Name: Haridwar
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Shantikunj, Haridwar Overview

Shantikunj is a world-renowned ashram and the headquarter of All World Gayatri Pariwar (AWGP) located in Haridwar. An academy for social and spiritual awakening, this pilgrimage centre has shown the right path and given long-lasting happiness to crores of people. An ideal place which imparts training to the masses based on divine spiritual principles, it aims for the revival of Rishi traditions.

Development of divinity in mankind is the foremost goal and avowed objective. The Shantikunj ashram has Yagya shala, Gayatri Mata Temple, Akhand Deep, Devatma Himalaya Temple, temples of ancient Rishis and Exhibition of Divine Culture. Besides visiting these places, you can also participate in the daily activities of the ashram. Various training camps are also organised for the upliftment of moral and spiritual values. Those seeking inner peace and divine inspiration, Shanti Kunj is the place to be.

Daily Routine at Shantikunj

The daily routine begins at 3:30 AM with a collective prayer followed by special “Gayatri Mantra chanting and sun meditation” and Akhand Deepak darshan. Yagna is also performed every morning, which reminds one of the Vedic days in the ashrams of the Rishis. Two meals are offered free of cost to every visitor and resident. Morning and afternoons are scheduled for lectures, practical and field work under different kinds of training programs. Two special kinds of meditations- the Jyoti Avadharan Sadhana and Nad Yoga Sadhana are also performed in afternoon and morning respectively for 15 minutes each.

Short Visit

On a short visit to Shantikunj, you should make sure to visit the following places-

Samadhi Sthal & Yagya Shala- You can offer heartfelt prayers in Samadhi Sthal which is the eternal abode of Revered Gurusatta. In the Yagyashala, the fire that burns in the yagya kundas is the eternal fire that has been kept burning in the Himalayas by the sages. It was brought to Shantikunj by Revered Gurudev. You can participate in yagya between 5:00 AM to 7:30 AM.
Gayatri Mata Mandir, Bhatka Hua Devta and Sapt Rishi Place- You can include in your itinerary a visit to the abode of deities. The unique temple of Bhatka Hua Devta helps one find the purpose of life. The divine spiritual energy of the ambience is surely soul-stirring.
Akhand Deepak- This divine light has been burning since 1926. It opens every day between 5:30 AM to 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM to 4:30 PM.
Devatma Himalayas temple, Exhibition of the Divine Culture and Haritima Devalaya- These places have a collection of rare plants and medicinal herbs. In the temple of Divine Himalayas, one can get the sight of the four Dham- Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri, the five Prayag- Vishnu Prayag, Nand Prayag, Karn Prayag, Rudra Prayag and Dev Prayag and the pious streams of holy rivers- Ganga and Yamuna.
Food Prasadam from Mataji’s Bhojanalaya- The timings are 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM.

Two Day Visit

On a two-day visit to Shantikunj, you can participate in the daily activities of the ashram. You should not miss Morning Yagya and Akhand Deepak. You can meet Shradhey Dr Sahab and Vandaniya Shail Jiji between 7:30 AM to 8:15 AM. Dev Sanskriti Vishwa Vidyalaya (DSVV) can also be included in your plan. DSVV has Gaushala, Polyclinic, Sriram Smriti Upavan which is a unique acupressure garden and a Mahakal Mandir. On the second day, a visit to the research centre of science and spirituality - Brahma Varchas Shodh Sansthan can be made.

Training Camps

For the upliftment of the moral, cultural, spiritual and ethical values, national integration and development of youths, various types of training are organized frequently like-

Nine days training of Sanjeewani Vidyaa which includes Art of Living and Art of Relating training camps.
One month training of Yug Shilpi and Parivraajak which includes Art of Serving and Art of Leading training camps.
Three months of training for proficiency in Sangeet or music

Occasional training of officers and employees of government, local bodies, corporations, banks, factories etc. are also organized on elegant lifestyle, organizational management, efficient working methodology, work culture, the glory of labour, health, behavioural science, the value of time, inculcation of discipline, duty consciousness and national integration. For the all-round development of villages and self-employment generation, nine days training is also imparted to the selected village folk. Training relates to agriculture, horticulture, herbal production, Dairy and Cottage industries.

Shantikunj Ashram Stay

Visitors are allowed to stay for not more than two days and they have to participate in all daily activities. Stay arrangements are made for those who join training camps or participate in spiritual penance or come to conduct some sacramental rite. The facility is free of cost and there is no need for reservation priorly. Spiritual seekers are given group accommodation only – separate rooms are not given. People can stay outside Shantikunj also and take part in all its activities.

History of Shanti Kunj

Shantikunj was established in 1971 by Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya on a small piece of land. Gradually, it spread over a large area in Gayatri Nagar. Several practice camps were organised under his guidance. In 1979 a satellite campus was established named as Brahmavarchas Shodh Sansthan. One more campus was added in 1988 named as Gayatrikunj. Since then, it has been visited by many scholars and saints including Dalai Lama, Pranab Mukherjee, Abdul Kalam etc.