The Eternal Grace
Our Sanatana Dharma is twofold and comprises of Pravritti dharma or engagement in activities i.e. Karma yoga and Bhakti yoga and also Nivritti dharma i.e withdrawal from activities and applying oneself exclusively to hearing, reflection and contemplation of vedanta texts, Self-enquiry and Self-discovery, i.e., Gnana yoga.
Sadguru Gnanananda's teaching covers the entire spectrum of Sanatana Dharma comprising of both Pravritti dharma and Nivritti dharma. He emphasized that Pravritti dharma i.e. Karma Yoga and Shakti Yoga when practiced in a traditional manner, will give vairagya and lead to total surrender and earnest longing for liberation from primordial ignorance, avidya, which will lead one to Moksha or Self-discovery. Sadguru Gnanananda provided for Karma yoga and Bhakti yoga in the temple with traditional poojas, vedic chants, bhajans and singing the devotional lores of Tevaram, Tiruvacakam, Tiruppugazh, etc. The temple and the related activities are managed by the Religious Trust, Sadguru Swami Sri Gnanananda Giri Memorial Trust.
Before taking up nivritti marga, it is good to have an understanding of the role Sadguru Gnanananda intended for the ashram, which had grown around His Presence, in His own explanation of the name of the ashram, "Sri Gnanananda Thapovanam".
"Tapas is intense heat with its derivations: zeal, fervor, austerity, asceticism. "Vana" (in Tamil "Vanam") is wood or forest. In olden days, there were huge jungles and forests in India, where hermits could retire far from other men, living off fruit and wild roots and spending their time contemplating on God. Nowadays, in this part of the land at least, there are no longer, any real forests. It is absolutely essential to set aside, certain places, so that those who wish to lead a quiet life of prayer and asceticism can do so. The ashram was founded for those who wish to devote even a fraction of their time to the pursuit of spiritual wisdom, far from crowds and from the turmoil of the daily round. Here, they can receive proper instruction and give themselves unto knowledge and meditation."
The Sage himself called it "Adhyatma Vidyalaya" and it is displayed at the entrance of the Bhajan hall.
Sannyasins, Brahmacharis and other spiritual aspirants were studying Vedanta, under the Acharya Swami Vidyananda Giri at Thapovanam. Due to increasing crowds of devotees coming to ashram, Sadguru Gnanananda desired that they should not be disturbed and they should be provided a secluded environment with proper food facilities. Hence he founded Sri Gnanananda Pranava Nilayam at Yercaud. As mentioned earlier, it could not take off in the cold hill station and is now in the form of Sri Gnanananda Niketan, a Charitable Trust.
The same senior devotees who helped to constitute the religious trust viz. Sadguru Swami Sri Gnanananda Giri Memorial Trust, desired to found a Charitable Trust, Sri Gnanananda Niketan, in the model of Sri Gnanananda Pranava Nilayam. The Trust was constituted in 1986 and its activities have already been detailed.
The religious Trust, Sadguru Swami Sri Gnanananda Giri Memorial Trust represents the Pravritti dharma i.e. Karma Yoga and Bhakti yoga. The Charitable Trust, Sri Gnanananda Niketan serves those in Nivritti dharma i.e. Gnana Yoga. Thus, the vision of Sadguru Gnanananda is fulfilled.
Sri Gnanananda Niketan is devoted to serve the tradition of Brahmavidya or Arshavidya (Vidya of the Rishis), by rendering service to those who are devoted to Atma Vichara. This indeed is the puja dearest to Sadguru Gnanananda.
It is more than thirty years ago that Sri Gnanananda Niketan was constituted and its activities have been growing and resources flowing, all due to the infinite Grace of Sadguru Gnanananda,
Sadguru Gnanananda entrusted to Swami Haridas, the mission of spreading Namasonkeertana in India and abroad. He constituted G.A. Trust, Sri Gnanananda Seva Sangam to spread the glory of Namasankeertona. He built a beautiful temple of Panduranga and Rukkumayi in style and form like Puri Jagannath temple, with front gopurams in Pallava style of architecture at Thennangur. It was consecrated in 1996.
Sadguru Gnanananda often emphasized that women have a very special and important role to play in the spiritual uplift of society. They are agents of social change. Deeply moved by his infinite compassion and loving concern for women and children, Sri P.N. Devarajan, under the guidance of Swami Nityananda Giri constituted a Charitable Trust "Manava Seva Dharma Samvardhini" in 1999 with a view to identify and acclaim women social entrepreneurs from all over India. Sadguru Gnanananda Award is given to them as a symbol of the bounteous Grace and blessings of the Sage.
From 1999 to 2011, 115 Sadguru Gnanananda National Awards for Excellence in Social Service were given to women social service entrepreneurs from all over India. From 2012, Sadguru Gnanananda Fellowship of Rs. 10,000/- per month for a period of three years was introduced and given to young prospective social entrepreneurs working for rural development. Till date, 12 fellows have completed three-years-fellowship and nine fellows across India are currently receiving the fellowship.
Sannyasins, Brahmacharis and other spiritual aspirants were studying Vedanta, under the Acharya Swami Vidyananda Giri at Thapovanam. Due to increasing crowds of devotees coming to ashram, Sadguru Gnanananda desired that they should not be disturbed and they should be provided a secluded environment with proper food facilities. Hence he founded Sri Gnanananda Pranava Nilayam at Yercaud. As mentioned earlier, it could not take off in the cold hill station and is now in the form of Sri Gnanananda Niketan, a Charitable Trust.
The same senior devotees who helped to constitute the religious trust viz. Sadguru Swami Sri Gnanananda Giri Memorial Trust, desired to found a Charitable Trust, Sri Gnanananda Niketan, in the model of Sri Gnanananda Pranava Nilayam. The Trust was constituted in 1986 and its activities have already been detailed.
The religious Trust, Sadguru Swami Sri Gnanananda Giri Memorial Trust represents the Pravritti dharma i.e. Karma Yoga and Bhakti yoga. The Charitable Trust, Sri Gnanananda Niketan serves those in Nivritti dharma i.e. Gnana Yoga. Thus, the vision of Sadguru Gnanananda is fulfilled.
Sri Gnanananda Niketan is devoted to serve the tradition of Brahmavidya or Arshavidya (Vidya of the Rishis), by rendering service to those who are devoted to Atma Vichara. This indeed is the puja dearest to Sadguru Gnanananda.
It is more than thirty years ago that Sri Gnanananda Niketan was constituted and its activities have been growing and resources flowing, all due to the infinite Grace of Sadguru Gnanananda,
Sadguru Gnanananda entrusted to Swami Haridas, the mission of spreading Namasonkeertana in India and abroad. He constituted G.A. Trust, Sri Gnanananda Seva Sangam to spread the glory of Namasankeertona. He built a beautiful temple of Panduranga and Rukkumayi in style and form like Puri Jagannath temple, with front gopurams in Pallava style of architecture at Thennangur. It was consecrated in 1996.
Sadguru Gnanananda often emphasized that women have a very special and important role to play in the spiritual uplift of society. They are agents of social change. Deeply moved by his infinite compassion and loving concern for women and children, Sri P.N. Devarajan, under the guidance of Swami Nityananda Giri constituted a Charitable Trust "Manava Seva Dharma Samvardhini" in 1999 with a view to identify and acclaim women social entrepreneurs from all over India. Sadguru Gnanananda Award is given to them as a symbol of the bounteous Grace and blessings of the Sage.
From 1999 to 2011, 115 Sadguru Gnanananda National Awards for Excellence in Social Service were given to women social service entrepreneurs from all over India. From 2012, Sadguru Gnanananda Fellowship of Rs. 10,000/- per month for a period of three years was introduced and given to young prospective social entrepreneurs working for rural development. Till date, 12 fellows have completed three-years-fellowship and nine fellows across India are currently receiving the fellowship.
Sadguru Gnanananda Paduka Mandapaom has also been established by Sri Guru Vittal Seva Trust at Govindapuram near the Somadhi shrine of Sri Bodhendra Saraswati Swamigal in the year 2015 for propagating Nomasonkeertona.
Sadguru Gnanananda is a "Gnana Siddia" and His love is infinite. Swami Abhishitananda describes it very vividly:
"Gnanananda's whole being radiated a pure and tender love, a love which was complete for each one and the same for all. This joy of feeling oneself loved by him, resulted in a high degree of detachment, for who does not dream of being loved apart from others and with a preferential love? Yet, at the same time each man felt as if he were enveloped in a plentitude of love. One felt that with Gnanananda, all distinctions, bheda, had been overcome and had vanished. It was the true personality, the Self alone, the Atman, in each person which was immediately perceived by him."
The Jivanmukta has cast off the limitations of the physical body and now the Presence of Sadguru Gnanananda in Videha Kaivalya has become all-pervading.
An abiding Peace encompasses and permeates the Ashram premises and the very air is redolent with His powerful Presence. Indeed, it is not confined to Thapovanam. As before, even now, wherever devotees may be, they find His unfailing Grace and immediate support in a more potent Inner Presence.
His oft repeated assurance with His sweet words "Swami will be always with You" means that Guru is the same as Self, Atman and His darshan is Self-realization which He Insisted, is the fulfillment of the goal of life.
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or Him who is One with all and everything, there is no coming there is no going away..Om Tat Sat