Welcome to the Dihika Retreat of Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS). This serene retreat stands at the same location where Paramahansa Yogananda began his spiritual work in India more than a hundred years ago. It was on March 22, 1917, in Dihika — a lonely hamlet by the river Damodar located ten kilometres from Asansol in West Bengal — that the great Guru sowed the seeds of his worldwide mission with the establishment of a How-to-Live school.
Today, the Dihika Retreat stands as a living heritage site of YSS — offering seekers a peaceful environment for meditation, reflection, and inner renewal, while preserving the timeless legacy of the Guru’s early years and universal teachings of Kriya Yoga.
History and Legacy of Dihika — The Birthplace of YSS
Paramahansaji envisioned a residential school for boys that would integrate moral and spiritual education, yoga training, and academic studies. The school, which he called Yogoda Satsanga Brahmacharya Vidyalaya, was started at the Maharaja of Kashimbazar’s estate bungalow in Dihika — with seven boys — on March 22, 1917. As the school expanded, it was relocated to the Maharaja’s twenty-five-acre summer palace in Ranchi, which later became the YSS Ranchi Ashram.
Paramahansa Yogananda’s Visit to Dihika in 1935
After taking the Kriya Yoga teachings worldwide with the establishment of Self-Realization Fellowship in 1920 in the USA, Yoganandaji visited India to meet his Guru, Swami Sri Yukteswarji, in 1935. During that time, he also visited Dihika, the site of his first school. C. Richard Wright, who accompanied Yoganandaji on this trip, took several photographs, including the one shown to the right, taken on December 18, 1935. Here, Yoganandaji is seen meditating underneath a tree while the pond and part of the school building act as the backdrop.
A Special Pilgrimage for Ages to Come
In 1997, YSS acquired a little more than an acre of this blessed land encircling the pond in order to maintain the legacy of the first school of our revered Guru and officially established the site as Yogoda Satsanga Dhyana Kendra, Dihika. A small shrine, Smriti Sthal, now stands at the very spot where Gurudeva once meditated with his companions during the early days, and has become a cherished place of pilgrimage for YSS/SRF devotees.
Sri Sri Daya Mata (sanghamata and third president of YSS/SRF, until her passing in 2010) expressed her deep joy at the preservation of this sacred site and conveyed her blessings through a heartfelt letter, wherein she said:
My prayer is that through all the years to come those who visit this holy site in Dihika may feel Gurudeva’s divine presence, and thereby be touched by a truly divine soul who sought and found God and then selflessly shared God’s love with his fellow men.
— Sri Sri Daya Mata
YSS Centenary Celebrations at Dihika
On the completion of 100 years of YSS in 2017, a five-day special centennial Sangam was organized at Yogoda Satsanga Sakha Math, Ranchi. This included a one-day pilgrimage for over 1,400 devotees to the Yogoda Satsanga Dhyana Kendra, Dihika, aboard a special train arranged by YSS in collaboration with the Indian Railways. The pilgrimage entourage was joined by another 200 devotees who awaited their arrival at the sacred site in Dihika to commemorate the humble beginnings of this now far-reaching spiritual work.
Watch the YSS Centennial video below to relive this historic milestone.
Serene Environment and Retreat Facilities
We invite you to experience the profound peace in this sanctuary, blessed with the presence and the divine vibration of the great Guru. Situated far from the noise and stress of urban life, it offers a wonderful opportunity for individuals to dive deep into their sadhana and commune with God. Its sprawling grounds, characterized by lush greenery, flowering plants, and trees, further enrich the peaceful atmosphere.
Spanning approximately 1.17 acres, the site is well developed today. A meditation hall and a two-storied guest house with an accommodation capacity of about 30 devotees were dedicated in 2011 to allow devotees to drink deeply of the nectar of this consecrated site. A small kitchen with an adjoining dining area provides freshly prepared, nutritious meals. A library with various YSS Publications is also available. Retreatants can avail themselves of this facility to study and attune their consciousness with the timeless wisdom of Paramahansa Yogananda.
Visitors can also meditate inside the Smriti Sthal, built at the very place where Yoganandaji used to meditate in the initial days. The renovated water pond that has been at the heart of this sacred location since 1917, is a major attraction that invites quiet contemplation.
Overview of Events and Activities
Throughout the year, various spiritual programmes are organized for the spiritual benefit of devotees, including daily meditations. weekly Sunday Satsangas, long meditations, commemoration programmes associated with the YSS line of gurus, and other special events. These programmes provide a precious opportunity for individuals to let go of their worries and concerns, and rejuvenate themselves in body, mind, and spirit. Individuals are welcome and encouraged to undertake personal retreats in the spiritually charged atmosphere at Dihika. For more information regarding the upcoming programmes, please view the events section below or contact the retreat centre.
New to YSS?
Learn more about how the YSS Lessons, a home-study course, transforms your life in ways you might never imagine and helps you to live a balanced and successful life.
Those who give and share, whether they have much or little, will attract prosperity. That is the law of God.
— Paramahansa Yogananda
Gurudeva’s retreats are open to all sincere seekers, regardless of their ability to contribute financially. We are deeply grateful to those who are able to offer larger contributions, which help defray the costs of meals, lodging, maintenance, and the upkeep of the retreat facilities — thus enabling us to extend Gurudeva’s hospitality to all.
To ensure the continued upkeep of the Dhyana Mandir, accommodation, kitchen and dining facilities, and retreat grounds, regular maintenance and enhancements will be required. Your generous financial support is therefore greatly appreciated to help sustain these facilities and maintain this sacred sanctuary for the benefit of all who come here for meditation, silent contemplation, and spiritual renewal.
Donations can be made online or sent via cheque to YSS Ranchi with the purpose stated as “For Dihika.”
The retreat is open for day-visitors from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on all days.
