Chinmaya Tapovan Ashram - Sidhabari - Himalayas

Chinmaya Tapovan Ashram Chinmaya Tapovan is a modern day ashram situated at the foothills of the majestic Dhauladhar ranges of the Himalayas. It is about 10 km from Dharamsala, in Himachal Pradesh. Situated on the banks of Bindu Saras, the ashram was founded by late Swami Chimayananda, a great exponent of the Gita. The ashram complex has a 9 m high image of Lord Hanuman, a Ram temple, a meditation hall, a school, and a health and recreation center. Nestling in the spectacular Dhauladhar ranges of the Himalayas is the Chinmaya Tapovan Ashram, one of the many retreats of the Chinmaya Mission. Apart from its importance in being a center of the Sandeepany Vedanta course, camps, and the Chinmaya Rural Primary Health and Training Center, this ashram is special as this is also Swami Chinmayananda's last resting-place, who attained Mahasamadhi in August 1993 . The ashram is named after the guru of Swami Chinmayananda, Swami Tapovan Maharaj. Located in the scenic Himalayan mountain ranges, with its cool climes and fresh air, far away from the madness of city life, the ashram provides the environment necessary for meditation, spiritual fulfillment and introspection. People in search for spiritual succor make their way to this ashram from all across the country and the world.

Lord Veera Hanuman - Consecrated on: 10th October 1982
We ~ 50 Members of CHYK  (Chinmaya Tuka Kendra) Members from Madras , Lead by Mrs Padma Narasimhan (Then Director -TTK Group Of Companies)  were invited by Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda as His Guests . We were  fortunate to attend the Function and Gita Yagna Conducted by Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda. A large No Of Devotees gathered in the Ashram on this occasion . 1008 Kalasams Filled with Holy Water Were Purified with Traditional Japas Performed by Pandits. !008 Devotees Performed Abhishekam to Lord Hanuman, Lead by Gurudev who Performed abhishekam First with a Golden Kalasam. We have The Copper kalasam , with which I performed Abhishekam at our home even today.   It was very Nice to Recall the events from the memory line and Share when I visited The ashram in May 2010 ( Ref Blog : http://bbjee.blogspot.com/2010/06/spiritual-sadhana-camp-at-sidhabari.html) . It is My Pleasure to Share some of the Photos taken in 1982 and 2010 in the Ashram

Lord Hanuman

Bhajan During Consecration Function

Swami Tejomayanandaji (Then Viveka Chaitanya) Leading Bhajans

Devotees carrying Kumbam Filled With Holy Water

Tents at the Back Drop , Where We stayed.

Construction of Hanuman Idol began in 1979 and as per Gurudev's Sankalpa, a Veera Hanumanji's idol was to be installed. The well-known sculptor, Sri Kashinath of Shimoga sculpted the cement concrete idol of Hanumanji in Veerasan posture. It is 25 ft tall and rests on a 7 ft granite pedestal. The idol was consecrated on 10th October 1982 by Pujya Gurudev.
Veera Hanumanji is seated at Sidhbari under the milky sky, open to the embrace of his father, Vayu, the Wind God. Hanumanji successfully keeps the damaging winds at bay. By worshipping the deity, one gains strength, courage, fame, alertness, eloquence and wisdom. As Swami Tejomayananda says, 'Lord Hanuman is the embodiment of all great divine qualities put together - Devotion, Dedication, Service, Dispassion, Strength, Humility, Knowledge and every other virtue!'
Once in five years a consecration ceremony (Mahamastakabhishekam) of the idol is performed for which devotees from all parts of the world gather.

Sita Ram Temple

Name of Deity: Vanavasi Lord Rama & Sita

Consecrated on: 22nd Oct 1983

The construction of Shri Rama Mandir began in March 1983 and the temple with Vanavasi Lord Rama & Sita was consecrated on 22nd October 1983. The architecture of the temple is unique in style - a Setu (bridge) between North & South Indian Culture, executed by skilled artists from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

www.chinmayamission.com/temple-rama-mandir.php

The Samadhi of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda is in Sidhabari.

Devotees from all corners of the globe come to meditate, worship, and bask in the presence of the master, whose mortal remains are buried under the sculpted image. The Bhu Samadhi of Pujya Gurudev was done on 9th August 1993.
Built in traditional Kerala style, the Samadhi Sthala houses Swamiji's ashtadhatu pratima, or sculpture made of eight metals. Worship and aarti is offered twice daily.

The Samadhi is the most revered and intense abode of silence and the focal point for ashram residents, Devotees and Students of Swamiji.

Inside the ashram is a huge discourse hall, ideal for lectures on the Geeta. Also located inside the campus is a bookshop, which sells prized literature on Hindu religion besides recorded music and discourses' cassettes. How to reach Tapovan AshramThe nearest airport is the Kangra Airport about 20 kms from the ashram. From here one can avail of taxi services to reach the ashram.If you are traveling by rail, the nearest station is Pathankot or Chakki Bank, both of which are 90 kms from the ashram. From either of the stations, you can avail of the taxis that are available. You can also take buses that run between Pathankot station and Dharamsala, which is 8 kms from the ashram. From Dharamsala you can hire a taxi. Direct buses are available to Dharamsala from Delhi (526 kms), Shimla (260 kms) and Chandigarh (242 kms). For more information about the ashram, you can contact: Chinmaya Tapovan Trust Sandeepany Himalayas Sidhabari Himachal Pradesh 176 057 India E-mail: sidhabari@chinmayamission.org or ctthm@vsnl.com Also Visit http://bbjee.blogspot.com/2010/06/spiritual-sadhana-camp-at-sidhabari.html