Welcome to Ananda Sangha Ananda Sangha is a global spiritual movement based on the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda, author of the spiritual classic Autobiography of a Yogi Ananda was founded in 1968 by Yogananda’s direct disciple, Swami Kriyananda, who passed away in 2013.
Swami Kriyananda’s spiritual successor is Nayawami Jyotish who, along with his wife Nayaswami Devi, serves as Ananda’s spiritual director. An hour’s drive from the city of Pune,, is a place of natural beauty and high spiritual vibration. Nestled in Maharasthra’s scenic Western Ghats, where peace and quiet prevail, Ananda Pune is more than just a pastoral retreat centre and budding residential community. It represents a spiritual movement and blessed way of life that is both ancient and ever new. Universal in scope, it is truly a place of hope for a better world. Ananda Pune is part of Ananda Sangha Worldwide, a thriving spiritual network like no other, established in 1968 in Nevada City, California, USA.
As you explore this website, you will discover what makes it so, and how you, too, can experience and enjoy its many unique qualities and opportunities. Ananda Pune also has an active centre in the city, where classes, satsangs, and special events are held on Thursdays and weekends. Kriya Yoga is a meditation technique of energy control, or pranayama, that quickly accelerates one’s spiritual growth. It was first made widely known by Paramhansa Yogananda in his spiritual classic, Autobiography of a Yogi.
According to Yogananda, Kriya is the most effective means available to mankind today for reaching the goal of Self-realisation: union with the Divine. Its effectiveness has been proven in the lives of people from all walks of life, religion, and nationality. Because Kriya is a sacred technique, it requires a period of study and then formal initiation. You can learn Kriya Yoga through a series of classes from our acharyas at Ananda, where is has been taught to thousands of seekers for over 45 years, and where we practice it daily.
We have three kinds of accommodations at our yoga retreat to suit your needs. Please find the rates of each option below: 1. Fully furnished Cabins (Kutirs) A cozy little studio with a living room, 1 bedroom, a bathroom (with hot water) and a small kitchenette – just perfect for a couple or an individual. 2. Fully furnished Duplex Rooms An artistically designed spacious room with a bedroom on the “mezzanine” floor (loft) with an attached balcony and the living room on the ground floor with an attached bathroom (with hot water) – perfect for the entire family, a couple or a group of friends. 3. Sparsely furnished rooms Come live the simple life of a yogi, with a simple bedroom and an equally simple attached bathroom (with hot water).
We are the Ananda Yoga Retreat located outside Pune city off the main road going towards Lavasa. After passing Kharawade Village (A), look for a blue coloured concrete bus stop on your right (Watunde Phata (C)). On its wall, you’ll see an Ananda sign pointing across the road to the turnoff for our land (on your left) (B). The turnoff is a dirt road 2 km long, somewhat challenging because of quite a few rocks and ruts. During monsoon season, it can also get quite muddy and “puddly”. There are now 2 more turnoffs to reach our land: The 1st will be after you cross the bridges shown on the map and wind around a bit. This turnoff is not marked. It’s on your right just past a small house close to the road. If you’re at the correct place (and there aren’t too many houses on that road fitting this description), you’ll see a pair of small stone walls on each side of that road. Turn there. Continue until you see a small structure on your left with an altar showing Master’s picture. Turn left. You are now on a short driveway facing Seva House, our reception and office are. Park on the side of the driveway or at the top.