Shree Muktananda Ashram - History

History

In 1978, the Indian guru Swami Muktananda began a tour of North America. The establishment of the Shree Muktananda Ashram was one of the main results of this tour. The SYDA (Siddha Yoga Dharm Associates) Foundation -- the administrative organization for Siddha Yoga -- bought the Gilbert Hotel, situated on Brickman Road, Fallsburg. Extensive renovations began and the site became the location of the offices that were to administer Siddha Yoga activities all over the world. The site would eventually include two other hotel complexes and cover over 100 acres (0.40 km2). In the summer of 1979, Siddha Yoga devotees gathered for the first retreat in Fallsburg. At this stage, the centre was known as the Shree Nityananda Ashram, in honour of Swami Muktananda's guru, Bhagawan Nityananda. A former ballroom became a meditation room and a temple honouring Nityananda was built.

In 1983, another hotel in the area, the Windsor, was acquired and converted to dormitory accommodation and offices. This centre became known as Sadhana Kutir. In 1985, construction began on a large open-air pavilion known as Shakti Mandapa, which was located behind the original hotel building, now known as Anugraha (divine grace). In the following year, the SYDA Foundation bought the Brickman Hotel, also on Brickman Road, which became known as Atma Nidhi (treasure of the soul).

After Swami Muktananda's death in 1982, his successor Gurumayi Chidvilasananda changed the name of the ashram to the Shree Muktanada Ashram.