Shree Ramkrishna Mahasammelan
Samiti-Vivekananda Kendra, Nagdandi, stands today as a great monument to
the idea of national integration
FRAGRANCE OF IDEAS
Vivekananda
Kendra, Nagdandi is situated 2 kms away from the famous Achabal garden
in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir UT. It is around 70 kms
from Srinagar city, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It was
initially an Ashram established by a saint named Swami Ashokananda in
1941. Later on, he, who was himself a follower of Ramakrishna Paramhansa
of Bengal, and his disciples created an institution called Shree
Ramkrishna Mahasammelan Samiti and dedicated the ashram to the new
entity.Sachitananda ji, who was a direct disciple of Mata Sharda. Swami
Ashokananda came to Kashmir in 1932. He chose Kathleshwar Mandir in
Tankipora area in Srinagar on the banks of the river Vitasta (Jehlum) as
his immediate place of stay. While he was staying at Kathleshwar
temple, a large chunk of people came into his contact, and they
eventually became his fervent devotees and disciples. The prominent
devotees included men and women from the families of Ogras, Katjoos,
Dhars and Tarozdars of Srinagar.
Swami
Ashokananda expressed his wish before his devotees and disciples in
regard to the due expansion of the Ashram. Accordingly, some people from
Achabal, Anantnag and Srinagar came forward and donated their land near
the Ashram to it. Katjoo’s family was also the one which donated land
in the Chatragul area of Kangan (Ganderbal) to the Ashram. The vast land
that was now available to the Ashram was, in due course of time,
demarcated, and Shree Ramkrishna Mahasammelan Samiti was created in
place of Nagdandi Ashram. It was around 100 Kanals of land (approx 12
hectares) dedicated towards the Ashram.
Eknath
Ranade was a former Sarkarivah of RSS who was relieved from his
responsibilities there to focus on the mission of Vivekananda Rock
Memorial. Swami Ashokananda executed a ‘Will’ in 1970 by virtue of which
he proposed absolute management rights of the Ashram to the Ramakrishna
Ashram, Belur Math, West Bengal. The ‘Will’ had another option to
handover the management of the Ashram to Eknath Ranade. In 1971, Swami
Ashokananda achieved 'nirvana', and his devotees built a ‘samadhi’ for
him in the Ashram premises.
It
was this author’s proud privilege that Eknath Ranade, during his
Kashmir tour in July 1974, took me along from Srinagar to Nagdandi when I
was a college student and a young activist. I was fascinated to see the
Ashram, its location and the work going on in the Ashram complex under
the able guidance of Ranade. I also met Adv. P.N.Bhat there for the
first time in the Ashram.
The
Ashram faced a very difficult situation in 1989-90, when the forced
mass-exodus of the Kashmiri Hindu community took place in Kashmir due to
terrorism, followed by ethnic cleansing. Ashram had virtually no one to
look after it at that point of time. There was a lot of pressure on the
Ashram too, but the Vivekananda Kendra-based and inspired management of
the Ashram took extra vigilance and, in consultation and with the help
of the local administration and the support of the security forces,
secured the premises from any major upheaval or loss. It had been
posting full-time volunteers to the Ashram from the 1970s, and it
continued the practice even in the most difficult period from 1990 to
2010. The main names in this context are: Datta Ram, Kalyan and Vivek.
With effect from 2010, the Vivekananda Kendra changed its policy and
appointed an Administrative Committee with its Chairman from the valley
of Kashmir.
One
Shree Ramakrishna temple on 1400 sq. ft has also come up in place of
the old and damaged structure. ‘Sanatan Samiksha Bhawan Hut’ with
multi-use around 900 sq. ft has also been thrown open to participants.
‘Eknath Bhawan’ with 24-bedded accommodation attached with four lavatory
points is also completed and ready for use. This Bhawan has come up
after major renovation work of an old & abandoned building housing
paddy grass, scraps and other store material. Now the Ashram has
accommodation facilities for 100 yatries at its complex in Nagdandi.
Swami Ashokananda Bhawan has also been given a much-needed facelift.
Installation of Vivekananda Memorial and lawn development near the
founder’s Bhawan inspires everyone towards the mission of ‘man-making
& nation-building'.
The
government of India, in recognition of the great efforts made by the
Kendra at Nagdandi, conferred Padam-Shri to Brij Lal Bhat, Chairman
(Prakalp-Pramukh) of the Administrative Committee of the SRKS-VK,
Nagdandi, for the year 2026, for his outstanding contribution. This has
been welcomed by one and all, and in this way the Nagdandi Ashram has
truly become a mission and a vision in action for everyone to get
guidance, role and inspiration.
SRKS-VK Nagdandi (Shree Ramkrishna Mahasammelan Ashram - Vivekananda Kendra Nagdandi Branch) is organising the All India Yoga Shiksha Shivir every year for the general public from age 18 to 65yrs. One can register at https://www.vrmvk.org/content/yoga-shiksha-shibir-kashmir
This year it's going to take place from 1st to 10th September 2026, in which All India Yoga Pramukh of Vivekananda Kendra Kanyakumari, Mananeeya Sri Ravi Sharma ji along with Smt Kalpana Mehta ji, Sri Milind Mhaiskar ji will be presnece for all 10days.
