“Guru is as close to you as your thoughts permit him to be….That comes from tuning in with him — his divine consciousness, which is of God. Anyone who makes the effort to do that in meditation receives his help and blessings.”
— Sri Sri Daya Mata, Third President of YSS/SRF
Begin the New Year by Making a Special Offering on Janmotsav
Dear Divine Atman,
Loving greetings to you on the blessed Janmotsav, the birth anniversary of our Gurudeva Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda. On this sacred occasion, we come together to remember with deep love and gratitude the sublime life and mission of our Guru, whose divine radiance continues to bless us, his disciples, and humanity at large. By revealing the ancient wisdom of Kriya Yoga, Gurudeva has shown a clear and direct way that can take earnest devotees back to the infinite joy of Spirit.
An Opportunity to Preserve Gurudeva’s Sacred Heritage at Ranchi
This year, the holy season of Janmotsav offers each of us a unique opportunity to serve Gurudeva’s divine mission by helping to ensure that his beloved Ranchi Ashram continues to radiate his presence as a sanctuary of peace, solace, and God-communion for generations to come.
In the recent past, we have shared the wonderful news of the upgradation of guest facilities and the renovation of the auditorium at our YSS Ranchi Ashram. Devotees who have visited since then have written back to express how much they appreciated the improvements and what a difference they made to their ashram experience.
We now invite you to support the next phase of these much-needed initiatives, so that future generations of devotees may experience an even more sublime and uplifting pilgrimage:
Total Estimated Cost: ₹12 Crore
Your generous contribution will help us preserve Gurudeva’s beloved Ranchi Ashram as a sanctuary of peace and spiritual upliftment for all who seek refuge in its sacred environs.
We, the monastic community and sevaks serving in Guruji’s ashrams, offer you our heartfelt gratitude and daily prayers for your well-being.
May God and Gurudeva bless you always.
In divine friendship,
Yogoda Satsanga Society of India
Ranchi — A Sacred Sanctuary for Generations to Come
“I have sprinkled the invisible nectar of my spiritual attainment mostly at Mt. Washington and Ranchi…”
— Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda
For more than a century, the YSS Ranchi Ashram has been a blessed haven where devotees have walked reverently on grounds sanctified by Gurudeva’s presence, meditated in its gardens, and felt the loving presence of God and Guruji in every corner. Sacred sites such as the Litchi Vedi, where Guruji taught classes to young boys; his shrine room, where he lived; and the Smriti Mandir, where he saw the divine vision to go to America, continue to radiate his holy vibrations.
Countless devotees have cherished the Ranchi Ashram as a sanctuary of inner stillness, finding peace, healing, understanding, and divine communion. As Gurudeva’s work continues to grow, it is our sacred responsibility to preserve the Ashram’s sanctity and beauty — not only for today’s pilgrims but for seekers to come.
Upgrading Pathways and Campus Environment
Since the beginning, the roads and pathways in the Ashram have largely remained unpaved, evolving naturally with time. While this reflected the simplicity of the Ashram, water logging during monsoons due to lack of drainage, uneven terrain, and dust from earthen roads have caused considerable inconvenience to visitors — especially senior devotees — as well as challenges for vehicular movement.
Further, the road alignment needs refinement to harmonize with the campus landscaping. The steadily increasing footfall of guests places upon us an urgent responsibility to renew these pathways with care, ensuring safety and durability while preserving the serenity of the environment.
Our planned enhancements include:
- Creation of a 16-ft wide concrete peripheral access road for safe movement of service and emergency vehicles, along with well-defined pedestrian pathways for devotees
- Stone-paved walkways around sacred areas such as Smriti Mandir, Shiva Mandir, and Sevalaya, ensuring comfort and reverence
- Beautification of key nodes and intersections — near the Guest House area, Camphor Tree platform (where Sri Daya Mataji greeted and met devotees), Shiva Mandir, and Smriti Mandir
- Thoughtful garden landscaping and clear signage to guide visitors and maintain visual harmony with the natural surroundings
- Construction of aesthetically designed entrance gates near the Maidan and the Central Kitchen. The new gates will be built according to the design developed by Guruji himself so that they are readily recognized as iconic symbols of a YSS ashram
- Essential infrastructure upgrades, including solar-powered lighting, a rainwater drainage system, a centralized sewerage system, and the strengthening of electrical and plumbing systems to support sustainability
Facilities for the Children, Teens, and Youth Programmes
Over the past several decades, there has been a steady and heartening increase in interest in YSS teachings among children, teens, and young sadhaks. This growing response has already borne fruit in the launch of a weekly Teen Programme at the YSS Ranchi Ashram last year, in addition to the ongoing Children Satsanga activities.
At present, these programmes are being conducted in makeshift facilities. Further, due to a shortage of rooms, multiple age groups must currently be combined into a single class, which is not ideal.
A 17-year-old recently wrote:
To support such growing interest and impact, we have established a robust Youth Services department that oversees youth programmes across the country — including both online and in-person at our ashrams, kendras, and mandalis. Looking ahead, participation is expected to grow manifold. Dedicated facilities are thus essential to strengthen these programmes and to adequately nurture the spiritual needs of the young ones.
To meet this need, we plan to demolish the existing structure (referred to as the old Principal’s quarters) near the Shravanalaya (the renovated auditorium) and construct a new building designed specifically for children, teens, and youth activities. The proposed two-storeyed facility will include:
- Multiple rooms with adequate storage
- Audio-video enabled learning spaces
- Large multipurpose hall for youth seminars and meetings
- Reception and office spaces for staff
Creating a Facility for YSS Lessons Printing and Storage
The printing and dissemination of the Yogoda Satsanga Lessons and other spiritual publications is a vital part of Gurudeva’s sacred mission. At the Ranchi Ashram, two printing machines are currently in operation, producing Lessons, bulletins, and publications in English and several Indian languages.
As interest in Gurudeva’s Kriya Yoga teachings continues to grow, YSS is planning to offer the Lessons in more Indian languages, enabling seekers to study them in their mother tongue. This natural expansion requires increased printing and, more importantly, greater capacity for storing Lessons and ancillary material safely.
At present, however, the press lacks sufficient storage space. Paper and other essential printing consumables — such as ink, plates, and related materials — are therefore being kept in temporary arrangements that are no longer adequate.
With devotees now corresponding primarily through email and phone rather than letters, the physical space allotted to the Filing Section is being repurposed as a dedicated storage facility for the Lessons and the Printing Press.
However, the Filing Section building is nearly 70 years old and in a severely deteriorated condition. In view of these structural and safety concerns, the building requires complete reconstruction from the foundation level.
Enhancing Facilities at Yogoda Satsanga Sevashrama — the Charitable Medical Clinic
Since 1958, the Yogoda Satsanga Sevashrama, the charitable medical clinic at the YSS Ranchi Ashram, has been serving the poor and needy with love and compassion. The Sevashrama includes an eye hospital — where free eye surgeries are performed — and a multispeciality Outpatient Department (OPD), where specialist doctors offer consultations. Because of the quality and selfless nature of this service, the Sevashrama has become a trusted source of medical care for people in Ranchi and the surrounding areas.
In 2023, we undertook a major renovation of the eye hospital, including a new operation theatre, modern equipment for cataract surgery, refurbishment of the building, and the addition of a ramp to assist the physically challenged.
We now seek to extend this same care and foresight to the OPD block. The existing structure is over 60 years old and has weakened over time. As public road levels outside the Ashram have risen, the OPD floors now lie below road level, resulting in repeated water ingress during heavy rains.
To ensure that Sevashrama can continue serving the local community effectively, the OPD block needs to be completely rebuilt. The new structure will have a raised plinth level to prevent flooding, a better layout to efficiently serve patients, and provision for a new Dental Department.
The compassionate service rendered by Sevashrama has earned much goodwill and recognition from the local community and authorities alike. These renovations will help preserve Gurudeva’s sacred ideal of serving mankind as one’s larger self.
Financial Overview and Timeline
- Total Cost: ₹12 Crore
- Expected Date of Completion: December 2026
These planned improvements will preserve Ranchi as a world-class spiritual pilgrimage centre and sustain its long tradition of compassionate service to the needy, in keeping with Gurudeva’s vision.
Your Support Is Deeply Appreciated
Guruji envisioned YSS ashrams as sanctuaries where seekers could meditate deeply, feel soul-solacing peace, and grow in God-communion. Your offerings — whether through prayer, seva, or financial contribution — safeguard the sacred experience of the Ranchi Ashram for present and future generations of truth-seekers.
