Shankarananda (Shiva Yoga)


Mahamandaleshwar Swami Shankarananda is an American-born guru in the lineage of Bhagavan Nityananda of Ganeshpuri. Swami Shankarananda is the author of several books on meditation and the philosophy and practice of Kashmir Shaivism. He emphasises spiritual practice, especially meditation, mantra and Self-inquiry. He is a spiritual teacher in Australia where he founded a residential spiritual school , now called the Sri Nityananda Ashram where about 20 seekers live and members of the wider public visit for programs, retreats and courses. The former Shiva Ashram closed in 2015.

Biography

Born Russell Michael Kruckman, son of artist Herbert and school teacher Selma. He studied at Columbia University, New York, where he played on Columbia's US Champion intercollegiate chess team. In 1970 he went to India where he met his guru, Swami Muktananda Paramahamsa, the disciple of Bhagavan Nityananda of Ganeshpuri.
In 1991 he founded a residential Ashram on the Mornington Peninsula.
Shankarananda has held several events with other teachers in his lineage and, in 2009, launched a website that documents Bhagavan Nityananda, Swami Muktananda and the many gurus of his lineage.
Shankarananda has participated in interfaith events. He was the patron of the Hindu Community Council of Victoria, and he spoke at the Parliament of the World's Religions held in Melbourne, 2009.

Controversy

In 2015, two newspapers reported on allegations of "secret sexual relations" between Shankarananda and around 40 women in the ashram community. Shankarananda apologised and acknowledged that he'd not considered the ramifications of his sexual 'tantric' practices. On hearing the revelations, some members of the community stayed while others chose to leave. Yoga Australia suspended its accreditation of Shiva Ashram programs, and the organization went into liquidation. Shankaranda resigned as director but remained as spiritual head, as well as retaining the main ashram property. The property is now called Sri Nityananda Ashram, and Shankarananda continues to run regular programs for residents and the public.