About Surendra Guruji
Brief Life Sketch of Sadguru
Life Sketch
His Holiness Surendra Guruji was born from Shri Siddappa and Kallamma couple on 25th September 1945 in a poor family of Galatagi village in Chikkodi taluka of Belgaum district in Karnataka. He had spiritual bent of mind since his childhood.
Education
He completed his primary education from primary school of Galatagi and high school education from B.S. high school Bedakihal. Later he completed his B.Sc degree from RLS institute Belgaum. While he was studying in RLS, he read the books entitled: 'ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಚರ್ಯವೇ ಜೀವನ, ವೀರ್ಯ ನಾಶವೇ ಮೃತ್ಯು' written by Shri Shivananda Swamiji of Varuda Ashrama Maharastra; 'Self Enquiry' written by Bhagavan Shri Ramana Maharshi; 'In the woods of God realization' written by Swami Ramatheertha; 'ವೇದಾಂತ ಜ್ಞಾನಸಿಂಧು' written by chidanandavadhoota and complete works of Swami Vivekananda; All these books influenced Surendra to the maximum.
Spiritual Influence
His father explained "Who have become happy by learning the empirical knowledge? Nobody, so let you continue cultivation of three acres of land that we have". But his mother Kallamma encouraged him to complete his M.Sc degree in zoology. His father Siddappa expired by tuberculosis disease in 1969, when Prof. Surendra was studying in M.Sc previous in zoology. He completed his M.Sc degree in zoology from Karnataka University in 1970. While learning he had maximum interest in mystical philosophy. Then he met many saints and sages of Karnataka. He read all their books. He started his service as a lecturer in zoology in JSS college of Dharwad in 1970.
Guru Satsang
Personal Life
When Prof. Surendra started his service as a lecturer in zoology, his mother Kallamma began to arrange a marriage to him. But Prof. Surendra did not accept it. He was interested to lead a life of celibacy and continue the spiritual sadhana and to attain self realization. But his mother Kallamma was very stubborn to arrange a marriage to Prof. Surendra. As Prof. Surendra didn't accept to marry, his mother Kallamma took poison. Later treatment was given to cure her. She was cured and Prof. Surendra accepted to marry due to the insistment by his mother to marry. Then he married a bride by name Shakuntala according to his prarabdha action, who was a graduate in arts in the year 1972. 'Man proposes and God disposes' who will transcend one's prarabdha action! In 1974 his mother also expired. Then he had to bear the whole responsibility of the family. Prof Surendra arranged the marriage of his brother and three sisters with his own earning. Since 1972 to 1975, he was staying at JSS quarters.
Service Activities
Later by the influence of Shri Atmananda Swamiji, he came to Hangaraki village as Swami Atmananda's camp was there. Prof. Surendra generously helped to the poor, diseased and handicapped. He is a man who leads a very simple life and has a high thinking. He does not wear coat, boat and tie. He looks all human beings as his own family members. He talks only about spiritual matters. Later Prof. Surendra started living at Hangaraki village since 1975. In 1981 he constructed a house near by Shri Atmananda Ashrama which had been built on the hillock which is one and half kilometers from Hangaraki village.
Published Works
Spiritual Centers
Prof. Surendra listened the spiritual discourses of Shri Swami Atmananda for 13 years and he published his spiritual thoughts in the form of many books. He established many spiritual centres in Belgaum and Dharwad districts. He visits all these centres frequently and delivers spiritual lectures there. In all these centres the spiritual activities have been continued daily. Those centres are namely Mugali, Hosatti, Kallapur, Lokur, kotabagi, Dharwad of Dharwad taluka and the centres of Belgaum district are as follows: Basarakod of Bailahongal taluka, Gundenatti of Khanapur taluka, Belgaum of Belgaum taluka and shivapeth of Ramdurg taluka. He delivered spiritual lectures, wherever he was invited by the people of spiritual inclination. He does not expect money for this. He does this with his own expenditure. He does not make any distinction of caste, creed, sex, colour, religion, country, rich and poor etc. He treats all people with the same outlook. He is serving people according to the saying 'ಯೇನ ಕೇನ ಪ್ರಕಾರೇಣ ಯಸ್ಯಕಸ್ಯಾಪಿ ದೇಹಿನಃ ಸಂತೋಷಂ ಜನಯೇತ್ ಪ್ರಾಜ್ಞಃ ತದೇವ ಈಶ್ವರ ಪೂಜನಂ' i.e. the service of living beings is the service of God.
Ideals and Principles
In All these spiritual centres listening reflecting and meditation of one's true self has been continued. He also gives solace to the unsatisfied ghosts. The unsatisfied individuals express the sorrow in the form of ghosts. While taking meal he does not expect the food to be tasty. He enjoys his meal which is provided to him according to his prarbdha action. It is the same if he sleeps on ordinary mat or carpet. He gets sound sleep without the disturbance of mosquitoes, bugs and lice.
Family
His wife Mrs. Shakuntala co-operates him in all his activities. He had three daughters. (Vanaja, Bharati and Jyoti) and all of them were well educated. All of them married and they have children also. His second daughter Bharati was serving in drug department of Karnataka state as a junior scientific officer. She expired in 2016 due to cancer disease and at that time Prof. Surendra had equipoise of mind. His eldest daughter Vanaja maintains dairy. His youngest daughter Jyoti serves as a doctor.