About | Badrinaath Ashram

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Pandit Dhanrajh Senior: 1934 - 2013

The history of Badrinaath Ashram begins with the life of Pandit Dhanrajh Senior, one of the greatest Pandits of his generation in Guyana. Learning from his Guru, the late Pandit Badrinaath Sharma, he studied Puranas, Upanishad, Vedas, Jyotish, and Sanskrit. Pandit Dhanrajh was an excellent Katha Vaachak and Jyotish Acharya, versed in Sanskrit, Karmakand, and Purohit Karma. He was incredibly brilliant at self-study. He was a pillar of the Hindu community in Essequibo, performing pujas and all sanskars for thousands of devotees and advising them through difficult times. While his home was Aurora Satya Dharma Mandali in Essequibo, he travelled to many mandirs across Guyana, Trinidad, Barbados, America, and Canada. He was married to Hardai Sharma and they had 9 children. Hardai’s father was also a Sarangi player who came from India. Pandit Dhanrajh’s legacy of Purohit Karma is carried on by his sons, Pandit Mahesh, the late Pandit Ishwarlal, and Pandit Munesh Dhanrajh, the founder of Badrinaath Ashram.

History of Badrinaath Ashram-how it all started

Pandit Munesh wanted to give back to the community of Guyana through education. In 2009, he opened a school at the present location of Badrinaath Ashram to teach music and dance. Classes were completely free and students from all over the Essequibo Coast came to the ashram to learn singing, harmonium, dholak, and kathak. Pandit Munesh realized that Hindus were facing a grave issue all over Guyana — there were not enough pandits to see to the needs of the population, and many of those who were there were not up to the correct standard. As a result, many Hindus were neglecting their puja rites and rituals for births, weddings, funerals, etc., and even converting to other religions entirely. In response, Pandit Munesh officially opened Badrinaath Ashram in 2022, a school to train pandits completely free of cost. He brought trained pandits from India to live at the ashram and educate the students on purohit karma, karma kaand, and all sanskars, blending the curriculum from our shastras with the local reeti or traditions of Guyana and personally overseeing the progress of the students.

In addition, he also brought teachers trained in Hindustani classical music to train the pandits in the art of sangeet. Recognizing the power of music to make people fall in love with Satya Sanaathan Dharma, Pandit Munesh ensured that all students had a strong foundation in singing, harmonium, and dholak. In his sewa, Pandit Munesh makes certain that all classes are free, all living expenses are covered, transportation is provided, and stipends are even provided to working students to encourage them to attend classes. This is all done to ensure the progress of the students in a comfortable and easy way.

To date, over 15 young pandits have been certified in Purohit Karma and Sangeet by Badrinaath Ashram, with over 30 additional music students. Badrinaath Ashram was named so after the request of the late Pandit Dhanrajh Senior. It stands as a testament to the legacy of panditai that he left behind and a promise to upkeep Satya Sanaathan Dharma for generations to come.

Pandit Munesh Dhanrajh

Pandit Munesh Dhanrajh grew up learning Panditai from his father, Pandit Dhanrajh Senior. At an early age, he migrated from Essequibo to Bartica taking charge of Bartica Triveni Mandir. Named after the confluence of the rivers Cuyuni, Mazaruni, and Essequibo, Triveni Mandir became a powerful teerth in the city of Bartica. In 2023, he officially opened Brampton Triveni Mandir, the largest Hindu temple in Canada, where he is now the Spiritual Leader.

Pandit Dhanrajh Senior: 1934 - 2013

Pandit Munesh Dhanrajh grew up learning Panditai from his father, Pandit Dhanrajh Senior. At an early age, he migrated from Essequibo to Bartica taking charge of Bartica Triveni Mandir. Named after the confluence of the rivers Cuyuni, Mazaruni, and Essequibo, Triveni Mandir became a powerful teerth in the city of Bartica. In 2023, he officially opened Brampton Triveni Mandir, the largest Hindu temple in Canada, where he is now the Spiritual Leader.