Sri Gnanananda Niketan

This document presents information on Sri Gnanananda Niketan. The Charitable Trust “Sri Gnanananda
Niketan” was constituted on 24th April 1986, Chitra Poornima day. Below is a brief overview on
information available in this document.

Quick Overview Of Information :

Introduction History of Sri Gnanananda Niketan

Institution The Institution - Sri Gnanananda Niketan
Objectives The objectives of Sri Gnanananda Niketan – A Charitable Trust
Project Completed Infrastructure built till now
Activities Activities in Sri Gnanananda Niketan
Plans Ahead Plans for the future
Donations Information on contribution to Sri Gnanananda Niketan

********

Sri Gnanananda Niketan

Introduction

History of Sri Gnanananda Niketan

In the initial stages, the ashram Sri Gnanananda Tapovanam, was a desolate place and Sannyasins were
the main inhabitants. Often Sadguru Gnanananda used to visit Tapovanam from Siddhalingamadam
ashram on the southern bank of river South Pennar. As the devotees visiting the ashram increased in
number, He shifted permanently to Tapovanam in 1965/66. He initiated disciples into Sannyas in a
traditional manner, encouraged the study of Vedanta and personally guided their Sadhana or Spiritual
practice.

In course of time Sri 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
specialised sadhana.

There is no ritual or communal worship at Yercaud. The pictures of Sri Gnanananda, the Buddha, Swami
Vivekananda, the sacred Heart of Jesus and the Kaaba of Mecca are hanging on the wall of the central
hall. The monks and aspirants are to devote themselves completely to meditation and study.

However, some of the older Sannyasins could not stand the rigour of the climate of Yercaud. They
continued to live at Tapovanam. Swamiji himself, some months before his Mahasamadhi, recalled Swami
Mukundananda Saraswati and Yogi Swamigal to Tapovanam. The latter was given the work of compiling
His teachings.

Sadguru Gnanananda attained Mahasamadhi in 1974. The continued presence of Sannyasins at

Tapovanam became more important now. One of the monks of the ashram, Swami Mukundananda
founded a religious trust to take care of the Paduka Pooja and other daily poojas in the ashram and also at
Sadguru’s Samadhi and to build a beautiful Shrine of Grace at the Samadhi. They helped in continuing the
various traditions established by the great sage. The Sannyasins, by participating in the Paduka Pooja and
the other daily activities of the temple, helped to fill as much as possible, the void caused by the absence
of the physical presence of Swamiji. The devotees continued to throng to the ashram and receive spiritual
solace from them.

Initiation into Sannyas is continuing to be given to qualified seekers. Publications in Sanskrit, Tamil and
English have been brought out by the Sannyasins of Tapovanam. Yajurveda, Samaveda and Sivagama
sections of Vedagama Patasala were started at Tapovanam on their initiative.

Swami Abhishiktananda (Henri Le Saux O.S.B) a French Benedictine monk in his great book “ Guru and
Disciple” gives a vivid account of his encounter with Sri Gnanananda. Many spiritual aspirants from
abroad are evincing keen interest in his writings and are visiting Tapovanam.

In the context of this growth of the ashram, the necessity for providing separate accommodation for
Sannyasins, Brahmacharis and keen spiritual seekers in a secluded area suitable for their Sadhana and also
for making special arrangements for their food was keenly felt. It would enable them to welcome other
Mahatmas and other aspirants who wished to come for short or extended stay.

It would also provide facilities for aspirants from other faiths, interested in Vedanta and meditation.

Keeping the above considerations in view, senior devotees like Sri K.Sivavadivel Odayar, Justice P.
Ramakrishnan and others took the initiative to form a Charitable Trust after obtaining the approval of
Swami Vidyananda Giri, Swami Triveni Giri and Swami Nityananda Giri.

*******
Sri Gnanananda Niketan

The Institution - Sri Gnanananda Niketan

With the objective of preserving the monastic tradition of the ashram in view, a Charitable Trust, “Sri
Gnanananda Niketan” was constituted on 24th April 1986, Chitra Poornima day, with ParamaPujya Swami
Vidyananda Giri as Chairman and Swami Nityananda Giri as Managing Trustee.

Swami Vidyananda Giri was the direct and the senior most monastic disciple of Sadguru Gnanananda. A
special recipient of the grace of Jagadguru Sri Chandra-Sekharendra Saraswathi of Kanchi Kamakoti
Peetam, he was fully blessed by Sadguru Gnanananda and nominated by Him as the first teacher of
Vedanta in the ashram.

Swami Nityananda Giri is well versed in Vedanta, having received the direct guidance from Sadguru
Gnanananda and studied under Swami Vidyananda Giri. He had the privilege to compile the teachings of
the great sage under his personal direction. He is keenly interested in mysticism and is well known in
inter-religious dialogue. He has travelled widely lecturing on Vedanta and yoga.

The centre would be a Sadhana Kendra with the traditional method of teaching Adhyatma Vidya and
imparting training in meditation. It would thus fulfil the basic purpose for which Sadguru Gnanananda
founded the ashram.

The facilities offered by the Kendra would attract Sannyasins and keen aspirants for initiation into
Sannyas to Sadguru’s Shrine of Grace. It would thus help preserve the monastic tradition of the ashram.
Sadguru Gnanananda was keen that the monastic lineage or parampara should continue and the monks of
the ashram pursuing Vedantic Sadhana and meditation should continue to be given all facilities in the
same manner as was provided by Him. He told Swami Abhishiktananda:

“Come back and be near me. We shall talk again. Above all you will have time for silent meditation. No
one will disturb you. You will not have to worry about food or anything like that. Apart from our
conversations, you will remain in silence”

This is indeed the call of Sri Gnanananda to his monastic disciples and spiritual aspirants to Tapovanam
for all time. It will be through this new Centre it would be heard by them.

*******
Sri Gnanananda Niketan

Objectives

A Charitable Trust

1. To provide residential accommodation for Sannyasins, Brahmacharis and spiritual seekers;

2. To organize an Annakshetra with adequate corpous fund and to make arrangements for feeding
Sannyasins, Sadhus, Brahmacharis and spiritual seekers;

3. To promote intensive study of Vedanta and research in comparative religion;

4. To give training in Yoga and meditation and provide facilities such as prayer and meditation halls;

5. To set up a library

6. To bring out publications in Sanskrit, English and Tamil on the teachings of Sadguru Gnanananda
and on Vedanta;

7. To bring out audio cassettes of devotional music and of the speeches of Sadguru Gnanananda,
Videocassettes etc.

8. To organize study circles, discourses, seminars, conferences, congregation of scholars, retreats etc.

The trust was constituted with a property of 1.3 acres of land on the southern side of Tirukoyilur –
Tiruvannamalai Highway , close to the Ashram temple and Shrine of Grace at the Samadhi of Sadguru
Gnanananda .
0.70 acres of adjoining land has also been purchased.

********
Sri Gnanananda Niketan

Projects Completed

Infrastructure built till now

• A single-storeyed building with 4 rooms and verandah all around

• A second block with 2 floors of 4 rooms each and all around verandah
• A kitchen-cum-dining hall complex
a) With a storeroom and residence for cook in the ground floor
 b) 2 halls for housing the library and a meditation room in the 1st floor
• A stores building with an office room
• Overhead water tanks in each of the 3 buildings
• A pump-house
• A bore-well
• 0.70 acres of adjoining land purchased

*******

Sri Gnanananda Niketan

Activities

• Vedanta classes are being conducted for Sannyasins and Brahmacharis and seekers.
• Special instruction in Vedanta and meditation is given to spiritual aspirants coming from abroad
• Annakshetra (dining hall) commenced functioning in the last quarter of 1992. A sum of Rs.12 Lakhs
has been collected under Annakshetra corpus. The interest on the corpus is utilized for food and
maintenance expenses.
• A library has been organized with about 2000 books in various languages on Vedanta, Yoga, religion
in general and mysticism.
• Every year, Swami Nityananda Giri visits Germany, Canada, USA and UK to conduct / participate in
seminars to give discourses on Yoga and Vedanta.
***********

Sri Gnanananda Niketan

Plans for the future

• To raise the Annakshetra Corpus to Rs. 15 Lakhs to meet the spiralling costs and build a fund to take
care of additional inmates;
• To constitute a Maintenance corpus of Rs. 5 Lakhs to cover the routine expenses of salaries,
power….;
• To aquire additional land and to construct a meditation hall at an estimated cost of Rs. 15 Lakhs;
• To bring out the following publications:
- A collection of Vedantic songs of Avudai Akkal of Shenkottai (1000 copies approximately ;
320 pp; Rs. 75k)
- “Sri Gnananda Vijayam” – Tamil (2000 Copies; 250pp; 100k)
- “Sri Gnanananda Gurum Bhaje” – English version of “Sri Gnanananda Darsanam” (1000
copies; Rs. 50k)
- Gurustuti at Sri Gnanananda Tapovanam – Sanskrit, English/Tamil (1000 Copies; 50pp; Rs.
30k)
- “Deepa Jyotiyay Varuvai” – Tamil (1000 copies; 50pp; Rs. 20k)
- “Reminiscences of Sadgurudev” – “Kanakambaram” Padmasini Ammal – Tamil (1000
copies; Rs. –15k)
- Reprint of “Sri Gnanananda Darsanam” - Tamil(1000 copies; 250 pp; Rs. 100k)
- Audio Cassettes – Sadguru’s speeches – 4 cassettes (Rs. 50k)
- Audio Cassettes – “Gnananandam and Vatrada Sunai” – 2 Cassettes (Rs. 70k)

********

Sri Gnanananda Niketan

Donations

The Trust appeals to all in India and abroad who are interested in this noble cause to come forward with
generous help and support for the various projects, particularly for building up the Corpus funds for
Annakshetra and Maintenance.

Cheques may be drawn in favor of ‘SRI GNANANANDA NIKETAN’. Direction for use of funds may be
mentioned in the forwarding letter – Annakshetra Corpus or Maintenance Corpus or Building Fund or
other programs under the head “General”.

All donations to the Trust will qualify for exemption from income tax under section 80(G) of the Indian
Income-tax Act.

The Trust is registered under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act with the Ministry of Home Affairs.

***********

Publications

Publications in Tamil and English have been brought out on the life and teachings of Sadguru Gnanananda
and on Vedanta. Audiocassette recordings of Agastyar Geetham and discourses of Sadguru Gnanananda
have been made and released. Below is a list of publications available.

Please use the “Feedback” section for any queries you may have. We will certainly respond at the earliest.

By Sannyasins of Tapovanam

1.Aitareya Upanishad with Sri Sankara’s Bhashya

Sanskrit text of the Upanishad, commentary and Tamil translation of the Bhashya by Sri Sundararaja
Sharma – second edition (PP 158)

2.Sanatsujatiyam with Sri Sankara’s Bhashya

Sanskrit text of the Slokas and Bhashya and Tamil translation by Sri Sundararaja Sharma - second edition
(PP 214)

3. “Sankara Vedantam” by H.H.Swami Sacchidanandendra Saraswati of Hole Narasipur

Tamil translation by Sri Thiyagarajan – second edition (PP 125)

4.”Gita Tatparya Nirnayam” (Tamil)

by Sri D. Arunachala Sastrigal – second edition (PP 108)

5. The Purport of the Gita – English translation of “Gita Tatparya Nirnayam”

by Sri K N Subramanian - First edition (PP 102)

By Sri Gnanananda Niketan

1.Sadguru Gnanananda “ (English) – By the devotees of Tapovanam

Publishers – Bharatiya Vidya bhavan; printing of second edition sponsored by Sri Gnanananda Niketan
for Sadguru Swami Gnanananda Giri Memorial Trust (PP 366)
2.”Sri Gnanananda Darsanam” (Tamil)
Central idea – Smt. Padmasini Gopalakrishnan; Edited and enlarged by Swami Nityananda Giri. (PP 297)

3. “Atma Vidya Vilasam” (Tamil)

By Sri Sadasiva Brahmendra with foreword by Swami Dayananda Saraswati. (PP 64)

4.”Gita Tatparya Nirnayam” (Tamil)

By Sri. D.Arunachala Sastrigal – Third Edition (PP 88)

By Others – Available at Sri Gnanananda Niketan

“Guru and Disciple”

An encounter with Sri Gnanananda by Swami Abhishiktananda (Henri Le Saux O.S.B) – Publishers –
Indian Society for Promotion of Christian Knowledge, Post Box No.1585, Kashmere Gate, Delhi – 110
006; 1990.

Audio Cassettes

1.”Agastyar Geetham in Sri Gnanananda Tapovanam”

By Ashram devotees – Music: Sri L. Krishnan – two volumes

2.”Sadguru Sri Gnananandarin Arulurai”

Tamil – two volumes

*********
Feedback/Contact Details

Details

Address Sri Gnanananda Niketan

Tapovanam
P O 605756 Villupuram,
R.P. District,
Tamil Nadu,
India

Tel Number 00-91-4153-24938

e-mail niketan@addr.com or cyberwave@india.com