Gurudev Siddha Peeth is an Indian ashram belonging to the Siddha Yoga organization. It is situated between the villages of Ganeshpuri and Vajreshwari, seventy miles north-east of Mumbai. In Siddha Yoga it is known as the "mother ashram" because it is where Siddha Yoga really began.[1]
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The ashram's origins date back to the guru known as Bhagawan Nityananda, who had been in Ganeshpuri since 1936.[2] Before he died in 1961,[3] Nityananda is said to have told a devotee, Swami Muktananda, to build an ashram at Ganeshpuri on land that Nityananda gave him.[4] Nityananda prophesied that the ashram would become "very big and beautiful" and would attract people from all over the world.[5]
Swami Muktananda established the ashram and called it Sri Gurudev Ashram,[1] in honour of Nityananda. In 1978, the name was changed to Gurudev Siddha Peeth. The ashram has since grown as Nityananda predicted and is the site of shrines to both Nityananda and Muktananda (who died in 1982).[6] It functions as a full-time spiritual retreat for people who want to pursue their Siddha Yoga practices.
In addition to spiritual practice, the ashram established significant charitable services for the benefit of the adivasis (tribal people) of the area. Medical services and housing were provided for these people and for other poor people in the valley. The PRASAD Project was set up to administer these projects.[7]
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