The Lineage

The Shaktiyogashrama Educational-Cultural Trust is an off shoot of a powerful spiritual lineage of the Himalyan Masters in the form of Swami Shri Harish Madhukar.

Swami Shri Harish Madhukar was popularly known as ‘Babaji’ to his disciples and followers. He was a unique yogi – anonymous, unfettered & easily accessible. A devout worshipper of the Goddess & practitioner of Sri Vidya; his message was deceptively simple – ‘Be happy and surrender to life & the Lord’.

He lived life intensely; at first as a successful professional & householder and later as a seeker who suddenly decided to drop everything and roam the Himalayas in search of a Guru, a person who embodied Truth. The guru he finally found after much travail eventually sent him back to the Sahyadris (in Maharashtra), to spread the Light.

It is here that the idea of an educational cultural centre took firm root in his mind and manifested as the Shaktiyogashrama Gurukulam.

Download Babaji’s Life sketch

Mandakini Trivedi who is the direct lineage bearer of this tradition is therefore, also the chair-person of Shaktiyogashrama; thus manifesting the esoteric parampara in its exoteric form

A chance meeting with the Master changed the course of Mandakini’s life. An artist/classical dancer by profession; Mandakini was searching for many answers to Life & Art and the divine Grace seems to have answered all of them through her peerless master Swami Shri Harish Madhukar ‘Babaji’. Over-night, her life took a 360 degree turn and Life, Art & spiritual sadhana merged in this glorious association that ended with the founding of Shaktiyogashrama Gurukulam.

Mandakini’s journey seems to have been that of the guru-parampara too; for shortly before shedding his mortal frame, Babaji decided to establish Shaktiyogashrama Gurukul, a space that seeks to put education, classical Indian Arts & Sciences in the context of spirituality. Thus, at present, the ashram conducts week-end to week long programmes that integrate spirituality, environment, the classical Indian arts & sciences.

Vision

Only that is education which liberates human consciousness.

Education must be ‘Man making’ & not ‘information gathering’.
To achieve this goal spiritual education should be the foundation of all education; for what the world needs today is not more doctors, lawyers, artists, and businessmen. What the world needs today are more people looking inward.

The ashram vision is one of ‘integration’ within a community space that –

•  Finds and nurtures the common thread of spirituality in all educational disciplines.
•  Enriches, conserves and protects the environment.
• Provides an ambience for the study of the cultural heritage of India in the form of its arts, crafts, sciences & life styles.
• Integrates and enriches its rural counterpart.

People

Mandakini Trivedi

Chairperson & Trustee

The chief disciple in Swami Shri Harish Madhukar's lineage, Mandakini has been chosen by him, to carry forward his work at the ashram. The creative head of Nateshvari Dance Gurukul, she is a performer, choreographer, teacher and writer on classical Indian dance. Her chief work, through all her dance activity, is to revive the tradition of practicing classical Indian Dance as a complete yoga - sadhana.

Miti Desai

Executive Trustee

Miti Desai, is a chief disciple of Smt.Mandakini Trivedi. A designer, classical Indian dancer and educationist, Miti is the founder and creative head of Miti Design Lab. Her work intersects within the realm of design, education and culture.

Kumkum Gupta

Trustee

A social worker and homemaker, Kumkum is an active counselor and social worker with NGO’S and organizations across India. She has effectively contributed to many causes including women’s empowerment and suicide counseling.

Swati Joshi-Aringale

Trustee

Swati Joshi-Aringale, an Architect and a Landscape Designer by profession, successfully working in the field for more than 20 years, has vast experience and knowledge in the field. She is a Board of Director at Sane Guruji Shikshan Prasarak Mandal,Nashik Road’s KN KELA Women’s College affiliated to SNDT, Mumbai University and also a member in Stamp Foundation NGO.

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