Constitution

The Charitable Trust, "Sri Gnanananda Niketan" was constituted on 24th April 1986, Chitra Poornima day, with Paramapujya Swami Vidyananda Giri as Chairman and Swami Nityananda Giri as Managing Trustee.

Swami Vidyananda Giri was the direct and the senior most monastic disciple of Sadguru Gnanananda. A special recipient of the grace of Jagadguru Sri Chandra-Sekharendra Saraswathi of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, he was fully blessed by Sadguru Gnanananda and nominated by Him as the first teacher of Vedanta in the ashram.

Swami Nityananda Giri is well versed in Vedanta, having received the direct guidance from Sadguru Gnanananda and studied under Swami Vidyananda Giri. He had the privilege to compile the teachings of the great sage under his personal direction. He is keenly interested in mysticism and is well known in inter-religious dialogue. He has travelled widely lecturing on Vedanta and yoga.


The centre is a Sadhana Kendra with the traditional method of teaching Adhyatma Vidya and imparting training in meditation. It sets out to fulfil the basic purpose for which Sadguru Gnanananda founded the ashram, calling it Adhyatma Vidyalaya - a school for Self-knowledge.

The facilities offered by the Kendra attracts keen aspirants desirous of initiation into Sannyas as well as Sannyasins to Sadguru's Shrine of Grace. It thus helps preserve the monastic tradition of the ashram. It will also receive Sannyasins from other ashrams, in keeping with the tradition established by Sadguru Gnanananda.

Sadguru Gnanananda was keen that the monastic lineage or Parampara should continue and the monks of the ashram pursuing Vedantic Sadhana and meditation should continue to be given all facilities. He told Swami Abhishiktananda:

"Come back and be near me. We shall talk again. Above all you will have time for silent meditation. No one will disturb you. You will not have to worry about food or anything like that. Apart from our conversations, you will remain in silence"

This is indeed the call of Sri Gnanananda to his monastic disciples and spiritual aspirants to Tapovanam for all time. It will be through this new Centre, this invitation would be heard by them.