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Added the info v1

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{{Short description| Hindu monk and a traditional teacher (1946 - 2013)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2016}}
{{Unreliable sources|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox Hindu leader
| name = Swami Vishwadevanand Puri
| image = स्वामी विश्वदेवानंद जी.jpg
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1946|1|26}}
| birth_place = Naugawan district of [[Kanpur division]], India
| birth_name = Kailash Nath Shukla
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2013|05|07|1946|1|26|df=y}}<ref name="Swami Vishwa Devanandji Maharaj died in a road accident">{{cite web |last1=Puri |first1=Vishwadevanand |title=Haridwar saint dies in road accident |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/haridwar-saint-dies-in-road-accident--22698.html/ |website=India TV News |date=8 May 2013 |publisher=India TV News Desk |access-date=8 May 2013 |ref=1}}</ref>
| death_place = [[Haridwar, Uttarakhand]], India
| nationality = [[Indian people|Indian]]
| disciples = Anantbodh Chaitanya
| philosophy = [[Advaita Vedanta]]
| honors = Nirvan Pithadhishwar Acharya Mahamandleshwar
}}
{{Hindu philosophy}}

'''Swami Vishwadevanand Puri''' (26 January 1946{{snd}}7 May 2013) was a [[Hinduism|Hindu]] monk and a traditional teacher of [[Advaita Vedanta]]. He founded the Vishwakalyan Foundation Trust (Shri Yantra [[Mandir]]) in [[Haridwar]].<ref name=":0" />

== {{anchor|Beginnings}}Early life ==
Puri was born Kailash Nath Shukla in the village of Naugawan, [[Kanpur division]], Uttar Pradesh on 26 January 1946 to Vishwanath Shukla. As a child, he had a great interest in spirituality and religion. Puri read many [[Vedic scriptures]], which made him resolve to lead a [[Sanyasi]]'s life for the welfare of mankind. When he was sixteen, he left home permanently in search of God and cut ties with his family. While traveling, he sought out the Sanyasi Pujya Swami Sadananda Paramhansa in Dariyapur village.{{which|date=October 2023}} Puri wanted to learn [[Neo-Advaita|Satsang]]. Under Sadananda's guidance, he became proficient in many types of [[sadhana]]s.

Puri's interest in Vedic philosophy grew and he became interested in [[Vedanta]]. He had an initiation ritual with Param Tapasvi Anant Shri Vibhushit Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Nirvana Pithadhishvar Swami Atulanand Ji in 1962 and became a [[paramahamsa]], the highest level of spiritual education in Hinduism, which is considered by believers to make a person [[Moksha|one with ultimate reality]]. Puri, renamed Paramahamsa Parivrajaka Acharya Swami Vishwadevanand Ji Maharaj, went on a [[pilgrimage]] to holy sites throughout India to understand the plight of the people and find viable solutions to dispel ignorance. Probably his last household deciple was Pradeep Mishra author of From Leader To Creator. He went on a later world tour to share his knowledge with people worldwide. Supported by his Vedic knowledge and spiritual experiences, he developed a vision to serve society based on the principle of ''Vasudev Kutumbakam'': "the whole world is one family of the divine". He founded the Vishwa Kalyan Foundation in [[Haridwar]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Swami Shri Vishwadevananda ji Maharaj|url=http://shriyantramandir.com/pujya-shrivishwadevanandamaharaj-shri/|access-date=2021-01-08|website=Shri Yantra Mandir}}</ref>

== Education ==
With the permission of Swami Aulanand Ji Maharaj, Puri studied at the [[ashram]] in [[Ellis bridge (area)|Ellis Bridge]], Ahmedabad. He studied the systems of [[Nyaya]], Bhagwat and Vedanta, and grammar and philosophy with Param Guru Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Nirvana Pithadhishvar Swami Krishnanand Ji Maharaj Shri.

== {{anchor|Pithadhishwar of Mahanirvani Akhada}}Mahanirvani Akhada ==
An organization of ''[[sadhu]]s'', the Shri Panchayati Akhara Mahanirvani,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kumbha Mela|url=http://www.sanatankultura.com/index.php/en/hinduism/kumbha-mela-en|access-date=2021-01-08|website=www.sanatankultura.com|language=en-gb}}</ref> honored Puri in 1985 at the [[Haridwar Kumbh Mela]]. He was then elected Acharya Mahamandaleshwar (leader) of the Shri Panchayati Akhara Mahanirvan).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Review of Kumbha Mela, 1998|url=https://www.yogaindailylife.org/news/kumbha-mela-1998|access-date=2021-01-08|website=www.yogaindailylife.org|date=23 January 2010 }}</ref> As leader of the [[akhara]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=महानिर्वाणी से हुई थी महामंडलेश्वर पद की शुरुआत|url=https://www.jagran.com/spiritual/religion-mahamandleshwar-mhanirwani-from-the-beginning-of-term-10371979.html|access-date=2021-01-08|website=Dainik Jagran|language=hi}}</ref> he chaired ashrams in Haridwar, [[Varanasi]], [[Kolkata]], and [[Ahmedabad]]. Puri established the world's first stone [[Shri Yantra]] temple{{citation needed|date=October 2023}} in [[Kankhal]], Haridwar, Uttarakhand. His best-known disciple is Anantbodh Chaitanya from [[Panipat, Haryana]], who was initiated on 13 April 2005 at the Sanyas ashram. Puri appointed Australian swami Jasraj Puri as a [[mahamandaleshwar]] in the [[Mahanirvani Akhada]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-02-18|title=ऑस्ट्रेलियाई युवक को महामंडलेश्वर की पदवी|url=https://www.bbc.com/hindi/india/2010/02/100218_australia_saint_ra|access-date=2021-01-08|website=BBC News हिंदी|language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=australia saint {{!}} ऑस्ट्रेलियाई युवक को महामंडलेश्वर की पदवी|url=http://hindi.webdunia.com/bbc-hindi-news/ऑस्ट्रेलियाई-युवक-को-महामंडलेश्वर-की-पदवी-110022000065_1.htm|access-date=2021-01-08|website=hindi.webdunia.com|language=hi}}</ref>

[[Aastha TV]] produced a documentary about Puri.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Swami Vishwadevanand Puri ji - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XhTD210svE&feature=youtu.be|access-date=2021-01-08|website=www.youtube.com}}</ref> He has initiated many Nagas at the Mahanirvani Akhada as an ''[[acharya]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=स्वामी नीलकंठ गिरी के संन्यास के गुरु श्री विश्वदेवानंद जी|url=https://www.shripeeth.in/guruji.php|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-08|website=|language=en-US}}</ref> Brahamlin Swami Martand Puri<ref>{{Cite web|title=Prayagraj News: नहीं रहे धार्मिक चैनलों की नींव रखने वाले माधवकांत, प्रयागराज से था ऐसा गहरा नाता|url=https://www.subahsamachar.com/news/detail/madhavakant-a-journalist-turned-monk-had-a-deep-bond-with-prayagraj/169469|access-date=2021-01-08|website=www.subahsamachar.com|language=en}}</ref> received ''[[diksha]]'' from Puri, and was appointed a mahamandaleshwar by him.<ref>{{Cite web|title=पत्रकारिता छोड़ माधवकांत मिश्र बन गए संन्यासी {{!}} Himnewspost|url=https://himnewspost.com/2012/10/madhvakant-mishra-left-journalist-and-became-a-saint/amp/|access-date=2021-01-08|website=himnewspost.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-01-27|title=माधवकांत उर्फ मार्तंडपुरी बने महामंडलेश्वर {{!}} No. 1 Indian Media News Portal|url=https://www.bhadas4media.com/old1/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A4-%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AB-%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0/|access-date=2021-01-08|website=www.bhadas4media.com|language=en-US}}</ref> [[Nithyananda|Swami Nityanand]] was also appointed a mahamandleshwar by Puri.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=नित्यानन्द बना महामंडलेश्वर|url=https://www.amarujala.com/news-archives/astrology-archives/akharas-opposed-to-mahamandaleshwar-nityananda-swami|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-08|website=Amar Ujala|language=hi}}</ref>

== Activities ==
Puri delivered religious discourses for thirty years. He attracted large audiences in India, and toured outside the country. Puri's lectures covered the [[Vedas]], [[Upanishads]], ''[[Bhagavatam]]'', [[Puranas]], [[Bhagavad Gita]], ''[[Ramayana]]'' and other Eastern and Western philosophies, and he quoted the scriptures of other religions. He taught a simple, straightforward way of God-realization which could be practiced by anyone. Puri was a member of the [[Vishva Hindu Parishad]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=हरिद्वार में संतों की हुंकार|url=https://archives.panchjanya.com/arch/2010/4/18/File41.htm|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-08|website=archives.panchjanya.com}}</ref> {{ill|Sangh Sanchalak Shri Sudrashan|hi|के एस सुदर्शन}} and [[Lal Krishna Advani]] visited Sanyas Ashram in [[Vile Parle]] and met Puri on [[Vijayadashami]] (31 October 2004) to premiere a film based on [[K. B. Hedgewar]]'s life.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=सरसंघचालक श्री सुदर्शन की उपस्थिति में श्री लालकृष्ण आडवाणी ने किया फिल्म निर्माण का मुहूर्त|url=https://www.panchjanya.com/arch/2004/10/31/File16.htm|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-08|website=www.panchjanya.com}}</ref> Puri supported Ram Setu and [[Ram Mandir]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=रामलीला मैदान में सम्पन्न हुई विशाल सभा में स्वामी विश्वदेवानंद जी ने कहा कि प्रधानमंत्री राम सेतु रक्षा के लिए पहल करें।|url=https://archives.panchjanya.com/arch/2007/6/10/File18.htm|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-08|website=archives.panchjanya.com}}</ref> [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh|RSS]] chief [[Mohan Bhagwat]] visited Sanyas Ashram and met Puri. "He spent nearly 45 minutes here. We discussed religious affairs and ancient Indian traditions as well as issues like terrorism", Puri said.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2009-09-08|title=RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat met Swami Vishwadevanand|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-don-t-follow-west-blindly-mohan-bhagwat-1288423|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-08|website=DNA India|language=en}}</ref>

== Views on religious freedom ==
Puri was a proponent of [[freedom of religion]], saying that "religious harmony is closely dependent on the freedom each religion grants to the other."<ref>{{Cite web|title=सनातन धर्म के ध्वजवाहक स्वामी विश्वदेवानंद|url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/state/west-bengal/asansol/794865|access-date=2021-01-08|website=Prabhat Khabar - Hindi News|date=5 May 2016 |language=hi}}</ref>

== Death ==
Puji died in Haridwar on 7 May 2013<ref>{{Cite web|title=विरले ही जन्म लेते हैं ऐसे संत|url=https://www.jagran.com/spiritual/religion-rarely-are-born-saint-10375215.html|access-date=2021-01-08|website=Dainik Jagran|language=hi}}</ref> after a [[Traffic collision|car accident]] while he was returning to his ashram from [[Jolly Grant Airport]] in Dehradun.<ref name="Swami Vishwa Devanandji Maharaj died in a road accident">{{cite web |last1=Puri |first1=Vishwadevanand |title=Haridwar saint dies in road accident |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/haridwar-saint-dies-in-road-accident--22698.html/ |website=India TV News |date=8 May 2013 |publisher=India TV News Desk |access-date=8 May 2013 |ref=1}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://shriyantramandir.com/pujya-maharaj-shri/ Nirvan Pithadhishwar Acharya Mahamandleshwar Swami Vishwadevanand Puri]
*[https://www.jagran.com/uttarakhand/haridwar-10374726.html स्वामी विश्वदेवानंद जी को दी गयी भू समाधि ]
*[https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/state/west-bengal/asansol/794865 स्वामी विश्वदेवानंद जी को श्रद्धांजलि ]
{{HinduMythology}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Puri, Swami Vishwadevananda}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian Hindu monks]]
[[Category:People from Kanpur Nagar district]]

Vishwadevanand Puri - Revision history

Al202xis0: Added the info v1