Shree Muktananda Ashram, in the

Catskills The Catskill Mountains, also known as the Catskills, are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains, located in southeastern New York. As a cultural and geographic region, the Catskills are generally defined as those areas cl ...

area of upstate New York, is owned and operated by the

SYDA Foundation Siddha Yoga is a spiritual path founded by Swami Muktananda (1908–1982). The organization states in its literature that the Siddha Yoga tradition is "based mainly on eastern philosophies". It also states that it "draws many of its teachings f ...

. Its purpose is to provide a location where students of Siddha Yoga can study the philosophy and culture of the

Siddha Yoga Siddha Yoga is a spiritual path founded by Swami Muktananda (1908–1982). The organization states in its literature that the Siddha Yoga tradition is "based mainly on eastern philosophies". It also states that it "draws many of its teachings f ...

path and follow its daily practices (known as sadhana). Shree Muktananda Ashram houses the headquarters of the SYDA Foundation, the organization that protects, preserves, and facilitates the dissemination of the Siddha Yoga teachings. The ashram is located in

South Fallsburg South Fallsburg is a hamlet and census-designated place in Sullivan County, New York, United States. South Fallsburg is located within the Town of Fallsburg at (41.716489, -74.630279). History South Fallsburg is located in the one-time resort ...

, approximately 130 kilometres north-west of New York City.

History

The ashram that is currently known as Shree Muktananda Ashram was founded by

Swami Muktananda Swami Muktananda Paramahamsa (16 May 1908 – 2 October 1982), born Krishna Rai, was a yoga guru, the founder of Siddha Yoga. He was a disciple of Bhagavan Nityananda. He wrote books on the subjects of Kundalini Shakti, Vedanta, and Kash ...

, who was the disciple of the Indian guru Bhagavan Nityananda and the guru of the current spiritual head of the Siddha Yoga path

Swami Chidvilasananda Gurumayi Chidvilasananda (or Gurumayi or Swami Chidvilasananda), born Malti Shetty on 24 June 1955, is the guru or spiritual head of the Siddha Yoga path, with ashrams in India at Ganeshpuri and the Western world, with the headquarters of the ...

. Between 1970 and 1981, Muktananda undertook three world tours, establishing Siddha Yoga ashrams and centers in several countries. During his third world tour, Muktananda inaugurated Shree Nityananda Ashram in honour of his guru

Bhagawan Nityananda Bhagawan Nityananda (November/December, 1897 – 8 August 1961) was an Indian guru. His teachings are published in the "Chidakash Gita". Nityananda was born in Koyilandy (Pandalayini), Madras Presidency, British India (now in Kozhikode di ...

. After Swami Muktananda's death in 1982, his successor

Gurumayi Chidvilasananda Gurumayi Chidvilasananda (or Gurumayi or Swami Chidvilasananda), born Malti Shetty on 24 June 1955, is the guru or spiritual head of the Siddha Yoga path, with ashrams in India at Ganeshpuri and the Western world, with the headquarters of the ...

changed the name of the ashram to Shree Muktananda Ashram. The early ashram was established in a former hotel. The SYDA (Siddha Yoga Dham Associates) Foundation -- established by Muktananda in 1974 as the administrative organization for Siddha Yoga -- bought the Gilbert Hotel, situated on Brickman Road,

Fallsburg Fallsburg is a town in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The town is in the eastern part of the county. The population was 14,192 at the 2020 census. (It is not to be confused with the hamlet of Fallsburg which bears a similar name and ...

. Extensive renovations began and the site became the location of the offices that were to administer Siddha Yoga activities globally.Meditation Revolution, p.562 In the summer of 1979, Siddha Yoga devotees gathered for the first retreat in the former Gilbert Hotel. A former ballroom became a meditation room and a temple honoring Nityananda was built. In 1983, another hotel in the area, the Windsor, was acquired and converted to dormitory accommodation and offices. This centre became known as Sadhana Kutir. This facility has since been sold. In 1985, construction began on a large open-air pavilion known as

Shakti In Hinduism, especially Shaktism (a theological tradition of Hinduism), Shakti (Devanagari: शक्ति, IAST: Śakti; lit. "Energy, ability, strength, effort, power, capability") is the primordial cosmic energy, female in aspect, and rep ...

Mandapa A mandapa or mantapa () is a pillared hall or pavilion for public rituals in Indian architecture, especially featured in Hindu temple architecture. Mandapas are described as "open" or "closed" depending on whether they have walls. In temples, ...

, which was located behind the original hotel building, now known as Anugraha (divine grace). In the following year, the SYDA Foundation bought the Brickman Hotel, also on Brickman Road, which became known as Atma Nidhi (

treasure Treasure (from la, thesaurus from Greek language ''thēsauros'', "treasure store") is a concentration of wealth — often originating from ancient history — that is considered lost and/or forgotten until rediscovered. Some jurisdictions leg ...

the soul In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being". Etymology The Modern English noun ''soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest attes ...

). The ashram became a site. From the inception of Shree Muktananda Ashram until 2004, the SYDA Foundation offered retreats and courses at the ashram. Since then, courses and retreats have been created by the SYDA Foundation at Shree Muktananda Ashram for dissemination globally via local Siddha Yoga centres and via the Internet. File:LakeNityananda(Fallsburg).JPG, Lake Nityananda at night, Shree Muktananda Ashram File:fall0003.jpg, Lake Nityananda, late afternoon File:1_Pine_forest_Fallsburg1.jpg, Pine forest near Atma Nidhi

References

External links

Siddha Yoga Official Site
{{Siddha Yoga Ashrams Hinduism in New York (state) Fallsburg, New York Religious organizations established in 1979

History

See also

References

External links