Shankaracharya Nyas, Nashik

Shankaracharya Nyas, Nashik, a public charitable trust, was founded by Shri Vidyashankar Bharati (popularly known as Dr. Kurtakoti), Shankaracharya of Karveer (Kolhapur) Peeth. Born on 20-May-1879, Dr. Kurtakoti was a rare philosopher much ahead of his time. Steeped in the traditional Hindu scriptures yet abhorrent of all regressive practices, he promoted social awakening & empowerment and was very rational in his thinking & teachings. He spent maximum period of his life on the holy banks of River Godavari (also known as Dakshin-Ganga) meditating and supporting several important social causes. He left for the heavenly abode on 29-October-1967. (Ashwin Ekadashi)

Although the trust was formed some years back, it began to play an active role in Nashik’s socio-cultural milieu in past decade-and-half. It was on 08-May-2003 that auspicious ground-breaking ceremony was performed for Shri Vyankatesh Balaji Mandir at the hands of Hon’ble Shri. Moropant Pingale (Senior functionary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh). The construction was duly completed and the revered Shri Balaji idol was installed in a grand ceremony on 04-August-2006. The entire construction project was funded by generous public contributions.

With inspiration from Shri. Moropant Pingale, Shankaracharya Nyas initiated construction of a 'Goshala' (a facility to rear & care for cows) adjacent to the construction site of Shri Vyankatesh Balaji Mandir. The Nyas contributed 200,000/- as an initial corpus for this purpose and decided to invite support from public-at-large for the project. A modern, well-planned and organized Goshala was inaugurated on 29-October-2005 with 21 cows of pure Indian breed. The project today has more than sixty Indian cows that are well-fed & cared for by the Nyas.

Shankaracharya Nyas also embarked on an ambitious project of constructing a civic-plaza near Old Gangapur Naka in Nashik city. The sprawling complex today houses Dr. Kurtakoti Sabhagruh, an air conditioned, acoustically balanced spacious auditorium; a spacious area dedicated to the local office of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Nyas’s own office and Late Appa Nandedkar Rugna Seva Kendra. It also rents out commercial space to balance economic side of the operations of the building complex. As a part of its social commitment, Shankaracharya Nyas has given the land at this venue to R.S.S. Janakalyan Samiti for Blood Bank Activity. Vasati Gruha (Hostel) for tribal student started as a joint venture with Vishwa Hindu Parishad.