H.T. Question 3:

What are the facilities of the Ashram? What do they do there? You can see from the literature that they run a number of schools. Is this their primary activity? What about spiritual teaching and Sadhana?

 

 

Answers:

a) A Glimpse of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas

Our Ashram has all the circumstances, conditions, facilities required for development of Bhakti, rendering intensive selfless service and realisation of God in daily life. All Ashramites' activities have only one Aim: God-experience. The running of schools is only one among the many forms of Selfless Service they render.

All our Ashrams are in the form of Temples formally and informally. Pujas go on day in and day out. We run temples. We print and distribute spiritual literature. We have our meditation classes, Bhajans, Yagnas, and individuals have their individual spiritual practices, apart from the general spiritual activities of the Ashram.

Every speck of dust, every rock, every tree of the actual dwellings of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas and beyond are vibrant with the glow of Swami Omkarananda's spiritual realisations and bear silent witness to this incomparable Sage, his Wisdom and Purity and his uninterrupted experience and adoration of the Divine Presence in all beings and in all things.

Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas is located in the most sacred place near the bank of the holy river Ganga and in the proximity of both Rishikesh, the ancient place of pilgrimage, the neighbouring Sivanandanagar and the famous Lakshman Jhula. The Himalayan Ashram is like other Omkarananda Ashrams in Europe a place where God abides and announces His Presence in the wonders His Grace works, the works His Love inspires, the books His wisdom dictates and the deeds His Will perpetuates.

Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas carries its multiple activities through two registered Charitable Trusts Omkarananda Dharma Samsthan, and Omkarananda Charitable Trust, as well as the Omkarananda Educational Society and the Vani Educational Society.

 

b) Spiritual Activities of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas

Omkarananda Dharma Samsthan is maintaining four Mandirs in the Himalayan area of Muni-ki-Reti and Lakshman Jhula: Sri Durga Mandir, Muni-ki-Reti (1967, the original Temple and Ashram building was greatly extended in the 1980s); Sri Dipeshwar Mandir, Tapovan (1987); Sri Ram Mandir, Ghugdani (1989); Sri Satya-Narayana Mandir, Lakshman Jhula (1991).

In the Ashram's Temples daily Pujas and Agnihotra are performed and regular Hawanas and Abhishekas are conducted (see details also under Answer 1d). Sometimes visiting priests (like the famous priests of Tirupati and of Kanchi Kamakoti Pitha) are conducting special Homas, Abhishekas and prayers for special purposes (like world peace) or during festivals like Sivaratri, Dipavali, Krishna Janmashtami, Navaratri, etc.

In our Temples and Mandirs Sadhakas can meditate, study literature or can engage themselves in Karma-Yoga. Nature loving people can work in the fields, growing trees, fruit and vegetables at our Ram Mandir.

The Ashram has its own Go-Shala, which is a very essential part of an Ashram. The holy cow-dung is used in Yagnas and the cows are inspired by the tunes of Bhajans. The holy cow finds its right place in our Ashram.

In the Ashram's Dharma Shala on the river Ganges, daily Arati and Satsang are conducted by a renowned saint and sage, Prabhuji Acharya Surya Prakash.

A recognized Yoga Centre fulfils the wishes of many spiritual seekers. The traditional teachings of Patanjali are the main teaching. A nicely equipped Yoga hall with all facilities has become a main attraction in this area.

 

c) Educational and Social Activities of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas:

Apart from conducting religious and other activities, the Ashramites are engaged in pure selfless service and in managing selflessly the Ashram's educational and social projects:

Fifteen basic and junior high schools in the Garhwal hills (registered and recognised); an English Medium Inter-College with a strength of over 1000 children in Muni-ki-Reti (affiliated to I.C.S.E., New Delhi); an Omkarananda Degree College in Deoprayag (affiliated to H.N. Bahuguna Garhwal University, Shrinagar); a Natya Kala Academy (affiliated to Prayag Sangit Samiti, Allahabad), where not only the practical but also the theoretical aspect of Indian classical temple dance is being taught; a Sangit Samsthan (in process of affiliation), where the traditional Indian instrumental music is taught.

Astrological science is also studied and taught in the Ashram.

Furthermore, a Public Library, a Homeopathic Centre and a beautiful Guest House on the banks of holy Mother Ganga are rendering great services to the
Tehri-Garhwal region at the Himalayan foothills.

NOTE:

Certain activities and aspects which are not in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, are in the European Omkarananda Ashrams, and vice versa.

 

 

Continuation

 

 

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