The Ashrams
Sadhana Mandir Ashram Rishikesh, India
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Sadhana Mandir is a flower-filled island of peace, seated on the banks of the Holy River Ganga in Rishikesh-one of the Holy cities of India-surrounded by the Himalayan foothills. The Ashram serves as an international center for the teachings of The Himalayan Tradition of Yoga and Meditation; providing a living experience of the systematic practice, study and lifestyle of yoga and meditation.
It's mission is to re-link yoga to the ancient spiritual lineage through the process of initiation and to re-establish the spiritual context and content of yoga in its original purity. The attendant sciences, texts and philosophies, such as those of the Vedas and Yoga-sutras of Patanjali, are taught in an experiential-meditative context. The Ashram still vibrates with the peaceful energy created by its founder Swami Rama. Coming to his Ashram even for the first time, one experiences the special energy, inspiration and pull to a mental silence.
Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama (SRSG) Retreat Center
Take a tour...
Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama offers programmes in Yoga, Meditation, Ayurveda, Sanskrit, Vedanta, and Peace and Interfaith Studies. It is also available for retreats, conferences, and special events for spiritual, religious, and educational organizations.
Location
SRSG is situated near the foothills of the Himalayas and the River Ganga (Ganges) just outside of the city of Rishikesh, which is one of India’s major centres of spiritual and scriptural heritage, and is accessible directly from New Delhi by road, rail and air. The nearby city of Dehradun, capital of the state of Uttaranchal, is a one-hour taxi ride away.
SRSG is within a walking distance of 500 metres to the Ganges, and about 500 meters from the famous, holy shrine of Virbhadra. The Little Kali River flows by the center and the Shivalik Hills at the foothills of the Himalayas rise in the near distance. Separated from the nearby Virbhadra Road by a fruit orchard, SRSG provides a peaceful setting with privacy for retreats.
Swami Veda Bharati, Spiritual Director
Swami Veda Bharati's teachings have traveled to over 33 countries, touching people on six continents. He has led meditations in 17 languages. His ability to unite those from such differing backgrounds lies in the practice of a spirituality that is beyond religion, culture, language, status, and education.
Swami Veda Bharati is recognized as a scholar of extraordinary depths and author of many books, including the comprehensive commentary The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Volumes I and II. He received his B.A. (Honours, London), M.A. (London), and Doctorate (Holland) and, while a professor at the University of Minnesota, the Distinguished Teaching Award.
Since then, he has been guiding thousands worldwide in the purest and most ancient path of subtler, lesser known aspects of the Himalayan tradition of meditation.
Swami Veda Bharati is a close disciple of H.H. Swami Rama, who demonstrated delta brain waves while conscious to scientists at the Menninger Foundation, which Swami Veda has replicated in a scientific laboratory.
For over half a century, Swami Veda has also dedicated himself to various humanitarian efforts, including education, creating self-sustaining villages for people with leprosy and their families, and, most recently, opening an institute for meditation and interfaith studies.
His work with the World Parliament of Religions and the United Nations World Council of Religious Leaders has led to presentations on both practical and timely topics, such as education and parenting for peace and spirituality in business.
His openness, depth of calm, and insight are rare. His way of teaching is personal, practical, and direct. His deep joy and spontaneity make him an engaging speaker.
Facilities
SRSG provides the necessary amenities for a pleasant stay. There are 33 fully furnished cottages with single and double occupancy. Each cottage features one or two bedrooms, meditation room, kitchenette, dining area, bathroom with hot shower and western style toilet. Guests are provided excellent, balanced vegetarian meals that are cooked and served at a common dining hall.
SRSG’s large meditation hall seats 200 and is adaptable for a variety of group activities including conferences, lectures, seminars, and Yoga classes. SRSG includes meeting rooms, a video room and book store. Accommodations are available for up to 75 guests. An additional 50 guests can be accommodated at nearby Sadhana Mandir, the mother ashram, founded by H.H. Swami Rama.
Internet access is available to guests, and telephone access is a 5-minute walk away.
Due to the SRSG’s spiritual origin and affiliations, no meat or alcohol consumption is permitted. In addition, no smoking is allowed on the grounds.
Resources
Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama is grounded in the principles of the Himalayan spiritual tradition. It operates under the guidance of Mahamandaleshwara Swami Veda Bharati, a world renowned teacher of Eastern and Western spiritual scriptures and traditions.
Highly qualified teachers lead group as well as individual retreats at SRSG. Silence retreats of 3 to 40 days duration are a source of spiritual upliftment and rejuvenation. Meditational guidance can be given in several European languages when Swami Veda is in residence.
Sadhana Mandir, Swami Rama’s Ashram, a four-minute drive from Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama, is an international centre for the teachings of H.H. Swami Rama. This is Swami Rama's original ashram, and the inspiration for the establishment of SRSG.
The Himalayan Tradition of Swami Rama not only represents the spiritual knowledge of Himalayan sages, but is also linked with Maitreya Buddha and has ancient connections with Christianity.
Sadhana Mandir also offers programmes that blend traditional Eastern and Western spiritual disciplines with modern medical practices. One of these is the Healthy, Happy Heart which is a 3-day course offered once a month at Sadhana Mandir. Medical doctors and teachers who have been trained by Swami Rama conduct these courses, which are rooted in both ancient and modern medical science. The Healthy Happy Heart is a heart disease reversal and prevention programme. Current scientific research has shown the efficacy of some Coronary Artery Disease Reversal methods, which involve support for proper breathing, exercise, relaxation, meditation, diet, and stress reduction training.
Himalayan Hospital and Medical College
Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust, another sister organization, is associated with SRSG and is reachable by road from the ashram within one hour. It is a leading institution in India for the integration of western medicine and holistic disciplines. It offers a wealth of educational opportunities for those interested in complementary and integrated medicine.
The Himalayan Hospital also offers clinics and programmes in the following disciplines:
- Holistic clinics offer consultation with Yoga therapists, relaxation sessions, classes for breathing exercises, and basic self-healing techniques.
- The Combined Therapy Centre offers an integrated approach to healing that combines traditional systems like Yoga, Ayurveda, and Homeopathy with modern medicine and technologies. This integrated approach emphasizes self-awareness, self-reliance and self-healing
- The Ayurveda Centre administers a variety of internal and external pancha karma body cleansing programmes based upon the ancient Indian science of long life. These programmes are administered by experts trained in these techniques, with modern equipment offering health benefits with safety.
- Stress management programmes feature Biofeedback for analysis of participants’ physiological responses. These programmes are designed to help the participant with self control to reduce stress and for management of respiration, cardiac, and blood pressure related conditions.
- These holistic health options are available to SRSG retreat participants for residential stays or on a per day visit to the Holistic Health Centre or the Ayurveda Centre at HIHT, or, in the case of the Healthy Happy Heart course, for a 3-day stay at Sadhana Mandir. If these interest you, we recommend that you take these courses either before or after your retreat at SRSG.
Rishikesh
Rishikesh is a city bustling with some of the world’s most ancient spiritual traditions. The variety of spiritual organizations in the area offers an unparalleled range of learning opportunities in many ancient disciplines. Vedanta, Sankhya, Eastern Philosophies, Buddhism, Sanskrit, Vastu, and Ayurveda, Music, Dance as well as other highly specialized topics give Rishikesh its reputation as a centre of learning. Performances of devotional music, chanting and Vedic recitation are also available.
The area’s rich, ancient, spiritual heritage offers opportunities for tours of shrines and scenic treks.
Shopping opportunities include local crafts, woolens, local clothing tailored to individual measurements, astrological gems, jewelry and books.
The nearby ancient spiritual city of Haridwar on the banks of the Ganges River is a pilgrimage site that also offers sightseeing and shopping. SRSG can arrange half or full day escorted group trips to visit Haridwar.
Contact
Phone: +91 135-2450093 and 2453447
E-Mail: sadhaka_grama@yahoo.com
Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama
Virpur Khurd, Virbhadra Road
P.O. Pashulok, Rishikesh
Uttaranchal 249203
India
See Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Mission Statement
Last modified: 01-06-2006 13:44:50