About Kailash
Founded by
Swami Shivananda Giri Maharaj
The Guru founded a social service institution in the name of his disciple, which is an unique and unparalleled event that remains ever glorious.
Kailash Ghosh
On the 30th April, 1978, after the conclusion of the first Nikhil Banga Bhakti Geeti Sammelan, Maharaj invited all the artists and devotees on that day at the temple of Maa Bhavatarini, Dakshineswar. The purpose was to partake the sacred Prasad together.
After the prasad distribution was over, a significant event occurred in the life of Maharaj. Among the beloved spiritual children, the one who had earned a special place closest to Maharaj’s heart through his selfless dedicated service, and devotion was Kailash Ghosh. On that very day, after the programme was over, Kailash went to bathe in the holy river Ganga, flowing close to the temple with few more devotees and was lost forever in the bosom of the Ganga at the young age of twenty-five years only.
The loss of his beloved Kailash, Maharaj was stricken with pain, grief and deep introspection. He began to seek his Kailash among all souls around. Maharaj found him again in the poor, the suffering, and the neglected. To Swami Vivekananda’s saying, “Daridra Devo Bhava” (“Revere the poor as God”), Maharaj added another sacred call: “Abahelita Devo Bhava” (“Revere the neglected as God.”)
Thus Maharaj founded Kailash, the embodiment of his dream, joy, pain, love and compassion. He gave shape to all his thoughts and feelings through Kailash, and stood beside the poor, the distressed, and the neglected.
On one hand, Maharaj created a great wave of spiritual consciousness through kirtan and his generous dissemination of divine thoughts, rising above all narrowness and bringing different religions and spiritual paths together in harmony. On the other hand, he inspired to stand beside the helpless, the neglected, and to worship God through loving service to them.
Maharaj started gradually other institutions such as Vivekananda Snehanir (foster care unit for boys), Saradamani Snehanir (foster care unit for girls), Dr.S.K. Gupta Memorial Charitable Clinic, Nitai Sen Sunday Clinic and several other centres for compassionate service.
Ananda Ashram
Sri Sri Thakur Bishwanath Dev
Sri Biswanath Bhattacharya was born on Saturday, 22 nd. February 1913, and later became known as Thakur Biswanath Dev. His childhood nickname was Channa, and was admitted to Taltala High School. It was during this early years that the signs of his divine nature began to manifest. Through the chanting of Divine Mother Shakti’s Holy name, accompanied by devotional songs, spiritual visions and profound philosophical instinct, he would immersed in divine ecstasy. Later he was married to Sm. Sovana Devi, daughter of Dr. S. K. Gupta, the renowned gynecologist of that time, and the most ardent devotee of Thakur. The holy couple was blessed with three sons and one daughter. The second son Sisir Bhattacharya ( nick name Sanku) was transformed to Swami Shivananda Giri Maharaj.
To run his family Thakur started business by setting up a factory named Sova Perfumery. Thakur could drive his own car and go to places. At 21/2, Beadon Street, the residence of Dr. Gupta, stood Biswa Pharmacy and his Nursing home at the ground floor while the upper floor became Thakur Bari and later Ananda Ashram.
On 11th. September 1949, Thakur relinquished his mortal body at the age of 36 years only, bringing an end to all worldly complexities, sufferings, sorrows and entered into eternal peace.
Thakur says “Chant the holy name of God and do not run after miracles and so called supernatural phenomena, those are merely external “.
Ananda Ashram, founded by Sri Sri Thakur Bishwanath Dev (1913 – 1949), has stood in its spiritual glory for 93 years. The sacred portrait of the presiding deity, Mother Kali, was brought by Thakur himself from Dashashwamedh Ghat in Kashi, when he was only fourteen years old. At that time, he was known in Kashi as Balak Sadhu (the child saint). It was also during this period that he came in contact with Maa Anandamayee.
A house with a big compound at 5, Halsibagan Road, in North Kolkata was rented in 1933 and Thakur started Ananda Ashram there. After the devastating fire of 1942 during Kali Puja,Ananda Ashram was shifted to its present premises of 21/2 Beadon Street, Kolkata.
Thakur was a true lover of humanity. The welfare of people was the very essence of his spiritual practice. His Kirtan itself carried his mantra, teachings and his spiritual interpretations. Thakur’s melodious kirtans were not merely graceful verses or enchanting musical notes, but they were profound lessons of philosophy of life. His teachings still continue as a sacred seed-mantra, carrying its living force through time.
The rituals continue to be observed in the very manner that Maharaj’s mother Ashram Mata Shovana Devi had practiced and taught, how to perform every act of devotion with care and reverence. Every Saturday evening till now, the Ashram resonates with Naam-kirtan and puja.
After Thakur withdrew from earthly sight, his son Swami Shivananda Giri Maharaj, took upon his own shoulders the responsibility of the Ashram. Walking on the path shown by Thakur, Maharaj immersed himself in the sacred current of Naam Sankirtan with his kirtan group named ‘Anandam Kirtan Gosthi’. Tirelessly, and with a spirit of Universal Love, Maharaj continued to inspire people in India and abroad as a bearer of Sanatan Dharma.
Annual Festivals & Ceremonies at Ananda Ashram
- Birth Anniversary of Thakur Biswanath Dev
- Sacred Remembrance Day (Smaran Tithi) of Thakur Biswanath Dev
- Birth Anniversary of Maharaj
- Sacred Remembrance Day of Maharaj
- Remembrance Day of Dr. S.K.Gupta
- Remembrance Day of Ashram Mata Shovana Devi
- Remembrance Day of Kailash Ghosh
Deepavali (Kali Puja)
This special worship of the Shyam-Shyama deity, conceived and planned by Sri Thakur himself. In this unique form, the Mother Kali holds a Asii (sword) and a Banshi (flute) in one hand and a Shankha (conch) and a Chakra (discuss) in other two hands. Her crown is adorned with Shikhi Pakha (peacock feathers).
On the morning after the Shyam–Shyama Puja, the Andul Kali Kirtan Samity offers devotional songs in praise of the Divine Mother. These songs are more than 150 years old, traditionally scripted by a spiritual personality Sri Premik Maharaj residing at Andul, a small village in Howrah, West Bengal. The above occasions are celebrated through worship, Naam Sankirtan, offerings of bhog-rag and distribution of prasadam to the disciples and devotees.
Kailash Centers & Activities
Swami Shivananda Giri Maharaj founded Kailash in the year 1978, as an attempt to spread welfare activities across our society, He named the organization after an untimely death of one of his closest disciple Kailash Ghosh. He was then a reputed football player too, playing for a first division club of Kolkata. Maharaj imbued his followers and disciples with the spirit and ideals of selfless service, inspiring them to stand beside those in distress and to serve humanity with compassion and dedication. Apart from being an encyclopaedia on religion, Maharaj wrote and composed prose and songs and His kirtans were widely popular across continents.
Kailash is a non-profit organization founded by most revered Swami Shivananda Giri Maharaj with the primary motto of helping people in need. As a philanthropic organization, Kailash has been working for over 48 years. At the Registered office 21/2 Beadon Street, Kolkata, all the official works are conducted here, along with the
Following Activities:
- Dr. S K Gupta Memorial Charitable Clinic
Free Eye Clinic for Eye checking with spectaclesFree Homeopathy Clinic for health check up with medicines - Publication Unit publish Panch Sike Panch Ana the monthlymagazine and books on Maharaj
- Anandam Granthagar A beautifully arranged library, curated by Maharaj.
Kailash
Runs Other Two Centres
Vivekananda Snehanir
Vivekananda Snehanir (The foster care unit for boys at Somrabazar, Hooghly) is a home for under-privileged children (not orphans).
Vivekananda Snehanir was the first step to social work by Kailash being founded in 1979. The old building was a rented house in the village of Somrabazar. A new self-owned Home was built in the year 2019 in the same village relocating our children. The new space is a two-storied building with senior and junior boys’ wards in the ground floor with dining space, kitchen, computer lab and office. The 1st floor houses a prayer and meeting hall with two guest rooms. Vivekananda Snehanir is a Home to 18 boys at present where Kailash bears all expenses of their accommodation, food, education and essentials. The boys attend the local Govt. aided school. They also get guidance and in house educational coaching, computer training, Yoga training. This centre is powered by Solar Systems.
Social Activities:
- Free Eye Clinic for Eye checking with spectacles
- Free Homeopathy Clinic for health check up with medicines
- Distribution of blankets, clothings, foods to underprivileged and needy people of the adjoining places.
Annual Festivals & Ceremonies:
- Maharaj’s Abirvab Tithi Puja Utsav The Utsav is celebrated on Akshya Tritiya each year with Puja, Naam Sankirtan, offerings of bhog-rag and distribution of prasadam attended by the devotees, parents of the boys, ex-students with their families and also by the friends of Kailash from different social working groups.
- Saraswati Puja
- Independence Day
- Teacher’s Day
- Yoga & Sports Day
- Birthday Celebration of each boy with fun and food
Shivananda Snehanir
Shivananda Snehanir (Agarpara, Kolkata)
Social Activities:
- Free Homeopathy Clinic for health check up with medicines
- Free Educational Support to students from various local schools by distributing books, school uniforms, school bags and other educational items.
- Distribution of blankets, clothing, food packets to underprivileged and needy people of the adjoining places
Annual Festivals & Ceremonies:
- • Birth Anniversary of Maharaj The Festival is celebrated on 10th day of Baisakh month (usually falls on 24th April).
- • Sacred Remembrance Day of Maharaj (5th August)
- • Sree Guru Purnima
The above mentioned occasions are celebrated through worship, Naam Sankirtan, offerings of bhog-rag and distribution of prasadam to the disciples and devotees.
