Gurudev Siddha Peeth is an Indian

ashram An ashram (, ) is a spiritual hermitage or a monastery in Indian religions, not including Buddhism. Etymology The Sanskrit noun is a thematic nominal derivative from the root 'toil' (< Siddha Yoga Siddha Yoga is a spiritual path founded by Swami Muktananda (1908–1982). According to its literature, the Siddha Yoga tradition is "based mainly on eastern philosophies" and "draws many of its teachings from the Indian yogic texts of Vedanta a ...

path. It is situated between the villages of Ganeshpuri and Vajreshwari in the state of

Maharashtra Maharashtra () is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to th ...

, north-east of

Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...

. On the Siddha Yoga path it is known as the "mother ashram" because it is where Siddha Yoga began.

History

The ashram's origins date back to the

guru Guru ( ; International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: ''guru'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian religions, Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: tr ...

known as Bhagawan Nityananda, who had been in the nearby village of Ganeshpuri since 1936. Before he died in 1961, Nityananda is said to have told his devotee,

Swami Muktananda Muktananda (16 May 1908 – 2 October 1982), born Krishna Rai, was a yoga guru and the founder of Siddha Yoga. He was a disciple of Bhagavan Nityananda. He wrote books on the subjects of Kundalini Shakti, Vedanta, and Kashmir Shaivism, ...

, to build an ashram near Ganeshpuri on land that Nityananda gave him. Nityananda prophesied that the ashram would become "very big and beautiful" and would attract people from all over the world. Swami Muktananda established the ashram and called it Sri Gurudev Ashram, in honour of Nityananda. In 1978, Muktananda changed the name to Gurudev Siddha Peeth. The ashram has since grown as Nityananda predicted and is the site of shrines to both Nityananda and Muktananda (who died in 1982). It functions as a full-time spiritual retreat for people who want to pursue their Siddha Yoga practices. The ashram also runs short-term retreats, for example a seven-day "Pilgrimage to the Heart Retreat." In addition to spiritual practice, the ashram established significant charitable services for the benefit of the adivasis (tribal people) of the area. Medical services and housing were provided for these people and for other poor people in the valley. The PRASAD Project was set up to administer these projects. The Project also organized several eye-camps in which those who were blind from cataracts received free corrective surgery that restored their eyesight. Current PRASAD projects include organic farmers' initiatives, irrigation and water conservation projects, women's self-help groups, and AIDS prevention awareness.

In popular culture

Gurudev Siddha Peeth has been linked by multiple commentators with the ashram in

Elizabeth Gilbert Elizabeth Gilbert (born July 18, 1969) is an American journalist and author. She is best known for her 2006 memoir '' Eat, Pray, Love'', which has sold over 30 million copies and has been translated into over 30 languages. The book was also mad ...

's 2006 memoir '' Eat, Pray, Love'', since, among other clues, it has a multilingual female guru who was a swami's translator, succeeded him, and resides in the United States, attributes of Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, and where a 90-minute ''

Guru Gita The ''Guru Gita'' () is a Hindu scripture that is said to have been authored by the sage Vyasa. The verses of this scripture may also be chanted. The text is part of the larger ''Skanda Purana''. There are several versions of the ''Guru Gita'', ...

'' is sung every morning. '' Hinduism Today'' magazine states that in the 1960s, the ashram was "an austere sanctuary" with few people. From 1970, Muktananda traveled widely, bringing thousands of visitors to the ashram. According to Catherine Parrish of SYDA Foundation, "People were coming to the ashram for the wrong reasons"; she explained that "tourists were showing up to eat at the ashram's non-existent 'five-star restaurant'." Crowding increased still further when Gurumayi was at the ashram. Accordingly, visitors were required to apply for at least a month's stay. The magazine reported that by 1995 there were once again fewer people: "everything is simpler; the silence is deeper."

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