Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas is located in Muni-ki-reti, the sacred place near the bank of the holy river Ganga, in the proximity of both Rishikesh, the ancient place of pilgrimage and the famous Lakshmanjhula. This Ashram was established in 1967.  

People of all nationalities live in the Ashram. Those who live in the Ashram, live by the eternal values. Many of them have come to the Ashram as children. They are Hindu by nature and Hindu by Sanskar. They are real Brahmin by Swabhav and recite Vedic Hymns and sacred Hindu texts better than any one expert in reciting these Hymns. They have pure hearts and innocent natures. They are made Hindus by special purificatory Vedic, Tantric and Pauranic Rituals. They are given Upanayana Sacrament and given Sanyas Diksha and are made monks of Adi Shankaracharya’s Saraswati order, belonging to Sri Sharada Pitha of Sringeri. Mostly Indians and Indian Citizens of Western European lands are living in this Ashram. All of them are highly educated and specialised in various educational and engineering fields.  

The Ashram is managed by a group of Sanyasis, Swami Vishveshwarananda, President of the Ashram is in charge of all the activities of Omkarananda Ashram in India. He has received Sanyas Diksha from Gurudev Paramahamsa Swami Omkarananda Saraswati. Swami Vishveshwarananda is a Karma Yogi by temper, character and choice and bears in his heart uncompromising and total devotion to his Gurudev. From 1967 to 1982 he has rendered distinguishing services to Omkarananda’s European Ashrams. In 1982 he was sent to manage the social, religious, cultural and educational activities of the Ashram in India. Within a short time he has created a large field of activities – the Ashram temples for the Sadhakas, schools for the students, and buildings for resident Swamis, teachers and professors. In a hilly region, which is a world of Sadhus, Sanyasis and Mahatmas, he discovered –education as the greatest need and has been ably fulfilling this need much to the joy of over a thousand families. He is self-effacing and has no ambition for himself. Such is his devotion to the Gurudev that he wants to be Hanuman and not Lord Rama.  

In the spirit of Veda Mantra, a team of Omkarananda Saraswati's monastic disciples are serving Sarva-Devata and the public – one heart, one mind and will. The grace of Guru, Gayatri, Ganga, Gita, Tripurasundari is visible in their lives.

The aims of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas are the development of educational, social, cultural and spiritual projects, specially educational projects.   

The Lineage

The lineage of Omkarananda Sannyasis, their Guruparamapara runs in this order: Lord Narayana, Brahma, Dakshinamurti, Shankaracharya, Shivananda, Omkarananda. Their roots are in Vedas and Upanishads. Their heart is Srividya, the soul of their being is Sri Yantra. Their Ishta Devata is Parabrahmasvaroopini Sri Mahatripurasundari. They are at the same time Shiva Bhaktas and Vishnu Bhaktas, because they believe that Shiva and Vishnu are two of the many faces of Parameshwari Tripurasundari.  

Branches in India