Bal Kendra
Inspired by the teachings and blessings of Swami Madhavanda, Swaroopyog Balkendra works on overall development of children of all age groups through interactive participation, leveraging inspirational story telling sessions, self-study and presentation (Swadhyay) systems, with special focus on ‘dhyan i.e. meditation’ and ‘prayer i.e. upasna’.
For the observant and absorbent young children, we strive to bring to them our great nation’s inspiring and rich history in its truest form, stories of great saints, freedom fighters and many inspiring personalities. We gently highlight their qualities, hard work, love and sacrifices made for the country and their unflinching pursuit of the ultimate truth, which transformed them into heroes.
Our development focus is threefold in mental, physical and spiritual development, with the latter being the central theme of our work, as guided by Swamiji. Swamiji always emphasized the need to plant the seed of development at a young age and from there with a little bit of care and right nurturing it is bound to flourish into a big beautiful tree which in turn gives shade, fruit and strives to help many.
Our latest Bal Kendra videos can be explored on the Bal Kendra page, while prior videos are available under Resource -> Archives. You can explore complete series on ‘Bhimarupi‘, ‘Manache Shlok‘, “Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj” and many more. We welcome all interested kids to attend and participate and if you want to reach out, please contact any of the numbers displayed on the Bal Kendra page.
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Swami Madhavanand has been conferred upon with many awards and accolades, some of which are listed below:
1. Shri Samartha Santseva Award – for his on-ground work in the field of spreading spiritual awareness and upliftment of seekers.
2. Purshottam Santseva Gaurav Award – awarded by the Shri Sant Sahitya Seva Sangh.
3. Samaj Shikshak Award – given by Shri. Anna Talwalkar Trust for work in the field of spiritual education.
4. Shahu Modak Smruti Award.
5. Samajik Krutadnyata Award by Chaitanya Trust expressing gratitude of the society towards Swamiji’s work.
6. Gita Gaurav Award – given by Gita Dharma Mandal for his books and discourses explaining the true meaning of Shrimad Bhagwad Gita.
7. Also received accolades from the Brahmin Sahayak Sangh, Yadnyavalka Branch.
Short Biography – 24 August 1951 to 29 April 2021
Swami Madhavanand alias Dr. Madhav Nagarkar was one of the contemporary heirs of the Dhyanyog (meditation driven) spiritual tradition of Nath Sampradya, originating from Bhagwan Shree Adinath (Lord Shiva), further carried through many generations of saints till Sant Shree Dnyaneshwar Maharaj and later Swami Swaroopanand of Pawas. This spiritual lineage then was handed over to Swami Madhavnath of Pune region and further helmed by one his contemporary spiritual heirs, Swami Madhavanand.
Swamiji was a lichenologist doing his research from Agharkar Institute, Pune and later awarded a doctorate by University of Pune for his research work and thesis on “Studies into Indian Lichens”. In 1987-88 he received a postdoctoral fellowship from the Smithsonian Institute, Washington D.C. and further pursued research on Lichens under the guidance of Dr. Mason Hale. He later also worked in this field at British Museum of Natural History, London, and Munich Botanical Gardens, Germany and 1989 onwards pursued research in the field of “Mushroom Cultivation”.
Swamiji was deeply influenced by Swami Vivekanand and Samarth Ramdas who established a powerful confluence of patriotism and spirituality through their works, particularly amongst the youth. This divine inspiration, coupled with Swamiji’s meticulous and scientific approach to spirituality, and fueled by an ever blossoming love and dedication to ‘sadhana’, in pursuit of self-realization, has brought to fore, in simple and scientific terms, an exact and direct path towards experiencing the essence of spirituality.
The core of Swamiji’s teaching is God Realization or Self-Realization i.e. experiencing one’s True Self; and the most direct path to God is “Be with the Self, i.e. Self-Consciousness.” This path has been brought out with divine clarity through his numerous discourses and profound literature on the science of meditation or Dhyanayog.
In today’s age of science and technology, Swamiji has always focused on the need to impart this knowledge scientifically, without any mysterious connotations, to all seekers with a strong focus on youth. With this mission in mind he formed the organization called “Swaroopyog Pratishthan” in 1997, with Spirituality, Ethics and Patriotism as the fundamental pillars.
For over 20 years, the institute has been relentlessly working towards holistic personality development amongst seekers. Through Swami Madhavanand’s discourses on Shrimad Bhagwad Gita, Shrimad Dasbodh, Patanjali Yogsutra, literature of various saints and eminent national personalities, one can experience the convergence of Yog (oneness), Devotion (bhakti), and Knowledge (dnyan) with special focus on one’s duties towards his or her nation in intense patriotism. Swamiji’s teachings to the youth have always emphasized on Yuva Swadhyay – a self-study and presentation system to help develop a deeper understanding on the path of realization and patriotism.
Rev. Swamiji has created a wealth of spiritual literature ranging from an elaborative description on the chapters of Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta, literature of Shree Gajanan Maharaj, Tukaram Maharaj, Swami Swaroopanand, Shree Mukundraj and several handbooks useful for daily sadhana and recitation along with their scientific interpretation. In addition to this he has also penned books on questions that a seeker may have (Dialogue with Youth), Fundamentals of Science of Meditation and explaining in detail hymns like the Ram Raksha and Ganpati Atharvashirsha.
Swaroopyog Pratishthan also has a collection of audio recordings available at present in Swamiji’s voice in Marathi language on beautiful subjects like the “spiritual relationship between the great teacher and his disciple in Ramakrishna and Vivekananda”, “the extraordinary patriotism and divine qualities exhibited in the life of Lokmanya Tilak”, “the 9 types of divine devotional methods explained in the Dasbodh (Navavidha Bhakti)” and several others. Swaroopyog Pratishthan also publishes a quarterly magazine which reaches to thousands of people worldwide and is available in paperback as well as electronic formats.
Swamiji’s personality and literature exudes a beautiful convergence of diverse aspects of human life and motivates seekers to strive to attain the ultimate objective one can in their lives – Self-Realization via the direct path of “Be with the Self” or “Dhyanayog”! And while doing so, Swamiji’s teachings inspire one to develop the art of living their lives to the fullest potential, determined to make a positive difference to themselves, their families and above all their nation.
Dr. Himanshu Sharad Vaze (Swami Samvidanand), Pune
Dr. Himanshu Vaze is an MBBS and M.D. (Physiology) doctor, having completed both degrees from The B.J. Medical College, Pune. He further completed his Diploma in Sports Medicine from Heidelberg, Germany.
Since 1998 he regularly attended weekly discourses of Dasbodh and Dnyaneshwari for twelve years and practiced sadhana accordingly under the guidance of Swamiji’s Gurubhagini Sunititai Dubale. Later he also received guidance from Dr. Sushamatai Watve, Dr. Swarnalatatai Bhishikar, Sarltai Babar and others from the Swaroopyoga sampradaya. Dr Himanshu Vaze performed spiritual practice (sadhana) of many different sects and studied their different ways and spiritual practices accordingly. Since Gurupurnima of the year 2015, he started attending Swamiji’s discourses and practicing meditation under the guidance of with Swami Madhavananda.
Since the year 2008, he has delivered over 400 discourses on Dnyaneshwari, Patanjala Yogasutras, and other spiritual texts. He was asked by Swamiji to conduct the Abhang Bhavtaranga program during the book publication ceremony of the elucidation of the fifth chapter of Bhagavad Gita authored by Swamiji in December 2017. He received Swamiji’s anugraha in 2018 and started presenting extended discourses (Deergha Swadhyayas) at the Yuva Kendra in Pune.
Dr. Vaze has taught for twelve years in several medical colleges, University of Pune, Film Television Institute and other institutions. As a disciple of Dr. Rajeev Sharangpani, he has been carrying his legacy in the field of sports medicine for the last 21 years. He has also delivered more than 1000 lectures in and outside Pune on health and related topics and has also written in various newspapers and magazines on many topics related to health, while also having published the book ‘Experimental Medicine’, which is included as a textbook in the syllabus of Pune University.
He has learned to play violin for ten years, taking guidance from Pandit Atulkumar Upadhye and served as the Head of Pune Center of Soft Martial Arts, Indian Tai Chi Academy for 9 years, teaching martial arts to around 100 students.
He has served for 5 years in various organizations along with the social worker Late Padmashri Sou. Sindhutai Sapkal. He holds a special interest in exercise and mountain climbing and has trekked in the Himalayas several times. He goes on regular weekly treks of the Sinhagad fort for many years.
Kindly note that Dr. Shri Himanshu Vaze intends to use the “sampradayik” i.e. lineal name (Swami Samvidanand) of the Nath Sect conferred by Shri. Swami Madhavananda (Dr. Madhav Nagarkar) only once he believes it is the apt time to proceed with initiation of seekers independently (i.e. anugraha).
Dr Atul Abhay Dixit (Swami Atulyanath) – Gandhinagar, Gujrat.
Dr. Atul Dixit is a native of Dombivli city and is currently working as Associate Professor of Mathematics at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Gujarat. He spent 11 years in the USA for education, during which he did MS, PhD and postdoctoral research in mathematics. He has received the ‘Gábor Szegő’ award from Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) in USA in 2021. He is the first Indian to receive this award. In the year 2021, he received the prestigious ‘Swarnajayanti Fellowship’ of the Government of India for five years to conduct research in Mathematics.
Dr Atul Dixit has been associated with Swaroopyog Pratisthan since 1999 and has sung devotional songs (abhangas) in Swami Madhvananda’s programs in India and USA. Singing and playing tabla is his hobby. His first music teacher is his mother Smt Madhuwanti Dixit. He has done programs with famous musicians Sridhar Phadke, Aditya Kalyanpur, Mahesh Kale and Kenwood Dennard. He is also fond of music direction and has composed tunes for many abangas till now.
In USA, Dr. Atul Dixit was very fortunate to have the company of Swami Madhavananda, and while performing spiritual service (seva) through devotional singing and swadhyayas, he received special guidance from Swamiji on subtle spiritual aspects and in-depth and subtle meaning embedded in abhangas, and also how the aspects of meditation are manifested in them. All his family members have been initiated by Swamiji and are also involved in the work of Swaroopyog at many levels.
Dr. Atul Dixit is carrying on the work of giving discourses for spiritual enlightenment through on-line Kendras of Swaroopyog. He also visits the Kendras of Swaroopyog in various other places, on special occasions.
1. Friday Meditation Centre, Bhandarkar Road, Pune, Fri, 7:30 – 9 pm IST (Shri. Yogesh Kale)
2. Saturday Meditation & Satsang, Karvenagar, Pune, 1st and 3rd Sat, 7 – 8:30 am IST (Dr. Gajanan Natekar)
3. Sunday Morning Upasana, Karvenagar, Pune, Sun, 6 – 8 am IST (Dr. Himanshu Vaze)
4. Online Centre, Swamiji discourse recording & Meditation, Mon, Thu, Fri, 3:30 – 5 pm IST (Sou. Swati Damle)
One of the most divine experiences can be had while offering the evening Sandhya prayers. Sitting on the terrace of the Shiva Meditation Temple, under the expanse of the blue skies, a beautifully lit mountain range with the golden rays of the setting sun, nature in its sheer vastness and in this serene natural setting, one recites 24 names of Lord Vishnu, praises the Lord, chants the Gayatri Mantra with full understanding and concludes by reciting “Om Namaha Shivay”. Effortlessly a seeker’s attention turns inwards, a sense of Self, a moment to just “be” … free of any internal clutter and just humbly grateful in that moment. An uplifting experience and an upasana one should experience.
As a part of workshops, sadhaks get to hear and watch recorded discourses by Swamiji as well as discourses by the heirs of this spiritual tradition. All discourses are focused on providing a scientific approach and logical explanation of the path of self-realization. They draw all inspiration from the fundamental spiritual texts like the Shrimad Bhagwad Gita, Shrimad Dasbodh, Patanjali Yogsutra and Dyaneshwari.
As a part of one’s spiritual development, swadhyay i.e. self-study has always been encouraged by saints as an important spiritual practice. Having spiritual central text like the Geeta, Dasbodh or Dyaneshwari as a part of regular daily study is encouraged. On these lines, the ashram sadhak is encouraged to read Abhanga Dyaneshwari, a commentary on Dyaneshwari compiled by Saint Swami Swaroopananda of Pawas.
Swamiji has recommended meditation practice thrice a day, starting with early morning, then prior to noon and third time in the evening before sunset. The divine experience of evening meditation in the beautiful Shiva Temple is something a true seeker would never want to miss.
The Ashram has a beautiful sadhana pattern set for the sadhak. It starts with mediation at dawn, followed by reciting morning hymns, paying respects to your spiritual masters, reading spiritual literature, meditation sessions in the noon and evening, followed by the final prayers and chanting session in the night. Every day has a special significance and Swamiji has selected special prayers per day. A variety of prayers and spiritual practices designed specifically to complement the fundamental practice of meditation provide a fulfilling experience to the seeker.
Shri Shriram Deshpande (Swami Shriramnath), USA
After completing his degree in computer engineering in India in the year 2006, Shri Shriram Deshpande went to USA in 2008 to pursue M.S. He was working in Florida earlier and then settled in California in 2012. Currently he works in the software field.
Along with his parents, from his childhood, Shri Shriram Deshpande had started visiting Swami Madhavanath. Later he became a regular member and activist of Swami Madhavananda’s Yuva Kendra. He continues to give discourses on spiritual topics at online centers in the USA, as well as at Bal kendras and Kishore kendras. He was fortunate to have Swami Madhavananda often staying with him during Swamiji’s tours in USA and was blessed with his presence closely. Shri Shriram Deshpande has been giving discourses on Dasbodh, Bhagavad Gita, Yoga of meditation, and Dasbodh, and presentations of self-studies, for past several years.
Currently he is working to create liking for the spiritual domain in young people in USA in English, in a simple and likeable manner.
Shri. Mandar Malati Bhalchandra Lele (Swami Mandarnath), Kalyan, Maharashtra
Shri. Mandar Lele did his college education with commerce background. Later he got his PWD Electrical License and then worked as an electrician in Piramal Health Care, Thane for 2 years. From 1991 to 2018, he setup his independent business (Electrical Sales and Services) and from 2018 onwards, with Swamiji’s blessings, he dedicated himself completely to giving spiritual discourses.
Shri. Lele was given anugraha by Sadguru Swami Madhavnath and later by Swami Madhavananda. His spiritual practice started from 1997 under the guidance of Swami Madhavananda. He is associated with the Kendra at Kalyan city, which is one of the major branches of Swaroopyog in Mumbai, which helps (as elsewhere) spread understanding about pure spirituality primarily through the science of meditation.
From year 2010 onwards, as per the direction given by Swamiji, he has continued preaching through discourses on Bhagavad Gita, Dnyaneshwari, Dasbodh, Tukaram Gatha, Manache Shlok, Ramraksha, Atharvashirsha, He also gives lectures on National Heroes, spiritual personalities and Freedom Fighters such as Veer Savarkar and Swami Vivekananda at various locations in Kalyan, Thane, Dapoli, Sangola, Pune and Sangli. He has a great spiritual legacy that has been passed down through generations from both his maternal and paternal families.
Shri Mandar Lele is carrying on the work of giving discourses for spiritual enlightenment through on-line Kendras of Swaroopyog. He also visits the Kendras of Swaroopyog in various other places, on special occasions.
Dr. Shri. Gajanan Digambar Natekar (Swami Gajanannath), Pune
Dr Gajanan Natekar is an Ayurvedic doctor by profession, and is currently working in the medico-legal audit department in the insurance sector. He comes from Ratnagiri city. At the young age of seventeen, he got his first glimpse of Swami Madhavananda and received spiritual initiation (anugraha) from him as a sadhak-disciple in the year 2001. Later, he joined the youth center (Yuva Kendra) of Swaroopyog at Ratnagiri.
While pursuing medical education at Sawantwadi, he practiced spiritual devotion (sadhana) and self-study (swadhyay) at the center. After coming to Pune after completing his education, he participated regularly as a sadhak and as an active member in the Yuva Kendra, meditation centre (Dhyana Kendra), childrens centre (Bal Kendra) and spiritual workshops of Swaroopyog at Pune, He completed his post-graduation in philosophy as a personal interest under the motivational guidance of Swami Madhavananda. With Swamiji’s blessings and direction, he took up an in-depth study and spiritual practice of Bhagavad Gita, Dasbodh by Samartha Ramdas Swami, Gatha by Tukaram Maharaj and literature created by other saints. As per Swamiji’s wish, he started presenting extended discourses (Deergha Swadhyayas) on Dasbodh in 2018 in Yuva Kendra at Pune.
Currently Dr. Gajanan Natekar provides guidance to sadhakas at two meditation centers of Swaroopyog at Pune. He also has a YouTube channel (@dr.gajanannatekar) through which he is carrying on the work of giving discourses for spiritual enlightenment. Dr. Gajanan Natekar also visits the Kendras of Swaroopyog in various other places on special occasions.
Swaroopyog Pratishthan was established in 1997 by Swami Madhavanand, one of the Spiritual Heirs of the meditation (Dhyanyog) branch of the Nath Sampradaya (the Spiritual Lineage of Shri Adinath i.e., Lord Shiva).
Our main objective is to convey spirituality and patriotism in the truest form, in a scientific and easy to understand manner to all seekers, while maintaining meditation as the central theme for one’s spiritual and personality development.
A deep study of spiritual texts in Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta, Dnyaneshwari, Dasbodh, Patanjal Yog Sutras, along with biographies and lives of great saints and freedom fighters such as Veer Savarkar, Lokmanya Tilak and Subhashchandra Bose to name a few, is carried across various centers in India and abroad.
With a special focus on reaching out to youth, Swaroopyog runs spiritual & personality development centers for youth, kids and also runs meditation camps and many other programs for sadhaks and seekers.
As said by one of our greatest saints, “Samartha Ramdas”, “A seeker’s real duty (swadharma) is to be with the True Self (Swaroopa)”, which also is Swaroopyog’s motto. For a seeker with a goal of Self (i.e. God) realization, truth must be sought within oneself, in the depths of meditation, while carefully understanding and practicing the art of ‘being with the True Self’ which is also the direct path towards achieving the goal.
While Swamiji, through all his works and Swaroopyog, continues to inspire a seeker to clearly understand and walk this direct path, also specifically quotes Veer Savarkar, to remind a spiritual seeker, that “as one looks to transcend the physical body (‘deha’) and seek divinity (‘deva’), one must not forget that he encounters his surroundings i.e. motherland (‘desh’) and that he owes a debt to his motherland (‘desh’).”
Respected Shri. Shailesh Sohoni, USA
Shailesh Dada has settled in America for the past 30 years, and currently works in PwC (and IT services provided) as a director. In 1990 he met Sadguru Swami Madhavnath and in 1992 received his grace which changed his life’s direction for good.
Shailesh dada went to America for his job back in 1993-94. From 2002 onwards Swami Madhavananda started frequently travelling to America for spiritual discourses and work and Swamiji often then stayed with Shailesh Dada, where he specially got an opportunity to study the subtilities of great texts like Dnyaneshwari & Dasbodh in detail.
Swamiji started the spiritual centre in Jacksonville, Florida, USA in 2002, following which with Swamiji’s blessings, Shailesh Dada’s study and discourses on Dnyaneshwari began in this centre and since then continued un-interrupted for 20 years, completing a full iteration of Dnyaneshwari. Shailesh Dada also gives discourses on Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and Dhyana Yoga i.e., science of meditation.
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