My Guru Parampara (lineage)

Ancient Chinese scholars sitting on the ground in front of a seated teacher under a tree, engaging in a discussion.

The ancient Guru-Shishya (Teacher-Student) Tradition

The word parampara means lineage or tradition and refers to the teachers who have passed down the sacred teachings to students, who then in turn become teachers of the tradition.

I am from the Aananda Nath lineage. The Sanskrit word Aananda means “bliss” and Nath literally means “lord, protector, master”. Adi (“first”) Nath refers to the first Lord and is a synonym for Lord Shiva.

Therefore, this tradition is a timeless lineage of spiritual masters which was created by Adi Nath, Lord Shiva himself.

Hindu deity Lord Rama and an elderly woman engaged in a traditional conversation outdoors under a large tree, with greenery in the background.

Shiva teaching Parvati

Shiva first passed this sacred knowledge to his consort Parvati Shakti through Shaktipat (transmission of spiritual energy from teacher to student).

Parvati then passed this sacred knowledge to Shanmuk Aananda Nath, Ganesh Aananda and Nandi Aananda Nath.

Like this, in our tradition, all spiritual guru’s names end with Aananda Nath.

Below, the 14 traceable teachers of this tantra tradition are listed.

There are no existing photographs of all the teachers, since many of them lived at a time where there were no cameras!

Below the names of the Gurus who came before me.

ॐ श्री गुरुभ्यो नमः om sri gurubhyo namah!

A collage of eight figures with names and titles, featuring religious and spiritual personalities. The top of the image has text reading "GURU PARAMPARA." The figures from top to bottom are: a statue of a sage sitting cross-legged; portraits of Kunnath Ganapathi Nampoothiri and Pallath Narayanan Nampoothiri; Darappasharar and MadhavaJi; Vasanthi Amma and Shajes Tanra.

6, Jnanamba Sameta Yogananda Nadha Subramanya Yogeswara, Shinganeloor from Pollachi

7, Yogaamba Sameta Chandrikananda Nadha from Thanjavur

8, Nilakhantha Deekshitar from Chidambaram

9, Kameshvaryamba sahita Kamsehvaranandanatha Subramanya Sastri from Siddhamalli

10, Yogamba Sahita Candrikanandanatha Ramachandra Sastri from Mayavaram

11, Kameshvaryamba Sahita Kamsehvaranandanatha

12, Indramba Sahita Gyaanandanatha Chandramouleeswara Sastri from Patteeswarm

13, Leelaamba sahita Aatmaanandanatha Venugopala Sastri from Thiruvarur

14, Kunchitamba Sahita Brahmanandanatha Kunchita Pada Iyer from Kadiramangalam

15, Vimalamaba Sahita Vimalanandantha Panchapakesa Iyer from Dharasuram