By Our Staff Reporter
Champawat, 31 Mar: On the second day of his two-day visit, here, Governor Lt General Gurmit Singh (Retd) reached the Advaita Ashram in Mayavati, Lohaghat. Upon reaching the Ashram, the Governor admired its natural beauty. He stated that the natural beauty of the place aids in relieving stress. He acknowledged that the ashram attracts people from, both, India and abroad towards spirituality and praised the charitable medical services and facilities being operated in Mayavati.
Singh then toured the Mayavati Ashram campus. He remarked that the ashram, nestled in the lap of Lohaghat, is a picturesque location. He described the ashram as a dreamland of Swami Vivekananda, not just a branch of Ramakrishna Mission but also a significant centre for Vivekananda’s philosophy and Vedantic practice worldwide. He noted Swami Vivekananda’s profound devotion to the land of Uttarakhand and the Himalayas. He emphasised that the Swami’s contemplation was deeply connected with the Himalayas and the land of Shiva.
The Governor stated that visiting the Mayavati Ashram evokes a sense of divinity, grandeur, purity, and sanctity. He urged the youth to draw inspiration from Swami Vivekananda’s teachings.
On this occasion, he also remembered the ashram’s founders, the Sevier couple, and Swami Swarupananda. He commented on the ashram’s serene location. Later, he meditated in the Ashram’s meditation room. He emphasised the importance of spreading Swami Vivekanand’s thoughts, principles, and guidance worldwide. He noted the deep relevance of this message on the universe, Indian ethos and humanity today.
The Governor gathered information about the ashram from Swami Shuddhidananda, the head of the charitable hospital. Swami Shuddhidananda briefed him on the history of Mayavati, including Swami Vivekananda’s week-long stay in 1901. He mentioned the free medical camps organised periodically, providing treatment and surgeries by expert and foreign doctors. Swami Sudhidananda Maharaj welcomed the Governor with a memento. The event was also addressed by Prof Chancellor Swami Atmapriyananda of Belur Vivekananda University and the senior patron of Ramakrishna Math and the president of Ramakrishna Ashram, Mysore, Swami Muktidananda, among others.
