An ashram rising on the ancient, sacred land of Panauti, foretold by Bhagawan Shree Sanjay Sai Baba at the very beginning of His divine mission.
Punyawati, the ancient name for present-day Panauti in the Kavre district of Nepal, is one of the country’s oldest towns, with origins tracing back to the first century AD. Situated about 32 kilometers southeast of Kathmandu, it is celebrated for its natural beauty, cultural diversity, religious harmony, and profound historical importance.
In ancient times, this sacred place was known as Palati. According to legend, during the Malla period, the people of Kathmandu and Roshi valleys believed that stepping onto this holy land would lead to salvation. Inspired by this faith, the Malla king named the site Palati to encourage devotees to set foot here and attain spiritual liberation.
The town lies at the confluence of the Roshi and Punyamati rivers. Tradition holds that a third, invisible river — Lilawati — also joins here, forming a Triveni Sangam (meeting of three rivers). This mystical phenomenon elevates the site’s sanctity, earning it names such as Shachitirtha, Triveni Kshetra, and Uttar Prayagtirtha.
Devotees from Nepal and India journey here to pay homage to Indreshwar Mahadev and other holy shrines. The town is believed to rest upon a vast single rock, said to shield it from earthquakes — a protection attributed to Serpent King Basuki, whose coiled body is thought to support the settlement.
The Makar Mela is celebrated at Trivenighat throughout the month of Magh. Bathing at the confluence and offering its waters to Gorakhnath at Kunjgiri is believed to bestow immense spiritual merit.
The recorded history of Panauti dates back to the era of the Lichchhavi rulers (2nd–8th centuries CE). Its compact area hosts a remarkable concentration of temples, monuments, and cultural landmarks, making it a rare and invaluable heritage site.
Guru Gorakhnath, founder of the Kanphata yogis, is believed to have meditated and entered Anterdhyan on Gorakhnath Hill in Panauti. Bhagwan Shree Sanjay Sai Baba is said to belong to the Gorakhnath lineage.
The Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple marks where the forehead of Satidevi fell, and the shrine of Sita Paila recalls Lord Ram and Mata Sita passing through these jungles during their 14-year exile.
Punyawati Kshetra is not merely a town but a living tapestry of history, mythology, and spirituality — a place where rivers, rocks, temples, and legends converge to create a sanctuary of peace and devotion.
Avatars always choose a particular land to expand their divine mission. A place sanctified by the meditation of saints for ages becomes spiritually charged — its soil transforms into tapobhumi, a land of penance and divine vibration. When saints or avatars attain samadhi there, the divine energy multiplies, sanctifying the land for generations.
Rivers too become sacred when touched by yogis and avatars. It is said that Yamuna Mata performed tapas for years to have Lord Vishnu’s darshan. Lord Vishnu fulfilled her wish by incarnating as Lord Krishna. Today, the Yamuna is revered as one of the holiest rivers after the Ganga. Likewise, the Chitravati and Godavari rivers are sung in bhajans for their sanctity.
At the beginning of His divine mission, Bhagawan Shree Sanjay Sai Baba foretold that a great ashram would arise in Punyawati Kshetra. Years later, a spiritual couple — Ambir KC and his spouse Manju KC — began visiting the ashram. The KC family’s ancestral land happened to be in Punyawati Kshetra.
In July 2006, Swami materialized a sweet laddu from the waters of the Roshi River and offered it to a devotee from New Zealand, Mr. Mark Anand. Inspired by this divine event, Ambir KC expressed his wish to donate land for the future ashram. With Swami’s grace, his family joyfully agreed, and Deb Kumari KC, mother of Ambir KC, offered 25 ropanis of land to the Shree Sanjay Sai Sewa Organization.
After the land was entrusted to the Organization, a series of sacred pujas were performed. During one visit, Swami created a Hiranyagarbha Lingam from the soil of the jungle — the very land of Punyawati Sai Dham.
At the first Bhoomi Puja, a Shivalinga miraculously appeared from the earth. The first Rudri Puja was performed on this Swayambhu Shivalinga, which was later covered after worship. Years later, when the site was excavated for temple construction, the same lingam reappeared, and it was consecrated in the Naaga Temple alongside Naaga Devta. In another puja, a large stone was worshipped as the guardian of the area; today it is revered as Kshetrapal Bhairava, the protector of the sacred land.
Even a small stone in this sacred place is a Shivalinga; no pran-pratishtha is needed.
Just as stones from the Narmada and Kaligandaki rivers are naturally worshipped, the stones of Punyawati carry divine energy. When an Avatar steps onto a land, even its soil and stones become sanctified. Vastubidhas (experts in sacred architecture) have testified that the area’s energy has already intensified. Once the ashram is fully functional, Swami’s divine presence will multiply this energy, transforming the entire region — and the Roshi River will gain even greater reverence.
Bhagawan Shree Sanjay Sai Baba also declared that following His samadhi, His sacred body will be interred at this holy site, where He will continue to inspire and uplift devotees through Vedic knowledge. Many gods and goddesses have already found their place within the ashram premises, and Punyawati is destined to become a Global Spiritual Centre for seekers and devotees worldwide.
Thanks to the generous contributions of devotees worldwide, this ambitious project has advanced steadily since its foundation was laid by Swami’s divine hands.
Idol installation and pran-pratishtha are yet to be completed in the remaining temples.
Now crowned with its pinnacles. In South Indian tradition, the gopuram marks the passage from the outer world to the sacred inner space.
