CHARITABLE PROJECTS
Ganeshpuri, Maharastra INDIA Trivandrum, Kerala INDIA
We completed our first project in 2010, within our first year of existence - we built a small home for a single mom with a handicapped daughter. They had been living in a crowded home with the grandparents along with their other daughter, her husband and children. Thank you to our generous donors that made this gift possible. Read about Swamiji's visit to the new home and family here.
Now we are focused on projects that support the ancient traditions and help to bring them into the midst of people's daily lives. Swami Nirmalananda explains her selection of our current charitable projects, "It's easy to find people who need food and shelter etc., but I always gravitate towards projects that feed the soul rather than feed the body. That's what the Ashram invests its time and money into, including our current projects in India."
GANESHPURI MUSIC SCHOOL
Ganeshpuri is a small village that grew up around Swami Nirmalananda's Guru's Guru, which is the equivalent of her grandfather within this tradition. Respectfully called Bhagavan, Nityananda settled in a holy place, living in a lean-to next to a Shiva temple, in an area laced with hot springs that date from ancient times, with stories of their divine origin.
The tribal people living in the area were very poor, and Nityananda began serving food, building homes and supporting school projects to foster education for the children. Fortunately, these have continued for over 50 years, so many of the people in this village are in a much improved condition. Poverty and hunger still plague many, so the Ashram does partner with other organizations to provide relief, but our own project is meant to address the spiritual hunger that accompanies generations of poverty.
Click here to read more about the Ganeshpuri Music School, and your opportunity to support it. We appreciate your help in bring the profoundly spiritual music of ancient and modern India into people's everyday lives.
KERALA AYURVEDIC CLINIC
After the Ashram completed its first charitable project, a house for a single mom and her handicapped daughter, Swamiji turned her attention to creating a bigger project - one that could serve many. Keeping in mind the theme for her service, she looked for a way to give people's ancient heritage back to themselves.
While Kerala is world-renowned for its rich tradition in the ancient medical system of Ayurveda, it is mainly tourists who avail themselves of its riches. The local people were converted to allopathic (Western) medicine by the British when they conquered the country.
Svaroopa Vidya Ashram has teamed up with Beach & Lake Resort, a beautiful ocean-side resort where Swamiji has led several group retreats, to open a free Ayurvedic clinic for the villagers in the area. Located along the ocean in a fishermen's village, the area is ripe for such a service, as the fishermen eke out a meager living in the over-fished [click here to read more...]