History of SAINT MAHIPATI

Vyasa Ashram is located at Yeerpedu which is located in the way betweenAndhrapradesh most famous pilgrimage Tirupati and Sri Kalahastri. This was founded by the great Sri Sri Sri Malayalaswamiji .

The day of Swami set foot at Kasibugga was the day Vyasashram was born. Sage Vyasa was the great one who categorized the holy Vedas; wrote the Mahabharata and was considered the very incarnation of Srimannarayana. The appropriateness of the name given after this great soul, Vyasa to the Ashram (as Vyasashram) can well be appreciated by the readers.The Swami’s followers built a cottage north of Kasibugga to enable him live in comfort, and this is now knows as Pujamandiram (Prayer hall). To enable the Swami to meditate, another cottage Nishthasrama was built, which is now the seat of the Swami’s Adhishthana Mandiram. What was a thick forest those days has now been transformed into a beautiful Ashram. The changes that time brings in are unimaginable indeed! If the place where the Ashram is situated was not registered in the Swami’s name, he portended some problems might crop up and therefore as per his desire, the then ruler of Sri Kalahasthi Sri Kumara Venkata Nayaningaru, donated the land and got it registered in the Swami’s name.

Establishment of Sri Vyasashram Because of penance for 12 years at Gogarbham, Malayalaswami attained self-realisation and felt the need to establish an ashram at a suitable place near Tirupati to spread his message to the entire Telugu-knowing people. The opposition by a dissident group for his continued stay at Tirumala helped him to a take a quick decision in this direction and establish an ashram by name, Sri Vyasashram near Yerpedu in Chittoor District on 3rd June 1926. It is located in between Tirupati and Srikalahasti at the foot of the Nandi Hills and the holy spring of Kasi Bugga. Kumara Venkata Linga Nayani, the ruler of Srikalahasti zamindar, donated the land and registered in favour of Malayalaswami during the first week of October 1926. In addition, Malayalaswami purchased agricultural land from the local people. The ashram is spread over an area of 115 acres, of which buildings of the ashram occupy 30 acres.

Malayalaswami started separate Sanskrit schools, residential schools for boys and girls, orphanages for boys and girls, separate Brahmavidya Pathasalas (Schools of the Knowledge of Self) for boys and girls, free boarding and lodging facilities for children and aged, free clinic, old-age home and a printing press to publish spiritual books and magazines on a large scale. Without consideration of race, religion, sex, caste etc., he gave an opportunity for anybody to learn Sanskrit and acquire spiritual knowledge.

Malayalaswami had succeeded in tackling many social problems such as child marriages, dowry system, untouchability, equality of men and women, and equality of men of different castes.

He started 'Yadartha Bharati (Real India), a monthly magazine in Telugu from February 1927. He conducted many spiritual congregations and religious gatherings known as Sanatana Jnana Sabhas, Omkarasatra Yagas, Chaturmasa Vratas, Mukti Sopana Yagnams, Sadhu Mandali Saptahams and Jnana Yagnas to spread the message of Sanatana Dharma for realisation of the Self among the Telugu-speaking people of Andhra Pradesh and bordering states. He started giving intensive training in spiritual practices, higher learning of Indian scriptures and service to humanity to Brahmacharis of either sex. Most of his devotees became famous for their penance, scholarship and spreading the message of Sanatana Dharma. Some of them continued to live in the ashram itself by constructing their own homes.

Thousands of devotees used to visit the ashram to have his glimpse. His concern was to remove the then prevailing misconception that women and people of lower castes had no right to learn Sanskrit or study Vedas, Vedantic books or Bhagawadgita. He strived to bring religious enlightenment and social reformation in all the classes of people. He travelled extensively all over Andhra Pradesh and the border areas of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to spread his message that there was divinity in all people and they could realise self through certain spiritual practices.

Although he practised sanyas since childhood, he felt the need to assume sanyas in February 1936 and wear ochre clothes only to confer sanyas to his deserving devotees. In answer to the prayers of the devotees, Malayalaswami conceded to group-worship of his person under the name "Akhanda Guru Puja Mahotsavam" since 1937. Despite acquiring the name of 'Asangananda' after taking sanyas, he preferred to be called only as 'Malayalaswami'. He conferred sanyas only to around six disciples, including the founder Peethadhipathi of Sukhabrahmashram and the present Peethadhipathi of Sri Vyasashram.

After establishing Sri Vyasashram, Malayalaswami took greater interest in social-service activities. In keeping with the ancient tradition, he believed that ashrams have to be established for the benefit of the young people who want to observe celibacy, where Sanskrit as well as other languages required for daily use has to be taught. Ashrams should be established for the renunciate men and women, desirous of doing social service. Facilities to feed them and to impart religious education to them should be provided.

Sri Vyasashram established by Malayalaswami has become an important seat for spiritual knowledge attracting thousands of spiritual practitioners, aspirants and devotees.

What was started with a small thatched hut, Sri Vyasashram has now grown by leaps and bounds to the present stage with an imposing Adisthana Mandiram, kuteerams for Swamijis, cottages for inmates, guest rooms for visitors, school buildings, orphanages, hospital, printing press, a spacious dining hall, dhyana mandirs, cattlesheds, temples and an impressive stupam with a height of 110 feet.