"Your Beacon Of Inspiration."
Valmiki Ashram is proud to say that there have been over 70 Pandits to date given the privilege to preside under the conscientious nature of Pandit Vishnu Prasaad Mishra (Founder, President and Cultural Leader). Pt. Mishra continues to lay the path in propagating Sanatan Hindu Vedic Dharma with Democratic principles and social benevelancy.
Valmiki Ashram stands very distinctively on parallel for its pillars of demorcracy, dignity, love and appreciation for one and all.
Lord Valmiki
Maharishi Valmiki was born as Ratnakara to sage Prachetasa. At a very young age, Ratnakara went into the forest and got lost. A hunter, who was passing by, saw Ratnakara and took him under his own care. Under the love and care of his foster parents, Ratnakara forgot his original parents. Under his father's guidance, Ratnakara turned out to be an excellent hunter. As he approached marriageable age, Ratnakara was married to a beautiful girl from hunter's family.
Turning into a Robber
As his family grew larger, Ratnakara found it next to impossible to feed them. As a result, he took to robbery and began looting people passing from one village to another.
Meeting with Narad and Transformation
One day, the great sage Narad, while passing through the jungle, was attacked by Ratnakara. As Narad played his Veena and sang praises of the Lord, he saw a transformation coming over Ratnakara. Then, he asked Ratnakara whether the family, for whom he was robbing others, will partake in his sins also. Ratnakara went to ask the same question to his family and on being refused by all his family members, he went back to sage Narad. Narad taught him the sacred name of 'Rama' and asked him to sit in meditation, chanting the name of Rama, till the time Narad came back.
Ratnakara followed the instructions and kept sitting in a meditative posture for years, during which his body got completely covered by an anthill. At last, Narad came to see him and removed all the anthills from his body. Then, he told Ratnakara that his tapasya (meditation) paid off and the God was pleased with him. Ratnakara was bestowed with the honor of a Brahmarshi and given the name of Valmiki, since he was reborn from the Valmika (the ant-hill). Sage Valmiki founded his ashram at the banks of River Ganga.
Receiving Lord Rama
One day, Valmiki had the fortuity of receiving Lord Rama, His wife Sita and brother Lakshman at his ashram. On Valmiki's suggestion, Lord Rama built his hut on Chitrakuta hill, near the ashram.
Writing Ramayana
Narada visited Maharishi Valmiki in his ashram once and there, he narrated the story of Lord Rama. Thereafter he received a vision from Brahma in which the Lord instructed him to write Ramayana in slokas, which the sage readily followed.
Valmiki Ashram
Valmiki Ashram since its creation in March 1998 is a Temple that propagates Sanatan Hindu Vedic Dharma with a foundation based on Democratic Principles. The temple is a place of worship for all ages, committed to various community projects assisting those in need and who are less fortunate. It is a place where devotees can retreat for religious solitude and find support. Here at the Valmiki Ashram our core values are:
• Giving physical, academic and moral support to the community
• Assisting and helping less fortunate people within our community and beyond.
• Helping aiding our elderly population.
• Educating our youths on religion through heritage classes and participation.
• Teaching of Hinduism and Theology
• History/Drama/Art Classes
• Hindi Language Classes
• Traditional Instrument Classes
• Harmonium Lessons
• Tabla Lessons
Over the last 17 years Valmiki Ashram has given out hundreds of awards, accolades and momentos to our loyal devotees through their participation and contribution to the Ashram.