Swami Swatmananda is a contemporary spiritual leader who carries forward the tradition of Advaita Vedanta, a school of Hindu philosophy that emphasises the existence of one ultimate reality, Brahman, while suggesting that the individual self is an illusion (maya). Advaita Vedanta was founded in the 8th century by the Vedic scholar and philosopher Adi Shankaracharya, who lived in India over a thousand years ago.
As a modern-day teacher of Advaita Vedanta, Swami Swatmananda is a disciple of Swami Chinmayananda Saraswati, also known as Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda Saraswati. He was a prominent Hindu spiritual leader and teacher who led a global renaissance of Hindu spirituality and culture, popularising spiritual texts and values while teaching them in English across India and abroad.
Swami Swatmananda continues this mission by sharing talks on the Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, and other texts of Vedanta and Bhakti. He conducts camps, meditation retreats, and organises theatrical plays through Chinmaya Yuva Kendra. He has also directed a historic and spiritual theatrical play titled "Dharma Yoddha Vidyaranaya."
Dharma Yoddha Vidyaranaya
Dharma Yoddha Vidyaranya is a theatrical play organised by Chinmaya Yuva Kendra (CHYK). This play portrays the life of the cultural warrior Swami Vidyaranya, who played a crucial role in guiding brothers Harihara Raya and Bukkaraya in establishing the Vijayanagara Empire, thereby protecting South India from invaders.
The play was held in Chembur, Mumbai, on August 3, 2025, at the Fine Arts Cultural Centre. The event featured speeches, dance, music, and drama. It commenced at 5 PM and concluded at 8:30 PM.
The program started with a brief speech
The play began with a speech discussing the Chinmaya Mission in Mumbai and their various programs. It also highlighted the Shravan Somvaar Sadhna, which will be conducted by Swami Swatmananda at Chinmaya Prakash, located in DN Nagar, Andheri, Mumbai. Swami Swatmananda took the stage to deliver a speech, starting with a mantra. He mentioned, "This play was first performed in 2023, and this is the fifth show so far. It has been created by the members of Chinmaya Yuva Kendra after extensive research."
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"Swami Vidyaranya is one of the greatest masters of the 20th century. Although there is considerable information available about the guru, a lack of clarity remains regarding his life. When did he take sannyas? What was his role in the founding of the Vijayanagara Empire?"
Swami Chinmayanand further explained that due to the lack of clear information, the team dedicated two years during the COVID pandemic to conduct in-depth research and documentation, ultimately resulting in the creation of the script.
The concept of RRR
Swami Chinmayanand discussed the concept of RRR, stating, "What is RRR? It is not just a movie; rather, it represents three key ideas. The first 'R' stands for Radiant Bharat. Consider the Vijayanagara Empire and its unmatched glory; it was truly unparalleled. The second 'R' stands for Resilient Bharat.
Our ancestors have ensured that despite centuries of attacks, no other country has withstood such persistent assaults. Even today, Sanatan Dharma remains a living, dynamic, and vibrant culture, while many others have perished. This resilience is a testament to our ancestors. Even now, people are fighting to protect it against those who seek to undermine Sanatan Dharma. The third 'R' stands for Resurgent Bharat. Once we understand our ancestors and our true identity, we can work towards building a glorious Hindustan and a Hindu Rashtra."
Chinmaya Yuva Kendra | FPJ/ Sunanda Singh
How was the Vijayanagara Empire established?
Numerous disciples performed the play from across the country. It depicted the period when the Mughals invaded and captured many regions of India. The invaders not only seized thrones and took control of power but also started attacking temples. Swami Vidyaranya, originally named Madhava, was born to Maayana and Srimiti in Kampili. Upon learning about the attack on Southern India by Fakruddin Jauna, he took measures to safeguard the idols at Srirangam.
Madhava, who later became known as Madhavacharya, traveled across the ravaged lands and vowed to revive Sanatan Dharma. During his journey, he received a vision of Goddess Bhubneshwari Devi, who instructed him to wait for the right heroes who would liberate Bharat. In 1335 CE, he met Harihara and Bukka, and subsequently traveled to Kashi to consult with scholars about aiding the cultural revival in Vijayanagara. He became a spiritual guide to Harihara I and Bukka Raya I, two brothers who had served in the Hoysala and Kampili kingdoms.
Under his influence, they established the Vijayanagara Empire around 1336 CE on the banks of the Tungabhadra River, with Hampi as its capital. Madhavacharya's guidance helped lay the foundation of an empire that became a bastion of art, architecture, trade, and Hindu culture for over two centuries. He also inspired Kumara Kampanna to liberate Madurai from the Sultanate, which culminated in the defeat of the Madurai Sultan in 1371 CE. As a result Srirangam was freed and the idols were returned to their rightful place.
In 1372, Madhava took Sanyas and received the name Swami Vidyaranya. He later became Shankaracharya of Sringeri Matha.
Allauddin Khilji launched a campaign against the South India
After observing the situation, Allauddin Khilji launched a campaign against South India. Prataparudra of the Kakatiya dynasty was defeated by Khilji and was forced to surrender his wealth as tribute.
In 1311, Malik Kafur invaded Tamil Nadu and plundered several prominent temples. Between 1312 and 1318 CE, the Yadavas of Devagiri were completely defeated, leading to Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq becoming the new Sultan of Delhi.
In 1321, Faqruddin and his forces committed a massacre in Srirangam, after which he ascended to the throne as the new Sultan of Delhi, adopting the name Muhammad Bin Tughlaq.
The Vijaynagara Empire was ruined
After Tughlaq defeated Prataprudra and captured him, Prataprudra took his own life, leading to the collapse of the Kakatiya dynasty. Observing this turmoil, Bahaddin rebelled against the Sultan and sought refuge in Kampili.
However, Kampili Raya and 500 of his men were killed during this conflict. This was when Hakka and Bukka were captured. They eventually arrived in Kampili, pretending to be the Sultan's loyal subjects to help suppress the rebellions.
Inspired by Madhvidycharya, Hakka and Bukka rose against the Sultan. Unfortunately, Veer Ballala III was killed, and his son, Bukka, succeeded him as the king of Vijayanagar. Subsequently, the Madurai Sultanate was incorporated into the Vijayanagar Empire.
Between 1509 and 1529, Vijayanagar reached its zenith under the reign of Krishnadevaraya. In 1542, Rama Raya became the last emperor of Vijayanagar.
Swami Vidyaranya's legacy
Swami Vidyaranya was also the author of several important texts, including the Panchadashi, a key scripture in Advaita philosophy. His contributions helped revive Sanatana Dharma and cultural pride in a time of adversity. His legacy lives on as a symbol of wisdom, nationalism, and spiritual strength. He is remembered not just as a saint but as a nation-builder who used philosophy and vision to shape the destiny of an empire.
