Kaivalyadhama

What is KaivalyaDhama ?

Virtually a university of Yoga, with many limbs.

Spiritual

The Kaivalyadhama Ashram is the spiritual heart and focus of the Institute, and it is under this influence that the various departments does function.

Technical

The Scientific Research Department, to study the quantitative Physiological, Radiological, Psychological, Sportive, Biochemical and Neurological contexts of Yoga.

Archival

The Philosophico Literary Research Department, the qualitative Learned Analysis, Textual, Reconstructive, Bibliographical and Encyclopaedic contexts of Yoga.

Teaching

The Gordhandas Seksaria College of Yoga and Cultural Synthesis, theoretical and practical training for Certificate, Diploma, Advanced Teacher Training, Yoga Therapy and Specialist Courses for Management Development.

Therapeutic

The Srimati Amolakdevi Tirathram Gupta Yogic Hospital and Healthcare Centre; Yoga, Diet, Ayurveda and Naturopathy Treatment Centres, all under Medical Supervision.

 

Spreading the word

The Yoga Mimamsa Press disseminates the Institute’s learned output through books, audio visuals, and a quarterly journal.

Historical Photographs

And today…

Dining | KaivalyaDhama

Universal Spirit

From time immemorial, India’s spirit has remained strong and vibrant with individuals such as Swami Kuvalyananda taking human form. The Institute’s “raison d’etre” is to maintain this strength, and today Swami Maheshananda, as Chairman and Spiritual Guide of Kaivalyadhama, continues the succession with great charm and wisdom. Swami Maheshananda maintains a twice daily Havan (fire puja) practice to which all staff, students and visitors are welcome. The Swami is also available to all in the traditional way. Also, among the renowned visitors to Kaivalyadhama is the world renown Vedanta Acharya, Swami Anubhavananda. Classes are held on all aspects of Vedanta, especially the Bhagavad Gita.

Kaivalyadhama’s Management 

The Governing Body is the main policy making body. The advisory board which is chaired by former Supreme Court Judge, Justice B.N. Shrikrishna and comprises prominent professionals from fields related to the institutes activities, shapes how it does function both now and in the future.

Secretary General 

Shri  0. P. Tiwari is Hon. Secretary of the Institute and responsible for executing decisions of the Governing Body. A disciple of Swami Kuvalyananda, he is one of the few sincere masters who teach the subtle techniques of Yoga in the classical way.

Pushing back Yoga’s frontiers 

The work of the Scientific Research Department falls primarily in two quantitative directions.

First, cutting edge studies into the effect of Yoga practices, such as Asanas, Kriyas and Pranayama, on diverse subjects as for example school children, yoga students, and police officers are carried out.

Second, studies into the benefits of Yoga on various afflictions, such as obesity, diabetes, stress, and blindness.

Over the many decades of this good work, a wealth of knowledge has been built, resulting in over one thousand research articles being published at home and internationally. The Department’s staff are highly regarded and sort after to give outreach learning in universities at postgraduate level, and at conferences.

Several research projects are completed each year in the Department’s fully equipped laboratories. These fall into six main categories: physiological, radiology, psychological, sports, biochemical, and neurological. With affiliation to the University of Pune, the Department mounts both M.Phil, and Ph.D. courses, while also collaborating with other Indian universities, as well as scientists in Europe and the USA.

The magnificent contribution that Kaivalyadhama’s Scientific Research Department has made to the world of Yoga and health since 1924 is beyond question and is of the highest reputation.

Every Leaf a treasure

Yoga could not be complete without a learned body of writings, and it is the role of Kaivalyadhama’s Philosophico Literary Research Department to provide what may be the world’s most comprehensive archive specifically on Yoga.

The Department’s first objective is to collect, analyse, disseminate, and protect ancient and modern works on Yoga. Protection of the original meanings of Yoga are especially vital today as interest in Yoga worldwide has apeared, bringing with it unwarranted distortions of this beautiful wisdom and the risk of loss of India’s priceless, irreplaceable heritage.

The basic work of the Department is to render traditional Yogic lore in a systematic and rational way so making it more accessible and understandable to all. Swami Kuvalyananda’s original qualitative methodology of both the basic and analytic is still maintained in the fields of ethics, social, philosophical, and spiritual applications. This entails both enhancing knowledge and unfolding concepts.

The output and facilities of the Department are both impressive and highly valuable. Across the decades since 1924, textual discoveries and translations, and the publication of learned writings, have earned the Department much prestige. The library, which is open to all, contains over 25,000 titles and is itself a national treasure. There may be no greater Yoga resource than this anywhere in the world.

Classical Yoga education

Established in 1951 by Swami Kuvalyananda the Gordhandas Seksaria College of Yoga & Cultural Synthesis is an institute for the training of Yoga instructors. In fact, it has built a high international reputation for excellence, and students enrol from all parts of India and the world for yoga training. But the College’s excellence is not just for training people as Yoga instructors. Substantial activities are also undertaken with the military, police and medical professionals, business executives and, not least, school teachers.

There are eight courses: 

  1. Certificate Course in Yoga (30 days)
  2. PG Diploma in Yoga Education (9 months)
  3. Foundation Course in Yoga (21 days)
  4. Foundation Course in Ayurveda (21 days)
  5. Advanced Course in Yoga (1 month)
  6. B.A. – Yoga Philosophy (6 Semesters)
  7. M.A.  – Yoga Philosophy (4 Semesters)
  8. Certificate Course for Assistant to Yoga Therapist (3 months

A full prospectus is available. The College is recognised by the Indian Government as an’Institute of Higher Learning. Yoqa is taught by the College as a secular activity, but its two main paths: as a part of spiritual enquiry and as a science of health and healing, are both integrated within the teachings. The future may be particularly bright for this College. It is planning to launch an undergraduate course with the University of Pune, for longer and more in-depth courses, international Internet learning, and further expansion into the corporate stress management field.

Most unusual treatment

Maybe nowhere else in the world there is a healthcare centre specializing in Yoga, Naturopathy, Ayurveda and Diet as this. These are treatments that where common millennia before today’s allopathic medicine. Which it does have a place in treatment, but according to the ideas of Swami Kuvalyananda, need not to usurp the former one.

The S.A.D.T. Gupta Yogic Hospital & Healthcare Centre is not a hospital in the usual sense. Just comfortable quiet twin rooms or family suites simple -yet excellent- vegetarian food, and a minimum of a week long programme of Yoga Naturopathy and Ayurveda (baths, cleansing and massage), talks, discussions, mantra chanting and walks, all at a reasonable cost.

The treatment patients receive is individual. The yogic prescription is only for what can be personally achieved or benefited from. People of all ages come for all kinds of reasons: for obesity bronchial problems, stress, arthritis, insomnia and many more. Some come for a week (or more) just to relax and to pay special attention to their bodies and life.

Patients are in excellent hands in this most unusual, happy and caring environment. Three physicians are on call, (but no nurses). Wheelchair users are welcome (please first ask for details). The Hospital benefits from expertise developed in the other departments at Kaivalyadhama what they say and do is not based on guesswork, but is the outcome of many years of learned Yoqa study and healthcare practice.

Non-conventional Energy Sources

Solar Plant – Kaivalyadhama houses a 75kW Solar PV Plant in its campus. This source of electricity generation accounts for energy security and increases efficiency over the institute’s wide geographical area. It is renewable and do not cause environmental pollution.

Windmills – Kaivalyadhama is also equipped with windmills for the purpose of electricity generation.

Dairy

In yoga it is believed that proper nourishment leads to a pure body, which in turn facilitates spiritual advancement. In its efforts to provide pure and organic food Kaivalyadhama’s gaushala (cowshed) is equipped with over forty cows that provide fresh milk throughout the institute. The livestock is sent to graze throughout the lush green property of Kaivalyadhama which has resulted in increased agricultural plantations throughout the campus in order to ensure that the cows consume only natural and fresh food. To promote eco-friendly behavior the institute recycles cow dung and uses it as a source of manure. The cows receive the most equitable and caring form of treatment with a large staff and veterinary doctor to tend to them at all times.

This happy place

Situated on the western edge of the Western Ghats close to the town of Lonavala, Kaivalyadhama is at 120 km from Mumbai, and 60 km from Pune. Its height above sea level is 600 m, which means it is always refreshingly cooler than the coast area. The main railway and expressway between these two cities are close by, making the Institute quite easy to reach from all places. Kaivalyadhama itself is spread across 180 acres of parkland and gardens and is full of trees, flowers, birds and butterflies, making it a beautifully open and serene place to visit. The staff and workers are a happy group and will give you a warm welcome whenever you may come
.