Life and Journey
Om Swami was a multi-millionaire by the time he was twenty-five. But at thirty, he gave away his wealth to embark on his spiritual journey. From
penthouses in Sydney and London to living in a mud-hut with no running water or flushing cistern, in terrifying Himalayan solitude, his is not quite the usual story we are used to.
Om Swami was a multi-millionaire by the time he was twenty-five. But at thirty, he gave away his wealth to embark on his spiritual journey. From penthouses in Sydney and London to living in a mud-hut with no running water or flushing cistern, in terrifying Himalayan solitude, his is not quite the usual story we are used to.
Swami’s
birth
Born on 30-Nov-1979 in Punjab, India, and youngest of the three siblings Om Swami was a quiet child. His mum still has the tiffin you see him holding in this pic.
First
Prize
Om Swami receiving his first ever academic award for scoring the highest marks in grade 2. “It was a pencil case, I still remember" he says." By the way, I never liked course books.
Practicing
the Vedas
When 11-yr-old, he learned Vedic chanting and astrology. A 13-yr-old Swami just after finishing a yajna at his home. The tiffin seen here is the same one he held in the first pic.
Waltzing
Matilda
At 18, Om Swami had already saved up more than Rs. 200k from his entrepreneurial ventures and he moved to Sydney to pursue tertiary education. Pic: Canberra Floriade, 1999.
First
Car
Swami's reputation in e-business was only preceded by his impeccable delivery record. At 20, already a CTO, he bought his first car to welcome his visiting mother. A SAAB convertible.
Flourishing
Business
With a B.Bus from UWS (2000) and an MBA from UTS (2002), Swami began growing the software company he'd started a year earlier. Pic: With his best friend, David Soo, and brother, Rajan Sharma.
A multi-millionaire
By the time he was 25, Om Swami had expanded his software company in five countries. His pastimes: badminton, chess and software. A 25-yr-old Swami with his Porsche Carerra 4S.
Incredible
India
Swami exited software, moved back to India, and built another profitable business, Bloom. Later acquired by the iconic conglomerate, Future Group. Pic: press conference, May 2008.
The
Renunciation
In Mar 2010, Om Swami gave away his wealth and disappeared. He meditated for thirteen months in the Himalayas in intense solitude. Pic: two days after he concluded his main sadhana.
Badrika
Ashram
Om Swami set up Sri Badrika Ashram in Himachal Pradesh, nestled in a beautiful valley, next to Giri Ganga. Pic: descending the steps to the ashram temple with his personal aides.
Present
Day
Every year, Om Swami usually spends seven months in solitude and four in the ashram giving discourses and meeting people. He rarely gives media interviews or speaks at external events.