Swami Shivom Theertha

Shri Swami Shivom Tirth Maharaj was the most loving disciple of Swami Vishnu Tirth Maharaj, the far-sighted saint whose influence stretched wide and beyond in propagating the Shaktipat system. Swami Vishnu Tirth Maharaj set up a lot of milestones in this movement, and the same work is not only being consolidated by his successor, Shri Swami Shivom Tirth Maharaj, but expanded far beyond the horizon it reached originally. As the Guru Maharaj in service now for Ashrams both in India and the USA, Swami Shivom Tirth Maharaj is a beacon of spiritual wisdom in service.

Before becoming a disciple of Shri Swami Vishnu Tirth Maharaj, Swami Shivom Tirth Maharaj was known as Om Prakash. He was born in 1924 in the village of Gujrat in Punjab into a respected family. His early life evinced a keen interest in religion and spiritualism. After doing his graduation from Lahore, the height of idealism marked the character of Om Prakash. However, the cataclysmic partition of India shook him thoroughly and uprooted his family from Lahore to Punjabi. But having taken up an employment there, Om Prakash soon felt his calling was in the spiritual field and began his quest for an able teacher.

Having heard of the spiritual attainments of Shri Swami Vishnu Tirth Maharaj, Om Prakash approached his Guru. Having obtained permission to join him, Om Prakash left his family and in 1959 was initiated as Brahmachari Shivom Prakash. In due course, under the Guidance of his Guru, he had risen to greater spiritual heights. He fully applied himself to build up and manage the newly set-up centers in Dewas and Rishikesh with remarkable dedication and disinterested service. His commitment and loyalty to Guru were like the commitment and sacrifice of Eklavya-an unrecognized disciple of Dronacharya- who offered his thumb as an oblation in adherence to the will of his Guru.

The fruits of untiring labour of Swami Shivom Tirth Maharaj are to be seen at Narayan Kuti Sanyas Ashram at Dewas today. It is during this period that he studied some of the fundamental scriptures and texts of the Hindus. Swami Vishnu Tirth Maharaj was impressed by the selfless devotion of his disciple and took him on visits to various important religious centres and spiritual personalities. Later, he got initiation into the order of renunciation from Shri Narayan Tirth Maharaj of Kashi in 1963 and was named Swami Shivom Tirth. Later, he was authorized by Swami Vishnu Tirth Maharaj to succeed him to further propagate the Shaktipat system for the spiritual welfare of all. Since then, Swami Shivom Tirth Maharaj has spread the knowledge everywhere, lighting the lamp as told by Swami Gangadhar Tirth Maharaj.

By nature, Swamiji is compassionate and loving; as such, he attracts the general public. Whether Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Jew, Chinese, or Japanese, people from all over the world have been attracted by his dignified and magnetic personality. In Europe and America, Shaktipat system has spread well and is still spreading. Swamiji frequently visits abroad for this purpose.

One unique factor of Swamiji's character is that each of his followers feels he or she is uniquely special, as though the most cherished disciple of Swamiji. It is because of Swamiji's boundless grace, natural affection, and deep sympathy for the suffering. His deep wisdom and humility touch; while he leads an extremely simple life, he can be wittily remarkable. His spiritual existence has continued to inspire and direct many people in their journey toward self-realization.