Our lineage traces to Sadguru Bhagawān Vijay Krishna Goswāmījī (1841–1899). He hailed from the clan of Advaita Āchārya of Shantipur (West Bengal). Lord Shyām Sundar was Goswāmījī’s family deity and also His divine childhood playmate! He was initiated by Brahmānanda Paramahansa of Kailāsh Mānasarovar and designated as Sadguru.

Sadguru Bhagawān Vijay Krishna Goswāmījī embodies the Rādhā, Krishna, and Guru principles. Though He took Sannyāsa as Swāmī Achyutānanda Saraswatī, He remained widely known as “Goswāmījī.” Addressed with awe and respect by the Pandas (priests) of Puri as “Jatiya Baba,” He was revered as the very manifestation of Jagannatha Himself.

He poured His infinite grace by initiating even householders into highly esoteric practices hitherto restricted to only the most exalted Yogis. By establishing the Divine Name on the breath of His disciples, He revealed and imparted the Divine Love and Devotion demonstrated by Srī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu (1485-1534).

Born into the illustrious Choodāmaņi clan of Āchāryās (preceptors) in Bengal, Srî Gurudev, Sadguru Paramahansa Srī Srī Swāmī Advaitānanda Saraswatī (1948–2015), received initiation at a young age from Swāmī Amritānanda Saraswatī. He assisted His father in teaching scriptures and conducting priestly ceremonies. After His Master passed away, He left home and travelled to Allahabad Kumbha Mela; from there to Vrindâban, Haridwar and Rishikesh, where He took Sannyâsa at Kailâsh Ashram on Shivarâtrî. From there, He walked to Uttarkashi, where He practiced penance and austerity for 9 years. He often used to stay in deep meditation in a room in the Bimaleswar temple after having Himself locked from outside for days on end and staying in Samadhi without food, water and even air for up to 65 days at a stretch! He had a vision of a mountain in Samadhi. Subsequently, He left Uttarkashi. When He arrived in Dev Darshani, He recognized Rishikanda Pahar as the mountain mentioned by Vijay Krishna Goswâmî in His prophecy – “We shall meet again on a mountain.” Vijay Milan Math was thus established there in 1988.

Many were drawn by the magnetic personality of Srî Gurudev. Some young disciples took the vow of celibacy, among whom was Brahmachârî Vaïkuntha Chaitanya, who served Him for 25 years. Over the next 3 decades, from a modest hermitage, the monastery organically grew into a large ashram, including living quarters, Goshâlâs (cow-sheds), and the edification of the temple- Âshutosh Mahadev Mandir. (Vijay Krishna Goswâmîjî was addressed as Âshutosh ( a name of Lord Shiva meaning “The One who is easily pleased,” by Swâmî Bholânanda Giri, a head of monks and saints of that time). The construction was carried out in large part by devotees, who had no formal training in masonry, stone-work, or other building skills. Subsequently, other ashrams of Vijay Milan Math have been established, at Vrindâban in Uttar Pradesh, Jângipâra in West Bengal and Premnagar at Dehradun in Uttarakhand.

Mahârâj jî has disciples not only in India but all over the world. Before His first visit to France in March 2017, at the invitation of Vijay Milan Center France, His Holiness had never set foot outside of India! But in the years since then Mahârâj jî has visited more than 50 countries, to make Himself available to be utilized, as He says.
We in the West are most fortunate to receive this sacred treasure, hitherto restricted to a privileged few who were able to make their way to the Himalayas to sit at the feet of the Sadguru. His Holiness Srî Srî Swâmî Abhedânanda Saraswatî comes to us, to show us the path to emancipation and to bestow Divine Love.