A Centre for Vedantic Sadhana

(Sravana, Manana and Nididhyasana) 

situated near Tirukoilur and within the spiritual aura of Arunachala.

   After the Mahasamadhi of the Sage in 1974, on the initiatives of some well-known senior and intimate devotees of Sadguru Gnanananda who were fully aware of His teachings and vision of the ashram, constituted “Sadguru Swami Sri Gnanananda Giri Memorial Trust” in 1975 with Swami Mukundananda Saraswati as the President. He was Sadguru’s senior most Sannyasi disciple at Thapovanam. The main purpose of the Trust was to carry out the religious activities at the Ashram temple besides constructing the Shrine of Grace over the Samadhi of Sadguru Gnanananada, Mahamandapa, etc....

   Ten years later, the same devotees who were instrumental in constituting the Memorial Trust, who were fully aware of the Sage’s teachings and spiritual vision, were happy that the Memorial Trust was functioning very well. But, they were concerned that certain other aspects of the ashram like Vedanta classes, and care of Sannyasins, spiritual aspirants and ardent seekers from abroad – which were dear to Sadgurudev, were still to be organized in a proper manner.

   Sri Sadguru Gnanananda appreciated the necessity for providing a secluded atmosphere where the Sannyasins could study and meditate. It was with this purpose that he established in 1969 the ashram at Yercaud, called “Sri Gnanananda Pranava Nilayam”, a centre for contemplation on the Atman, the Turiya, the Ardhamatra of OM, the pranava as the name itself indicates. He was anxious that his monastic disciples should not be disturbed by the increasing crowds of devotees who were coming to Tapovanam. This ashram in the hill station provides a fine environment in which they could pursue their specialized sadhana. As it concerned about the personal life, discipline, study and contemplative life of Sannyasins, “Sri Gnanananda Pranava Nilayam” was directly under the control of Sadgurudev. It could not take off, as aged Sannyasins of the ashram could not withstand the cold weather at the hill station.

   This vision of Sadguru Gnanananda of Pranava Nilayam was very much in the mind of those senior devotees who constituted the Memorial Trust. Hence they felt that there was an urgent necessity to constitute a separate and totally independent Charitable Trust. The new Trust would be exclusively devoted to a few important aspects on which Sadguru Gnanananda laid special emphasis – such as Vedanta classes for Sannyasins and other spiritual seekers from India and abroad; provision of facilities for them such as secluded place for their residence, special food arrangements, library etc.; respect for the institution of Sannyasa; and, publications about the teachings of Sadguru Gnanananda and Vedanta.

  Inspired by the model of Sri Gnanananda Pranava Nilayam established by Sadgurudev at Yercaud and the importance given by him to Adhyatma Vidya or “Knowledge of the Self” and his loving care of those devoted to Self-enquiry, and with the view to continue the tradition, the Senior devotees of Sadguru Gnanananda constituted the Charitable Trust Sri Gnanananda Niketan on 24th April 1986, Chitra Poornima day. It was their firm view that such a Trust would be best managed by Sannyasins themselves assisted by other Trustees who are dedicated to the service to Sannyasins and Adyatma Vidya.

   The endeavor was fully blessed by Pujya Sri Swami Dayananda Saraswati and was supported by many interested in Vedantic and monastic tradition, living in India and abroad. He was a Patron Trustee of the Trust.

   It is exclusively dedicated to the service of the Vedantic tradition, open to all sannyasins and renunciates irrespective of caste, creed, gender or nationality and who are devoted to the path of Self-enquiry in the light of Vedanta and Sri Sankara Bhashya.

   As requested by the founders of the Trust, Swami Vidyananda Giri, who was blessed by Sadguru Gnanananda Himself as the Vedanta Acharya of the ashram, became the President of the Trust. Swami Nityananda Giri was named as Managing Trustee of the Charitable Trust.

   The concern of Sadguru Gnanananda for Sannyasins and other advanced spiritual seekers is reflected in the objectives and services provided by Sri Gnanananda Niketan.