tapovan kuti

He alone sees truly who sees the eternal, unattached, pure, wise and free Self in every creature and everything.

Swami Tapovan Maharaj

Tapovan Kuti – Uttarkashi

Tapovan Kuti Ashram, the Himalayan home of Swami Tapovanam Maharaj, is a haven of peace and divinity, a sacred centre for Chinmaya Mission and a tranquil sanctuary for all seekers. Swami Chinmayananda attained the fruit of his spiritual search there under the guidance of his guru.
Located in the holy town of Uttarkashi, in the Himalayan province of Uttarakhand, some 3,799 feet above sea level and about 165km north of Rishikesh, Tapovan Kuti is a holy pilgrimage place for Chinmaya Mission devotees.

Uttarkashi Town

Home of saints and sages

Famous as the departure point for Gangotri, Uttarkashi is surrounded by a soaring mountain range called Varanavata. Tributaries of the river Bhagirathi flow around the mountain tract like two hands hugging the valley.

At the central point in the valley, almost at the lap of the mountain tract, lies Ujeli, an outer area of Uttarkashi township renownedfor its many ashrams and sadhu shelters. It is here that Tapovan Kuti the home of Swami Tapovan Maharaj, is positioned on the hillside.

Supreme renunciation

A simple hut

Built in 1936 by devotees, a simple mud-walled one-roomed kutia sheltered Swami Tapovan Maharaj until his Mahasamadhi in January,1957. The kutia is located on the hillside with a view of the soaring mountains and the rushing gurgling Ganges below.

The river Bhagirathi, headstream of the Ganges, flowing fast below, gives out a continuous soothing sound likened to the praanava, Om. Like a magnet, the Ganges draws us down the hill to become still and watch the eternal flow, symbol of Vedantic knowledge.
The one-room kutia, is now the centre of a more extensive ashram, but the humble cottage is a locus of silence and serenity, still retaining the simplicity and spiritual vibration of the glorious renunciant who dwelled there.

Silently hear everyone. Accept what is good. Reject and forget what is not. This is intelligent living.

Chinmayananda Saraswati

Silent Union

A temple of peace

Inside are kept Swami Tapovan’s simple cot and kamandalu (water pot) and one or two texts. The little verandah outside the hut, where the Mahatma would sit and give Vedantic discourses, has been converted into a shrine.
Devotees speak in hushed tones of profound experiences while meditating there. It is here that Swami Chinmayananda spent a total of seven years studying at the feet of his teacher.
The silent but charged atmosphere of Tapovan Kuti invokes an irresistible urge to sit, drop mundane concerns and just ‘be’, revelling in stillness and silence. Evening aarti to Swami Tapovan, to Gurudev and to Ganga Ma is a highlight at the ashram.

Kashi Vishvanath Temple

Kashi of the north

Swami Tapovan was an ardent devotee of Soumya Kasi, the deity of the ancient Kashi Viswanath temple located in the town centre. Monks in the Himalayas referred to Swami Tapovan as the Spiritual Bird of Sowmya Kashi - a bird possessed of the freedom and strength needed to reach great heights. Maharaj sat there in meditation daily.

The temple is steeped in antiquity and is said to have been established by sage Parshuram. Though the shrine is small the murti is a large 56cm dark granite svayambhu(self-born) lingam tilted slightly to the right. Its power is palpable.
The murti always heavily garlanded with Dhuttara kanaka(datura), marigolds and bilva leaves is worshipped by a continuous stream of devotees who come to bathe the lingam with water from the nearby Ganges. The Devi shrine nearby is equally mysterious and powerful with its huge vibrating trident

Later years

The ashram grows

Some years after mahasamadhi, additional ashram facilities were constructed around the kutia to shelter pilgrims and devotees coming to pay homage to Swami Tapovanam.
In 2005, the capacity of Tapovan Kuti was increased further with construction of a 3-storey building, Tapovan Chinmayam, comprising a large satsang hall and twenty-four comfortable, self-contained rooms with balconies all having breathtaking views of the Ganges.

An imposing white marble murti of Lord Jagadeeshwara with Goddess Saraswati and Lord Ganesha on either side graces the stage in the satsang hall of Tapovan Chinmayam. The foyer is dedicated to a pictorial life sketch of Swami Tapovan.

Take a Pilgrimage to the source

Life-changing retreats

Tapovan Kuti is a divine destination for spiritual camps and retreats organized by Mission Acharyas, and the ashram welcomes pilgrims and devotees seeking a short reverential sojourn with Guru Maharaj to enrich their sadhana.
Students taking the Vedanta course at the Mission's Sandeepany Ashrams spend a month or two at this hallowed retreat, where their study is deepened by the divine vibrations all about them and the potent legacy of Swami Tapovanam and his ardent student.
Bandaras, or feeding of sadhus, is a frequent occurrence at Tapovan Kuti and the reverence of the sadhus for Swami Tapovanam is truly moving to witness.

Contact Details

Mailing Address : Tapovan Kuti, Ujeli Uttarkashi-249 193 Uttarakhand India Email: devatmanand@gmail.com Ashram line: +91-1374-222357 / 223373 / +91-9412077357 Mobile: +91-9412143377

Central Chinmaya Mission Trust

Saki Vihar Road, Powai, Mumbai - 400 072.

Tel : +91-22-2803 4900

E-mail : ccmt@chinmayamission.com