Yogoda Satsanga Math
Dakshineswar, West Bengal
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History and Evolution
Yogoda Satsanga Math, Dakshineswar, situated on the banks of the Ganges in north Kolkata, is the registered headquarters of Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS), the spiritual organization founded by Paramahansa Yogananda in 1917. The history of this beautiful ashram dates back to 1939, when the Math was established. The property, with its stately building and serene surroundings, was greatly cherished by Paramahansaji. In 1951, while addressing a large audience during the Self-Realization Fellowship Convocation in America, he envisioned that devotees from different parts of India and the world would visit Dakshineswar Ashram.
Over the years, the ashram has been blessed by the sacred presence of our beloved late YSS/SRF Presidents — Sri Daya Mata and Sri Mrinalini Mata. During their many visits, they conducted several satsangas, group meditations, kriya yoga initiation ceremonies, and counselling sessions with devotees here. The current president and spiritual head of YSS/SRF, Sri Sri Swami Chidananda Giri, has also visited the ashram and conducted various events for the spiritual benefit of truth seekers.
(current President and Spiritual Head)
Overview of the Ashram
Spread over two acres of land with a fruit orchard, flowering plants, and a big pond, Dakshineswar Ashram was originally a ‘garden house’. Keeping Paramahansaji’s vision for the ashram in mind, a meditation hall, a guest house, kitchen, working and dining areas were built within the premises for the convenience of devotees.
Since its inception in 1939, the ashram has evolved to be an oasis for truth seekers. We invite you to participate in daily group meditations conducted in the morning and evening, and weekly satsangas on Sundays, as well as various commemorative programmes — conducted by YSS sannyasis. YSS and SRF devotees are welcome to join personal and conducted retreats at the ashram, as well as other special events including Sadhana Sangams which include the twice-daily practice of group meditations, review of the YSS meditation techniques, discourses in English, Bengali, and Hindi, among various other programmes.
In addition to conducting various spiritual activities, YSS Dakshineswar Ashram is also actively involved in several educational, medical, and other charitable activities to support people with limited financial means. They include running several homeopathic and allopathic clinics, pathology labs, and schools and colleges in and around Kolkata.
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Places of Interest Associated With the Life of Paramahansa Yogananda in Kolkata
There is also great value in visiting places where saints have lived. …such places are forever permeated with the vibrations left there by the divine souls who walked those grounds. Their vibrations will remain until this earth is dissolved. Where souls have communed with God, there you will find greater communion and response from God. Often such pilgrimages completely change one’s life for the better.
— Paramahansa Yogananda
Inspired by these words of Paramahansa Yogananda, we invite you to make a sacred pilgrimage to the various places sanctified by the presence of the great guru. It was in the city of Kolkata where Paramahansaji spent his early years, received spiritual training from his guru, Sri Sri Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, and completed his formal education before travelling to America for dissemination of the Kriya Yoga teachings worldwide — a sacred responsibility given to him by his lineage of gurus — Mahavatar Babaji, Lahiri Mahasaya, and Sri Sri Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri.
4 Garpar Road and Other Nearby Places
4 Garpar Road in Kolkata, the family home of Paramahansa Yogananda, is a much-cherished pilgrimage site visited by devotees from all over the world. The second-floor attic room was his sacred sanctuary where he communed with God and had many of his ecstatic experiences and visions.
In close proximity is 50, Amherst Street, the residence of Sri Master Mahasaya (an exalted disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa), whom Paramahansaji often visited in his early years. This also happens to be the place where Yoganandaji’s mother had passed away when his family was residing at this house.
On Rammohan Roy Road, which is around half a kilometre away from Paramahansa Yoganandaji’s family home at Garpar Road, is Nagendra Math. This is the place where Bhaduri Mahasaya (“The Levitating Saint” mentioned by Yoganandaji in his spiritual classic Autobiography of a Yogi) stayed. While coming back from school, the great guru often stopped by to pay a visit and engage in spiritual discussions with the saint.
Another nearby place of interest is the Yogoda Satsanga Dhyana Kendra, Garpar. This place, adjacent to the house of Yoganandaji’s childhood friend, Tulsi Narayan Bose, is where the great guru meditated with his friends in his youth.
Sri Yukteswarji’s Hermitage and other associated places in Serampore
Serampore, situated in the Hooghly district of West Bengal, is blessed with numerous places associated with the life of Paramahansa Yogananda and his guru, Swami Sri Yukteswarji.
It was here in Serampore that he spent most of his time in his guru’s hermitage for spiritual training during his college years. In honour of Sri Yukteswarji, a Smriti Mandir has been constructed within the hermitage premises. Nearby the hermitage is the house of Yoganandaji’s uncle, Sri Sarada Prasad Ghosh, where Yoganandaji stayed for some time. His cousin, Sri Prabhas Chandra Ghosh, later converted the room where Yoganandaji stayed into a shrine named Anandaloka (the abode of joy).
On the banks of the Ganges at Rai Ghat lane in Serampore, stands the large banyan tree, a silent witness to the meeting of the deathless Mahavatar Babaji and Swami Sri Yukteswar after the latter completed writing the book, The Holy Science, undertaken at the behest of Babaji.
Only a few hundred metres from Rai Ghat lane is the plot, which was once the Panthi boarding house in which Yoganandaji lived during his college years. The old structure, being in a dilapidated state, has now been demolished by the local council.
Not far from this is the Serampore College, in which Yoganandaji was among the first students to enrol for the Bachelor of Arts course and receive his A.B. degree.
(the revered guru of Yoganandaji)
(the supreme guru in the YSS lineage of gurus)
Dakshineswar Kali Temple
About a kilometre away from the YSS Dakshineswar ashram is the world-famous Kali temple. Dakshineswar is famous for the nine-domed temple of Goddess Kali as Bhavatarini (who takes Her devotees across the ocean of existence), standing on the chest of Shiva, who is lying down. The temple houses the beautiful statues of the Divine Mother and Lord Shiva on a painstakingly chiselled thousand-petaled silver lotus.
In his autobiography, Yoganandaji describes his many pilgrimages to this temple. It was within the precincts of this temple that he had an ecstatic vision when he was visiting with his sister, Roma, and her husband, Satish. The latter, an atheist, was transformed into a silent saint through Yoganandaji’s fervent prayers to the Divine Mother. Paramahansa Yoganandaji’s love for God in the aspect of the Merciful Mother often attracted him to this temple, where he used to meditate for several hours in the portico, in Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansaji’s room, and also under the Banyan tree in the Panchavati, where Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa had received illumination. The sacred room in the temple premises where Sri Ramakrishna stayed for the last 14 years of his life is preserved as a shrine, where devotees can meditate and also see the display of several articles used by him.
Located on the banks of the Ganges, it is very well connected to the city through various modes of transport – road, rail, metro, and ferry. The temple environment provides a natural setup for visitors to go deep into meditation and commune with the universal mother.
Nearby YSS Meditation Centres
Listed below are three meditation centres that are in the vicinity of the YSS Dakshineswar Ashram:
- Garpar Meditation Centre
- Serampore Meditation Centre (Meditation Centre cum Retreat)
- Telary Meditation Centre (Meditation Centre cum Retreat)
For more details regarding the event schedule, how to reach and other related information for a particular location, please visit the respective links shared above.
Weekly Programmes
Group Meditations
YSS Dakshineswar ashram offers regular meditations and satsangas that are open to all. These sessions may include periods of silent meditation, devotional chanting, and inspirational reading.
- Sunday
- 10:30 AM – 12:00 noon
- Sunday Satsanga (includes a brief meditation)
- 4:30 PM – 8:00 PM
- Evening Meditation
- Thursday
- 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
- Morning Meditation
- 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
- Evening Meditation
- Other days
- 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
- Morning Meditation
- 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
- Evening Meditation
- Last Saturday of every month
- 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Six-hour long meditation
Children’s Satsanga
A weekly children satsanga is conducted every Sunday in which children aged between 5 to 12 years learn about the YSS teachings and way of life through interesting programmes such as storytelling, brief guided meditations, and other interactive learning methods.
These sessions provide a wonderful opportunity to share Paramahansa Yogananda’s “how-to-live” spiritual principles with the young ones thereby offering children a firm foundation for lifelong spiritual growth. Learn more
YSS Sadhana Sangams
A five-day programme that gives students of the Yogoda Satsanga teachings a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda with classes on YSS meditation techniques, group meditations, kirtan sessions, and inspiring talks by sannyasis. Some of these programmes also include Kriya Yoga diksha ceremonies.
Jan–Dec, 2025 • Multiple Programmes • Five Locations
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ಮುಂಬರುವ ವಿಶೇಷ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ದೀರ್ಘಾವಧಿಯ ಧ್ಯಾನಗಳು
- Sep 26, Friday
- 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
- Evening Meditation
- Sep 27, Saturday
- 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Group Meditation
- Sep 30, Tuesday
- 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
- Evening Meditation
Plan Your Visit
We welcome you to attend group meditations, enjoy the serenity of the ashram gardens, or make a pilgrimage to the sacred locations associated with the life of Paramahansa Yogananda around Dakshineswar. If you are interested in a guided tour of the ashram, or a visit to the places of interest associated with the life of the great guru, please contact the Reception Desk to make an appointment.
Timings:
- Ashram grounds – open to all visitors every day from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Reception and Book Room:
- Monday to Saturday – 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Sunday – 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
YSS and SRF Lessons students are welcome to stay at the ashram for up to five days. We encourage devotees to take a personal retreat or join us for one of the conducted retreats to recharge and rejuvenate themselves. During these retreats, one can participate in group meditations conducted by YSS sannyasis twice a day, attend review classes on the YSS meditation techniques, obtain spiritual counsel and guidance in the study and practice of the Yogoda Satsanga teachings, and enjoy the natural setup of the serene ashram grounds. These retreats also provide a wonderful opportunity to be able to let go of all the worries and material concerns, and relax in body, mind, and soul.
