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Punyasthala

Interfaith - Inter-Religious Activities

In 1977 with guidance from Shri Shri Raghavendra Swami of Mantralaya, Raghavendra Guruji conducted Maha Yagna for Loka Kalyana to improve and uplift the general fallen life conditions in society. The first programme was spread over 10 days from 20th to 29th January 1977. A new township was built for the purpose. 


Around 500 religious heads from all religion participated in the convention. Over four thousand mass marriages were conducted. Two thousand priests participated in the ritual conducted for LOKA KALYAN & VISHWA SHANTI. 2000 cooks provided food to over 25 lakh people over 10 days.


Glimpses of Convention of Inter-religious Exchange – Bharatiya Dharma Sammelana 1977
1st Convention on Interfaith and Mahayagna in Punyasthala.

  
  

From 1978 onwards Guruji travelled all over South India invited different religious leaders on the same platform to exchange educate and share the tenets of their respective religions with thousands of people for a MEANINGFUL AND HARMANIOUS LIFE

Interfaith Convention in 1978 was held at Tadas (Dharwad), Reverend Kol a Christian priest was felicitated.

Every year oath was taken by all present in the conferences about Universal Love compassion and brotherhood, this ceremony was called Dharma Jyoti Pradana. Dharma Jyoti Geete was composed by Guruji in Kanada language to sensitize the audience of the One-ness preached and practiced by all religion.

1979-Interfaith Convention was held at Bangalore | 1980- Interfaith Convention was held at Chikamagalur

1981- Interfaith Convention was held at Chitradurga

1982 - Arasikere
1983 - Mandya
1984 - Belgaum
1985 - Mysore
1986 - Sirsi
 1987 - Madapura (Kodagu)
 1988 - Shahazada Sabha Bhavana, Punyasthala*
 1989-97 - Shahazada Sabha Bhavana, Punyasthala

*Shahazada Sabha Bhavan was inaugurated by Guruji in the presence of religious leaders and scholars for interfaith conferences.


1989-97- Interfaith Convention was held at Punyasthala Shahazada Mantapa hosted the Interfaith religious conferences every year under the banner of Dharma parishad. Dharma Parishad felicitated prominent people from all walks of life religion, medicine, sports, art, literature, etc.

From October 17, 2011 all Religion Conference was revived at the Shahazada Mantap and was attended by many Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist and Hindu practitioners, The Bhagavat Geeta, the Bible, the Mahapurana, the Guru Grantha Sahib and the Holy Quran was read out and explained to the audience followed by Dharma Jyoti Pradana and Dharma Jyoti Geete composed by Guruji.

Between November 2011 and February 2012 Ashram was proud to host two Senior Tibetan lamas for spiritual retreat. All Guests are taken for a visit to our school and introduced to our school children for interaction and this helps to broaden their vision and mould the future generation and prepare the children for acceptance and mutual respect of all religion.

Grantha Mandira - The Temple of the Sacred Texts - Guruji's Vision

Guruji created Punyasthala to cater to the spiritual needs of mankind. Punyasthala is beyond religion; it highlights the true values of human life, discipline, honesty, truth, compassion, and mutual respect that forms the core content of the sacred texts of all religions. Way back in 1977 Guruji had foreseen globalization and prepared to cater to the spiritual needs of the future generation and organised Convention of Inter-religious Exchange – Bharatiya Dharma Sammelana- first Convention on Interfaith and Mahayagna in Punyasthala.

In order to accord the same respect to all religions, Guruji carefully researched and exchanged dialogues with leaders from all religious communities and then created a divine atmosphere of exchange and experience of universal brotherhood; which is beyond caste, creed, color, and religion.

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Guruji reached out to the quest of the human soul/mind and its journey to the final abode of rest. He embodied unconditional love and compassion to all indiscriminately. With the skill of an artist, he created The Temple of the Sacred Texts. Here Guruji houses the knowledge components that form the core of all religions.

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The Grantha Mandira pays tribute to this knowledge in the holy texts of different religions.

Holy Bhagavadgita
Holy Bible
Holy Granth Sahib
Holy Quran
Holy Mahapurana
Holy Bhagavadgita
The Bhagavat Geeta was enshrined (holy text of the Hindus, taught globally) for its contemporary thoughts by the Swami Harshanandaji of the Ramakrishna mission.
Holy Bible
The Holy Biblewas enshrined by Arch Bishop Pinto with a special word of blessing from the Pope John Paul.
Holy Granth Sahib
The Guru Grantha Sahib ( the religious text of the Sikh community) was especially gifted to Guruji from the Golden Temple at Amritsar.
Holy Quran
The Quran, in Arabic was enshrined by Janab Mufti Mohammed Ashraf Ali of the College of Islamic Studies.
Holy Mahapurana
The Mahapurana the sacred book of the Jains is enshrined by Ven. Charukirti Bhattaraka of Shravanabelegola here.
On April 27 1993, the respective religious heads of Karnataka came together and ceremoniously enshrined with equal dignity the Sacred Texts to project Knowledge as the pathway to the future. In January 2008 His Holiness the Dalai Lama kindly gifted the Ashram 2 specially selected texts to represent Buddhism. Guruji's vision about the infinity and continuity of religion is unique. This reflects on the past present and future of religion. 
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Guruji's Concept of Infinity
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The design of the Granth Mandir depicts the infinity of religion. The Granth Mandir functions as a quiet study and reflection hall where visitors and residents can read, listen to explanations, or simply sit in the presence of the texts, making it both a library and a shrine.​​ For students of Raghavendra Gurukula Vidyapitha and devotees alike, regular exposure to this space nurtures interfaith sensitivity, reduces prejudice, and reinforces Punyastala’s identity as a pure land of wisdom and compassion dedicated to Loka Kalyan and Viswa Shanti.​​The Granth Mandir functions as a quiet study and reflection hall where visitors and residents can read, listen to explanations, or simply sit in the presence of the texts, making it both a library and a shrine.​​ For students of Raghavendra Gurukula Vidyapitha and devotees alike, regular exposure to this space nurtures interfaith sensitivity, reduces prejudice, and reinforces Punyastala’s identity as a pure land of wisdom and compassion dedicated to Loka Kalyan and Viswa Shanti.​​
Interfaith Message Board

His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Profoundly grateful to have had an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama to seek his radiant blessings on 10th January 2026 at Mundagod, Karnataka.

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