Gurudev Brahmrishi Swami Vishvatma Bawra Ji Maharaj, founder of the Brahmrishi Mission, was born to a Brahmin family in the village of Kanwal Gyanpur, near Varanasi. As a boy he showed little interest in formal schooling, spending his early years herding cattle and wrestling.
In adulthood he was drawn toward spiritual life and became a disciple of H.H. Bhagwan Chandra Mauli Ji Maharaj. He later left home to be initiated into the Shri Vaishnav Order, founded by Vaishnavacharya Shri Swami Ram Swaroop Dass Ji Maharaj, and settled in Ayodhya to study scripture, philosophy, and yoga under a number of respected teachers.
His learning was not confined to spiritual texts; he went on to study history, social science, politics, and psychology as well, mastering each without any formal education and eventually attaining the state of Paramhansa.
His own teacher later directed him to return to society and share what he had learned. He traveled widely, lecturing on the Bhagavad Gita, the Ramayana, yoga, and Vedanta philosophy, drawing disciples from around the world. In 1965 he established the Brahmrishi Mission’s first ashram in Udaipur, Rajasthan, followed in 1974 by the mission’s main ashram in Virat Nagar, Haryana, built on the guiding principle of “Wisdom, Love, Service.”
Gurudev continued teaching internationally throughout his life, authoring several works including Dharma Vigyan Bhasya, serving on the Nirdeshak Mandal of the Akhil Bhartiya Sant Samiti, and representing India at the 1991 World Religion Conference. He attained Mahasamadhi while meditating during a pilgrimage across India.
Today, the Brahmrishi Mission’s Orlando branch, Shri Shiv Dham Hindu Temple, continues his teachings under the guidance of Swami Chidghanand Parivrajak. Read more about the mission’s centers in India and abroad on the Brahmrishi Mission Centres page.