H. H. Swami Janardan
A Saint from the Lord Datta sect in Maharashtra, India.

    H. H. Swami Janardan was born on June 23, 1927 at Baroda in an affluent family. His father, Dr. Shankar G. Kher, was a renowned doctor and a theosophist. But, very soon due to the abrupt voluntary retirement of His father from state service, fortunes took a turn for the worse, and the young Janardan Swami had to suffer great hardships and could not pursue formal University education though He was a promising and intelligent student. In addition, He was saddled with the responsibilities of the joint family.

    The spiritual journey of H. H. Janardan Swami was truly remarkable. At the age of 4, He had the grace of Lord Vishnu and the experience of astral travels to several places of pilgrimage. At the age of 14, Lord Krishna bestowed on Him suddenly a total state of thoughtlessness and perfect peace. Soon after He had the extraordinary vision of Shri Mahakali and had the fabulous experience of a peaceful, ancient and oval glowing light in the place of His physical body and was transported into a state of ‘trance’ (samadhi) for fourteen hours. A chance meeting with renowned Saint Ammu Maiyya of Ahmedabad changed His life. She recognized Him instantly and Swamiji had the grand vision of Bhavani mata in Her. She prophesized that a spiritual master is evolving in Him, and He needs to be handled with delicate care. Later at Tilakwadad, Gujrat, Swamiji had the blessing of renowned Saint H. H. Tembe Swami, through the divine vision. Later, He had the good fortune of getting initiation of ‘Shaktipat diksha’ and grace from His Guru H. H. Nanamaharaj Taranekar of Indore. Thereafter, Akkalkot Swami Samarth gave Him three consecutive darshans coaxing and goading him to give up His ordinary householder's (grihasthi) life and to devote Himself to a larger cause. Swami Samartha asked Swamiji to serve humanity and to guide the suffering and needy people who are leading their lives in miserable conditions. A year later, Lord Dattatrya himself bestowed His grace, leading to seven days of extraordinary experiences and samadhi. It revolutionized His life. He took voluntary retirement from His government service and embarked on His public life. Ever since, He has been traveling from place to place for the last 24 years. Swamiji says in a humble way: “My life is in the hands of Swami Samartha. He has taken over the responsibility of my family and he is carrying His mission, using me as an instrument.” He appreciates disciples who are brave, fearless and who possess a steady mind and do not bother much about mundane ups and down. He has disciples spread all over the world. In India, they are mainly spread over the states of Maharashtra, Gujrath, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.