“There is nothing mind can do that cannot be better done in the mind's immobility and thought-free stillness.
When mind is still, then truth gets her chance to be heard in the purity of the silence.”
― Sri Aurobindo
Kathmandu Branch
Sri Aurobindo Yoga Mandir
First Center
Founded in 1993, the Kathmandu centre of Sri Aurobindo Yoga Mandir began with the inspired vision of Guruji. After spending 12 years at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Puducherry, he returned to Nepal. The journey began with caring for his sister’s children, milking cows and selling water to support the fledgling institution. And what started with one cow – that he loved and remembers well – has grown into the fertile, productive farm and ashram you see today.
Nawalpur Branch
Sri Aurobindo Nagari
Looking back at the Terai ashram’s inspired, serendipitous beginnings, Guruji realised that he was acting under the ‘adesha’ (Sanskrit for ‘command’) and guidance of the Divine Mother. He arrived in Terai by accident, which is when the opportunity arose.
The ashram spans 13 hectares in the fertile Terai plains of southern Nepal, situated alongside the Chitwan Buffer Zone, harmonising education, spirituality and wildlife, with occasional visits from rhinos and elephants. A short distance from the sacred Narayani River, and a few hours drive from the Buddha’s birthplace, the ashram farms cattle for dairy products, cultivating paddy, wheat, millet, barley, corn, and vegetables. The heart of the centre – for reflection and contemplation – features an impressive temple, accommodating up to 500 people.
Emulating the aspirations of Auroville – the ‘universal town’ established in India by the Mother in 1968 – the ashram in Terai rejuvenates barren farmland, and establishes food forests within a self-sufficient community, nourished by spiritual principles.
Gulmi Branch
Sri Aurobindo Tapobhumi
At an altitude of 2800 meters, Sri Aurobindo Tapobhumi, which is Gulmi Ashram, is a ‘Sadhan-kutir‘, or seat of spiritual discipline; a haven for those in search of self-realization and awareness: What Sri Aurobindo described as silent ‘inner work’. Ramchandra ji attributes his pursuit of knowledge and truth to the austere beauty and serenity at Gulmi, where he spent his childhood, tending cattle, goats and sheep. Today, the ashram stands as a testament to the inspiration he drew from the mountains there: A hermitage offering comfortable accommodation for solitude, self-discovery, and karma yoga (selfless action) for personal growth, meditative walks through nature, and naturopathy healing for well-being.
Nijgadh Vision
Nijgadh, 80 km south of Kathmandu, is envisioned as the next chapter – and the fourth centre – in the growth of Sri Aurobindo Yoga Mandir, embodying the spiritual teachings of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother, through a commitment to holistic development. This future ashram will harmonize spirituality, sustainable living, and community service, providing a space for personal transformation through meditation, yoga, and self-realization. Rooted in sustainable practices, Nijgadh will feature organic farming, renewable energy, and eco-friendly facilities, showcasing a model of living in balance with nature. Through educational initiatives, vocational training, and community outreach, we aim to empower local communities and foster a culture of shared growth and harmonious living, inspired by the ideals of collective progress and environmental stewardship.