Chinmaya Tapovan ashram in Sidhbari shines as the crest-jewel of Chinmaya Mission where the Grace of the Guru awakens the thirst for Knowledge ripened with devotion. We invite all seekers to immerse themselves in the sweet story and sublime significance of the picturesque ashram at Sidhbari.
Chinmaya Tapovan ashram in Sidhbari shines as the crest-jewel of Chinmaya Mission where the Grace of the Guru awakens the thirst for Knowledge ripened with devotion. We invite all seekers to immerse themselves in the sweet story and sublime significance of the picturesque ashram at Sidhbari.
The Place
Soaked in Spirituality
Nestled in the Dhauladhar mountains, Sidhbari in Himachal Pradesh, India, holds a special place in the heads and hearts of the devotees at Chinmaya Mission worldwide.
The Purpose
Vedantic Legacy with Gratitude
Pujya Gurudev had two clear aims for the ashram in Sidhbari. First, the essence of the scriptures must be spread among the Hindi-speaking people of the Himalayan region and North India. The second was to uplift the lives of the Pahadis, the natives of the Himalayan region, who had faithfully served the saints and sages in the mountains.
The Preparation
Tapas and Transformation
Noble as the beginning was, it required labor, penance, and patience. But with Pujya Gurudev’s astute guidance at every step the barren hillock in the Kangra valley slowly transformed into Chinmaya Tapovan, Sidhbari.
Pure Unconditional Love
Pujya Gurudev's Kutiya
A focal point of Sidhbari, Pujya Gurudev’s Kutiya holds deep meaning for devotees and spiritual seekers. In this section, we present important artefacts and images from that revered abode of the renowned Master.
The Path to the Highest
Sandeepany Himalayas
In Sidhbari’s contemplative atmosphere, at the Himalayan foothills, Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda aimed to establish a Vedantic Gurukula in Hindi to spread the glory of Hindu scriptures and Sanatana Dharma.
The Power of Devotion
Veera Hanuman
Vayuputra Shri Hanuman is a powerful presence in the Chinmaya ashram at Sidhbari; awe-inspiring, alert, and magnificent. Pujya Gurudev invoked Veera Hanuman in the windswept ashram.
The Pinnacle of Dharma
Vanavaasi Sri Ram-Sita Mandir
The presence of a devotee draws the Lord without fail. Once Veera Hanuman took up his abode in Sidhbari, His beloved Lord Rama also had to come there.
The Port for Spiritual Dry-Docking
Spiritual Camps
Sidhbari is synonymous with Pujya Gurudev’s unforgettable spiritual camps. He would say: “It is absolutely necessary for spiritual Sadhaks to dry-dock to a quiet place like Sidhbari and listen to the spiritual Masters, deeply reflect on them, and lift the mind in contemplation on the Reality.”
The Progress
Structures to uphold the Spiritual
When we visit Sidhbari today, it is hard to imagine the unapproachable land that it was in the 1970s. Swami Chinmayananda’s vision made that metamorphosis in the mountains happen.
Pahadi Upliftment
Economic and Spiritual Prosperity
Pujya Gurudev used to describe true love as a dynamic giving, not a passive taking. One of his main objectives in starting the ashram at Sidhbari was to uplift the lives of the Pahadis.
Presence & Peace
His Samadhi Sthal
A hallowed space in Chinmaya Tapovan, the Samadhi Sthal of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda (1916-1993) is an inspirational altar in the ashram. It is the sacred place of Pujya Gurudev’s Bhu Samadhi (burial in earth).
Prostrations
Pranams to Chinmaya Parampara
Everywhere in Chinmaya Tapovan Sidhbari, we see the Glory (Mahima) of the place, the penance, and the knowledge. The many blessings in the ashram are because of Guru Mahima.
Prostrations
Pranams to Chinmaya Parampara
Everywhere in Chinmaya Tapovan Sidhbari, we see the Glory (Mahima) of the place, the penance, and the knowledge. The many blessings in the ashram are because of Guru Mahima.