Shri Sridhara Swami Ashram is located in the village named Varadahalli, in the district of Shimoga, in the state of Karnataka, in South India. It is situated in a renowned hill shrine place named Varadapura in the olden days and Varadahalli in the modern days because of its religious significance. This ashram was established in a successful manner by a saint named Shridhara Swami from Sajjanghad of Maharashtra in the year 1954. He founded this particular ashram with main intention of spreading meditation and spiritual meditation to a great extent.

Slow and steadily, people from within the nation and abroad came to largely know regarding his religious and spiritual devotion started strongly believing in his ideologies and principals in general and related to meditation. He had a good follower and devotees locally and from abroad. In 1973, the Swami suddenly left his mortal body for his heavenly journey. By the time he really had formed several good followers. His Samadhi is constructed within the ashram. Even at present, a good number of people visit this ashram for leaning and practicing meditation in various spiritual forms and seek the wholehearted blessing of this divine Swami ji.

Significance of Shri Sridhara Swami Ashram

It is to be highly remembered that Shri Sridhara Swami strongly believed in spiritual upliftment through the art of meditation and largely preached it to each and everyone with a lot of interest and enthusiasm. He whole heartedly worked for the immediate resurgence of religion of Hinduism from the prevailing clutches of caste, rituals, sectarianism and orthodox beliefs. The Swami almost traveled through the length and breadth of the nation and directly preached his major and minor principles largely based on the Sanatan Vedic Hindu Dharma's core ideologies. Later, after he successfully established this ashram at Varadahalli very near to Sagara, he also erected the Dharma Dhwaja at this spot.

Even at present, this Dharma Dhwaja largely serves as a significant spiritual inspiration to his followers and adherent devotees. It largely reminds each and everyone to wholeheartedly continue with their hard effort filled endeavors in order to revive the Sanatan Vedic Hindu Dharma. At present this ashram offers knowledge regarding the Upanishads, the Vedas and the Sanskrit language. A large number of devotees and followers plus seekers come from far and near in order to seek spiritual knowledge and practice meditation at its best form at this particular place.

Meditation at Shri Sridhara Swami Ashram

Shri Sridhara Swami Ashram is the perfect place to learn and practice meditation under the instruction and supervision of well experienced instructors. They teach the participants from the basic level, intermediate level and advance level of meditation to a great extent. They also teach the best methods of meditation so that one can achieve success in their personal and professional life. It is to be remembered that Swami's method of spiritual meditation largely helps to reduce mental stress and physical strain. This ashram is the best place to learn and indulge because it is surrounded by lovely green thick rainforests and situated atop a hill. The ashram is a beautiful and simple structure. There are nearly 300 steps that directly lead from the base of this hill to the ashram.

A better feel of peace and tranquility can be experienced because of the serene ambiance within the premises that largely offers to the inmates, guests and visitors. This ashram is actually away from the hustle-bustle of everyday busy personal and p[professional life. This ashram is perfectly cocooned in the direct lap of the nature. Moreover, this place is a perfect spot in order to realize the preaching of the holy saint and awaken the soul.

The duration of the class is not prescribed as it depends on the individual's capability to learn quickly and indulge in the practice with a lot of perfection. No fees are collected for the class of meditation. So there is no application or enrollment. A person who is interested to learn and practice meditation can directly approach the Swamji's discipline and get engaged in the class of meditation. There are certain rules and regulations that are set by the disciplines in the ashram. The seekers are advised to strictly follow it without any deviation under any situations and circumstances. It is interest of an individual but one has to strictly follow all the rules and regulations that are required in order to fulfill the subject and the programme.

Attractions of Shri Sridhara Swami Ashram

This Shri Sridhara Swami Ashram holds several attractions for the adherent devotees and followers of the Swami. The ashram premises consist of the Dharma Stamba with the Dharma Dhwaja standing erect at the top of the hill. It is one of the significant contributions of the ashram for the society. It is a 30 feet high structure. It is made of 5 scared metals. The Swamiji samadhi mandir looks like a tomb in this premise. The Cave where Swami lived in complete solitude the last few years of his personal life from 1968 to 1973 to a great extent. The school for spiritual studies known as the Sanskrit Pathshala where students are taught regarding spiritual literature, the preaching of the saint, the Upanishads and the Vedas. The cow shelter or the Gowshala has nearly 250 cows. The Shreedhar Teertha, is strongly believed to be the continuous source of holy water which has been created by Swamiji.

Facilities at Shri Sridhara Swami Ashram

Shri Sridhara Swami Ashram is run in a successful manner by a trust whose active members are direct disciples of the saint. In this ashram, all the members stay with best co-operation and co-ordination. The members indulge in voluntary work and don't accept any kind of remuneration for their hard work. The life of the members is based on the teachings of the Swami. They dedicated and committed to this particular mission. The ashram is a charitable organization that provides many facilities to its inmates, visitors and seekers. The Rama Durgamba temple and the Uma Maheshwara temple are located within the ashram's premises.

A large communal dinning hall is situated in the main building that serves lunch to all the inmates, visitors and seekers between 12.30 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. daily. There is a pond where people can take bath. There are separate place of bathing for men and women with special timings. There is also a big yaga shala for religious activities and functions. There is a simple living quarter that accommodates the inmates and disciples. Within the ashram, there is a Veda school for those who are seeking religious and spiritual knowledge. There is a restroom for relaxation. In this ashram money is not accepted so lodging and boarding comes free of cost.

How to reach Shri Sridhara Swami Ashram?

Shri Sridhara Swami Ashram is situated in the village named Varadahalli that is at a distance of just 6 km from the sub-town named Sagara, approximately 72 km from the district head quarter, Shimoga and about 352 km from the state capital, Bangalore. The nearest airport is at Mangalore. The nearest railway stations are located at Sagara and Shimoga. The village of Varadahalli is directly well-connected by road network. There are plenty of auto-rickshaws, hired cars and public transport readily available from Sagara towards Varadahalli. Visitors and guests can also directly reach this particular place through private buses readily available from Sagara bus stand to Varadahalli.