9.8.1999

PARAMAHAMSA OMKARANANDA SARASWATI

H.D. Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati is a God-realised saint, mystic, sage, philosopher and writer.

Already at the age of thirteen and fourteen his life was flooded with numerous spiritual experiences of the omnipresent and omniscient God. Under the dictates of these experiences, he left his home city in South India for the Himalayas, where the world-renowned Sage Sri Swami Sivananda recognised in him an embodiment of the high spirit of renunciation, profound divine wisdom, touching purity of heart, made him known as Bala Yogi, Bala Jnani, titled him as Adhyatma Kavita-Bhaskara and crowned him with Sannyasa-Diksha at the age of seventeen.

In his shortest autobiography in the world Swami Omkarananda Saraswati writes:

"Purity is the soul of my strength. Truth is the source of my power. God is my life, and I have no existence apart from Him. His Consciousness is my Light. His all-sustaining and all-creative Beauty constitutes my joy. Prayer is my breath and meditation forms the bread of my Life. All humanity is my family. The Forces of Nature are my Friends. The Godhead in all of you is the object of my adoration."

Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas

The activities of Sage and Philosopher Swami Omkarananda embrace spiritual, cultural, educational, scientific and social fields. One of the significant achievements in these fields is the unique work he has done for the upliftment of the backward regions in the hills of the Himalayan Garhwal area. In recognition of his extraordinary services he has already received several prestigious honours like Mother India Award, Bharat Nirman Award and Hind Rattan Award.

The Ashram at Rishikesh set on one of the foot-hills of the Himalayas, is one of the main branches of his international Institution. It aims at the realisation of educational, social, cultural and spiritual projects. Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas carries on its activities through its registered Trusts &endash; Omkarananda Dharma Samsthan, Omkarananda Charitable Trust, Omkarananda Educational Society, Omkarananda Natya Kala Academy and other educational and cultural Institutions.

Branches of
Omkarananda Ashram in India

1. Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas,
   Muni-ki-Reti, Rishikesh
   
   
2. Omkarananda Dharma Samsthan, Mumbai
   
   
3. Omkarananda Shanti Bhawan, Mussoorie
   
   
4. Omkarananda Dharma Samsthan, Kanchipuram
   
   
5. Omkarananda Dharma Samsthan, New Delhi

Omkarananda Dharma Samsthan

1. Omkarananda Shanta Durga Mandir
   the original Temple-cum-Ashram complex in Muni-ki-Reti
   
   
2. Omkarananda Dipeshwar Mandir
   a beautiful Temple-cum-Ashram complex, in Lakshman-Jhula, by the holy river Ganga.
   
   
3. Omkarananda Ram Mandir situated in upper Tapovan, where the Ashram is maintaining its own farm.
   
   
4. Omkarananda Satyanarayana Mandir
   another beautiful Temple-cum-Ashram complex right on the other bank of Ganga.
   
   
5. Omkarananda Gayatri Sadan
   The Omkarananda Gayatri Sadan is situated at the holy spring of Sheshdhara, directly on the bank of the holy river Ganga, between Lakshmanjhula and Muni-ki-Reti. This building is completely isolated; the only sounds, which can be heard, are the waves of the Ganga. Therefore this place is ideally suited for spiritual aspirants and their Sadhana.
   The same building houses also the Omkarananda Vedanta Centre, which provides lectures and publications on Upanishads, Vedanta Sutras, etc.

Omkarananda Charitable Trust

1. Omkarananda Institute of Management and Technology
   has been established to expand management and technical education in this area of Garhwal Himalayas. This institute benefits the students of this area, which was lacking in the field of vocational and technical education.
   The institute is approved by All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, to run M.B.A. courses.
   The institute is also affiliated with Ch. Charan Singh University, Meerut. Courses offered are: B.B.A. (Bachelor of Business Administration), B.C.A. (Bachelor of Computer Application) and M.B.A. (Master of Business Administration).
   The institute, which is situated in Omkarananda Bhawan, Muni-ki-Reti, has a well furnished computer laboratory and a good library.
   Even Hostel-facilities are provided to accommodate students from remote towns and stations.
   Experienced faculty members for teaching and administration look after the smooth running of the institute which is unique in this area.
   
   
2. Omkarananda Centre for Computer Education and Software Development
   is a unit of Omkarananda Institute of Management and Technology, situated in Omkarananda Bhawan, Muni-ki-Reti. The computer centre is recognized by the Department of Electronics Accreditation of Computer Courses (DOEACC), Government of India, and provides the latest in computer education.
   
   
3. Omkarananda Ganga Sthal Appartments provide residential quarters for Professors and the teaching Staff of Omkarananda Institute of Management and Technology
   
   
4. Omkarananda Shivalaya provides boarding and lodging to the students of the Omkarananda Institute of Management and Technology
   
   
5. Omkarananda Public Library is the first public library in the area of Muni-ki-Reti.
   
   
6. Omkarananda Ram-Ashram Library
   situated on the bank of the holy river Ganga, has accommodation possibilities for scholars and visitors.
   
   
7. Omkarananda Govt. Homoeopathic Hospital
   In the heart of Muni-ki-Reti the Trust has sponsored a building for the charitable Govt. Homoeopathic Hospital, which was named accordingly.
   
   
8. Red-Cross Maternity and Childwelfare Department too is provided with free rooms for running a Hospital at Omkarananda Niwas, Muni-ki-Reti.
   
   
9. Omkarananda Ganga Sadan is the Trust's beautiful guest house, in Muni-ki-Reti, directly by the Ganga. Satsang and Yoga-classes are conducted here at the Patanjala Yoga Kendra. The view from the lobby and the rooms is breathtakingly beautiful and soothing the mind.
   
   
10. Omkarananda Public Ghat adjacent to Omkarananda Ganga Sadan provides easy approach to the holy Ganga.
    
    
11. Omkarananda Social Palace is the trust's beautiful Dharmashala, situated right in the centre of Rishikesh, behind the Roadways Busstand. Pilgrims to the holy shrines of Garhwal can get neat and clean rooms to stay. The newly opened vegetarian restaurant provides food and refreshments. The Omkarananda Social Palace houses the second Omkarananda Yoga Centre.

Omkarananda Educational Society

1. Omkarananda Saraswati Degree College Deoprayag
   Affiliated to H.N. Bahuguna Garhwal University, Shrinagar, this is the only privately managed Degree College in the whole of Garhwal and Kumaon.
   
   
2. Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam is a co-educational English Medium Senior Secondary School, affiliated to I.C.S.E., New Delhi. Situated in Muni-ki-Reti, the school is having a strength of more than 1100 students.
   
   
3. Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam Preparatory School
   is centrally located in Rishikesh and gives education to children of Classes Nursery and KG. It also prepares pre-Nursery children for the higher classes.
   
   
4. Omkarananda Boys' Hostel
   is situated in Omkarananda Niwas, Muni-ki-Reti. It provides boarding and lodging facilities to the students of Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam.
   
   
5. Omkarananda Saraswati Natya Kala Academy
   is affiliated to Prayag Sangit Samiti, Allahabad. It is conducting courses in Indian classical dance and music.
   
   
6. Vani Educational Society
   maintains in the remote villages of the Garhwal Himalayas 42 schools, out of which there are 32 Basic Schools and 10 Junior High Schools. Situated in the districts Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal and Rudraprayag, these schools provide education to students of the most backward areas of Garhwal, where education is needed most.
   
   
7. Omkarananda Educational Foundation, Mumbai
   was established on Vijay Dashami 1994. Its aims and objects are to provide educational aid and scholarships to needy and deserving students.

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