Peek into AnandAshram

AnandAshram...Pune

Bajirao road at the Appa Balwant Chowk end is a busy one. Traffic snarls, honking vehicles, pedestrians walking, hand carts selling their wares, all find their niche here.

Nestled amongst all the shops and vendors lies an old structure which can easily be overlooked from the crowded street. Only if you stop in front of it can you see the facade of the building.

Anand Ashram

Inside, looking out of the Ashram

The Main  Gate

A huge gate beckons you to go inside. As you enter the portals, a calmness descends over you. Gone is the feeling of being in a rat race, of the need of being constantly on the move, of being continuously pressed for time. Time seems to stand still.

I remember visiting this place as a kid, with my Grandfather. Remember him explaining how illustrious this place was. As like most children, I had not given it much thought, forgetting about it, as I grew up. Recent conversations with my mother brought about the relation of Anand Ashram with me.

The famous Author of the time, Shree Hari Narayan Apte, lived here. It was here that he wrote books like: Pan Lakshaat Kon Gheto in 1890 which is considered a classic in Marathi fiction.  Jug He Ase Ahe (1901), Yashwantrao Khare (1906), Mi (1916), Ganpatrao (1919), Karmayog (1923), Mayecha Bajaar (1929), Bhayankar Divya (1930). These were however published in book form posthumously.

His first historical novel Mysore cha Waagh was based on Meadows Taylor’s “Tipu Sultan.” He then published historical novels like Gadh Aala Pan Sinha Gela (1904), Chandragupta (1905), Roopnagarchi Rajkanya (19009), Vajraaghaat (1915), Suryoday (1917), Kewal Swarajyaasathi (1918) Suryagrahan (1919). Although fictional, these novels exhibit his keen knowledge of historical details.

Hari Narayan Apte

Lodging of Hari Narayan Apte

His uncle and the founder of the Institution was Mahadev Chimaji Apte. A prominent lawyer, at the Bombay (Mumbai) High Court, who had fought the case of the freedom fighter Vasudev Balwant Phadke. The Institution was formed by him in 1885. Instead of distributing his wealth amongst relatives, he formed a Charitable trust, which is AnandAshram.

Mahadev Chimaji Apte

The Ashram has rooms for 20 students whose financial position is strained. Out of these, 8 to 10 students are admitted free of cost.

Hostel

   

Hostel Rooms

Aside of this, space is given for holding classes in the Sanskrit language. The main reason being the spread of the language which is slowly dying.

This is the 130th year of the Institution. In all these years there has not been a single day when work has stalled. Work on the spread of Sanskrit. Work on the preservation of rare manuscripts. Time consuming and taxing it is, but is carried on relentlessly by dedicated people. I spoke to Mrs. Mane, who was working on the Dnyaneshwari. the pride in which she showed me her work was to be seen to believe. 

Mrs. Mane

The Ground floor is the Manuscript section

13500 rare Manuscripts have been compiled which were  collected from all over India. The distinctive feature of these manuscripts is that they are all beautifully hand written. They number over one lakh and more.

Manuscripts

The pictures in these have natural colours. Rare as these manuscripts are, they have been treated with utmost care. So far digitization of all the manuscripts is complete. As new manuscripts are found, the work on their preservation continues.

It can be said that if any University or Math (मठ ) from across India, ie. from Kanyakumari to the Himalayas need reference for the study of Dharma in Sanskrit, this is the right place to come. The Anand Ashram has the capability for providing books required for such studies. For just such a purpose 195 books have been published. 

The numbers speak for themselves. 13,500 hand written Manuscripts covering 26 different subjects. They range from "Alankar Sahitya, Kavya, Mahakavya, Laghukavya, Kavya Katha, Kavya Natak, Neeti, Nyaya, Purana, Ramayan, Mahabharat, The Geeta, Bhagwat Geeta, Dharmashastra, Smriti, Upanishads, Kaamshastra", the list is endless. All these are in Sanskrit. There is a huge demand for these from countries like Germany and others. A lot of foreign students come here to avail of the facilities provided for their research.

                                                

                                                

Markandeya Puran

Aside of this there is Jyotish Shastra and Board games.

The Digitisation of Manuscripts was completed with the help of The National Mission For Manuscripts.  

On the Second floor of the main building is the temple of Shiva. Festivals like Mahashivratri, Tripuri Poornima, Laghurudra Pooja are all held here.

Staircase leading to the temple

Doors open into the balcony

The Sabha Mandap

Shivling

View from the Balcony

The drops of water which fall on the Shivling, then fall on to the Paduka of Mahadev Chimaji Apte, whose Samadhi is on the ground floor in the Manuscripts department.

The Paduka

The Samadhi Sthal

As I visited the temple, I could hear a continuous recitation of Shlokas. After inquiring, I came to know that these were composed by Shankaracharya himself. I just sat there completely at peace while the shlok played on. Looking around the Sabha mandap, I noticed that each pillar had a different sculpture on it. The simple pillar was adorned with beautiful artistic work.

The Peacock

The Garud

To keep this structure intact and its Rare Literature rot free, the use of wood has been completely eliminated. The whole structure is in Stone and Iron.

The Ashram does not receive any grants from the Government. It solely runs on donations and rent from a bungalow on Sinhagad and on the interest of savings.
I was informed by the Administrator, Mr. Vasant Apte, that almost a Lakh of Rupees is spent only for the maintenance and upkeep of the Ashram.
The Ashram celebrated its 129th year on the 3rd of June this year. This 19th century marvel has remained intact and exactly as it was, those many years ago.

Before leaving I clicked some more pictures of this wonderful Ashram, vowing to myself that I will visit again.

Building at the entrance

Office Space

Top of the Temple

Coconut Palms

Courtesy:  Mr. Vasant Apte. Administrator. 
                   Mr. Vilas Salunke: excerpts from his translation
                   Mrs. Mane for showing me the manuscripts
                   Anand Ashram administrators for permission to take Photographs.