Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam
Dhyanapeetam Bidadi- A Virtual Tour
The first thing that greets you as soon as you step into the Bidadi ashram is the dynamic energy of this sacred place. Under the grace and guidance of a living enlightened master and countless hours of spiritual practice of devotees and disciples, the atmosphere in the ashram encourages one to tune within. Being the spiritual headquarters of the mission, this is the center for spiritual practices and learning of techniques directly from the master.
Everyone is free to explore this sacred and mystical space where lives have been transformed, are transforming and will transform. Open seven days a week, the ashram offers a variety of events to explore Swamijis philosophy and practices.
For those simply looking for a beautiful and peaceful place to pursue their practice, the ashram's sacred Banyan tree, Sri Anandeshwara Temple and Ananda Linga are available daily for meditation and contemplation.
We look forward to welcoming you in person and invite you to explore and experience the ashram.
The Welcome Center, the first building on the left located in the "Nithyananda Mission Secretariate" just inside the front entrance of the ashram. In this comfortable setting you can peruse the ashram schedule or find out more about the ashram from Swamiji's brahmacharis and ashramites.
For any information about the ashram or programs conducted within the ashram or outside please contact the welcome center _ +91 80 27202084 / 27202801
On 1st January 2007, Paramahamsa performed a grand kumbabhisheka – first holy bath - to the temple of Sri Anandeshwar at the ashram in Bangalore. Built with granite stone and along similar lines of the Arunachala temple of Tiruvannamalai, this temple is being built at a rapid pace with the love and devotion of devotees and disciples of Paramahamsa. It beholds an energy field pregnant with the Cosmic Energy. The presiding deities of the temple – Sri Anandeshwar and Anandeshwari, made out of panchaloha, five metals. Measuring 7 ½ feet in height and weighing 2 ½ tons, the deities went through a grand procession in South India, offering darshan to crores of people, before entering the temple.
They were consecrated through prana prathishta a method of consecration by which the Existential energy is instilled in the deities by Paramahamsa, on 1st Jan 2007. Bearing the profound distinction of being consecrated by an enlightened master himself, these deities exude the Cosmic Energy, creating an atmosphere where mere existence is meditation. Just being here, heals one at the physical, mental and spiritual levels.
The energy field is strengthened through continuous spiritual practices by ordained brahmacharis of the ashram. Vedic chanting, powerful fire rituals, specially designed pujas and other offerings, happen here continuously. Up to 1008 varieties of food items are offered here on special occasions.
This space is the energy hub of the ashram. Revealed to Swamiji in a spiritual vision and worshipped as the guiding spirit of the ashram, this banyan tree encloses a space resonant with the Cosmic energy. At the entrance of the cave to this banyan tree was originally a swayambu linga (naturally formed Shiva linga), which has now been consecrated at the Temple of Anandeshwar. The cave and the swayambu linga have been here from time immemorial. Over years, the banyan tree has grown and spread its foliage here.
Impregnated with healing energy, this space heals at the physical, emotional and spiritual levels. It bears a mystical connection to Shambaala – the metaphysical space of enlightened Masters. Here, one can find three trees: Athi (Fig), Ala (Banyan) and Arasa (Peepal), known to bear fruits without bearing flowers. In the Vedic tradition, these are sacred trees, known as Vanaspati or 'Lord of the forest'. It is said that where these three trees are found, Banashankara or Shiva dwells.
Under the sacred banyan tree stands a beautiful idol of Lord Dakshinamurti, symbolizing the Guru.
Swamiji installed an idol of Lord Dakshinamurti under the sacred Banyan tree. He did the prana pratishta (giving life to the idol) himself.
The first sight that greets you as soon as you drive into the ashram is the majestic 21 feet Ananda Linga which has been made using Nava Pashana (a strong natural medicine) and 1008 herbs. The water that springs up from beneath the ground is poured on the Ananda Lingam and gets collected around the Ananda Linga forming the Vaidhya Sarovar. The Ananda Linga and Vaidhya Sarovar are blessed to radiate healing energy. Before proceeding to the Sri Anandeshwara Anandeshwari Temple, devotees are expected to take a dip in the Vaidhya Sarovar. Taking a dip in this holy water brings physical and mental well being.
On all auspicious occasions, Theppotsav (the joyful festival of carrying the Master on a float, referred locally as "theppal", across the pond) is celebrated with the Master. As a part of the ritual, Maha Meru (the 3-dimensional representation of the cosmos) is dipped in the Vaidhya Sarovar. This is the most exciting and playful part of the day, where everyone has a dip in the "Vaidhya Sarovar" with the Master.
The Lifebliss Galleria showroom, located to the left on the way to the temple, carries Swamiji's teachings in the form of a variety of books on meditation and yoga, plus an extensive selection of CDs and videos of various discourses delivered by Swamiji at different places across the world, rudraksha malas, bracelets and other items to support your spiritual practices. The showroom also has various items that can be gifted to a loved one.
Our showroom is open every day from 9am to 9pm. Should you wish to find out if any new items are available at the showroom, please call or contact the Welcome Desk at 80-27202084.
If you would like to browse and purchase items online, please visit our online showroom at www.nithyanandagalleria.com (for all Indian residents) or www.lifeblissgalleria.com (for all international residents)
The ashram anna mandir staff prepares delicious Satvic vegetarian meals that are available for FREE for visitors and students. Food is cooked by healers who then energize the food by making an offering at the Sri Anandeshwara temple at the ashram. Meal times are subject to change during special events, programs, and courses. If you are visiting the ashram or coming to an event at the ashram, please plan to join us for a meal!
Breakfast 9am - 10am
Lunch 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Dinner 9pm - 10pm
The dispensary offers free consultation and diagnosis by qualified doctors, free medication and follow-ups.
We also offer the service of Nithya Energy Healing, an energy-based healing science, by healers initiated into this science by Paramahamsa Nithyananda. This further aids in speeding up healing, works on a deeper level than the physical level and improves the natural healing power of the body.
The allopathic medicines are state-of-the-art and approved by FDA and manufactured by reputed companies.
We offer alternative systems of medicine that include Ayurveda and Siddha systems that have proven their efficacy by the sheer practice of these medicines for thousands of years.
Festivals
Jayanthi is celebrated on January 1 every year in a grand way at all the Nithyananda ashrams and centers worldwide. On January 1 1978, Nithyananda was born as Rajasekaran in the temple town of Tiruvannamalai, home to the Arunachala hill.
Jayanthi is celebrated with great fervor by devotees worldwide to commemorate this ultimate happening. It is the culmination of the host of events happening during the days leading to Jayanthi like Healers Day (a day dedicated to healers), Acharyas Day (day dedicated to acharyas), Moms Day (day dedicated to those who feel like a mother to the Master), Kids Day, Youth Day, and lots more! A host of cultural activities are also organized where traditional artisans perform various shows.
Guru Purnima is the day to pay our deep gratitude to all the Masters who have touched and transformed millions of lives till date. Guru literally means the one who leads from darkness to light, from ignorance to knowledge. He lights in other beings the same light which he discovered in himself, thus leading them to enlightenment.
Guru Purnima is the only day when Nithyananda takes offerings from devotees with His own hands, treating their offerings as their karmas and dissolving them. He also gives a handful of rice to each one, to be eaten and kept in their homes to bring well being in the inner and outer world.
The word ‘Shiva’ means causeless auspicious energy. Shiva is auspicious energy. Ratri means intensity. Shiva Ratri is the night when the auspicious energy is available with great intensity for each one to harness.
This day is filled with a host of activities started from flag hoisting followed by milk abhishekam and arati to the Jyotir Linga at Sri Anandeshwara temple. A grand Breakfast, Lunch and dinner is served free of charge to everyone who visits the ashram. The evening is filled with various cultural programs and performances by popular artists and also the ashramites. This is followed by a message from Swamiji and meditation. This charged event is then followed by Maha Abhishekam and Rudra Homa at the temple. The festival ends with darshan from Swamiji until the early morning hours.
Navaratri is a nine-day festival in glory of Devi, the Cosmic Mother. She is worshipped in different forms: as Lakshmi- the goddess of wealth and prosperity, as Saraswati- the goddess of knowledge and wisdom and as Durga-the goddess of courage and fearlessness. Vijayadashami, the last day, marks the victory of good over evil.
This festival is celebrated in a grand way in the ashram with the Mother decorated grandly on each of the 9 days followed by homa and cultural programs in the evening.
All the celebrations witness various initiations and ceremonies like:
Brahmacharya Deeksha - Initiation as a brahmachari (one who lives in tune with Existence or reality)
Vanaprastha Deeksha - Sannyas initiation to those who choose the path of sannyas (freedom and liberation)
Ashramite Deeksha - Initiation for those who wish to be initiated as ashramites and grow and offer service to humanity
Acharya Deeksha - Initiation to become acharyas (teachers) to spread Nithyanandas teachings to the world at large
Vidyaarthi Deeksha - Initiation to mark the start of spiritual learning
Medium initiation - Initiation to those deemed to be Nithyanandas mediums to give energy darshan to the public at large
Enquiries
The ashram daily schedule of chanting, meditation, and arati, a beautiful fire ritual and blissful service was created by Swamiji to support seekers in deepening their spiritual practice. This daily schedule is recommended for everyone who spends time at the ashram, and is, in itself, an ideal schedule for spiritual retreat. Over the years, seekers have found that as they participate in the beautiful rhythm of each day, they begin to experience a renewed flow of energy and inspiration.
The ashram opens at 5:30 am and closes at 9:30 pm.
Waking up Puja (Suprabatham) 5:30am
Abhishekam 6am
Nithya Puja 6:30am
Arati 8:30am
Breakfast 9am
Blissful service 10am onwards
Naivedyam 1pm
Lunch 1:30pm
Evening Gurupuja and Arati 7pm
Naivedyam 8:30pm
Palliyere puja 9pm
To honor the sacred vedic traditions, ashram guests and meditation students are asked to dress modestly. Please avoid tight or sheer clothing, low-cut tops/dresses, miniskirts, and shorts.
Remember when you are at the Dhyanapeetam Ashram you are in an Energy field. Wearing light colored clothing will help in absorbing and retaining this divine energy within you.
The Best time to visit the ashram would be during programs and festivals during which cultural programs and vedic rituals are performed at the ashram and the temple at the ashram.
India being a tropical country, can be very hot for a westerner even during winter. Although Bidadi, Bengaluru can range from moderate to cool climates, it can get really hot and dry during the daytime for a typical westerner.
The period between November and March is the most eventful and the busiest time in the Ashram as 90% of the important days for the Ashram fall in this period. The other busy period is in July during Guru Purnima, which is a very special day for all of Swamiji's disciples.
1.Keep your place of stay clean at all times.
2.Do not use abusive/disrespectful language with yourself or others.
3.Entry to restricted areas like Ananda Puri and Ananda Gandha is strictly prohibited.
4.Use of camera, cell phones, voice recorders and video cameras is strictly prohibited at the ashram premises.
5.Alcoholic beverages, smoking, non-vegetarian food and drugs are strictly prohibited at the ashram premises.
6.Dress decently when taking bath in Vaidyasarovar. Do not indulge in indecent exposure.
7.Plan your travel times so that you reach the ashram before dark.
8.Do not interrupt Swamiji when he is walking. Meeting with Swamiji can only be done through prior appointment.
Visit Us
Accommodations at the Dhyanapeetam Ashram at Bidadi are available when space permits for devotees who are participating in retreats and other learning and teaching events at the ashram.
Accommodations in the ashram include men's and women's dormitory-style rooms and one family room. A few spaces in double rooms and some single rooms may also be available. Unmarried couples are housed in separate rooms. Our family room, when available, is for parents with at least one child 14 years of age or younger and can include children up to the age of 20. Family rates and rooms are for primary family members, i.e., parents and children. Please do not leave children unattended at any time.
Accommodations include three sattvic vegetarian meals per day. One set of linen per bed is available for the duration of the visit.
Short-term guests are welcome to stay up to seven nights. Longer stays require an application. Contact the Resident Administrator at ashram_dhyanapeetam.org to receive the application. Long-term residency rates are available on request.
Reserving Accommodations:
Please register in advance. If we are unable to accommodate your requested dates due to lack of space, we will notify you. Drop in accommodations are not available.
All payments must be tendered in U.S. currency. Payment for reservations can be made by credit card, Money orders, cashier's checks, personal checks.
Driving directions to Bidadi, Bengaluru, Karnataka
62.6 km about 1 hour 14 mins
Bengaluru International Airport, Bengaluru, Karnataka
1. Head west 3.2 km
2. Take the ramp to National Highway 7/NH 7 0.2 km
3. Keep left at the fork to continue toward National Highway
7/NH 7 and merge onto National Highway 7/NH 7 14.4 km
4. Continue on NH 7 Yelahanka Bypass 1.4 km
5. Continue on NH 7 3.7 km
6. Continue on Bellary Rd 3.6 km
7. Turn left at Taralabalu Rd 0.8 km
8. Turn right toward Jayamahal Rd 0.5 km
9. Turn right at Jayamahal Rd 0.4 km
10. Turn left toward Ramana Maharishi Rd 0.4 km
11. Slight left at Ramana Maharishi Rd 1.4 km
12. Continue on Chowdaiah Rd 2.0 km
13. Continue on Raj Bhavan Rd 0.3 km
14. Turn right at Dr Ambedkar Rd 1.1 km
15. Continue on Nrupathunga Rd 0.9 km
16. At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit 0.4 km
17. Continue straight onto N R Road 0.3 km
18. Continue on N R Rd 1.1 km
19. Continue on Mysore Rd 12.8 km
20. Continue on SH 17 13.7 km
Bidadi
Bengaluru, Karnataka