The Sivananda Gufa (cave) near Gangotri, Himalaya, India was a very important spiritual home for Swami Vishnu-Devananda, where he spent many months from 1980 meditating and praying before entering mahasamadhi in 1993. The cave has since become an important pilgrimage site and retreat for Sivananda Swamis from all over the world.

In July 2016, severe flooding resulting in extensive damage to the small complex of buildings, and without prompt repair, there is a risk of the entire complex being washed away in 2017. This would be a serious loss for the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres.

I was lucky enough to spend a month at Sivananda Kutir, Utttarkashi for my yoga teaching training, and had the opportunity to visit the Sivananda Gufa cave retreat and spend time meditating in the cave, meet Swamis who were spending a months retreat in the cave, as well as experience first hand the severe damage of the flooding.

The repair of the cave retreat is the responsibility of the Swami at Sivananda Kutir, Uttarkashi, India. The ashram not only provides teacher training for yoga students, but also provides an invaluable service for the local community in terms of providing food, healthcare and schooling for the young and old. It really makes a difference to all that live in the area who would otherwise not have access to things we take for granted in our cities and towns around the world.

By raising money, we can ensure the Sivananda Gufa is promptly repaired, and ensure that money that would otherwise be used to provide schooling, healthcare and food to the local mountain community is not redirected into the rebuilding project.

I hope you can spare a few $/£/€/Rs or whatever is your currency to ensure that this beautiful and important complex is repaired for the benefit of future visitors.

On behalf of all the students who attended the TTC at Uttarkashi, India, who benefited from the teachings and who all achieved Yoga Siromani in November 2016.