NASHIK: Swami Vishwananda Saraswati of Bhakti Marga, a spiritual organisation with its headquarters in Germany, became the first Mahamandaleshwar from outside the country at an initiation ceremony on Thursday evening at Nirmohi Ani Akhada in Tapovan. A grand ceremony was held at the akhada where he was conferred upon the Mahamandaleshwar title in the presence of several sadhus and his 123 followers who came for the holy dip. Bhakti Marga has centres in over 40 countries with more than 10,000 disciples.

A Mauritian of Indian origin, his ancestors lived in Bihar. With spiritual inclination deeply ingrained since childhoodm he began his spiritual journey at the age of 16 years. "I am thankful to the entire fraternity of sadhus for conferring this title on me.

I will spread the message of love through Bhatki Marga everywhere," said Swami Vishwananda. After the initiation ceremony the jubilant disciples celebrated their guruji`s installation as the Mahamandaleshwar through their Bhakti Marga way. "My grandmother was a big inspiration for me.

She used to go to the temple. My family always saw me in the puja room. Mahavatar Babaji gave me the diksha.

In spirituality you learn to accept yourself as you are because God did not make any mistake in creating you," he said. .

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