionmustnotmeandenationalization.Conversionshouldmeanadefinitegivingupoftheeviloftheold,adoptionofallthegood ofthenewandascrupulousavoidanceofeverythingevilinthenew.Conversion,therefore,shouldmeanalifeofgreaterdedicationto one's country, greater surrender to God, greater self-purification. (Source: Young India, August 20, 1925)Aping of Europeans and AmericansAsIwanderaboutthroughthelengthandbreathofIndiaIseemanyChristianIndiansalmostashamedoftheirbirth,certainlyoftheir ancestralreligion,andoftheirancestraldress.TheapingofEuropeansby Anglo-Indiansisbadenough,buttheapingofthembyIndian converts is a violence done to their country and, shall I say, even to their new religion. (Source: Young India, August 8, 1925)Why Should I Change My ReligionIholdthatproselytisationunderthecloakofhumanitarianworkisunhealthytosaytheleast.Itismostresentedbypeoplehere.Religion afterallisadeeplypersonalthing.Ittouchestheheart. WhyshouldIchangemyreligionbecausethedoctorwhoprofessesChristianityas hisreligionhascuredmeofsomedisease,orwhyshouldthedoctorexpectmetochangewhilstIamunderhisinfluence?(Source:Young India, April 23, 1931)Missionary Aim: Uprooting HinduismMyfearisthatthoughChristianfriendsnowadaysdonotsayoradmititthatHindureligionisuntrue,theymustharbourintheirbreast thatHinduismisanerrorandthatChristianity,astheybelieveit,istheonlytruereligion.Sofarasonecanunderstandthepresent (Christian) effort, it is to uproot Hinduism from her very foundation and replace it by another faith. (Source: Harijan, March 13,1937)Undermining People's FaithThefirstdistinctionIwouldliketomakebetweenyourmissionaryworkandmineisthatwhileIamstrengtheningthefaithofpeople,you (missionaries) are undermining it. (Source: Young India: November 8, 1927)Physician Heal YourselfConversionnowadayshasbecomeamatterofbusiness,likeanyother.India(Hindus)isinnoneedofconversionofthiskind.Conversion inthesenseofself-purification,self-realizationisthecryingneedofthetimes. Thathoweverisneverwhatismeantbyproselytization. To those who would convert India (Hindus), might it not be said, "Physician, heal yourself." (Source: Young India, April 23, 1931)Missionaries: Vendors of GoodsWhenthemissionaryofanotherreligiongoestothem,hegoeslikeavendorofgoods.Hehasnospecialspiritualmeritthatwill distinguishhimfromthosetowhomhegoes.Hedoeshoweverpossessmaterialgoodswhichhepromisestothosewhowillcometohis fold. (Source: Harijan, April 3, 1937)If I had the Power and Could LegislateIfIhadthepowerandcouldlegislate,Ishouldstopallproselytizing.InHinduhouseholdstheadventofamissionaryhasmeantthe disruption of the family coming in the wake of change of dress, manners, language, food and drink . (November 5, 1935)The Only Begotten Son of God?IregardJesusasagreatteacherofhumanity,butIdonotregardhimastheonlybegottensonofGod.Thatepithetinitsmaterial interpretationisquiteunacceptable.MetaphoricallyweareallsonsofGod,butforeachofustheremaybedifferentsonsofGodina specialsense.ThusformeChaitanyamaybetheonlybegottensonofGod.GodcannotbetheexclusiveFatherandIcannotascribe exclusive divinity to Jesus. (Source: Harijan, June 3, 1937)Western Christianity TodayItismyfirmopinionthatEurope(andtheUnitedStates)doesnotrepresentthespiritofGodorChristianitybutthespiritofSatan.And Satan's successes are the greatest when appears with the name of God on his lips. (Source: Young India, September 8, 1920)IconsiderwesternChristianityinitspracticalworkinganegationofChrist'sChristianity.IcannotconceiveJesus,ifhewaslivinginflesh in our midst, approving of modern Christian organizations, public worship, or ministry. (Source: Young India, September 22, 1921)Christianity and Imperialistic ExploitationChristianityinIndiahasbeeninextricablymixedupforthelastonehundredandfiftyyearswithBritishrule.Itappearstousas synonymouswithmaterialisticcivilizationandimperialisticexploitationbythestrongerwhiteracesoftheweakerracesoftheworld.Its contribution to India has been, therefore, largely negative. (Young India, March 21, 1929)No Room For ThemInthemannerinwhichtheyareworkingtherewouldseemtobenoroomforthem.Quiteunconsciouslytheydoharmtothemselvesand alsotous.Itisperhapsimpertinenttosaythattheydoharmtothemselves,butquitepertinenttosaythattheydoharmtous.Theydo harmtothoseamongstwhomtheyworkandthoseamongstwhomtheydonotwork,i.e.,theharmisdonetothewholeofIndia. Themore IstudytheiractivitiesthemoresorryIbecome.Itisatragedythatsuchathingshouldhappentothehumanfamily.(Source:Harijan: December 12, 1936)Outrage!Onlytheotherdayamissionarydescendedonafamineareawithmoneyinhispocket,distributeditamongthefaminestricken,converted them to his fold, took charge of their temple, and demolished it. This is outrageous. (Source: Harijan, November 5, 1937)Let the Hindu be a Better HinduIcametotheconclusionlongagothatallreligionsweretrueandalsothatallhadsomeerrorinthem,andwhilstIholdbymyown,I shouldholdothersasdearasHinduism.Sowecanonlypray,ifweareHindus,notthataChristianshouldbecomeaHindu.Butour innermostprayershouldbeaHindushouldbeabetterHindu,aMuslimabetterMuslim,aChristianabetterChristian.(Source:Young India: January 19, 1928)Welcome Them BackIfapersonthroughfear,compulsion,starvation,orformaterialgainorconsiderationgoesovertoanotherfaith,itisamisnomertocallit conversion.Mostcasesofconversionhavebeentomymindafalsecoin.Iwouldthereforeunhesitatinglyre-admittotheHindufoldall suchrepentantswithoutmuchado.Ifamancomesbacktotheoriginalbranch,hedeservestobewelcomedinsofarashemaydeemto haveerred,hehassufficientlypurgedhimselfofitwhenherepentshiserrorandretraceshissteps.(Source:CollectedWorks:Vol.66,pp. 163-164)NOTE: As a courtesy to our Dharma, please acknowledge Swami Aksharananda Ji who compiled this information.
SwamiAksharanandaJi(Guyana)hostedParamPoojaneeyaSudarshanJi,Sanghchalak oftheRastriyaSwayamsevakSevakSangh(RSS,Bharat)onJuly28,2001ataHindu JaagaranamprogramintheCaribbeanHinducommunityofRichmondHill,Queens,New YorkPictureshowsSudarshanJireleasingaspecialmagazinethatwaspublishedinhis honor.StandingnexttoSudarshanJiisSwamiAksharanandaJi.Severaldignitaries attended the program which was carried out by the local Durga Shakha in Richmond Hill.
SwamiAksharanandaJi(Guyana)hostedVishwaHinduParishad’s(VHP)DharmaPrasar YaatrainGuyanaonAugust18,2001.PictureshowsSwamiAksharanandaJiescorting ShankaracharyaofBhanupura,JagadGuruSwamiDivyanandaTeerthaMaharajand SwamiChidanandaSaraswatiJi(nexttoSwamiAksharanandaJi).TheShankaracharya wasaccordedagrandHinduwelcomeinGuyanabefittinghisgreatstatus.Atthespecial programatGuyana’snationalparkapproximately20,000peoplewereinattendancetobe partofthishistoricevent.Severalofficialswerepresentattheprogram,includingPrime MinisterSamHinds,governmentministers,LeaderoftheOppositionMr.DesmondHoyte, MayorofGeorgetownMr.HamiltonGreenandtheIndianHighCommissioner,Dr. Prakash Joshi. Swami Brahmadeo Ji was also present.
LtoR:SwamiBrahmadeo(India),MaananeeyaAshokSinghalJi(HeadofVHP)andSwami Aksharananda(Guyana)inTrinidadin2000.AshokJiwasconductingMahadevapoojaata river in Trinidad on the occasion of the Gangadhaaraa festival.
Picturetakenon April2,2016attheSundarGopalMandirinQueens,NewYorkshowsPujya Swami Aksharananda Ji of Guyana explaining Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads.
Hindu scholar Swami Aksharananda (Guyana), getting a tour of the Sardar Patel exhibition in Georgetown by Indian High Commissioner Dr. K.J. Srinivas, Sept. 29, 2021.
Pujya Swami Aksharananda ji donating blood in 2007.
Pujya Swami Aksharananda Ji prepariing pooja-sthan for his conduct of a pooja on October 5, 1997.
Pujya Swami Asharananda Ji with students at Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN), Guyana. In this picture, students are seen conducting pooja. Picture taken in early 2000s.
SwamiAksharanandaJi(Guyana)leadingHinduSwayamsevakSangh(HSS)contingentatthe 1998Phagwa(Holi)paradeinRichmondHill,Queens,NewYork.ForyearsthelocalHSSDurga ShakhaheldattheMaaYogaShaktiAshraminRichmondHillprovidedfreetea,coffeeandsnacks to attendees of the parade at Smokey Park.
SwamiAksharanandaJi(Guyana)speakingontheHindupositionagainstanyformofreilgious conversionataParivartanaeventatDeWillem,WestCoastDemerara,GuyanainJuly1996.SwamiJiwasthefirstsubstantiveHinduleaderandscholartostatethatreligiousconversionisa form of violence. Pandit Ramdular Singh is seen seated to the left of Swami Ji.
SwamiAksharanandaJi(Guyana)officiatingataBhagavadGitaYajniainCorentyne,Berbice, Guyana,August1995.OnekeypointmadebySwamiJiwas“Thereisaverypopularmyth especiallyprevalentamongstourHinduleaders,thatHinduismwillsomehowsurviveregardless ofwhatwedointhehereandnow.AndIrepeat,thisisamyth.Andadangerousmythforit encourages many of us to simply sit on our hands and do nothing.”
Excerpts From Writings and Speeches of Swami Aksharananda (Guyana)Missionary Theology Dealues…"Anyspeechthatdenigratesanddevaluesapeopleistantamounttoanactofviolence.Missionarytheologydevaluesanddenigrate individualsandgroups.SincethedaysofConstantine,whenevertheChristianchurchreceivedthesupportofmilitarypower,individuals andgroupslabeledas"unbelievers,""sinners,""idolaters,""heathens,""savages,"and"pagans"werevictimsofoppressionand extirpation." (Swami Aksharananda, Stabroek News, July 7 1996)Seeds of Dissention and Hate…"Theologiesthemselvescontaintheseedsofdissentionandhate;youcan'tbetalkingofpeace,butkeepyourswordsharpened!Itmust berememberedthatinitsverygenesisChristianitywasalreadyengagedinhate-mongering.Witness,forexample,thedemonizationof JewsasearlyevangelistsunabashedlyimputedtoJesushimselfanti-Semiticpronouncements.TheywereChristianity'sfirstanti-Christ. NowonderthatJewshavesufferedsomuchatthehandsofChristians."(SwamiAksharananda,TheUNMillenniumWorldPeace SummitofReligiousandSpiritualLeaders,August30,2000,theWaldorf-AstoriaHotel,NYC.InresponsetoaChristianBishopfrom South Africa) Let Us Not Be Fooled…"Letusnotbefooled.Ifeverycensussince1917hasshownanincreaseintheprecentageofIndianswhocallthemselvesChristains,and acorrespondingdecreaseinthepercentageofHindus,itdoesnottakeageniustoextrapolateintoafuturewheretherearenomore HindusintheCaribbean.IthashappenedinplaceslikeGrenadaandSaintLucia..."(SwamiAksharananda(NationalConferencein Guyana: "Conversion Activity in Multi-Religious Societies, Cove and John, Guyana, April 28 1996).Christian Hegemony Continues in Guyana“Overtheyearstherehavebeensuccessfulattemptsthroughtheinstrumentofthestatetode-emphasiseHinduandMuslimcontributions tothedevelopmentofeducationinGuyanawhileatthesametimere-inforcingandglorifyingtheChristiancontribution.In1976all denominationalschools(andotherinstitutions)wererequiredbythegovernmentofthedaytochangetheirnamesinordertodelink themfromtheirreligiousandethnicbackground.WhilethegovernmentmadesurethatschoolswithIndian,HinduandMuslimnames compliedwiththerequirement,Christianschoolswereneverreallyaffected.ThusIndianEducationalTrustcollegebecameRichard IshmaelSecondary,MuslimTrustcollegebecameBrickdamSecondaryschool,HinducollegebecameCoveandJohnSecondary,Maha SabhaSecondarybecameLeonoraSecondary.Ontheotherhand,officiallyandotherwise,St.Stanislaus,St.Joseph's,St.Rose's,St, Agnes, St. John's, Sacred Heart, Stella Maris, Christ Church and others have retained their former names and their distinctive histories.”(Swami Aksharananda, Stabroek News, September 11, 1999)A Major Problem…"ChristianconversionactivitiesamongtheHindusoftheCaribbeanisamajorproblemforthesurvivalofSanatanaDharma.Itisnot thatHindusconvertontheirownwillintoChristianity.No!Maybeafew.Butamajorityarecajoled,bribedorintimidated....Itisthe dutyofeducatedpeoplelikeyourselvestoaddressthisproblemfortheprotectionofHindudharma."(SwamiAksharananda,Lecture, Queens College, CUNY, New York, Dec. 09, 1996)Hindus Have Offered Sanctuary"Inthatgreatmantra,thatgreatpoemthatwehavethatisknownastheVishnuSahasranaam,BhagavanVishnuiscalledtwonamesin verse91ekaandnaeka.Bhagavan Vishnuisdescribedasthatwhichisekaoroneandthatwhichis,naeka-notone. AndsoIthinkone ofthevisionsthattheHindushavepresentedtotheworldofultimaterealityisavisionofmultiplicity,isavisionofmanyness...Ifyou lookatthemainreligionsoftheworld,alongtimeagolongbeforemassmigrationstookplacetodifferentpartsoftheworld,Indiawas alreadythehomeandcontinuestobethehomeandthesanctuaryofmanyofthegreatreligionsoftheworld,manyofwhichreligions havebeenpersecutedintheirownlands."(SwamiAksharananda,LaunchingofWorldHinduConference,SukhaShantiBhakti Mandalie,Warner Street, Freeman Road, St. Augustine, Trinidad, West Indies, Saturday April 15, 2000)Hindus must be free to support any political…"IbelievethatHindusmustbefreetosupportanypoliticalpartyoftheirchoiceandatthesametimewemustrecognisethatthe commongroundonwhichwestandistheHinduDharma. AsHindusweshouldnotletpoliticsandpoliticiansmakeusenemiesofone another.Dharmaisparamountabovetheinterestsofanyandeverypoliticalparty.MahatmaGandhirealisedthiswhenhedeclared:"My politicsissubservienttomyGod," And,inclosing,letmesaythatFreedomHouseisnotmyVaikunth."(SwamiAksharananda,Hindu Must Be Free to Support Any Political Party of Their Choice, Stabroek News, Feb. 24, 2001)Gibson's Racist Book"IconsiderDr.GibsonsACycleofRacialOppressioninGuyana,tobeoneofthemostblatantcasesofracehateIhaveever encounteredinGuyana.Thepremiseofhertractisbaseless,hermethodbuttressedbyhearsayandrumoursunworthyofeventhe NationalEnquirer,andherconclusionpervertedtotheextreme.Scholarshipandresearchwhichimplyrigorousnesshavebeengivena badname.YetIhavenevercalledforthebooktobebanned."(SwamiAksharananda,ThisTrackisButtressedByRumorsUnworthyof the National Enquirer, Stabroek News, Oct., 23, 2003)The Day is Coming When Hindus Will…"ThedayissooncomingwheneveryHinduwillbegintounderstandthatwheneveraChristianmissionarycomestoaHinduhomeheor shedoessowiththesoleintentiontodestroyHinduism.ThisisanactofaggressionagainsttheHindureligionandHindupeople. And thetimeisalsocomingwhenHinduswilldealwithitintheappropriatemanner."(SwamiAksharananda,GuyanaChronicle,January 18, 2000)
ThispicturetakenwhenSanghchalakoftheRastriyaSwyamsevakSangh(RSS),ParamPoojaneyaKSSudarshanJivisted HinduSwyansevakSangh’s(HSS)ShikshaVargabetweenAugust6-13,2000attheC.V,NunesPrimarySchoolinGuyana.Picture shows Ma. Sudarshan Ji conversing with Pujya Swami Aksharananda Ji in the presence of swyamsevaks.
Thispicturetakeninthemid-1990sattheresidenceofthelateShreeNarainKatariaJiinCorona,Queens,NY.PujyaSwami AksharanandaJi(seatedinthecenter)wasinstrumentalinestablishingsubstantivecontactsanddialoguesbetweengeneration HindusfromIndiaandGuyanalivinginNewYork.Lastingbondsoffriendshipwereestablishedfromhisinitialmeetingaspart ofHinduSwayamsevakSangh’s(HSS)programs.Inthebackrow,secondfromleftisthelateNarainKatariaJi,Somdat MahabirJi,latePanditRadharamanUpadhyayaJi.OtherGuyana-bornHindusinthepcitureareRameshDeochandJi,Sam Lall Ji and Smt. Parbattie Ji.
Pujya Swami Aksharananda Ji (Guyana)is about to light the ceremonial lamp and declare open the conference on Spirituality in Indigenous Cultures and Religious Traditions hosted and organized by the International Center for Cultural Studies, at the Sri Siva Vishnu Temple on the 24th and 25th of October, 2009. Picture also shows Professors Yashwant Pathak Ji and Radhesham Dwivedi Ji.
PujyaSwamiAksharanandaJiofGuyana(extremeright)withotherSwamiJiinBrampton,Canada,August12,2017.ImmediatelynexttoSwamiAksharanandajiisPujyaSwamiPushkaranandaJioftheBharatSevashramSangh,Toronto branch.SwamiAksharanandaJiatthetimewasgivingVedicdiscoursesataYajniaheconductedfromAugust11-13,2017 in Brampton.
PujyaSwamiAksharanandaJi(Guyana)atVishwaHinduParishad’s(VHP)DharmaSansadinAustin,Texas.Swami Aksharanandaissecondfromrightonthestage.SpeakingisSwamiChidanandaSaraswati.Approximately20SwamiJis attended the Dharma Sansad, the objective being to enrich Hinduism in the USA.
Pujya Swami Aksharananda Ji speaking to Hindu boys on the West Coast of Demerara, Guyana in August 2007.
Indian High Commission in Guyana celebration of the 100th Anniversary Celebration of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, September 2017. The main were Pujya Swami Aksharananda ji, Ravi Dev ji and CEO of Demerara Bank Mr Pravin Chandra
Pujya Swami Aksharananda Ji lights symbolic national dyia at Guyana’s State House in the presence of President David Granger, government Ministers, and members of the diplomatic core in 2017.
Pujya Swami Aksharananda ji speaking at the national Diwali celebration at State House, Guyana, 2017. In his address, Swami Ji, speaking about the Diwali date controversy noted that “it is unfortunate that one group of individuals have decided to use the festival of Diwali to bring segregation and promote divisiveness in the Hindu community and further afield to fulfil their own political agenda. It is only one single organisation in this entire hemisphere that insists that Diwali must be done at some other time. This kind of ignorance and stupidity can only be matched by the amount of disdain these people have for the people whom they claim to speak.” Swami Aksharananda also boldly used to occasion to highlight the plight of hundreds of Indians who have lost their jobs due to discrimination.
Pujya Swami Aksharananda Ji joined thousands in the protest against government’s tax on education. Picture taken in April 2017 in Georgetown.
Swami Aksharananda Ji withYesu Persaud Ji on his (Yesu’s) 85th birthday.
PujyaSwamiAksharanandaJi(Guyana)givingadiscourseonBhagavadGitaattheSurya Narayan Mandir Queens in Queens, NY in 2017.
Pujya Swami Aksharananda Ji with Gandhi Youth Organization (GYO), Guyana, in celebration of GYO’s 60th anniversay, Oct. 2013.
Hindu scholar Swami Aksharananda speaks at 4th International Yoga Day in Guyana organized by the Indian High Commission. V. Mahilingam, the Indian High Commissioner is seated next to Swami Ji.
Indian High Commissioner V. Mahalingam donates books to Swami Aksharnanda for Saraswati Vidya Niketan’s library, SVN Cornelia Ida, Guyana.
L to R: Swami Pushkarananda (Canada), Swami Ganeshananda (India),and Swami Aksharananda (Guyana)
Dr. Baytoram Ramharack of NY speaking at the launch of his book on Jungh Bahadur Singh at Saraswati Vidya Niketan’s (SVN) sponsored event in Guyana, Feb. 2022.
Swami Aksharananda, Hindu scholar speaking at the launch of Dr. Baytoram Ramharack’s book on Jungh Bahadur Singh at Saraswati Vidya Niketan’s (SVN) sponsored event in Guyana, Feb. 2022.
Swami Aksharananda Ji with other visiting Swami Jis at the Cornelia Ida Mandir, Guyana
Pujya Swami Aksharananda Ji of Guyana (center) with Swami Siddeshwarananda Ji and Swami Parinirvananda Ji, Nov. 2017.
Swami Murugananda (South Africa) conversing with Swami Aksharananda (Guyana),UN Millenium Peace Summit, Sept. 2000, NYC.
Pujya Swami Aksharananda Ji (Guyana) at Gita conference, Trinidad, Dec. 2014
Pujya Swami Aksharananda Ji speaks at various forums in Guyana
Pujya Swami Aksharanda Ji at community SEVA events in Guyana
Puyja Swami Aksharananda Ji at SEVA events in Guyana
Pujya Swami Aksharananda Ji Maharaj, Hindu scholar, founder and principal of Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN) Guyana.
Collage of Pujya Swami Aksharananda Ji at a community event in Miami, Florida, USA, 2012.
Swami Aksharananda officiating at jag in Corentyne, Guyana, 1995
Ubraj Narine (center), Mayor of Georgetown, visits Pujya Swami Aksharananda (right) atSwami Ji’s office at SVN and presents him with a plaque of the history of the City Hall Building, recognising his exceptional efforts towards promoting peace, harmony, and spiritual enlightenment. Also present was Swami Bhachananada (left)from Canada.
Shri Ravi Ji Maharaj of Trinidad visits Pujya Swami Aksharananda Ji at his office at SVNon Nov. 20, 2024. Ravi Ji and Swami Ji have had a long friendship since the early 1970s.
Pujya Swami Aksharananda Ji, founder of Saraswati Vidya Niketan Guyana speaking atan event in Miami, FL 2012.
Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, V Mahalingam, visits Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN)and presents gift to Pujya Swami Aksharananda and 280 books to the Hindu school.
Pujya Swami Aksharananda Ji speaking on karma yoga andthe path to liberation at CI Mandir, Nov. 24, 2024
Pujya Swami Aksharananda Ji preparing for pooja, 1997
Swami Aksharananda in conversation with Vedprakash Nanda, distinguished Law Professor and Head of HSS,USA at Sri Siva Vishnu Mandir in Maryland, 2009.
Pujya Swami Aksharananda Ji, Founder and Principal of Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN) Guyana lighting lamp(deepa prajvalan) at Bhagavad Gita forum in Trinidad, Dec. 2014
Pujya Swami Aksharananda Ji, Hindu scholar, Founder and Principal of Sarswati Vidya Niketan, Guyanal; 2012 picture.
Pujya Swami Aksharananda Ji with visiting Sawmi Ji
Swami Aksharananda with SwamiBrahmaroopananda in Maryland 2012
Pujya Swami Aksharananda Ji, Founder and Principal ofSaraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN), Guyana in Queens, NY.`
Pujya Swami Aksharananda Ji, Founder and Principal of Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN),Guyana, NY. speaking at function in Queens, NY.
Swami Aksharananda Ji speaking at HSS Shakha, Guyana, 2007
Swami Aksharananda at HSS Shakha at Saraswati Vidya Niketan Hindu High School compound, 2007.
Pujya Swami Aksharananda at Sundar Gopal Mandir, in Queens, NY, April 2016
Pujya Swami Aksharananda, Hindu scholar, Founder and Principal of Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN) Guyana, Bhagavad Gita pravachan(discourse) at Surya Narayan Mandir, Queens, New York.
Swami Aksharananda joined protest against VAT (tax) on education in Guyana, 2017.
Pujya Swami Aksharananda Ji hosted Pujya Priyasevadas Swami of BAPS at Saraswai Vidya Niketanschool, march 2019.