Samkhya-yogacharya Swami Hariharananda Aranya (1869-1947)
Swami Hariharananda Aranya spent six years of his early monastic life in utter seclusion in the caves of Barabar Hills, Bihar, India. His possessions were the barest minimum, even for a Sannyasin. He devoted the whole time to gain the mastery over his mind, which is Yoga. Having attained his goal, he returned to the world of men. Continuing the secluded and austere lifestyle and intense spiritual practice he began disseminating the message of Samkhya-yoga through books in Bengali and Sanskrit. Emanating from his own experience it was unique, logical and penetrating Not only did he delineate the path of Yoga, he inspired and guided seekers to tread it. In April 1947, his body frail from age and years of penance started becoming a burden; he saw the signal and at once decided against continuing further. The end came peacefully, a fitting finale to a great and noble life.
Acharya Swami Dharmamegha Aranya (1892-1985)
Swami Dharmamegha Aranya, disciple of Swami Hariharananda Aranya carried his Master’s ideals, if one may say so, a step further. Rest of his life after the passing away of Acharya (Swami Hariharananda Aranya) he lived, as the head of Kapil Math, a totally secluded life in the innermost sanctum of the monastery. The prime aim of Swamiji was dissemination of the words of his Master. He supervised the publication of the Acharya’s writings in English and Hindi to make available the spiritual treasure to seekers who do not speak or understand Sanskrit or Bengali. He was himself ever available for the smallest queries from any seeker of spritual advice. The rest of the time he spent in quiet seclusion in his own spiritual practices.To him Samkhya-yoga was a living philosophy, nay, it was a part of the very texture of his mind, nerves and sinews of his thought.
Swami Bhaskar Aranya (born in 1942)
On demise of Swami Dharmamegha Aranya, he was succeeded by Swami Bhaskar Aranya, who had earlier been ordained as a monk by Swami Dharmamegha Aranya. He took his permanent abode in the ‘cave’ in 1986. He is maintaining the same lifestyle of austere seclusion of Swami Hariharananda Aranya and Swami Dharmamegha Aranya. His aim is to spread the message of Samkhya-yoga to progressively wider circles.