Projects

In India today there are thousands of impoverished children in the villages and cities. Some are orphaned. Some are partially orphaned. Some have parents who are simply not able to provide for themselves, let alone their children.

Simple shelters with food, beds and babysitters are not sufficient. These children need not only to be fed and sheltered, they need to be educated and trained so they can be productive members of society. They need to be inculcated with values, ethics, and spirituality which will make them torchbearers of Indian culture.

Their education includes the following essential components: (1) a full standard academic education, (2) training in the ancient Vedic knowledge and traditions, (3) a moral and value-based education which is crucially needed in modern society.

In the ""Dust to Diamonds"" program, our gurukuls/orphanages provide 200 young impoverished, disadvantaged boys with a basic academic education, as well as intensive Sanskrit and ancient Vedic texts. Their days are filled with yoga, meditation, Vedic chanting, reading of scriptures, mathematics, seva and special programs designed to infuse their lives with essential values and ethics. They are not only getting a full academic education, but they are also being trained to be cultural ambassadors, carrying with them wherever they go, the deep values and culture of honesty, integrity, purity, piety, dedication and selflessness.

Once a child comes to the orphanage/gurukul a rapid, divine transformation takes place. Looks of hopelessness become looks of great optimism and hope. Lightless eyes become bright shining eyes. Feelings of destitution and despair become feelings of pride, faith and enthusiasm.

The rishikumars travel on yatra to the Himalayas, perform yoga, yagna and prayers on the banks of Mother Ganga, study academics and computers as well as the scriptures, perform dramas based on Indian spiritual history and of course, have time to run and play! We currently have over 200 young boys living in our 2 gurukuls, one on the premises of Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh and the other on the premises of the Veerpur ashram, 8 km. away. We are looking to take in up to 500 more children.

Pujya Swamiji has opened His arms to any child in need: ""He who has no one. He who is broken, alone and shattered. He is the child for whom we have opened this gurukul."" Children will be coming from Gujarat, from South India and from the Himalayan villages.