‘We Serve’

Ashraya Trust was established in June 2011 by Avadhoota Nadananda. The Sadh guru has constituted a team to oversee and implement the objectives of Ashraya Trust and the main objective lies in SERVING the NEEDY

Ashraya Trust is based in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh and since the past 8 years, it has been providing drinking water to the thirsty, serving food to those who are hungry, education to the poor students and medicines to the needy.

The key seva activities carried out by the trust are:

- Kshuda Nivarana
- Rugna Nivarana
- Ugadi Seva

Kshuda Nivarana

The Kshuda Nivarana program ensures that people are fed with food at government hospitals, railway stations, bus stops and other places every single day. The beneficiaries are those who cannot afford their daily bread. Around an estimate of over 1000 food packets are distributed everyday.

During Ugadi Yatri Seva All the enroute devotees are served hot, fresh and nutritious food along with buttermilk for 24 hours. Additionally, drinking water, tea, biscuits, snack and fruits to carry through further journey are provided.

Rugna Nivarana

On every Sunday the Trust runs free medical camps at the nearby rural segments and provides free medicines. It also runs a mobile dispensary.

During Ugadi Yatri Seva Volunteers are trained by certified doctors on cleaning the wounds and wrapping bandages for all the cuts & wounds on their feet. Special ointments, antiseptic powders etc. are provided for further care.Doctors are available for all the 24 hours in reaching out to the yatris for any of their ailments. There are cases when serious injuries are treated at the camp. Both Homeo and Allopathic medicines are provided at free of cost for these yatris.

AksharaTara Gurukulam

The concept of AksharaTara Gurukulam

Mandlem, is a village near Kurnool which is enroute to Srisailam. Asitanga Bhairava Shiva Lingam is installed here who is the Kshetra Palaka. Rudrabhishekam is performed on every Masa Shiva Ratri and lakhs of devotees find solace here receiving medical, food and oil massages during their paada yatra to Srisailam during Ugadi.

To facilitate the saadhaks, 24 cottages are constructed, who would stay, cook and do Saadhana for a particular period. It is at the same place, the divine sankalpam of AksharaTara Gurukulam is rising !!!

In Aksharatara Gurukulam, the aptitude of the child and his / her aspirations & passion are given importance. Learning is made joyous. The life skills which are parmanent to the all round personality development of the child is given a prior importance.

The key points of the Gurukulam are:

1. Integrating the education curriculum with ancient Bharateeya system of education as a residential programme.

2. Education starts at the age of 5 years and graduated at 20th year, i.e., a whole period of 15 years.

3. In these 15 years, first year is only an observation of the child by Gurus who are also resident at the Gurukulam.

4. At the end of the First Year, the minute detailed observation of the child in the free environment enriched with positive vibrations are carried out

5. Customised curriculum is formulated for each child and it is introduced in stages.

6. The 64 Kalas of the ancient Bharateeya system is taught to the children by the time of graduation.

7. The parents of the children are given a clear understanding initially and also at every stage to integrate them into the concept of Gurukulam.

Ugadi Yatri Seva

Ugadi Yatri Seva is an annual seva activity by Ashraya Trust to reach out to the needs of devotees who walk from various parts of Karnataka to Srisailam.

This is, sometimes, a month long walkathon to reach the abode of Shiva at Srisailam by foot. They all generally come in groups for this journey that involves walking miles and they carry bare minimum essentials. They walk with cut wounds, oozing blood & puss, swelling in their legs, aching bodies and hunger driving them nuts. None of this stops them from walking towards their destination. They get to pass through a particular route a week before Ugadi (Telugu & Kannada New Year day). It generally falls in the last weeks of March to first few weeks of April. Ashraya Trust treats this as an opportunity to serve these divine souls in various ways. While the preparation for the seva begins as early as two months in advance, it gets divided into various wings.

1. Oil Massage

Oil Massage to male and female devotees in separate sheds by respective male and female volunteers.

The oil used for this massage is specially prepared by Guruji on a specific day with specific nakshatra at Brahma muhurtha in a siddha medicine formula as received from their ancestors. There are many miracle stories for the past 8 years of how it helped the devotees get relieved of their pain and helped them gain energy post the massage.

2. Food Counter

All the enroute devotees are served hot, fresh and nutritious food along with buttermilk for 24 hours. Additionally, drinking water, tea, biscuits, snack and fruits to carry through further journey are provided.

3. Wound Cleaning

Volunteers are trained by certified doctors on cleaning the wounds and wrapping bandages for all the cuts & wounds on their feet. Special ointments, antiseptic powders etc. are provided for further care.

4. Medical Wing

Doctors are available for all the 24 hours in reaching out to the yatris for any of their ailments. There are cases when serious injuries are treated at the camp. Both Homeo and Allopathic medicines are provided at free of cost for these yatris.

Volunteers are provided accommodation at the camp premises with food and basic amenities.

Points to be noted:

Neither are we doing any seva nor are we gaining any other results. What we are doing is Pooja to the walking Shivas. They walk thousands of kilometres from different parts of South India to reach the eternal abode of Shiva at Srisailam, known as second Jyotirlinga.

The concept of Seva to walking Shivas is to connect with the eternal Shiva When we wash their feet, it is with Ganapati Bhaavam (as a son pouring water to his father's tired feet after a long walk to put him at ease) Oil massage and pressing leg is with Paravati Bhaavam (as a wife presses the legs of her husband when he comes tired after a long walk).Feeding is Annapoorna  Bhaavam (as a hungry Shiva standing at the doorstep of Annapoorna just as a mother feeds a tired child.). All other sevas in Sishya Bhaavam because they are the Shivas in Dakshina Murthy Bhaava.