About Sant Shri Asaramji Bapu & Yoga-Vedanta Ashram Activities...
"Always abide in the Self, with the strong faith that fear, sorrow, worry etc. can never affect you."
For a number of years there has been a growing demand in India & abroad to know more about His Holiness Sant Shri Asaramji,
His life, His teachings, the Ashrams & other organizations established by Him, & their activities.
The following passage tries to introduce Sant Shri Asaramji Maharaj (endearingly called 'Bapu'), the Ashrams & Organisations
-Shri Yoga Vedanta Sewa Samiti, founded by Him.
To say, to describe or to write about a realized soul is extemely difficult. Though one tries to do so with best efforts,
there is something about them which cannot be phrased into words. This can only be experienced by a true disciple...
Bapuji was born in Sindh (now in Pakistan) in 1942. His father, Seth Thaumal, was a Nagar seth (a wealthy & respected nobleman
of the town) and His mother, Mehangi-ba, was a pious lady.
Young Asumal (name given to Bapuji by His parents) was different from other children of His age, Ever since childhood,
Asumal's goal was to realize the ultimate truth. This zeal to attain self-realization increased with time & even His
marriage to the noble & pious Laxmidevi, could not dampen His spirits. He performed many intense austerities & penance and
thereby attained many Yogic Powers. However, His goal remained unfulfilled. He travelled all over India in search of a
Sat Guru who could show Him the way of self-realization. Finally, it was at Nainital, in the Himalayas, that
Bapuji met Swami Lilashahji Maharaj, by Whose grace & guidance Bapuji's spiritual journey
culminated into Self-Realization, at the young age of 23.
He remained in complete seclusion for seven years & did Yoga Sadhna even after achieving the ultimate goal. Later on
Bapuji took the charge of Lilashahji Maharaj's task of uplifting the society by spreading the message
of Vedanta, divine love, patience, simplicity, compassion & humility.
Travelling extensively in India & abroad, He preaches the message of Vedanta, Yoga, divine love, Bhakti (devotion) &
Mukti (Salvation) through His teachings & Satsangs. In 1993, at the Parliament of world Religions, Swamiji was elected as a committee
member of the assembly of Global Religions. He wishes to share His spiritual experiences with others so that they
too may attain bliss within. The young & the old, the rich & the poor, the athiest & ardent, all find
Bapuji approachable. He easily conquers the hearts of even the most cynical people with His simple, welcoming
& unassuming nature. Different kinds of people come to Him, some for devotion, meditation, satsang,
others for solutions to their worldly problems, & still others for relief from diseases. He listens to their problems, spiritual
or otherwise, gives advice & guidance, & brings reassurance to grief-stricken.
The first
Ashram was established at Ahmedabad, in Gujrat, on the banks of the river Sabarmati, in 1971. This Ashram has many
branches today & is the heart of various activities carried on the by the organization. As of today (April, 2000), there are
about 111 Ashrams all over India & 450 meditation centers operating throughout the world. The Yoga-Vedanta Ashram in Matawan,
NJ, USA is also growing fast.
There is a special Ashram for women in Ahmedabad. The women residing in this 'Mahila Ashram' devote their time to Sadhna
(performing spiritual practices) & 'Seva' (doing service to Ashram) under the guidance of the honorable mother Laxmidevi. The
women at Mahila Ashram prepare 'Sant Kripa Churna' (an Ayurvedic mixture for healthy mind & body) & other Ayurvedic medicines
distributed by the Ashram.
Click here to visit Official Site of Ashram.
India: Ahmedabad Ashram
Sabarmati, Motera, Ahmedabad-380005, Gujrat
Phone: (079) 7505010, (079)7505011
India: Sant Shree Asaramji Ashram
Jahangirpura, Variyav Road, Surat-395005, Gujrat
Phone : 685341, 687936
India: Delhi Sant Shri Asaramji Ashram
Upper Ridge Road, Vande Matram Marg, New Delhi-110060
Phone: (011)5729338, 5764161
India: Sant Shri Asaramji Gurukul
Khandwa Road, Near Bilawali Tank, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
Phone: 478031, 461198
For list of more Ashrams in India please refer to:
http://www.ashram.org/html/india.htm
USA: Shri Yoga Vedanta Ashram
Shri Yoga Vedanta Ashram, 45 Texas Road
Matawan, New Jersey, USA
Phone : (732) 441- 9822
e-mail: infousa@ashram.org
New Jersey, USA (Phone: 908-321-0177, 201-930-9195 Fax: 908-321-5343)
Florida, USA (Phone: 904-573-9595)
Boston, USA (Phone: 617-233-2073, 508-250-0524)
Chicago, USA (Phone: 830-213-8412, 630-637-9337)
California, USA (Phone: 310-802-1668)
Please refer to
http://www.ashram.org/html/local_contacts1.htm for
contacts in USA
Yoga Vedanta Seva Samiti, Center of Canada
2647 Crystalburn Avenue
Mississauga, Ontario L5B2N7, Canada
Phone: (905) 566- 4486
London, UK (Phone: 181-551-8186)
Hong kong (Phone: 852-285-80488)
Dubai (Phone: 536973-521109)
Nepal (Phone: 772-25594, 772-26966)
The aim of all Ashrams & Yoga Vedanta Samitis is to show the path of real peace & happiness to common man. They are involved
in various activities targeted to the spiritual, moral, educational & health related upliftment of the society. The organization
is also involved in providing financial-aid to the poor & needy.
'Shaktipata Shibirs' are organized in different Ashrams throughout the year. You may look for the schedules for the
same at
www.ashram.org or may inquire about it from any of the
Ashrams. During these 'shibirs' or intensives, the aspirants get the benefit of
Bapuji's 'Satsangs' (spiritual discourses).
Bapuji bestows divine love through the Shaktipata (Transferral of Divine Energy),
enabling the aspirant to enter the mysterious world of Kundalini Yoga through meditation. The aspirants are also taught how
to deal with the obstacles that they may encounter on the path of Yogic Spiritual Journey. Bapuji conveys the highest spiritual
truth in the simplest language, which can be assimilated easily by all.
After attending these shibirs many people have experienced a change in their attitude towards life & have gained a new self-confidence,
inner peace, freedom from stress & equanimity.
Bapuji firmly believes that the future of a society depends upon the younger generation. That is why, 'Vidhyarthi Shibirs'
(Student Intensive Camps) are held to inculcate moral, ethical & spiritual values in the youth.
Children are also taught yoga-asanas, Pranayamas & discourses are given regarding various topics such as health, hygiene,
Vedic culture etc. Bapuji bestows upon the students 'Saraswatya Mantra', a special 'mantra'
to enhance their mental efficiency, productivity, creativity & intellect.
Parents have widely welcomed these special intensives organized by the Ashram. Therefore, parents must send their
children to attend these intensives at least once.
The Ashrams have Maun Mandirs (Temple for Spiritual Practices) which provide willing aspirants to stay in
complete seclusion & peace for seven days. This facitlity is recommended especially to those aspirants who want to experience
rapid spiritual progress. Pyramid-shaped Maun Mandirs in
Ahmedabad, Indore & Agra Ashrams have rendered fantastic results to the
aspirants who have taken advantage of this facility. Aspirants who desire to seek this opputunity should register their names
well in advance to avoid inconvenience. For further information please contact
Ahmedabad
or the nearest Ashram.
Bapuji's concern & compassion for the poor, needy & less fortunate, has found expression through numerous charitable & welfare activities which
include the following:
Ayurvedic Clinics (Nature Cure & Herbal Clinical Treatments):
Dhanvantri Arogya Kendra, Ahmedabad: Qualified & experienced
doctors provide Ayurvedic treatment & medicines to patients in the main Ashrams.Patients are treated for common to chronic
diseases like allergies, cancer, diabetes, rheumatism, heart ailments etc.
The medicines are manufactured at the production unit in the Ashram at Surat.
Farming of the herbs for Ayurvedic medicines is also a part of Ashram activities.
Sai Lilashahji Upchar Kendra
Sai Lilashahji Aushadh Nirmana:
Ayurvedic pharmacy under the Ashram manufactures high quality Ayurvedic medicines. Many herbal products like shampoo,
tooth powder, hair tonics, massage oil & general health supplements are also produced.
The doctors recommend naturopathy treatment through Yoga-asanas, Pranayamas and meditation.
Mobile Ayurvedic Dispensary:
It provides medical services to poor people living in remote villages & interior tribal areas in India.
Tribal Welfare Programmes:
The Ashram regularly undertakes well-planned tribal upliftment programmes for tribes (called as Adivasis in India), living
in remote interior areas. They are provided cereals, foods, groceries, clothes & cash money. Bapuji personally visits tribal
areas to help them understand their cultural & spiritual heritage. Hundreds of volunteers of the Ashram assist in distribution of meals & other neccesities. Bapuji teaches them in their
own dialect, chanting kirtan, giving spiritual discourses, and His spontaneous love greatly benefits them. Several Tribal welfare programmes are undertaken
undertaken in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujrat, Maharashtra, West Bengal & Orissa of India.
Relief Work for Natural Disasters:
Relief work is conducted by the Ashram at times of flood, famine, epidemics etc. Free housing schemes for poor & homeless
in various part of India are also provided.
Trained Disciples Preaching Morality & Health Living:
Some of Bapuji's spiritually advanced disciples are trained to give spiritual discourses in many villages, cities & countries
world wide. Some travel to rural areas teaching the basics of health & hygiene and build moral & spiritual bases within the people.
They teach students how to increase their mental capicity through Yogic practices, such as Asanas, Pranayamas, meditation etc.
Regular Satsang Programmes:
The local sadhak (spiritual aspirants) group organizes various weekly/monthly satsang programmes, kirtan sessions &
student camps in India as well as in countries like, USA, Canada etc. You may contact
Yoga Vedanta Samiti near your town to inquire for the same.
Subsidized Stationery:
Note books for students which have inspirational messages & pictures printed on the cover page are provided at reduced rates in India.
De-Addiction Drive:
De-addiction drives are arranged, where thousands of people vouch to quit addiction of alcohol, tobacco (smoking),
Gutka, drugs & even coffee & tea.
Youth Development Seminars are conducted.
School for Children:
There is a school for children named Sant Shri Asaramji Vidya Mandir at Ludhiana, Punjab, India. A residential school
is under construction where the ancient Indian tradition of Guru-Shishya (master-disciple) will be practised.
Home for the Old:
Recently, Bapuji laid the foundation stone of an old folk's home (Vruddha Ashram). Here the neglected old people will get
shelter.
The Ashram brings out spiritual publications & periodicals. So far it has published 58 books in Hindi, 58 in Gujrati, 19 in
Marathi, 15 in Sindhi, 9 in English, 5 in Punjabi, 4 in telgu & 1 in Urdu. Most of them are based on Bapuji's life &
discourses.
Click here to see the list of some of the books.
Rishi Prasad
is a spiritual monthly magazine published in Hindi, Marathi & Gujrati, having a subscription of over 6,00,000 worldwide.
Annual subscription for this magazine is Rs. 50 (for foreign countries, Airmail U.S. $30)
Five yearly subscription is Rs. 200 (for foreign countries, Airmail U.S. $120)
Life time subscription is Rs. 500 (for foreign countries, Airmail U.S. $300)
Lok Kalyan Setu is a monthly news letter regarding Ashram's activities. It is published
in Hindi & Gujrati.
Darvesh Darshan is a spiritual monthly magazine published in Sindhi (Devanagari script).
The annual subscription is Rs. 20 (for foreign countries, Rs 200), three yearly subscription is Rs. 50 (for foreign countries,
Rs 500), life time subscription is Rs. 200 (for foreign countries, Rs 2000).
For getting more details about Ashram's publications, please visit Ashram's site at www.ashram.org
There are more than a hundred Hindi audio cassettes containing spiritual discourses delivered by Bapuji. There are dozens of audio
cassettes containing meditations & its methods, devotional songs (bhajans), & kirtan. During Satsang (discourse) programmes
& meditation intensives, cassettes containing Bapuji's discourses are made available immediately by using highly professional
recording & copying machines. Many audio cassettes in Gujrati & Sindhi languages are also available.
Many video cassettes containing His spiritual discourses in Hindi, Gujrati & Sindhi languages are available.
Tens of millions of people derive benefits from Bapuji's satsangs on T.V. through cable T.V. & multi-national channels covering Asia, Europe & America.
You may contact Yoga Vedanta Samiti near you to inquire more about audio/video cassettes
& T.V. channels where Bapuji's discourses are shown.
Hari Om... Hari Om... Hari Om...