At age fifteen Baba Muktananda went to Hubli and entered the ashram of Siddharudha Swami. He studied Sanskrit, Vedanta and all branches of yoga in the Math of Siddharudha Swami and took the initiation of sannyasa, becoming Swami Muktananda. From there he walked across most of India, living an austere existence, mastering hatha yoga & studying ayurveda. In 1929, following the death of Siddharudha, he went to study for a short time under Mupinariya Swami at Dharwar. Then he began a period of travel. He became acquainted with two unconventional saints, Zipruanna and Harigiri Baba, both of whom encouraged him to travel to Ganeshpuri in order to see Bhagawan Nityananda.