TV Channel

In the beautiful landscape of Rajasthan, near the village of Jadan, lies the accommodation of Śrī Viśvadīp Gurukul Maheśvarānanda Āśram. Founded in 1993, this humanitarian and non-profit organization was made possible by the vision and leadership of the Viśva Guru Mahāmaṇḍaleśvara Paramahaṁsa Śrī Svāmī Māheśvarānandajī, the author of "Yoga in Everyday Life". This center is the heart of many humanitarian projects dedicated to this region and to all of humanity. Yoga means unity, and thus this center serves the unity and well-being of all beings. The heart of the Āśram will be a building in the form of the ancient Sanskrit symbol Oṁ. Om is the eternal and omnipresent vibration of absolute existence. In a confused and restless world of duality, Gurudev wishes to offer this place as a garden and a temple of unity. Here and now, we see a vision from the depths of meditation becoming a material reality. This project, supported by thousands, will help millions find a home and a place for their own fulfillment. Crafted by skilled hands, the Om Āśram will represent one of the divine aspects: beauty. Beauty is the balance between form, rhythm, and composition—the balance of functionality and aesthetics, which we have already witnessed. Not all children in India have the same opportunity for education. Therefore, the International Association of Yoga in Everyday Life initiated the Gyān Putra program, providing material support for poor and orphaned children across a large number of schools. The children receive textbooks, equipment, and clothes. The greatest joy for the giver is the joy of the receiver. A donated school bus from a humanitarian organization in Kiel, Germany, is part of the Gyān Putra project, supporting the education of children from remote villages. In 2002, a school for 250 students was opened within the Āśram. In this spiritual oasis, children are given high-standard accommodation, attention, education, and thus a future. Making a man is not the function of parliaments; making a real man with full human qualities is the function of education alone. Therefore, Swāmī Mahārāj has undertaken the very pious and noble task of providing real education. Through real education, he aims to create balanced, sober citizens. When citizens are sober, the Earth will be made a place worth living. The heart of Yogījī is an ocean of grace, making him the greatest servant on this planet. Here in Manaklau, Swāmījī is building a school that will be a home for those who need it most: children with disabilities. Their bodies may be handicapped, but their spirit is powerful. In this school, they educate themselves and learn to overcome their limitations. We were deeply impressed by their strength of will. They are true warriors—civil warriors. How many so-called healthy young people can express such mental will, physical strength, and skill? The Āśram also provides free transportation for urgent aid vehicles to surrounding villages. The Śrī Svāmī Madhavānanda Hospital, soon to be completed, will offer healthcare to everyone from all over the world. The Āśram transforms the ideals of humanity into reality. In Rajasthan, it is often difficult for people to feed themselves, especially during increasingly frequent droughts. Consequently, many cows are abandoned. Here in the Gośālā, hundreds of these helpless animals have found refuge, receiving regular food, water, and veterinary care. Safety and the dignity of life have been returned to them. This is an abode of self-sacrifice in action, where they have regained their status as holy cows. The Āśram also provides free assistance with its fire engine and crew. During the summer and at times of fire, these firefighters intervene three times a day. When saving lives, property, and settlements, they know no fatigue. As Swāmījī says, the hands that help are more valuable than the hands that pray. With the blessings of his spiritual teacher, Holī Gurujījī, Swāmījī organized the greening of the Āśram area. On this day, under the slogan "greening the desert," several thousand new trees were planted alongside the previous 50,000. In Swāmījī's nature, even desert and jungle turn into gardens. Let this life be full of hope, for the future of nature is the future of humanity. The source of strength to help oneself and others lies in sādhanā, in yoga practice. Only those who understand movement can control it. Every movement is a form of hunger; we move only out of desire or fear. Only those who consciously control the movement of the body, the breath, and the mind can achieve the ultimate goal of every movement: complete wholeness, our divine wholeness, which can only be recognized in the deepest peace. As in every desert, the key word here in the heart of Rajasthan is water. The equation is simple: no water, no life. Here, rain falls only during the monsoon, which grows drier each year. Therefore, the construction of an artificial lake began as part of a broader project called the Rainforest Victims initiative, which is part of a United Nations public project from the World Conference on Sustainable Development. This lake will accumulate 250,000 cubic meters of water to supply all other projects in the Āśram and the wider area. The excavated earth was used to build a 50-meter-high hill. The hill will be covered with grass and trees, becoming a beautiful landmark and a point of balance for the Āśram in accordance with Vāstu Śāstra. Canals and dams will channel the monsoon rains to the lake. The water project also involved excavating a giant dune within the Āśram. We witnessed the first rains. The water flowed, and life flourished with it. Here, every drop is a blessing, nectar for people, plants, and animals. When the clouds parted, the water covered the land—the first proof of the project's success. The water flowed into the lake, collecting the blood of life. This is now a reservoir of life for the Āśram and for many villages in this desolate area. Now was the right time to plant trees on the hill. The hill will hold the trees, and the trees will hold the hill—a symbiosis of sustainable development. During droughts, the Āśram's fire engine regularly supplies water to many remote villages. For these people, this water is the nectar of life; it is life itself. This center offers numerous opportunities not only for humanitarian work but also for self-employment. However, for the center itself to be fully built, it needs help. Everyone, every idea, and every contribution is welcome. Here, nothing is taken.