Maharishi Ashram Karondi

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi  (12-Jan-1918 to 05-Feb-2008)

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was born in Panduka area of Raipur, capital of Chattisgarh state in India. Maharishi was earlier known by the name of Mahesh Prasad Varma, belonging to Kayastha caste. During those days, Raipur was in Central Province of colonial India. In his initial days, family shifted to Chichli village, close to Gadarwara in Narsingpur district of Madhya Pradesh state of India. Later he achieved degree in physics from Allahabad University in year 1940.

In those days he felt attracted to the spiritual lifestyle. In year 1941, he became secretary to the Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math, Swami Bhrahmananda Saraswati. Here he got the name “Bal Brahmachari Mahesh”. Jyotir Math was located in Indian Himalayas. Maharishi remained here from 1941 to 1953 till death of Bhrahmananda Saraswati. After that Maharishi traveled to Uttar-kashi in the Himalayas in search of knowledge and enlightenment. It is said that Maharishi has wish to become Shankaracharya and he deserves too but as he belongs to Kayastha caste and Shankaracharya should be from Brahmin family, he could not become Shankaracharya.

He descended to the real world in 1957 and started teaching meditational techniques what he learned from his spiritual masters which later known to the world with name of Transcendental Meditation. Transcendental was not a new discovery but was spiritual gains of Hindu saints and was continuously shared with their disciples, from generation to generation, since many years and was introduced to general public with some amendments by Maharishi. In the meantime he met a widow called Sita Saraf from Kolkata. She was impressed with the knowledge and spiritual powers of Maharishi and suggested him to share your knowledge with the world and took him to Switzerland. In 1957, he founded his first organization the Spiritual Regeneration Movement. In 1958, he began first global tour to share his meditation techniques and programs with the world and gained massive success. Many western world celebrities like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jano Fonda, The Beach Boys, comedian Andy Kaufman, magician Doug Henning, director David Lynch etc shown keen interest in his techniques. Many time questions were arised as why Maharishi do not return back to India to establish center to conduct all his acitvities on As per local people, Maharishi shared spiritual gains of his spiritual teachers with general public due to which his spiritual masters were not happy and don’t want him to return to India.

Later in 1990, Maharishi begun to coordinate his global activities from his new residence in Voldrop, Neitherlands. On 11th January, 2008, he announced his retirement from all administrative activities and went into spiritual silence. On 5th February, 2008, at the age of 90 years, Maharishi passed away.

About Maharishi Ashram - Karondi

At a distance of about 87kms from Jabalpur city, Karondi Ashram of Maharishi Sansthan is located at Geographical Central Point of India. Karondi Ashram get its name derived from local village called Karondi, close to small town called Paan Umaria. Surrounded by beautiful greed hills and paan orchards, Karondi Ashram is ideally located close to a monument having emblem of India (Ashok Stambh). Monument was made there to indicate the Geographical Central Point of India. Monument is in absolute lonely place in rural cover, close to Maharishi ashram buildings. On first sight view of ashram, on can find huge halls with yellow paint from outside and having Maharishi flags on their top. Place is peacefull as there is no attached village or town is their with ashram. It this mega campus priests of aged between 12 to 50, chant vedic mantras 24 hours a day to save the world. Children from all over the India visits Ashram to gain vedic knowledge and give their a meaningful turn in their life. There is no fee charged from students and accommodation, food, shelter is provided at free of cost to every student. Earlier in year 1998, in the land of Karondi Ashram, world’s tallest building was proposed to be built of height 2222 ft high, 144 floors 20 million sq. ft. of living space. But due to red-tapism spread in that time prevailing state government, project was not permitted and ultimately plan was dropped. As per Maharishi Sansthan, whole world is a country and Karondi is suppose to the capital of that country.

Access to Karondi Ashram

Karondi Ashram lies in Katni district of Madhya Pradesh State in Central India. It is easily accessible by road using National Highway Number-7 that runs from Varanasi to Kanyakumari (longest highway in India). Nearest Railway Station for Karondi Ashram is Katni Railway Station at a distance of 45kms/01:00hrs drive from Ashram. Here trains from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata comes for Katni Railway Station. Other option is Jabalpur Railway Station at a distance of 85 kms from Ashram.Nearest Airport for Karondi Ashram is Jabalpur Dumna Airport (IATA Code: JLR) in Jabalpur city at a distance of (100 kms/02:00hrs).