Parama Poojya Sri Shantananda Puri Maharaj of Vasishtha Guha (Himalayas), born in 1928, is a disciple of Parama Poojya Sri Purushottamananda Puri Maharaj.

Sri Shantananda Puri Maharaj belongs to the following Guru Parampara (the lineage of spiritual teachers) in the Advaita Vedanta tradition:

– Sri Adi Shankaracharya
– Sri Tota Puri
– Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
– Sri Swami Brahmananda Puri Maharaj
– Sri Swami Purushottamananda Puri Maharaj

Swamiji is a scholar par excellence in Vedic Scriptures, Puranic texts as well as other texts. His deep knowledge and lucid exposition of Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Vasishtha, Ashtavakra Gita have made him a authentic guide and Guru of the thirsty aspirants for spiritual guidance and knowledge. His simplicity, transparent heart, deep faith in the Divine and absolute surrender to That, have made him an ideal combination of Jnana, Bhakti, and Vairagya. His mastery in Sanskrit, English, Hindi, and Tamil and his vast experience and deep insight have drawn innumerable followers from India and abroad.

Some of the books, written in English and authored by His Holiness, that have been popular among the spiritual seekers are:

– "Srimad Bhagavatam: Its message for the Modern Man"
– "Sadhanas in Bhagavad Gita"
– "Fragrant Flowers: Spiritual Reminiscences of a Himalayan Monk"
– "The Quantum Leap into Absolute: The Essence of Ashtavakra Gita"
– "Jivanmukti: Liberation Here and Now"
– "Answers to Basic Spiritual Questions of Sadhaks"
– "Stories for Meditation"
– "Sri Lalita Sahasranama Stotram: An Insight and Commentary on Sivasahasranamam".
– "Instant Awareness - Talks from Ashtavakra Gita" (released at Sri Ramanasramam on May 5th., 2004)

A number of these books have already appeared in translation also in Hindi, Kannada and Telugu. He has written a commendable commentary in Hindi and Tamil on Shivasahasranamam which occurs in Linga Purana and has composed in Sanskrit, Sri Ramana Maharshi Suprabhatam which has been brought out by Sri Ramanasramam by way of an audio cassette.

Since 1995, during his stays at Sri Ramanasramam - Tiruvannamalai, Swami Shantananda Puri Maharaj has offered daily lectures on many classical texts to a large number of spiritual seekers.

From the end of May 2003 Sri Swami Shantananda Puri stays at Sri Ramanasramam, where, between July 15, 2003 and May 5, 2004 Swamiji was in Mouna (complete silence, no verbal communication).

OM TAT SAT !