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{{short description|American Australian guru}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox Hindu leader
|name=Bhagawan Nityananda
|image= Mahamandaleshwar Swami Shankarananda in Ganeshpuri.jpg
|caption= Shankarananda in [[Siddha Yoga#India|Ganeshpuri]], 2016
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
|birth_date={{birth year and age|1942}}
|birth_place=
|birth_name=Russell Michael Kruckman
|guru=
|philosophy=[[Kashmir Shaivism]]
|honors=[[Mahamandaleshwar]]
| works = {{ubl|''Happy for No Good Reason'' (2000) |''Consciousness Is Everything: The Yoga of Kashmir Shaivism'' (2003)|''Carrot in My Ear: Questions and Answers on Living with Awareness'' (2004)|''Self-Inquiry: Using Your Awareness to Unblock Your Life'' (2008)|''Ganeshpuri Days: Memoirs of a Western Yogi'' (2019)}}
|footnotes=
}}
'''Mahamandaleshwar Swami Shankarananda''' (born 1942) is an American-born [[Modern yoga gurus|yoga guru]] in the lineage of [[Bhagavan Nityananda]] of Ganeshpuri.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/noosa/meditation-taps-the-inner-energy/news-story/c76b23870e02ae4319a153e7b2f1d269 |title=Meditation taps the inner energy |date=July 6, 2012 |first=Gail |last=Forrer |website=[[The Courier-Mail]]}}</ref> He resides and teaches at an ashram located in [[Mount Eliza, Victoria|Mount Eliza]], Australia.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/less-ritual-more-reality-20031114-gdwqfy.html|title=Less ritual, more reality|date=November 14, 2003|website=[[The Age]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/music/breaking-the-guru-hoodoo-20041120-gdz0v0.html|title=Breaking the guru hoodoo|date=November 20, 2004|website=[[The Age]]}}</ref>

Swami Shankarananda is the author of several books on [[meditation]] and the [[philosophy]] and practice of [[Kashmir Shaivism]]. He emphasises spiritual practice (Sadhana), especially meditation, mantra, self-inquiry and teaches ancient teachings in Western terms.<ref name="auto"/>

In 2015 multiple allegations of sexual abuse were made against Shankarananda.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Oakes |first1=Dan |title=Mount Eliza ashram guru Russell Kruckman accused of sexually abusing multiple women |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-27/mt-eliza-ashram-guru-russell-kruckman-accused-of-sexual-abuse/13191656 |access-date=18 November 2021 |work=ABC |date=26 February 2021}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Shankarananda was born Russell Michael Kruckman, the son of artist Herbert ("Herb") (1904–1998) and schoolteacher Selma (1908–1998). He studied at [[Columbia University]], New York, where he played on Columbia's US Champion intercollegiate chess team.<ref>[http://spectatorarchive.library.columbia.edu/cgi-bin/columbia?a=d&d=cs19620223-01.2.35&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN------# "Chess Club wins Ivy League Crown"], William D. Schwartz, Columbia Spectator, 23 February 1962. Retrieved 23 June 2015.</ref>

==Career==
Shankarananda began his career as an academic at [[Indiana University]].<ref name="auto"/> He turned to [[spirituality]] following a life-threatening incident, leading him to meet the American spiritual teacher [[Ram Dass]] and travel to India.<ref name="auto"/> Later, he spent time in India studying [[meditation]] under his guru, Swami [[Muktananda]], the disciple of [[Bhagavan Nityananda]] of Ganeshpuri.<ref name="auto"/>

In 1986, Shankarananda founded the Shiva Institute in [[Los Angeles]], introducing the Shiva Process—a meditation technique influenced by Kashmir Shaivism.<ref name="auto"/> He later established the Shiva Ashram in [[Melbourne]], [[Australia]] in 1991, relocating to [[Mount Eliza, Victoria|Mount Eliza]] in 1995.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="Mt Eliza Asham">{{Cite web|title=The Ashram Mount Eliza {{!}} Swami Shankarananda - Meditation and Yoga|url=https://www.theashram.com.au/|access-date=2020-10-02|website=The Ashram Mount Eliza|language=en-AU}}</ref> At his ashram, he conducts weekly satsang programs every Saturday, where he discusses teachings from Muktananda, other spiritual figures, and his own experiences, often using humor.<ref name="auto"/>

Shankarananda has held events with other teachers in his lineage and, in 2009, launched a website that cites all the gurus and teachers in Bhagavan Nityananda's lineage. He has participated in interfaith events.<ref>[http://artsonline.monash.edu.au/mai/files/2012/01/news061004.txt Tantra, consciousness and reality seminar, October 2004]</ref> In 2003 he organized the "Power of Three" event, aiming to unite teachers from Muktananda's lineage to discuss various meditation practices. Participants included Master Charles, who integrates modern mysticism with science and technology, and Swami Nityananda, who focuses on traditional meditation techniques.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/less-ritual-more-reality-20031114-gdwqfy.html|title=Less ritual, more reality|date=November 14, 2003|website=[[The Age]]}}</ref>

Shankarananda came into contact with [[Kashmir Shaivism]] through his teacher, Muktananda. He teaches the "Shiva Process Self-Inquiry, an inner dialogue in which students ask precise questions of the Self," realizing their true Self as pure consciousness or awareness.<ref>"Energy Rising", Yoga Journal Kathy Wyer (http://www.yogajournal.com/article/practice-section/energy-rising/)</ref> Muktananda emphasised the importance of a self-realised guru who can awaken and guide the [[kundalini]] energy of a seeker.

He was the patron of the Hindu Community Council of Victoria (HCCV),<ref>[http://www.hinduccv.org.au/news/45-clarification-re-ganesh-play-controversy Clarification re Ganesh Play Controversy]</ref> and he spoke at the Parliament of the World's Religions held in Melbourne, 2009.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}}

== Controversy ==

In 2015, allegations surfaced about Shankarananda engaging in sexual relationships with members of his ashram community. He admitted to the relationships, stating he had underestimated the impact of his tantric practices.<ref>mpnews.com.au/2015/01/20/secret-sex-shakes-yoga-school</ref> Later, the organization was liquidated and Shankarananda resigned as director but continued as the spiritual leader, retaining ownership of the main property, now known as The Ashram Mount Eliza, where he continues to run regular programs for residents and the public.<ref name="Perkins 2015">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/guru-sex-scandal-at-mount-eliza-yoga-retreat-20150120-12ugkk.html|title=Guru sex scandal at Mount Eliza yoga retreat|first=Miki|last=Perkins|date=January 20, 2015|website=The Age}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mpnews.com.au/2015/04/27/yoga-school-to-be-wound-up/|title=Yoga school to be wound up|first=Keith|last=Platt|date=April 27, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/ashram-could-wind-up-amid-sex-abuse-allegations-20150327-1m97ox.html|title=Ashram could wind up amid sex abuse allegations|first=Jane|last=Lee|date=March 28, 2015|website=The Age}}</ref>

In February 2021, Australian journalist Dan Oakes published an investigative report documenting multiple allegations of sexual abuse made against Shankarananda. Including a claim made by one woman relating to events in 2010. <ref>{{cite news |last1=Oakes |first1=Dan |title=Mount Eliza ashram guru Russell Kruckman accused of sexually abusing multiple women |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-27/mt-eliza-ashram-guru-russell-kruckman-accused-of-sexual-abuse/13191656 |access-date=18 November 2021 |work=ABC |date=26 February 2021}}</ref>
== Bibliography ==
* ''Happy for No Good Reason'', Information Australia, Melbourne, 2000. {{ISBN|1-86350-314-5}}
* ''Consciousness Is Everything: The Yoga of Kashmir Shaivism'', Shaktipat Press, Melbourne, 2003. {{ISBN|0-9750995-0-7}}
* ''Carrot in My Ear: Questions and Answers on Living with Awareness'', Shaktipat Press, Melbourne, 2004. {{ISBN|0-9750995-2-3}}
* ''Self-Inquiry: Using Your Awareness to Unblock Your Life'', Shaktipat Press, Melbourne, 2008. {{ISBN|978-0-9750995-3-7}}
* ''Ganeshpuri Days: Memoirs of a Western Yogi,'' Shaktipat Press, Melbourne, 2019. {{ISBN|978-164669081-7}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Modern yoga gurus}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shankarananda Saraswati, Swami}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American Jews]]
[[Category:20th-century Hindu religious leaders]]
[[Category:21st-century Hindu religious leaders]]
[[Category:Converts to Hinduism]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Shaivite religious leaders]]
[[Category:Australian Hindus]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]

Shankarananda (Shiva Yoga) - Revision history

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