The Kailas Ashram is a traditional advaita institution that teaches the fundamental works of advaita vedanta in a traditional way, and has a record of scholarship.

  • [link] Main website of the matha / ashrama, including many publications
  • [link] Website containing various books published by the publishing wing of the matha
  • [link] Website containing various lectures by Swami Maheshananda
  • [link] Various complete teachings by Swami Maheshananda and Swami Shantidharmananda

Here is a post about the Ashram, cached below.

Dear Friends,

Om Namo Narayanaya,

It is our great privilege that Shri Kailas Ashram Brahmavidya Peeth, Rishikesh, has started its official website before some days. The link is www.kailasashram.com .

Kailas Ashram Brahmavidya Peeth is a 115 years old Peetham, where ONLY Sannyasins (and Naishthika Brahmacharins of course, who are just going to enter the Sannyasa Ashrama) were allowed to study Brahmavidya according to Sampradaya Parampara (Guru-shishya tradition), though recently from the last 15 years Grihasthas are also being allowed to participate, if they wish. Bhagavan Shankaracharya says, “Even a scholar, who has studied all the scriptures, but has not studied them under Sampradaya Parampara, should be ignored as an ignorant” (Gita Bhashya 13-2). Kailas Ashram Brahmavidya Peeth is the ONLY place in India where a person can study Prasthana Traya (Gita, Upanishads and BrahmaSutra, with Shankara’s commentary, Ananda Giri’s sub-commentary and Swami Vishnudevananda’s Annotations) under Guru-shishya Parampara. Today over 110 Sannyasins from allover India study there. All of them are provided with lodging and fooding facilities. Even today, though everybody is allowed to participate, the Ashram only keeps Sannyasins. Girhasthas are just allowed to stay for 3 days or for some who are highly interested 1 month.

Kailas Ashram has also a publication department, which is publishing one of the best books in the field of Shankara Vedanta.

Great Saints, like Swami Vivekananda, Swami Abhedananda, Swami Ramatirtha and Swami Shivananda have studied in Kailas Ashram. Even today saints like Swami Dayananda (from ArshaVidyaGurukulam), Swami Vishvadevananda, Swami Chidananda and Swami Krishnananda (Divine Life Society) have a great adoration towards this Ashram.

Today Kailas Ashram is being directed by H.H. Swami Vidyananda Giri Ji Maharaj, who is the 10th Peethacharya in the linage of Scholars. At present His Holiness is 84 years old. He is considered to be one of the greatest leading scholars in the field of Shankara Advaita Vedanta in India today. He has also designed three courses, each one of 18 days, to learn Gita, Brahmasutra and Upanishads. He has also been highly admired by all present-day political leaders, Like P.M. Atal Bihari Vahpayee, H.M. Lal Krishna Advani, Shri Murli Manohar Joshi, and VishvaHinduParishad. He is a leading member of VHP, though he is totally untouched from the present day politics.

Even today in the age of 84, he teaches Prasthanatraya, each one for one hour, that makes 3 hours + he does one hour Patha (Parayana, recitation) of Shankara’s Bhashya on Gita.

Kailas Ashram has a very nice temple of Bhagavan Shankaracharya, with all his four disciples.

I have seen Swami Krishnananda Ji, who is at present a great scholar from the Divine Life Society, prostrating before him, when he comes to attend a function in Shivananda Ashram.

I had the greatest fortune of my life to study from him for the last 12 years seince the age of 8. I invite all of you to visit the website and be involved in the holy work of spreading Advaita Vedanta.

Loving Regards,

Siddhartha