By R. Paul Dhillon
VANCOUVER – Swami Satyamitranand, usually known as Swami Satmitranand Giri Ji, made a special visit to Vancouver on the request of his admirer businessman Narinder Dhir, who arranged a special visa for the spiritual Guru to visit his many admirers in Vancouver on Thursday on his way back home to India after a major visit to the US.
“When I asked him to come for a short day trip to Canada, Swamiji was very happy to come as he has been to Vancouver before, including blessing the construction of the VHP temple,” said Dhir, who helped to arrange special visa from the Canadian government.
“Vancouver is very lucky to get his presence here as hundreds of people have visited him at my residence,” Dhir added, saying efforts are afoot to bring the Swami for a longer visit and program at VHP.
Swami Satyamitranand, who is a favorite of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who invited him down for the PM swearing in and Parliament opening, sending a private jet to pick him up from his home base in Haridwar, was born on 19 September 1932 in the city of Agra, (Uttar Pradesh India) as Ambika Prasad.
He was crowned the Jagatguru Shankaracharya of an Upapeeth at Jyotirmath. In June 1969 Swamiji abdicated his status of Jagatguru Shankaracharya.
He is the founder of Bharat Mata Mandir, a famous temple in Haridwar. He also founded Samanvaya Seva Foundationin 1988 with the objective of helping poor people from tribes and hilly areas by providing them free education and medical facilities.
