Dihika Brahmacharya Vidyalaya :

The story behind Yoganandaji's first Ashram School

Paramahansa Yogananda has narrated very briefly in his 'Autobiography of a Yogi' (Chapter - 27) the setting up of his first Brahmacharya Vidyalaya at Dihika in 1917. In fact, the description is confined to a single sentence only. But the background details are not that brief and should be known to all and sundry because this school was the seed that sprouted into many branches to become an worldwide organization in the subsequent years.

Fulfillment of a Long Cherished Dream ...

Yoganandaji had long nurtured the dream of setting up a residential school where students would be imparted moral and spiritual lessons apart from formal and vocational training,  Around 1916, he was introduced to Sri Manindra Chandra Nandi, the Maharaja of Kashimbazar, who was quite famous in those times for his handsome donations and encouragement for spiritual and educational causes. One late evening in November, 1916, Yoganandaji drafted a letter of petition mentioning therein his aims and ideals for setting up a residential Ashram-school for the young children. When that letter was delivered to Sri Nandi, his eyes sparkled with excitement. "Oh, Swamiji, What a coincidence!" Sri Nandi exclaimed. "I too have been planning to establish a school of similar nature for some time now. Give me your plans in detail."

Yoganandaji immediately sat down to draw up a detailed plan and its activities for the proposed school and presented the same to the Maharaja. After some discussion, it was decided that the Ashram-School would begin in an estate bungalow in Dihika, a lonely hamlet by the river Damodar, some 10 kms away from the Asansol, a suburban town of Bengal. The area was the property of Sri Nandi who agreed to bear most of the expenses of the initial batch of seven students. At the behest of SriYukteswarji, the school was inaugurated on 22nd March, 1917, the auspicious occasion of great (Spring) equinox. A local attorney was invited to preside over the ceremonial rituals held in a serene and tranquil ambience. Thus was sown the seed of a life-long mission that blossomed in later years to draw millions of God-seeking people with its fragrance.

Dihika Village : A Place of Natural Beauties ...

In those days Dihika was a forlorn place where nature was in attendance with all her bounties. The one-storey school building was situated on a land that was a few feet above the surrounding area. A forest consisting mainly of Sals stood only a little distance away from the school. The river, Damodar, could be seen flowing gently in its silent serpentine way. A range of hills appeared like silhouttes in the distance. Hutments of local villagers dotted the place and above

The view of Brahmacharya Vidyalaya, Dihika, 1917

all these mortal bodies there lay a vast expanse of blue sky with all its magnanimity. As if, a Gurukul from the times of Vedic India had been installed by a magic wand. The quiet ambience and the serenity was rarely broken when a train slowly whistled its way to the destination. Sri Nandi, after visiting the school burst into exhilaration and named it "The School of Divinity".

School Activities ...

The school activities would usually start with the advent of dawn. The euphony from the devotional songs, chanting and recitation from Sanskrit verses would spread in all directions. Once the breakfast was over, the boys would engage in serious studies followed by lunch of vegetarian dishes, cleansing of school compound and other activities. In the afternoon, they indulged in outdoor games and Yogic exercises. After dusk, it was time for meditation and spiritual discourses. A spiritual dissertation was held every Saturday evening. A few workers from the nearby Damodar Railway Station and some inhabitants from the surrounding villages would gather to hear Yoganandaji speak on spiritual matters. Occasionally, the teachers and the students, led by Yoganandaji, would trek to the hills or had an outing in the forest or a place full of scenic beauties. Some would cook, some would chant and some just would swim in the river. Yoganandaji, an adept cook himself, would often experiment with various vegetarian dishes finally to come out with a new recipe and would justify the delay by saying "The delay should be excused because cooking is an art to be learnt". At other times, while teaching the students, he would become so engrossed in the subject matter that the teachers of the succeeding classes would had to wait patiently for their turn. Although the students had to sit in examinations, they were primarily required to adopt virtuous conduct of the Brahmacharis and study a great deal of Sanskrit. Teachers were 'Dada' (elder brother) to the students, not the kind of grumpy tutors who frown upon their pupils at the slighest pretext. Thus the ambience was one of an extended family.

New Teachers Joined the School ...

The popularity of the school soared high and new students from the surrounding districts - even from the neighbouring states - started to enroll. In order to run the school as per the ideals of the ancient Saints, Yoganandaji invited Swami Kebalanandaji (Shastri Mahasaya, Yoganandaji's early Sanskrit tutor) to hold the position of Dharmacharya. The residents of the Ashram-school - the teachers and the students alike - felt immensely blessed to have this aged Swami - an extraordinarily erudite scholar, yet a man of supreme humbleness - by their side. Alakananda Brahmachari - an expert Hathyogi - came to train the students in various Yogic Asanas. Also came Kabibhushan Mahasaya, an elderly orthodox Brahmin from Kolkata to teach Sanskrit Verses and its true pronunciation. Bishnucharan, Yoganandaji's youngest brother, was a student here. It is here that he was introduced to Yogic exercises and muscle strengthening.

Bhagabati Charan Ghosh, Yoganandaji's aged father once visited this school. So did SriYukteswarji. Often came Sri Manindra Chandra Nandi without whose patronage the school would not have seen the light of the day. It is here that Kebalanandaji, till then a householder, agreed to don the ochre-robe. Swami Premananda also came from Kolkata. Even the boys were given yellow robes. What a divine beatitude must have reigned in that piece of land !

The School Shifted to Ranchi ...

The situations however started to change dramatically. One day, while meditating, Yoganandaji saw a vision that the students were fading away towards the horizon. He felt very disturbed by the vision. Meanwhile, the number of the students and their teachers had so increased by then that the smallish bungalow was unable to accommodate them fully. Yoganandaji wrote to the Maharaja for construction of a few new rooms. The reply however came as a bolt from the blue. Sri Nandi informed that he wished the school to be shifted to Kashimbazar because he already had a large bungalow there which could be used for the purpose. Everyone at Dihika was puzzled at the

Yoganandaji sitting in front of a crumbling tower, Dihika, 18.12.1935

request and none was ready to depart this lovely site by the river Damodar. Yoganandaji and others tried to dissuade the Maharaja from shifting the school, but he could not be convinced. It seemed that he wanted the Ashram-school which had by then become tremendously popular to stay close to his royal palace and take gratification from the success. Everyone therefore had to bid a tearful farewell to Dihika.

Although the school got shifted to Kashimbazar and therefrom to Ranchi, Honsa-Swami Kebalanandaji stayed there for quite a while and continued his Sadhana. Even he had to leave this place sometime later in response to earnest calls from his followers from Kolkata. However, in 1935, when Yoganandaji came to India to meet his Guru, Swami SriYukteswar, he gave this place a welcome visit. C. Richard Wright who accompanied Yoganandaji on this trip took several photographs. In one such photograph (see Homepage), Yoganandaji is seen calmly meditating underneath a tree while the pond and the flight of stairs act as the backdrop. If only they had voice of their own, untold history buried in the depth of time would have come into the open. In another, he is seen sitting in front of the crumbling tower that he often used for meditation during the Ashram days. Even Sri Sri Dayama, our venerated Sanghamata and President of YSSI/SRF came to Dihika to see the place where her beloved Gurudeva had started the school. Dihika still retains in its bosom the holy footprints of these God-realized Masters and has thus been sanctified beyond any measure.

The School Compound Was Traced Out and Purchased ...

As years raced by, the memories of Dihika slowly passed into oblivion. The piece of land changed hands a few times and there was no hope that the plot could be recovered once again. Then, in 1992, a local devotee searched and found the plot. Though two-thirds of the original Ashram area had been sold to different owners, one-third of the plot measuring about 65,000 sq ft including the pond was lying for final disposal. Yogoda

Satsanga Society of India readily agreed to purchase the remaining area. The property was acquired in March, 1997. Yogoda Satsanga Dhyana Kendra - Dihika has been functioning there since then.

Please write to us at yssi_dihika_kendra@yahoo.com

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Reference Book : Yogananda Sanga by Swami Satyananda Giri