Construction Memories Of Ashram | Sewa of Sanatan | Sadhvi Shraddha Om | Vijay Patil

Summary

Sadhvi Shraddha Om and civil engineer Vijay Patil recall how Sri Badrika Ashram grew from a small, remote site into a larger spiritual community.

Vijay first learned about Swami ji through a friend and his blogs. After trying to arrange a visit, he came to the Ashram in 2013. At the time, it had only a few huts, limited accommodation, and no meeting or dining hall. Visitors often cooked together, and vegetable khichdi with desi ghee was among the staple foods.

After noticing problems with the construction of Swami ji’s hut, Vijay and his business partner offered engineering help. Vijay went on to contribute structural designs and project planning, and brought trusted teams from Pune to work on major Ashram facilities. He says this approach was dependable and often cost-effective because the teams worked on a cost-to-cost basis rather than adding profit.

Securing clean water was a major challenge, especially during the rainy season, when river water became muddy and the waterfall could not supply enough. Support from Ashram devotees helped fund a large storage pond and a filtration plant. The system uses a natural-material settling tank followed by carbon and sand filters, with automated pumps and tanks. Vijay explains that a low-maintenance design was important because the Ashram is difficult to reach. The discussion notes that the system does not use UV filters.

Vijay describes the meditation hall as the most challenging building project. Its unusual plot, difficult foundations, and multilevel design required careful structural planning, and construction took about two years. He also recalls Raghu Swami’s contribution to overseeing several building projects while continuing his temple service and other Ashram duties.

Key Details

• Vijay’s service included structural design, planning, and coordinating skilled teams from Pune.
• Ashram projects mentioned include the library, temple, blocks, dining hall, dormitories, meditation hall, water tanks, and filtration system.
• The Ashram’s water storage capacity is described as 100,000 litres.
• Early visitors shared chores and meals. Vijay recalls that Vidya Swami ji quietly prepared food for him when he did not know how to cook.

Locations, Systems, and Speakers

• Locations: Sri Badrika Ashram, Pune, and the nearby river.
• Products and systems: Carbon and sand filters, automated pumps and tanks. Bisleri is mentioned as an example of packaged water.
• Speakers: Sadhvi Shraddha Om and Vijay Patil.
• Others recalled: Swami ji, Vidya Swami ji, and Raghu Swami.