Ashram Vision

Vrindavan

Srila Prabhupada and our spiritual teachers explain that Vrindavan transcends a mere geographical location or city—it is a state of consciousness. One can embody the spirit of Vrindavan in their heart, no matter where they are physically. However, for those who are still aspiring for this goal, visiting the tangible Vrindavan repeatedly is very important. This sacred place is where every element echoes the Lord’s divine pastimes and the lives of Vraja’s saints. Yet, it's impossible to overlook the fact that Vrindavan is undergoing drastic external changes.

Vrindavan 50 years ago

For Vaishnavas with a pure consciousness, these changes may not be a significant issue. However, for others, the noise and dirt in the streets, crowds of tourists (not always true pilgrims), numerous cafes, loud music, and other hallmarks of Kali-yuga can be obstacles to spiritual life.
‍
We envisioned creating a space that would be a “Vrindavan within Vrindavan”—a space fully dedicated to devotional service. It would be a place of tranquility and trees, inspired by the Bhagavatam, deep kirtans, serving Vaishnavas and cows. A place where nothing would distract from spiritual practice, making life in Krishna consciousness both very natural and profoundly appealing.

Beginning of the Project

Having received the instructions of Srila Bhakti Vijnana Goswami, we began the search for suitable land. Located on Govardhan, just 400 meters from the parikrama road in the village of Aaniyor, it seemed we had found the perfect spot for our ashram. This land offers a magnificent view of Giriraj while maintaining a serene atmosphere due to being surrounded by fields and separated from the parikrama road by the village.

The first plot we acquired spans 3.5 hectares (35,479 square meters to be exact).

Sometimes we are asked, "Why Govardhan and not Radha-kunda?" There are many reasons, one of which is that we follow in the footsteps of our acharyas, such as Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur. He advised his disciples:

“Radha-kunda is the highest position of our service, and all our masters, Lords, are playing there. And from a little lower position we are to look at that, then it may be permanent. So, close by we shall get the place – Govardhana.”

The next challenge for our team was securing all the necessary permits. This took several years, but now we can proudly say that our project appears to be the most "official" in all of Govardhan. This enables us to plan not just for 5-10 years, but for many decades of service to the Vaishnavas and to Vraja.

View master plan

SIMPLE BEAUTIFUL LIVING

From the very beginning, we aimed to create not just another retreat center, what to speak of just another hotel. Our goal is much more complex and far more intriguing.

We aim to offer Vaishnavas a unique experience of staying in Vraja. An experience of deep immersion in bhajan. An experience of fully engaging all the senses in service. An experience of simple and beautiful living in Krishna consciousness at the base of Giriraja. We are confident that the experience of being here will leave profound spiritual impressions.

In creating a list of elements that could help achieve this goal, we have strived to incorporate all of them into Sri Rupa Seva Kunj:

Beauty
The Vrindavan described in the scriptures is infinitely beautiful. We have endeavored to reflect a glimpse of this spiritual splendor in our ashram, paying attention to every detail. We are constantly working to ensure that the architecture, furniture, garden, kirtans, or kathas, the relationships within the team, and interactions with guests, down to the smallest elements, are harmonious and beautiful.

Comfort
While it might seem that we are talking about material aspects, both beauty and comfort actually help the mind disengage from mundane concerns and focus on spiritual endeavors. Cozy rooms with good insulation, purified water, stable electricity, mild prasadam, and even clean linens and towels — all of these contribute to the spiritual practice.

Private Setting
We value the large Vaishnava festivals that gather hundreds or even thousands of devotees. However, for deep immersion, a more intimate atmosphere is required. Therefore, we have intentionally limited the capacity of the guesthouse to no more than 72 people. In our view, this is the optimal number to conduct inspiring programs while ensuring personal interaction with each guest.

Service
Everyone has heard that staying in Vrindavan should be an act of service. But what does that mean in practice? We organize retreats that offer complete immersion in various forms of service — service to the Bhagavatam, service to Vraja, service to Vaishnavas, and service to the Holy Name. The schedule is designed to engage participants fully while ensuring they are not overwhelmed.

Association
Association with exalted Vaishnavas is essential for spiritual progress. Therefore, for each retreat, we strive to invite several sadhus. To facilitate more interaction with these saintly Vaishnavas, we even purchased adjacent land and are developing a "Sadhu Quarters." This secluded area will provide spiritual teachers and mentors a peaceful place to immerse themselves in bhajan, with occasional visits to share the treasures of their Krishna consciousness with us.

Beauty is in the details

OUR PROJECTS

The activities of "Sri Rupa Seva Kunj" can be broadly categorized into five main areas:

1. Spiritual Center
Our primary goal for both the team and visiting Vaishnavas is to attain genuine spiritual experiences. Everything that happens in the ashram is directed towards achieving this objective.
‍
2. Educational Center
We conduct engaging retreats, develop educational courses, write books, and produce films. We actively share knowledge and experiences with all interested Vaishnavas.
‍
3. Production Center
We not only respond to the existing needs of Vaishnavas but also create new educational and spiritual formats.
‍
4. Research Center
Our research activities cover various aspects of Vaishnava and Vedic culture (scriptures, Sanskrit language, music, Ayurveda, etc.), including its historical, scientific, and practical aspects.
‍
5. Center for service
For many years, we have been serving Vraja: feeding homeless cows at Govardhan, caring for elderly sadhus, opening and supporting a free school in Radha-kunda, distributing food and warm clothing. With the establishment of the ashram, our capacity to serve has significantly increased.

Our Service

VALUES AND PRINCIPLES

Under the guidance of Srila Bhakti Vijnana Goswami, our team has developed a document outlining the values of the project and the practical principles aligned to them. Here, we will highlight just a few key guidelines.

The spirit of service is the foundation of everything done at Sri Rupa Seva Kunj. We see the presence of Bhagavan in others, care for them, help them grow, and share in their joy.
Sri Rupa Seva Kunj is a non-profit project. The Vaishnavas who invest in it do so without expecting anything in return. The money we earn during retreats is fully reinvested into maintaining and developing the ashram, serving Vraja, and supporting the Vaishnavas. No funds are taken out of the project.
Sri Rupa Seva Kunj primarily hosts its own retreats, designed by the ashram team. However, we can offer the ashram for a retreat to groups of Vaishnavas who are spiritually aligned with us.
At Sri Rupa Seva Kunj, everyone – from the project leader to the volunteers –follows a unified set of rules established by the ashram team.

If you wish to support our ashram, join us as a volunteer, or even become a part of our team, visit the "Get Involved" page "Join us" page.

Genesis of the Ashram Vision