Swami Krishnananda (born as Subbaraya) was born on 25 April 1922 into an orthodox Madhva (Shivalli
Brahmin) family in Puttur, Karnataka. He was later initiated by his mentor Swami Sivananda Saraswati. He learnt Sanskrit at an early age and took to reading and memorizing Sanskrit works. His understanding of Hindu scriptures predisposed him towards
Advaita philosophy. He yearned for spiritual learning and renunciation, however, his father persuaded him into accepting a government job at Hospet Government Training School in Bellary in 1943. He fell ill there and returned home. In 1944, he left his home to visit
Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh. He worked as an editor in the
Ashram and in 1948, on Sivananda’s request, he wrote his first book
Realisation of the Absolute. (note: the year 1948 in the preceding sentence is incorrect. Swami Krishnananda's Preface to The Realization of the Absolute is dated 1 August 1947. Swami Sivananda's Foreword is dated 8 September 1947). ==Philosophy==