Sri Yukteshwar Giri Ashram: Spirituality at Home Serampore:

Sri Yukteshwar Giri Ashram: Spirituality at Home Serampore:

The Sri Yukteshwar Giri Ashram located in Serampore is a lovely, well-built, and serene ashram- perfect for seeking some peace of mind. Located in the hinterlands of Serampore in West Bengal, this ashram can be called the torchbearer of peace. Surrounded by green trees, large dusty meadows, and lakes, the Sri Yukteshwar Giri Ashram is a great place to just relax and gather your thoughts.

Sri Yukteshwar And His Ashram

• Sri Yukteshwar was a religious saint who preached peace and non-violence. His teachings or sermons radiate the idea of forgiveness, kindness, and the joy of living.
• He spent his days in the Serampore Ashram and followed a humble and modest life. His followers and disciples who stayed along with him in this very ashram recount how down-to-earth Sri Yukteshwar was.
• He would wake up early in the morning, and even before having his breakfast, he would take a stroll down the banks of the holy river of Ganga.

• The Sri Yukteshwar Giri Ashram is also known for hosting another famous saint- Shri Yogananda. He lived here and studied for his college degree.
• His daily routine from the Sri Yukteshwar Giri Ashram to his college is beautifully decided by Shri Yogananda himself in his book the Autobiography of a Yogi. He also talks and praises the Swami Sri Yukteswar in his book. This ashram in Serampore was originally his family home, which he later converted into an ashram.

The Elegant Ashram

• The beauty of this ashram not only lies in the serenity that it commands but also in its structure. The lovely ashram has a rustic charm, yet it is large and pristine.
• There is a huge pillared courtyard which allows some cooling breeze to come and play inside. There is a garden in the back, and you will find mango trees, jackfruit trees, and many others, all maintained by the current habitats of the ashram.
• As you walk around the halls of the ashram, you will feel the presence of Swami Sri Yukteswar himself. It feels as if he is walking with you and guiding you along the way.
• His sermons still resonate through the walls of the ashram and you instantly feel calm and collected.
• The Yogoda Satsanga Dhyana Kendra is located near the Smriti Mandir and cal also is called a part of the ashram. This is also where Yoganandaji lived during his college years.
• There is a massive hall on the ground floor where you can sit and practice meditation. It is known as the meditation hall and is open for all visitors.
• There is also a narrow stairway that will lead you to the sitting room of Swami Sri Yukteswar. The room is kept exactly the way it was when Swami Sri Yukteswar used to be there.
• Nothing has been changed, and just by seeing the room, you will feel as if you know Swami Sri Yukteswar a little better now.
• Apart from these two rooms, another room has been converted into a shrine for Shri Yogananda. The furniture inside the ashram is kept to a bare minimum, and few chairs and benches for sitting can be found.

Things To Do

• In the current times, group meditations are conducted every Saturday in Smriti Mandir. The sessions are truly humbling and cathartic, and if time permits you must attend one of these sessions.
• Another event that draws large crowds is the commemoration of Avirbhav Divas of both Yoganandaji and also of his Gurudeva, Swami Sri Yukteswarji.
• Several locals also come over to the ashram to witness this holy ceremony and take part in remembering these two great saints. You can also choose to live in this ashram for a day or two to completely relax your mind and introspect. The facility has neat rooms and dining facilities.
• Take a walk along Rai Ghat Lane. This lovely Ghat was also the place where Shri Yoganandaji and Sri Yukteswar used to talk a stroll at early in the morning.
• The lane is still reminiscent of the olden days and even a little touch of modernity seems to allude to it. Try and walk the path and you will feel as if you are back in ancient India.