GHANA, March 14, 2023 (pulse.com): Several Ghanaian Hindus gathered to celebrate the initiation of Swami Shankarananda and Swamini Geetananda into sannyas as renunciates. The program was held at the Indian Social Cultural Center at Osu, in Accra, on Sunday, March 12, 2023. It was graced by Hindus of all backgrounds and heavily participated by some members of the Hindu Monastery of Africa, Ghana, which is the foremost indigenous Ghanaian Hindu organization. The sacred initiation of both Swami Shankarananda and Swamini Geetananda into the Holy Order of Sannyas took place in India on the auspicious day of Mahashivaratri which fell on the 18th of February, 2023, which is also a very significant day on the Hindu calendar. The two new Swamis have risen through the ranks in their spiritual journeys, having dutifully offered their devotions to their various masters and Gurus.

Swami Shankarananda was born into a Christian family, but he later delved into Buddhism and eventually would discover Hinduism, all before the early age of 14 years. In the year 2009, Swami Shankarananda joined the Hindu Monastery of Africa, Ghana, and he later traveled to India, where he studied at the prestigious Chinmaya Mission Vedanta program under the Divine tutelage of Swami Tejomayananda from 2020 to 2022. Similarly, Swamini Geetanand was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana before discovering Hinduism. Introduced to Hinduism by her brother, she joined the Hindu Monastery of Africa, Ghana in 1983, and in the year 1985 enrolled on a discipleship course organized at the Monastery under the Divine guidance of His Holiness Swami Ghananand Saraswati who was the first Black African Hindu Monk. She worshiped with the Hindu Monastery of Africa for many years and was initiated as a Brahmacharini in 2018 by His Holiness Swami Satyananda Saraswati of India. She also later embarked on a journey to India to seek further spiritual enlightenment and was admitted to study at the prestigious Chinmaya Mission Vedanta program under the Divine tutelage of Swami Advayananda from 2021 to 2022.

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