In a ceremony following a Ganesh Homa at the Hindu Temple Society of Southern California, the Shankaracharya of Kanchipurim’s Maha Pujari Sri Sita Ram bestowed Paramahamsa Diksha on Swami Swarupananda Sivadass Giri who is the Guru of the Mahadeva Paramarthaguru Siddha Peeth in Los Angeles, California.

A Paramahamsa is a designation based on the belief that a pure swan can separate milk form water; metaphorically representing one who can separate maya from that which is real and eternal. Such an individual has been recognized as a pure perfectly self realized Swami living continually in the highest Sahaj Bhava Samadhi. He is a Sadguru capable of passing on shaktipat to others and leading them to the same state of perfect enlightenment.

Swami Gangapuri Kaliuttamananda Giri, Sri Ramaganesh Giri, Sri Sivadass Giri, and Sri Sita Giri were among those who witnessed this auspicious event. It is said that whenever one reaches this state of full self-realization the entire universe is benefited.