Acarya Shantatmananda Avadhuta was a soft-spoken, humble monk who was deeply respected due to his devotional nature. He was born in 1943; he became a sannyasin of Ananda Marga in 1964 at the age of 21, subsequently graduating as a Senior Acarya in 1965. He worked as Sectorial Secretary for Nairobi Sector for a couple of years where he arranged the Master Unit in Ejura, Ghana and laid down a strong foundation for Ananda Marga in West Africa by doing extensive pracar, initiating and creating hundreds of ardent followers and devotees of the Marga. He worked as LFT trainer in New York sector for over ten years and as trainer for Wholetimer Acaryas in India as well as in Davao, Maharlika (Philippines) for ten years. During his last years he did extensive pracar in Mexico.
Among many other notable accomplishments, he managed to buy the Cuernavaca Jagrti in Mexico City and also Master Units in Canada and Guatemala. He wrote and published some books for children and devotional songs for spiritual aspirants.
For the last two years Dadajii underwent medical rest at Ananda Nagar. One month ago he was hospitalized in Ranchi under the skilled care of Dr. (Acarya) Karuna Shahdev and her team. He was in Ista-dhyana meditation when he went into Samadhi and passed away at 1:30 PM on Dec. 16.
Dada Shantatmanandaji was my first SS Nairobi back in 1977. He remained a gentle, brotherly and devoted Acarya throughout. I felt I could confide in him safely and he tried his best to deal with my difficulties as a new worker in a new field. Dadaji was a silent worker who always won the hearts of Margiis wherever he went. The Margiis of Ghana still have deep and fond memories of his work there as LFT trainer and manager of the Master Unit in Ejura.
ReplyDeleteAnanda Marga initiates knew this revered monk as the acharya of DADA JIIVESHANANDA , the GHANIAN monk. He was held in deep respect as a saint and divine child by birth who had had many wonderful spiritual and mystical experiences under the blessings of the ANANDA MARGA guruji.
ReplyDeleteDada Shantatmananda was a good man who was an honor and pleasure to learn from and live with at Amanda Kanan.
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