Tag Archives: Aranyaani Forests

Manthan, Manthan Camps, Manthan Centers

Manthan Centers

Our Manthan Centers, are also called Kutumbakam (originating from the phrase “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” , to denote a place where we all connect as a Kutumb, or family.

The Manthan centers cover many facets of a better world –local and sustainable production and living, wellbeing, traditional knowledge systems, ecology.

Currently, there are two Manthan Centers, which have the full range of our programs:

  • Manthan Gurukul in Aranyaani Forests, Sohagpur, MP
  • Sahjivan in Solan, Himachal Pradesh

The details of above centers can be seen on their links.

Apart from these, the following centers are there for Manthan meetings, Karm path, and Local production work , and are growing for full fledged programs:
– Dapoli , Konkan
– Kanpur, UP
– Chandigarh, Punjab
– Pauri, Uttarakhand

Centers have capacity to house 40 persons, and conduct meetings or camps, and for volunteers stay. And with mud and local resource made structures, we can easily increase the capacity.

The centers have the following programs or objectives:

1. Sustainable Production Activities from Local Flora
a. Making products from exotic flora
b. Herbal growing
c. Vaidya or traditional wellness
d. Forest growing
e. Eco friendly structures and their courses

2. Manthan Programs:
a. Manthans
b. Bharat camps, Enlighten camps
c. Gurukul Living : Simple gurukul living in forests with involvement in productive activities/ seasonal projects
d. Works affiliated to Karma path programs

Aranyaani Forests Manthan Gurukul

Manthan Gurukul is located in Aranyaani Forests, in Central India, near Bhopal.

Aranyaani Forests, based on most pristine Vedic philosophy as follows:

अरण्यान्यरण्यान्यसौ या परेव नश्यसि |
कथाग्रामं न पर्छसि न तवा भीरिव विन्दती.अ.अ.अन ||

वर्षारवाय वदते यदुपावति चिच्चिकः |
आघाटिभिरिवधावयन्नरण्यानिर्महीयते ||

उत गाव इवादन्त्युत वेश्मेव दर्श्यते |
उतो अरण्यानिःसायं शकटीरिव सर्जति ||

गामङगैष आ हवयति दार्वङगैषो अपावधीत |
वसन्नरण्यान्यां सायमक्रुक्षदिति मन्यते ||

न वा अरण्यानिर्हन्त्यन्यश्चेन नाभिगछति |
सवादोःफलस्य जग्ध्वाय यथाकामं नि पद्यते ||

आञ्जनगन्धिं सुरभिं बह्वन्नामक्र्षीवलाम |
पराहम्म्र्गाणां मातरमरण्यानिमशंसिषम ||

Meaning:
1. GODDESS of wild and forest who seemest to vanish from the sight. How is it that thou seekest not the village? Art thou not afraid?

2 What time the grasshopper replies and swells the shrill cicala’s voice, Seeming to sound with tinkling bells, the Lady of the Wood exults.

3 And, yonder, cattle seem to graze, what seems a dwelling-place appears: Or else at eve the Lady of the Forest seems to free the wains.

4 Here one is calling to his cow, another there hath felled a tree:
At eve the dweller in the wood fancies that somebody hath screamed.

5 The Goddess never slays, unless some murderous enemy approach. Man eats of savoury fruit and then takes, even as he wills, his rest.

6 Now have I praised the Forest Queen, sweet-scented, redolent of balm, The Mother of all sylvan things, who tills not but hath stores of food.

To that the pursuit in Aranyaani forests have remained true. The  shakti that has blessed the effort and transformed the place is only to be felt.

This has been the place of a fantastic journey of Sandeep- natural , karmic and spiritual. There are many books and articles, covering Aranyaani and Sandeep.

Manthan here has been a major guiding light and path to consciousness experience for a lot of folks.

We conduct Manthan Camps here in Aranyaani Forest from October to April. And monsoon Camps in August.

Sahjivan in Solan, Himachal Pradesh
(Manthan Center or Kutumbakam)

Nestled in Shivalik Ranges in lower Himalayan zone, Sahjivan is a beautiful, completely naturally made, Kutmbakam center. 

Gopal ji’s devotion to nature and reliance on consciousness, is seen at work in this place.  

Philosophy: Nature has abundance of resources for everyone’s need. Sustainability of civilizations and cultures depends on an economy supported by a thriving ecology. Everything on earth is an extension of the five elements of which the earth is composed of. By contaminating the Earth, humans are contaminating their own lives.

We conduct Manthan camps here in Solan, Himachal Pradesh, from May to July. Apart from this , the affiliated activities and stays go on all year. 

Manthan, Manthan Centers, Manthan Groups

Manthan Family (Kutumb)

Over years, through deep discussions in Manthans and actions, we have come together as a large Kutumb, and extended family that grows in understanding, and is here to nurture our journeys.


We have folks with deep energies following their paths who are there to lead and guide, our kutumb of young and old, from all walks of life, beyond any segregation of any kind.

The pictures over years, speak more than any words can do.

We have organized ourselves for the purpose of coordination of different Manthan programs, in different groups as follows:

GROUPS TYPE ‘A’ : Executive Groups

1. Planning Discussion Group
– Purpose: For discussion of steps, ideas between actively and centrally working folks
– For Those who are actively working on a task/ project/center associated with Manthan ; key member from all other groups

2. Core Operating Group
– Purpose: – For team interaction – those coordinating Manthans, Online Topical discussions, different groups, financial planning, website management, etc (this Group type may have more group branches as we progress e.g. Website work, Online Meeting Coordination, Media , etc). And more.

GROUPS TYPE ‘B’: Functional groups
1. Local Sustainable Production and Appropriate technology groups
2. Cow Rehabilitation team
3. Wellness and Traditional Healthcare team
…and more

GROUPS TYPE ‘C’: Regional Interaction groups
1. Pune
2. Kanpur, UP
3. Uttaranchal
4. Bhopal
5. Himachal
6. Dapoli (Konkan)
7. Wardha
8. Nagpur
..and more
—–

GROUPS TYPE ‘D’: Manthan Kutumbakam Center groups (for those working in/ for that center)
1. Aranyaani forests,  Sohagpur
2. Sahjivan Solan
3. Dapoli
4. Pauri
..and more

GROUP TYPE E : Manthan Updates General Info group(s),
Purpose : For “relevant” information sharing with everyone

GROUP TYPE F : Manthan Event groups (to be opened for Event and then closed with new participants allocated to above groups.

Manthan, Manthan Camps, Manthan Centers, Manthan Groups, Manthan Projects

Manthan Camps for Youth

The Manthan camps are most important for youth as the quest opens up in this age. Apart from the Manthan Camps, where there is usual predominance of youth, we also have the Karma (Action) Path groups, and the Self Discovery Program for living in our Manthan Center in Aranyaani forest for sometime, which aids self discovery, where self is gradually strengthens and becomes aware.

The objective is that youth understands and feels the power of Bharat, the magic of consciousness and the guiding the kutumb or oneness behind them.

Manthan, Manthan Camps, Manthan Groups, Manthan Projects

Manthan Camps for Healing

Nature and Consciousness are the best and rapid healers. We lose a lot of time, energy and confidence, just because we are not aware of how to tap into them. That is why, Manthan Camps, and living in Manthan Centers, are also a step to an awakened living.

Apart from that, Manthan has a large number of people who practice natural healing, traditional therapies, and have deep knowledge of different facets of Indian Wellness system.

In Chandigarh Manthan sessions, Dr. Riddhi also covers Natural birthing, Conscious pregnancy, humanizing the healthcare system, and helping those who want to understand.

In Pauri Manthan center, traditional healing method of Himalayan Vaidyas, is being delivered for those suffering from asthma due to pollution, and stress.

More such efforts are being promoted through Manthan programs.