Our GURU………

Swami Shantand Saraswathi, descended to the Earth on 7th April 1934, in Thirukoviloor, a small village in South India. He left home at 14 and divinity led Him to Rishiksh to unite Him with His Master Swami Shivananda. After years of service, Swamiji set out and the entire world became His domain.

Our Guiding Light………

The young and old were drawn to His warm and affectionate disposition, the brilliance of His knowledge and the charm of His personality. “The Singing Sage” as He was called, spread the cultural and spiritual glory of India through His captivating speech and enchanting songs.

He singularly stands out in His belief that everybody in God’s creation can realize God by spiritualizing one’s daily duties and by serving the society in any simple way they can.

Swamiji attained Mahasamadhi on 27th July, 2005, at Coimbatore in South India. He did not believe in hierarchy or institutions, but only believed in the bonding of love.

About Us

Brining His devotees together as volunteers in various service oriented projects, Swamiji gave us simpler methods of reaching God through service, redefining the meaning of charity.

According to Swamiji, charity is not throwing money to the poor, nor is it taking money from the well to do and doling it away to the poor. He has great regard for this human birth and meant strongly that, while we help the poor, it is God that we serve. Finally the joy and dignity is shared by both the giver and the receiver.

Thus was born The Shivanjali Trust, with the ideal Love for God and Service to Mankind.

He brought a new light to the word Service - teaching a way of serving the society through Prayers, Medical charity, Performing and Creative Arts and Culinary Arts, Education grant and Marriage grant for the poor.

He made us feel God’s presence in the form of children who are taught music and dance, the poor and sick who are treated at the hospital and the guests who come to dine at the restaurant.

Our humble objective is to follow His words and to continue the work started by Him and offer our share of service to the society, remembering that we are mere instruments of divinity.

Our Service

Annalakshmi

Athithi devo bhava …. The Guest is God

This is the brain child of our Swamijii who made the concept of ancient Anna Chathrams a reality today in various parts of the globe – Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and in Chennai and Coimbatore in India.

Dining at Annalakshmi is a special and wholesome experience for both the body and the soul.

Shivanjali Creative Arts and Crafts

It did not take long for doctors working in the clinic to realize that unless a more comprehensive approach is taken in the treatment of patients most health problems would recur and all attempts to prevent illness would be futile.

It is common knowledge to health service planners that improvements in the socio economic status would bring about more health benefits than mere medical treatment.

Shivanjali Creative Arts and Crafts was born out of this need to help patients help themselves. Women in particular, are encouraged to learn a skill. Patients who are too ill or old to be work are encouraged to send any other female member who could then becomes a source of income for the family. Young girls are encouraged to seek economic independence prior to marriage-thus giving them a safety net should problems arise later.

There are two income generating schemes, namely

  • 1. Tailoring and hand embroidery- are relatively easy skills to learn and for which there are always steady employment opportunities.
  • 2. Pickle and snack making- benefits older women who already possess culinary skills and find the process of acquiring new skills tedious.

The hand embroidery cum tailoring unit started in 1996 and the first candidate was the daughter of a patient with chronic pulmonary tuberculosis that had become resistant to most drugs as she had been so irregularly treated and was herself too ill to work.

From this humble beginning the unit now has trained over 500 women and employed 250 of them. The unit has grown only by word of mouth. No attempt is made to actively recruit workers and no attempt is made to hold workers by written contracts etc. All workers are only encouraged to use the skill they have acquired to earn well – whether within the unit or outside it.

Items manufactured by the workers include,

  • 1. Ethnic Garments – with special emphasis on ethnic kids wear
  • 2. Bags, pouches
  • 3. Table Linen
  • 4. Stuffed animal mobiles
  • 5. Decorative wall hangings, Letter holders and other miscellaneous items.

All attempts are made to market these items both locally as well as in our centers abroad. Items are designed and manufactured keeping in mind the current market trends to facilitate sales. The income from sales are channeled towards the needs of the unit members and also to procure raw materials.

Shivanjali Sweets and Spices

Shivanjali Sweets and Spices, the pickle and snack making unit started operations with the production of snacks and pickles in March 2003 for underprivileged women who had expertise in culinary skills.

The unit launched itself with 5 women and has now grown into a 25 member team.

Lavanya The Craft Shop

Swamiji believes that art in any form moulds a person into a complete human being and leads him/her towards God.

During His travel, all over the world, Swamiji noted that, while art is revered and the art piece is admired, the creator is forgotten and the artists get the least benefit in the trade. As a person whose love for humanity knows no bounds, He set the foundation by starting Lavanya – to help the artisans and He is a beacon of hope and trust for the artists and artisans round the globe.

Lavanya, houses an exclusive collection of crafts blended with beauty and splendor, speaking about the hands that made them. The artifacts from Kashmir to Kanyakumari in India and also from a few countries abroad that adorn our shelves are sourced directly from the production center so that the maximum benefit goes to the artists.

From traditional brass lamps to contemporary cane products, from garments to wooden furniture, from terracotta jewellery to Pattachithra paintings, all the items stand out as an embodiment of beauty and expertise silently communicating the efforts and toil behind them.

It is also a channel for Creative Arts division, that gives opportunities to women to acquire skills and to earn a livelihood with dignity. A few of the items created by these under privileged women, which are popular are

  • Furnishings and home decorations
  • Cloth bags and Soft Toys
  • Hand embroidered apparels for men, women and children

There are also wall hangings, lampshades, ceramic, wood, stone and metal creations that are a feast for your eyes and joy for your heart. There is a special attraction for each one who steps in, with a wide range to choose from.

When you make a purchase at Lavanya, you become a part of our mission to encourage the artisan so that the ancient tradition can flourish and also bring hope into the life of a poor patient, who is treated at the Shiva Shanta Mother and Child Health Center,

High Lights

  • Aesthetically done Festival Gift Hampers with sweets
  • Party Gifts
  • Corporate Gifts with beautiful wrap
  • True Indian Mementoes
  • Employee Gifts
  • Door delivery for bulk orders
  • Gift Vouchers for all seasons

Shopping at Lavanya is an inspiring experience. Come, let us take a look at the various items, which are a treat to the eyes and joy for the heart

Shivanjali Printing Works

  • Our Swamiji spoke about the mantras, scriptures, arts and culture throughout His life, during the satsangs. All His talks are spontaneous and they are a treasure trove of information about Sanatana Dharma.

  • Swamiji’s speeches were recorded live. They are being transcribed and printed now. The printing press was started to bring His words to print. All the books are distributed free.

Prayer is our Strength

Serving through Prayer

  • Swamiji taught that prayer is the most important part of our lives and that the most powerful energy on earth is prayer energy. His vision for Shivanjali is to be an organization of loving souls who are channels of love and compassion, through whom many will be nourished in body, mind and spirit. He always believed in giving the best to the world.

  • Every Sunday morning Swamiji’s devotees all over the world, called the “Shiva Family”, meet to recite prayers together. The group offers prayers for the well being of others, especially the sick and needy and world peace. We believe that collective prayers are powerful and it is a true form of service that we can give to others.

  • Thus the regular prayer sessions on Sunday mornings hold us together giving us a common purpose and identity, as the Shiva Family.

How You can
Help us

Any little help goes a long way in wiping the tears of the poor. The timely help offered now will carry the fruits for a life time.

Anyone who believes that helping the poor is seeing divinity, can help us carry on our humble work. Let us mark the foundation of selfless service and pass it on to the next generation too.

All donations are accepted gratefully and gracefully. The bank details are

  • 1. For general contributions, Education and Marriage grant to the poor

    Bank Name Bank of Baroda
    Account Name Shivanjali Trust
    Account Number 403702000054
    Account Type Current
    IFSC Code BARB0VADAVA

  • 2. For supporting Healthcare to the poor

    Bank Name Bank of Baroda
    Account Name Shivanjali Trust – Temple of Service
    Account Number 403702000056
    Account Type Current
    IFSC Code BARB0VADAVA

  • 3. For supporting Performing Arts

    Bank Name Bank of Baroda
    Account Name Shivanjali Trust
    Account Number 403702000055
    Account Type Current
    IFSC Code BARB0VADAVA

All contributions are exempt from Tax U/S 80G of Income Tax Act 1986

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