History of Geneva Centre
On 25th November 1972, Centre Vedantique inaugurated its own house at Corsier in the Geneva canton at 9 Chemin des Gravannes. In March 1988, Swami Nityabodhananda left Switzerland definitively to live in India. Swami Amarananda, till that time Assistant Minister of the Vedanta Centre in France, was designated to assume the succession. Towards the end of January 1989, he came to work in Geneva. In May 1999, the Centre Vedantique sold its property at Corsier and acquired a villa at 63 Avenue d’Aire in the Charmilles area of Geneva.
Swami Vivekananda himself visited Switzerland in 1896, spending several weeks on a restorative journey in locations like Geneva, Montreux, Lucerne, and the Alps, particularly in Saas-Fee. His time in Switzerland was not for giving lectures but for rest and travel, during which he experienced scenic beauty, including mountains he likened to the Himalayas, leading to his vision for the Advaita Ashrama in the Indian Himalayas. His trip also fostered connections within the Ramakrishna movement in Europe, notably with Swiss devotee Sister Bhakti, who later helped finance the Ramakrishna Temple at the main momastery of the Ramakrishna Order at Belur Math, India.
Swami Abhedananda, another monastic disciple of Shri Ramakrishna, and Swami Paramananda, a monastic disciple of Swami Vivekananda had also visited Switzerland and spread the message of Vedanta.
Swami Yatiswarananda (1889–1966), disciple of Swami Brahmananda, came to Europe in 1933 and did seven years of pioneering work in spreading Vedanta. He was going from place to place, from Warsaw to Madrid, rousing a great interest in the age-old wisdom, which is always pertinent. He chose Engadin as the centre for his activities in Europe. Mr. Koch, who played an important role in bringing the Swami to Europe, extended his support for the Swami’s activities in important cities of Switzerland including Geneva. The centre at Engadin was active till the beginning of World War II, when the Swami left Europe for USA. Thereafter he preached Vedanta in Philadelphia, but returned to India in 1949, and headed the centre in Bangalore. Finally he became the Vice-President of the Ramakrishna Order. He was famous for his meditative life, spiritual attainment, and yogic insight. One can have a glimpse of his spiritual stature from the book “Meditation and Spiritual life”, which was published posthumously.
Swami Nityabodhananda (1914–1992) was born in Kerala in India. At the age of eighteen he came in touch with his spiritual master Swami Shivananda, direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna. After finishing his studies in the University of Madras, he joined the Order of Ramakrishna. His important assignments in India comprised the editorship of the English spiritual and cultural monthly called Vedanta Keshari (The Lion of Vedanta), and heading the centre at Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh. In 1956, he came to France to assist Swami Siddheshwarananda, the spiritual head of Centre Vedantique in Gretz, 30 Kms. to the south-east of Paris. After the latter’s passing away in 1957, he succeeded him. In February 1958 he came to Geneva at the invitation of Dr. J.-A.Baumann, and worked there for 30 years till he left Geneva to settle definitively in India for health reasons. In 1968, along with Pastor Henri Babel, he had formed the “Comité consultatif des Religions”. He used to represent Hinduism and Buddhism in that committee. He secured a doctorate at Sorbonne, his thesis being on the parallel between the Mâyâ of Vedanta and the Absurd of Albert Camus. He authored the following books in French: Queste du Sacré, Science du Yoga, Mythes et Religions de l’Inde, Actualité des Upanishads, Le Chemin de la Perfection selon Yoga-Vedanta. There is a great lucidity of style in his writings. He toured in USA and in Europe extensively to lecture and debate on Vedantic topics, always attempting to put the philosophical ideas of the East and the West in consonance.
Swami Amarananda (1941-2025) , was born in Barisal Town in Bangladesh on 3rd January, 1941. He joined the Ramakrishna Order in 1966 at Belgharia Students’ Home, Kolkata. He was initiated into spiritual life with the holy Mantra by Swami Madhavananda, the 9th President of the Ramakrishna Order, and a disciple of Holy Mother Sarada Devi. In 1976 he received Sannyasa Diksha, the final vows of monasticism fromSwami Vireshwarananda, the 10th President of the Ramakrishna Order and a disciple of Holy Mother Sarada Devi. Having received the professional degree of a civil engineer, he was entrusted to play a vital role in the thorough repair and restoration work of the Old Shrine of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda’s living room at Belur Math. He also served in the Construction department of Belur Math, Belgharia, Jamshedpur and Ranchi Morabadi centres in different capacities. He was the Headmaster of the Educational Institution at Purulia Centre for a decade. He served as an Assistant Minister of Gretz centre, France, for about two years. In 1988, he was made the head of Centre Vedantique Geneva, which post he held till the end. He authored a few booklets in English on religion and spirituality. He was one of the founder members of the interreligious platform in Geneva in 1992 and tried tirelessly to spread the message of harmony of religions as preached by Shri Ramakrishna. He also represented the Ramakrishna Order, Vedanta, Hinduism and the spiritual values of India in many distinguished forums.He also initiated seekers into a dedicated spiritual life by imparting Mantra Diksha to them. Innumerable persons received his spiritual guidance and blessings.He passed away on 30th April 2025, the holy Akshaya Tritiya Tithi according to the Hindu almanac, in HUG hospital, Geneva, at 5.10 pm Swiss time (8.40 pm Indian time), due to respiratory problems and acute kidney failure. He was 84 and had age-related ailments for several years. His wisdom, humility, and selfless service have left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Swami Vedanishthananda is presently the Spiritual Head / Director of the Centre Védantique/Vedanta Centre at Geneva, Switzerland.
He joined monastic life at the Headquarters of Ramakrishna Order at Belur Math in 2000. He was ordained into Sannyasa vows/ Final vows of renunciation and service in 2010. He has served in the Gujarat Earthquake Relief & Rehabilitation Camp of Ramakrishna Mission, as In-charge of the Value Education Department of Shri Ramakrishna Ashrama at Rajkot, Gujarat that conducts personality development activities for students, youths, citizens, sas Principal of Swami Vivekananda College – Ramakrishna Mission’s Educational Institution in Fiji, and as an Acharya/Resident Teacher at Brahmacharins’/ Novice Monks’ Training Centre at Belur Math.
On 25th November 1972, Centre Vedantique inaugurated its own house at Corsier in the Geneva canton at 9 Chemin des Gravannes. In March 1988, Swami Nityabodhananda left Switzerland definitively to live in India. Swami Amarananda, till that time Assistant Minister of the Vedanta Centre in France, was designated to assume the succession. Towards the end of January 1989, he came to work in Geneva. In May 1999, the Centre Vedantique sold its property at Corsier and acquired a villa at 63 Avenue d’Aire in the Charmilles area of Geneva.