Born in South Kanara District in an orthodox Shivaralli Brahmin Family, and known originally as Subbaraya, Swami Krishnananda developed deep interest in the study of Sanskrit and the Vedic scriptures and showed his religious bent of mind at an early age. After completing his education, he worked for sometime in the Government service before he turned completely to religious life. He went to Varanasi to pursue his study of Sanskrit and the Vedas. In the year 1944, he went to Rishikesh and came into contact for the first time with Swami Sivananada, who was impressed by him and permitted him to stay at his ashram. Two years later, he initiated Subbaraya into Sanyasahood and gave him the name of Swami Krishnanda Saraswathi. While continuing in the Ashram, in 1948, Swami Krishnanada experienced the heights of God consciousness and became a perfect Gnani. In 1961, Swami Sivananada appointed him as the General Secretary of The Divine Life Society in 1961. Ever since, till his death in November, 2001, the Swamiji provided guidance and inspiration to countless people through his teachings and writings, following the footsteps of his guru Swami Sivananda Maharaj.