Soham Swami

Paramhangsa Soham Swami (1858-1918) was a follower of the Indian tradition of non-dualism or Advaita Vedanta. Known as Shyamakanta Bandopadhyay (Banerjee) in his pre-monastic days, he was renowned for his extraordinary physical strength and exemplary courage. After completing his formal education, he chose an unusual vocation – wrestling with wild tigers. He was revered by Indians and Europeans as Professor Banerjee, the first tiger tamer of India. However, at the age of 41, renouncing wealth, family and fame, he became an ascetic. Under the tutelage of his master Nabin Chandra Chakroborty alias Tibbatibaba, he discovered the Absolute Truth. In the last 10 years of his life, from 1908 until he died in 1918, Soham Swami wrote copiously on Advaitavad. The foundation of his writings was his experience of enlightenment, his exploration of the Hindu society and the scriptural texts and philosophical writings of eastern and western scholars.