Parmath Niketan - pujyaswami

Parmarth Niketan

An abode dedicated to the welfare of all

H.H. Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji Is The President Of Parmarth Niketan Ashram In Rishikesh, India, A True, Spiritual Haven, Lying On The Holy Banks Of Mother Ganga, In The Lap Of The Lush Himalayas.

Parmarth Niketan is the largest ashram in Rishikesh. Parmarth Niketan provides its thousands of pilgrims – who come from all corners of the Earth – with a clean, pure and sacred atmosphere as well as abundant, beautiful gardens. With over 1,000 rooms, the facilities are a perfect blend of modern amenities and traditional, spiritual simplicity.

Rishikesh – known as the “City of the Divine”- is a spiritual center to which sages, rishis, saints and pilgrims have flocked for millennia. The roads of the city are lined with bustling market places of ethnic arts and handicrafts, fresh produce markets, holy shrines and orange-robed sadhus. Then, the road narrows, the markets become more sparse and you come upon a foot bridge, suspended high over the sacred Ganga river. As you cross this bridge, the sun streaming through the sacred Himalayas to warm your being, you will feel as if you have truly come home.

Ganga Aarti At Parmarth

Ganga is not only a river. She is a Divine Mother, giving freely to all with no discrimination, hesitation or expectation. She irrigates not only our farms, but also our hearts, minds and souls. Yet, the Ganga is also one of the most polluted rivers and endangered rivers in the world. Understanding that people won’t pollute the same place that they worship, Pujya Swamiji began a mission to initiate Ganga Aarti ceremonies (lighting ceremonies) up and down the banks of Ganga and to convince as many ashrams as possible to turn their river fronts into places of worship.

The Ganga Aarti held every night at Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, draws people of all faiths from across the world to enjoy a serene sunset ceremony of song, inspiration and lights.

Pujya Swamiji has also been the inspiration and founder of Ganga Aarti ceremonies in Varanasi (on the eve of the turn of the Millennium with H.H. the Dalai Lama and numerous other saints), as well as in Allahabad, Gangotri, Uttarakashi, Dev Prayag, Rudraprayag, Jwalapur, and many other locations.

It is no surprise that pilgrims are drawn here from all over the world. The awe-inspiring beauty of the ashram, the clear flowing Ganga, the majestic mountains, and the lush green forests will embrace and rejuvenate your entire being. Parmarth Niketan offers comfort, inspiration and upliftment for your body, mind and spirit as well as a deeper connection with the Divine. As you stay in the ashram, you will feel your soul bathing in the peace of sacred energies, including those that emanate from nature and those that linger from the timeless healing powers of saints, sages and holy ones. Parmarth Niketan contains within it the voice and the spirit of divine communion.

The daily activities at Parmarth Niketan include morning universal prayers, daily yoga and meditation classes, daily satsang and lecture programs, kirtan, the world-renowned Ganga Aarti at sunset, as well as Nature Cure and Ayurvedic treatment.

Individuals and families also regularly come to Parmarth to perform sacred rites ceremonies (sanskaras), such as mundan (first hair cut), upanayana (sacred thread ceremony), sacred weddings, and the final ash immersion (ashti visarjan) puja.

There are frequently special cultural and spiritual programs given by visiting revered saints, acclaimed musicians, spiritual and social leaders and others. Additionally, there are frequent camps in which pilgrims come from across the world to partake in intensive courses on yoga, meditation, pranayama, stress management, acupressure, Reiki and other ancient Indian sciences. Parmarth Niketan is also host to the annual, world-renowned International Yoga Festival. True to its name, Parmarth Niketan is dedicated to the welfare of all. Parmarth Niketan’s charitable activities and services make no distinctions on the basis of caste, color, gender, creed or nationality. Instead they emphasize unity, harmony, peace, global integrity, health, and the holistic connection between the body, mind and spirit.

PARMARTH NIKETAN IS OPEN TO ALL, WITH NO DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF RACE, GENDER, NATIONALITY, RELIGION, CASTE OR CREED.

VISIT PARMARTH NIKETAN’S WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE.

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