Before introducing the readers to Nirmal Ashram, Rishikesh, it is imperative to acquaint them with Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s ‘Nirmal Panth’ or ‘Nirmal Sampardai’. The objective of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s life was to relieve mankind from the bondage of life and death by bestowing upon man the highest spiritual state. For this, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, expounded a unique and pure religious way of life as ‘Nirmal Panth’. Details regarding the origin of Nirmal Panth can be read by visiting the “Our Inspiration” and “Temporal Lineage” sections from the drop-down menu under the “About” tab.
Nirmal Ashram, as the name suggests, is a religious retreat, a spiritual hermitage for those people who want to spend their life in ‘Sewa & Simran’. The Ashram is related to the ‘Nirmal Cult’ founded by Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The founder of Nirmal Ashram was Sriman Mahant Buddha Singh Ji who was a great administrator, a scholar of shastras and an excellent orator. He established the Ashram in 1903 with the motive of providing boarding & lodging facilities to the saints & sadhus meditating in the ‘Jhaari’, on the banks of holy river Ganges. In the beginning, there were only three rooms, one room was constructed as the ‘Darbar Sahib’ for ‘Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji’ & the other two room were reserved for the Ashram purpose. Some huts were also constructed for the stay of sadhus & arrangement of community meals (langar) were made. Mahant Buddha Singh Ji’s entire life was dedicated to preaching & spreading the message of the Guru. His two most famous disciples were Param Pujya Sant Atma Singh Ji & Sant Baba Nikka Singh Ji ‘Virakat’. He left for his heavenly abode in 1937 A.D. at Nirmal Bagh, Kankhal. Thereafter, Sant Atma Singh Ji Maharaj was bestowed as the Mahant & took over the services of the Ashram.
