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Vishuddhananda Paramahansa, also known as Bishuddhananda P&ocirc;rom&ocirc;hongśo in Bengali, was an Indian yogi, spiritual master, and guru who lived from March 14, 1853 to July 14, 1937. He was popularly known as Gandha Baba, which means &#39;The perfume saint&#39; in English. Vishuddhananda spent 12 years in Gyangunj, where he engaged in intense spiritual practice, including meditation. During his time there, he acquired spiritual powers, which became well-known. Eventually, Vishuddhananda adopted the life of a householder but was still able to achieve perfect samadhi. He was born into a pious Brahmin Bengali family as &#39;Bholanath Chattopadhaya&#39; to Shri Akhil Chandra Chattopadhaya and Srimati Raj Rajeshswari Chattopadhaya in a remote village called BONDUL, which is currently located in the Bardhaman district of India.

Early life

When Bholanath was 13 years old, he was bitten by a mad dog. Despite the efforts of local physicians, his health continued to deteriorate, and it seemed as though he would die within a few days. The pain was unbearable, and Bholanath felt the urge to end his life by drowning himself in the Ganges. As he went to the river&#39;s banks, he saw a sage taking a bath in the holy river. To his surprise, he noticed that the water column would rise up as the sage rose from the water. The sage noticed him and asked about his condition. He then blessed Bholanath by placing his palm on his head, and the pain instantly vanished. The sage searched for a special herb and gave it to Bholanath, assuring him that it would counteract the effects of the dog bite and expel all the poison from his body. The next day, the sage taught him a yogic posture and a mantra, predicting that Bholanath would become a great yogi someday. Although he clarified that he was not Bholanath&#39;s guru, he advised him to practice the posture and mantra and return home.

&nbsp;Travel to Gyanganj

Two years had passed and Bholanath had not been able to find the Sanyasi he had been searching for. One day, he overheard a conversation about a mystic monk who was known for his miraculous displays of power. Intrigued, Bholanath sought out the gentleman from Dhaka who had been speaking about the monk and asked him to take him to meet the Sanyasi. The gentleman agreed, but only if Bholanath could obtain his mother&#39;s permission.

After convincing his mother to allow him to travel, Bholanath and his friend Haripada set out to meet the Sanyasi in Dhaka. Upon meeting him, Bholanath expressed his desire to accompany the Sanyasi to Gyanganj, a secret Yogashram in Tibet. The Sanyasi warned them of the dangers they would face on their journey, but Bholanath and Haripada were eager to embark on the adventure.

The Sanyasi blindfolded the two young men and led them on an air route over forested hills and plains. The journey took them through West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh, covering a distance of about a thousand kilometers in a single night. When their bandages were removed, they found themselves at the temple of Vindhya-Vasini Ahsta-Bhuja Devi in Vindhyachal town.

The Sanyasi left the two boys at an ashram where they stayed for a week before he returned to take them to another ashram, where they met other saints. After five days, the Sanyasi returned and led them to Gyanganj, a celestial place on a plain surrounded by snow-covered high hill ranges in Tibet. There, Bholanath and Haripada were initiated by His Reverent Holiness Shri Mahatapa and learned various sciences such as Surya Vigyan, Chandra Vigyan, Nakshatra Vigyan, Vayu Vigyan, Swar Vigyan, and Dev Vigyan.

After their stay at Gyanganj, Bholanath and Haripada became Guru Bhais of Swami Nimanand, who was an earlier disciple of Mahatapa Maharaj. The journey to Gyanganj had been arduous, but the knowledge and spiritual enlightenment they gained made it all worth it.

Famous meetings:

Throughout his life, Vishuddhananda had several notable meetings with famous personalities, which helped to shape his spiritual path and influence his teachings.

One of Vishuddhananda&#39;s most famous meetings was with the Indian saint and philosopher, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa. Vishuddhananda became a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna and spent many years studying under him. He was deeply influenced by Sri Ramakrishna&#39;s teachings on the oneness of all religions and the importance of spiritual realization.

Another famous meeting in Vishuddhananda&#39;s life was with the renowned scientist, Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose. Vishuddhananda and Bose shared a common interest in the relationship between science and spirituality, and they had many discussions on this topic. Bose was impressed by Vishuddhananda&#39;s knowledge and insight, and he became a supporter of his spiritual mission.

Finally, Vishuddhananda had a significant meeting with Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of the Indian independence movement. Vishuddhananda and Gandhi had a deep respect for each other&#39;s teachings and beliefs. Vishuddhananda supported Gandhi&#39;s non-violent movement for Indian independence and encouraged his followers to do the same.

Through his meetings with these famous personalities, Vishuddhananda Paramahansa was able to share his teachings on spirituality and gain a wider audience for his message of peace, unity, and spiritual liberation. His legacy continues to inspire spiritual seekers around the world today.

Meeting with Paramhansa Yogananda:

In 1935, Mahatma Gandhi introduced Paramhansa Yogananda to Jawaharlal Nehru, India&#39;s first Prime Minister. Yogananda was a renowned spiritual guru and author of &quot;Autobiography of a Yogi.&quot; During his visit to India, he met with several prominent figures, including Nehru and the Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore.

Nehru was very impressed with Yogananda and wrote about him in his book, &quot;The Discovery of India.&quot; Nehru described Yogananda as a &quot;remarkable personality&quot; and praised his teachings on yoga and spirituality.

Meeting with Paul Brunton:

Paul Brunton was a British author who traveled extensively in India during the 1930s and 1940s, studying yoga and meditation. He wrote several books on spirituality, including &quot;A Search in Secret India&quot; and &quot;The Hidden Teaching Beyond Yoga.&quot;

The Great Yogi of Varanasi:

During his travels, Brunton met with several spiritual teachers, including the &quot;Great Yogi of Varanasi.&quot; This yogi was said to possess extraordinary powers, including the ability to levitate and to control the elements.

Brunton was skeptical of these claims and initially thought that the yogi was a fraud. However, after witnessing the yogi&#39;s abilities firsthand, Brunton became convinced of his authenticity and wrote about him in his book &quot;A Search in Secret India.&quot;

Reviving dead creature:

One of the most remarkable stories Brunton recounts in his book is his encounter with the yogi&#39;s ability to revive a dead creature. According to Brunton, the yogi brought a dead frog back to life by placing it in his hand and chanting a mantra.

Prophecy on Sri Aurobindo:

Brunton also had a meeting with the Indian philosopher and yogi Sri Aurobindo in 1936. During their meeting, Aurobindo made a prophecy about Brunton&#39;s future, telling him that he would become a &quot;bridge between East and West&quot; and that his writings would help to spread spiritual teachings to a wider audience.

Meeting Anandamayi Ma:

Anandamayi Ma was a spiritual teacher and mystic who was revered in India during the mid-20th century. Brunton met with Anandamayi Ma in 1935 and was deeply impressed by her spiritual presence and teachings.

Brunton wrote about his meeting with Anandamayi Ma in his book &quot;The Wisdom of the Overself.&quot; He described her as a &quot;living saint&quot; and praised her teachings on self-realization and spiritual awakening.

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Work Done

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Vishuddhananda Paramahansa was a spiritual teacher who devoted his life to the practice and propagation of yoga and Vedanta. Some of his notable contributions include:

<ul>
	<li>Establishment of several ashrams and centers in India and abroad to spread the teachings of yoga and Vedanta.</li>
	<li>Writing several books on spirituality, yoga, and Vedanta, including &quot;Vedanta for Beginners,&quot; &quot;Concentration and Meditation,&quot; and &quot;The Bhagavad Gita: Its Philosophy and Cultural Setting.&quot;</li>
	<li>Teaching and training numerous disciples in the practice of yoga and Vedanta.</li>
	<li>Conducting several spiritual retreats, lectures, and workshops to spread the message of yoga and Vedanta.</li>
	<li>Spreading the message of universal brotherhood and the unity of all religions.</li>
</ul>

Overall, Vishuddhananda Paramahansa dedicated his life to the practice and propagation of yoga and Vedanta, and his teachings continue to inspire and guide spiritual seekers all over the world.

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