Malladihalli | Sri Raghavendra Swamiji

The Malladihalli Sri Raghavendra Swamiji Ashrama is not a typical temple complex in the sense of idol worship; it is a living hospital. Spread over hundreds of acres, the ashrama is a self-contained naturopathy center that runs entirely on the principles taught by the Swamiji.

Key Features of the Ashrama:

Decades after his Maha Samadhi (attained in 1971), the Malladihalli Sri Raghavendra Swamiji Ashrama has blossomed into a multi-faceted institution. Here is what a visitor experiences today: malladihalli sri raghavendra swamiji

Even at 100, Swamiji worked 18 hours a day. He personally supervised the ashrama kitchen, treated patients, and taught Sanskrit. In 1996, at the age of 106, he entered Mahasamadhi (conscious departure from the body). However, his death was as instructive as his life. He stopped eating two weeks prior, meditated continuously, and left his body without any agony or disease—the ultimate proof of his yogic mastery.

His Brindavana (samadhi shrine) at the Malladihalli Ashrama is now a major pilgrimage site. Devotees believe that meditation near his samadhi heals mental and physical ailments. The Malladihalli Sri Raghavendra Swamiji Ashrama is not

Located in the serene hills of Malladihalli, near Hiriyur in Chitradurga district, the ashram is Swamiji’s living legacy. The Sri Raghavendra Swasthya Seva Trust runs:

Swamiji insisted that all services—medical, educational, and spiritual—be offered either free or at minimal cost, funded by donations and the sale of herbal products. He authored several books and manuals on Suryanamaskara

One of Swamiji’s greatest contributions to modern India is the popularization of Suryanamaskara (the 12-step Sun Salutation). At a time when this ancient practice was fading from common memory, Swamiji not only practiced it devoutly but also taught it to thousands.

He believed that:

He authored several books and manuals on Suryanamaskara and established Vyayama Shalas (physical training centers) across villages in Karnataka.

To truly understand the genius of Malladihalli Sri Raghavendra Swamiji, one must look at the rules he set for his ashrama—rules that were revolutionary in the 1940s: