What is Sri RamaGram and what does it do?
Sri RamaGram is an initiative by Omkarnath Mission , a non-profit, non-governmental and independent organization, to mitigate the social and economic discrepancies prevailing in India. Through Sri RamaGram, we strive to empower and mainstream the vast section of the society to whom the benefits of the nation’s development have not reached. Through our various programs, we seek to make our beneficiaries self-reliant. Our Sri RamaGram campus comprises of superlative infrastructure with a residential complex for our beneficiaries to reside and lead a comfortable life. Sri Rama families live in an atmosphere of affection and are nurtured in a secure environment without any distinction of caste, creed or race. The project is managed by dedicated and trained professionals.
Where is the campus?
An ancient town, Ayodhya is regarded as one of the seven sacred cities of the Hindus, revered because of its association in the great Indian epic poem Ramayana with the birth of Rama and with the rule of his father, Dasharatha.
In traditional history, Ayodhya was the early capital of the kingdom of Kosala, though in Buddhist times (6th–5th century BCE) Shravasti became the kingdom’s chief city. Scholars generally agree that Ayodhya is identical with the town of Saketa, where the Buddha is said to have resided for a time. Its later importance as a Buddhist centre can be gauged from the statement of the Chinese Buddhist monk Faxian in the 5th century CE that there were 100 monasteries there (although he cited 100, Faxian probably did not mean that exact number, just that there were many monasteries). There were also a number of other monuments, including a stupa (shrine) reputed to have been founded by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka (3rd century BCE).
The Kanauj kingdom arose in Ayodhya, then called Oudh, during the 11th and 12th centuries CE. The region was later included in the Delhi sultanate, the Jaunpur kingdom, and, in the 16th century, the Mughal Empire. Oudh gained a measure of independence early in the 18th century but became subordinate to the British East India Company in 1764. In 1856 it was annexed by the British; the annexation and subsequent loss of rights by the hereditary land revenue receivers provided one of the causes of the Indian Mutiny in 1857. Oudh was joined with the Agra Presidency in 1877 to form the North-Western Provinces and later the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, now Uttar Pradesh state.
The numerous Vaishnava shrines and bathing ghats are of no great age. Close to the modern town are several mounds marking the site of ancient Ayodhya that have not yet been adequately explored by archaeologists.
In 1970s The Prophet of Modern Age Anantasri Omkarnath Dev founded Sri Ram Janaki Mandir , a rare marble architectural palace in the heart of the city.
Address of the ashram and the project:
SriRamaGram
Sri Ram Janaki Mandir ( Sursar Mandir)
Meerpur Dera Biwi , Basudev Ghat ( Near Naya Ghat)
PNB Road, Ayodhya
About Anantasri Omkarnath Dev
Sri Sri Sitaramdas Omkarnath (17 February 1892 – 6 December 1982) was an preeminent Indian Vaishnav Saint, 19th century Bhakti cult spiritual luminary and an unequaled humanitarian from the state of West Bengal, India. Addressed as Sri Sri Thakur Sitaramdas Omkarnath, where "Omkar" signifies the supreme cosmic enlightenment and attaining supreme consciousnes, he was heralded as the Divine Incarnate (Avatar) of Kaliyuga and espoused the doctrines of Sanatan Dharma and Vedic spiritual path to countless devotees from across the world, with central theme and paramount importance on the beneficence of Divine Chanting [[Nāma|Naam] of Hare Krishna Hare Ram - regarded as the omnipotent "Tarak Brahma Naam" the chant of soul deliverance in Kaliyuga and "Moksha" liberation from cycle of birth and death. As such, his disciples continue to worship him as an incarnation of the Lord himself and is verily regarded as an eternal source of spiritual enlightenment and soul succour to all seekers.
Who started SriRamaGram?
With an aim to selflessly serve the humanity, Sri RamaGram is conceptualised by His Holiness Kinkar Vitthal Ramanuja Maharaj , saint and philosopher of repute and President of the Order Founded by His Holiness Sitaramdas Omkarnath.
What are the segments of Sri Ramagram ?
1. Vanaprastha Ashram - Dedicated activity center with Old Age Home
2. Brahmacharya Ashram - Orphanage with Gurukul and Vedic education center.
3. Sanyasashram - Would be saints will be groomed with Philosophical and Vedic studies with austerity.
4. Kamdhenu Goshala
5. Health Center to serve the rural area.
6. Developing merchamdizing by developing artisans and cottage industries.
7. Atithi Niwas - A state of art guest house to feed rural teertha yatris.
8. Sita Ma Ki Rasoi - A dedicated Annachatra to feed the teertha yatris.
Can I adopt a child from Sri Rama Gram?
We do not encourage adoption of children from Rama Gram as this township is designed to be a residential societal community where people without a roof or a family find a home, form a family and live life with dignity in the campus premises. However, we do accept donations for their education and other needs of the residents.
What is Sri Rama family? Who does it constitute of?
Each Sri Rama family consists of seven children, a mother, an aunt (Mausi) and a grandmother (Naani) living in the familiar atmosphere of their own home. Although there is no blood relationship in this Sri Rama family, all members of the family are connected by an emotional bond of love and trust. The women perform their duties to the optimum. Every member of the family gives the children a sense of belonging, which forms an essential factor in the child's early development.
On what basis are the mothers, aunts, and grandmothers selected for the children at Sri Ramagram family?
The mothers, aunts, and grandmothers are usually those women who are looking for shelter themselves. At Sri Rama Gram, their life gets complete when they become part of a family. These women are gradually made accustomed to handling children in a large household. They are also given the values of Indian culture so that they can take care of the morals and ethics of the children as well.
How do the children get entry into Sri Rama Gram?
We warmly and effusively welcome children who are left at our doorsteps. Children are also often referred to us by doctors, nursing homes, police and magistrates in courts. With every infant that comes to the Rama Gram, we celebrate it as a new child’s birth and make it an auspicious day.
How is Sri Rama Gram unique in serving women and children?
RamaGram is an endeavour to allow two souls to come into proximity of each other and receive the support they need. It is one of the few institutions, where children are treated both with love and respect. RamaGram tries to bring up its beneficiary children in a way which allows them to become a part of the mainstream. Cherishing the concept of a family, each person residing in VatsalyaGram is a valuable member of the family. There are separate household units with a mother, grandmother, maternal aunts and children. Each of these family functions as an independent unit and as a co-dependent societal structure. The children are given a firm grounding of the Indian culture and are exposed to all the rituals and ceremonies followed in a traditional Indian household. Right from the mundane ceremony to the birthday celebrations of the children, each family at Sri Rama Gram follows the traditional rituals of the ideal Indian family. Like a small resident township, children go to school, do their homework, play with their brothers and sistersl and are loved by their mothers, aunts, and grandmothers.
How can I donate to support Sri Rama Gram?
No matter small or big, what matters is the joy it brings. You can donate to support for the various causes, track your donations and see how you have joined hands to give a better life to someone.
Who are your target groups? Who benefits from your services?
We target the children whose parents can’t afford their education and old people who live all alone. We aim to bring them all together into families. We also target tribal communities to give them equal opportunities for development.
How can i volunteer at Sri Rama Gram?
If you are a professional such as a teacher, musician, doctor, educator, counselor, artist, artisan, craftsman- you may share your expertise at the vocational training centre of RamaGram and empower the people who are interested in learning the nuances of vocational training to their advantage.