Shivapuri
Shivapuri, the holy Yajnya
Nagar, was founded
by Parama Sadguru Shree Gajanan Maharaj who has reiterated the Eternel
Vedic message in the form of a Fivefold Path.
Shivapuri is termed as Yajnya Nagar where a massive Yajnya Pillar
which was erected as a symbol of Vedic Somayaga, announcing the
ringing in of Satya Yuga i.e. New Era of super-science, knowledge
and universal brotherhood.
The serene and peaceful Shivapuri-Ashram is situated at a distance
of 1.5 km from Akkalkot town
(district - Solapur, Maharashtra, India). Akkalkot or its nearest
junction Solapur is on the Mumbai-Chennai, Banglore, Hyderabad main
railway lines of Indian Railways. It is connected by state transport
bus services with most of the towns of Maharashtra state and are
easily accessible by road.
It is 40km from Solapur between which there are frequent bus
connections.
The place was named Shivapuri after Shivanand Yogindra Maharaj, the
father of Parama Sadguru Shree.
Shivanand Maharaj was the highest among Yogis. He was a Nada Brahma
Yogi who examplified the Shabda Brahma concept.
Shabda Brahma means "the word that was in the beginning, which was
with God, which was God and by which everything was made that was
made" (John 1).
People held him in highest esteem as the incarnation of Jamadagni,
the great sage of Bhrugu dynasty, who enunciated the Akshar Brahma
concept ( concept of the indestructible word). Literally the word
Jamadagni in Sanskrit means the blazing yajnya fire.
The Vedic word Shiva also connotes yajna fire. Hence Shivanand means
fire which grants Ananda or 'eternal bliss'.
Shivanand Yogindra Maharaj possessed astonishing Yogic powers. Even
while he used to be in deep sleep one could hear the chant of Mantra
in his breathing rhythm.
This great Yogi once declared "Death shall not conquer us".
The devotees believe that he is still in the state of Samadhi in
Shivapuri in the cellar where the holy body is preserved before the
place was sealed with stone. It seems that there is some mission yet
to be performed by the holy body in the cellar called Shivagumpha.
One can see in the Shivapumpha a radiating Linga, in the Shivapumpha,
called Shivajyotirlinga.
Jyotirlinga is a radiating point in the subtle energy circuit that
manipulates the atmosphere beneficially.
In the upper portion of shivgumpha there is another radiating point
called Somnath-Linga which was established to commemorate the great
Somayaga of 1969.
Before actually purchasing this small piece of land in the year 1953
as a proposed site for preparing Swami Shivanand's Samadhi many
auspicious signs were shown to Shree. He had seen the 'Rising of the
sun' on the horizon as he first cast his glance on the piece of land
which later was to be known as Shivpuri.
To Shree that symbolised the ushering in of the New Era.
As if it was the rising sun of Satya Dharma. Shree many times had
stated that a special sky is created over Shivpuri.
The Seven Stars (the 'Sapta-Rishi' or the seven seers) radiate upon
Shivapuri with a special blessing eye! Shree had further stated that
if any seed of Sat Karma (Good Karma) is sown in the land of
Shivapuri, it sprouts and blossoms in to a big tree within no time
and effort.
This land is special. It is conducive to right action and right
thought. Shree once said, "Shivapuri in future will be the most Holy
place of pilgrimage for innumerable followers of Five fold Path
spread all over the world.
They will come to pay their respects to this holy land from where
their beloved Master reiterated the eternal and universal message of
Vedas. Shivapuri will henceforth be associated with our name like
Bodhi gaya is with Lord Buddha, Mathura with Lord Krishna, Jerusalem
with Lord Jesus Christ and Mecca with Prophet Mohammed. Purity and
sanctity of this place will remain charged for thousands of year to
come.
The land on which an Avatara walks remains energised and holy for
thousands of years".
On one ocassion Shivanand Yogindra Maharaj remarked "Behold, the
fragrancesof flowers pervades our garden".
In fulfillment of these words a garden is laid out at Shivapuri
where you find the fragrance of flowers pervading among the
existence of rare trees like Rudraksha (Eleocarpus-ganitrus-Roxb),
Camphor (cimamomum- Camphora,L.) and Kadamba (Anthocphalus-cadamba,Mig)
etc and several potent medical herbs.
Visitors feel enthralled by the peace and bliss that reigns at
Shivapuri, the abode of Yajnya.
ACTIVITIES AT SHIVPURI ASHRAM
DAILY PROGRAM
Time Programme
5.00 am Vyaharuti Homa followed by chanting of Gayatri mantra and
Omkara in Shivamandir.
Sunrise Morning Agnihotra
10.00 am to 11.00 am
Vyaharuti Homa and Tyyambakam Havan in Shivamandir
12.00 noon Vyaharuti Homa in Annapoorna
03.00 pm Vyaharuti Homa followed by Gayatri Havan in Shivamandir
04.00 pm Tryambakam Havan, starts at 4.00 PM and concludes just
before evening Agnihotra
Sunset Evening Agnihotra
09.00 pm Vyaharuti Homa followed by reading of Shree's message (Divya
Sandesh) and reading of the ‘Prayer of the soldier of Satya Dharma'
WEEKLY - Every Sunday
08.30 am Sharnagati
09.30 am to 12.00
Shramseva
FORTNIGHTLY
GANESH YAGA (Ganpati Atharvashirsha Havan) is performed on every
Chaturthi day (4 th day of a lunar calendar month-i.e. twice a
month)
MONTHLY
Shree Sonamata Smriti ‘ Hare Ram' mantra chanting (108 times )on
every Trayodashi ( 13 th day of the bright half of the lunar month)
Shree Maha padyapooja (traditional pooja of Shree Charan padukas) on
every Sankashti Chaturthi ( 4 th day of the dark half of the Lunar
month)
ACTIVITIES
ANNA DAAN :
Annapoorna trust of Shivpuri looks after the food requirement of all
visitors, volunteers and disciples staying at Shivpuri. Services are
offered free of cost. Very often visitors are from Western
countries. Ashram provides accommodation facility to guests in the
residential blocks specially built for the purpose. Visitors can
book their accommodation in advance and stay here. This activity is
sustained by donations received from disciples, followers and
guests.
GO SHALA :
An ideal cow rearing centre is run by the Ashram. Cows are fed
organically grown fodder. Cow's healthy milk is supplied to Ashrams
Ayurvedic hospital and Annapoorna. Huge stocks of Cow dung cakes are
also produced at the centre, which are supplied to various Agnihotra
centres in India , Malaysia and Germany .
AYURVEDIC DIAGNOSTIC AND MEDICAL RELIEF ACTIVITY :
Since 1976, the trust called Dharmatma Tatyaji Maharaj Memorial
Medical Relief Trust has been providing free Ayurvedic diagnostic
services and medicines to the poor and needy people of this backward
area. Lakhs of people have availed the services of the trust so far.
Every Thursday and Sunday scores of ailing people from surrounding
villages throng the centre to receive free medical check-up, advice
and medicines. AYURVEDIC PANCHAKARMA CENTRE established by the trust
in 2001 provides scientific PNACHAKAMRA treatment in the holy
atmosphere of Shivpuri at reasonable charges.
EYE VISION CARE CENTRE established recently is another feather in
the Trust' cap. It has proved to be a boon to the people of this
area. The latest eye-check up camps, free eye treatments including
surgery have won the admiration of the people. Free glasses have
been distributed to hundreds of needy patients so far.
SHARDAMATA ENGLISH MEDIUM HIGH SCHOOL :
Ashram runs English medium high school and fulfils the much needed
requirement of the area. Children of poor and downtrodden sections
of the society are given admission into the school. The school
commences with the performance of VYAHARUTI HOMA every day. Students
are made to chant some select Vedic Mantras as a part of their daily
prayer. The stress is laid o the overall development of the
personality of the child.
Generally the guests visiting Shivpuri are taken round the holy
shrines adoring Ashram for darshan.
SHREE CHARAN PADUKA : Visitors can have darshan of SHREE's Holy
Paduka in the sitting room of SHREE. From the same place SHREE gave
darshan to devotees.
SHIVAMANDIR: The holy body of SHREE's father SWAMI SHIVANANDA
YOGINDRA MAHARAJ is put to rest here in the cellar.
SONAMATA TEMPLE : This is the temple of SHREE 's mother SONAMATA
revered as an incarnation of goddess GAYATRI.
SHREE MEMORIAL : The most sacred spot where SHREE's mortal remains
were consigned to flames. The spot from where he revived the dying
Yajnya practice, the spot where He finally merged with the Fire.
HOLY MOTHER'S MEMORIAL : Here holy mother, SHREE's life partner SOW
SHARDAMATA entered the fire.
SOMAYAGA ALTARS : The historic sacrifice, the first SOMAYAGA of this
era was performed here in 1969 under the direct guidance of SHREE.
After going round these places, AGNIHOTRA is explained to the
guests. Point that the SHREE-ordained Agnihotra is the message of
the era is driven home. All the guests are invariably impressed with
the serene atmosphere of SHIVAPURI. Some even feel mesmerized by the
divine aura engulfing Ashram. Most of the visitors while leaving
Shivpuri buy Agnihotra material with a resolve to commence the
practice at their respective places.