Sandipani Ashram, in the Ankapat area of Ujjain, is the traditional site of the gurukul of Guru Sandipani, where Krishna, Balarama and Sudama studied. Krishna is said to have learnt the sixty-four arts here in sixty-four days.
Most temples are about a god’s power. This one is about his education. The ashram keeps the memory of Krishna as a pupil — a boy sent to Avanti to learn from a teacher — and that is why parents bring their children here.
This page describes the place and its traditions. Visiting hours and rules are the ashram’s own; check them on the day.
The tenth book of the Bhagavata Purana describes Krishna and Balarama going to Avanti to study under the sage Sandipani. When their education was complete, Krishna brought back the guru’s dead son as his gurudakshina — the story belongs to that episode.
The ashram is held to be the traditional site of that gurukul.
Tradition says that Krishna and Balarama learnt the sixty-four arts in just sixty-four days and amazed their guru. That is why the ashram is regarded not only as a pilgrimage place but as a place of learning.
Beside the ashram is Gomti Kund, a stepped water tank. Tradition holds that Krishna summoned the waters of all the sacred tirthas here, so that his guru need not travel to each of them.
The complex also has the Sarveshwar Mahadev temple, which houses an ancient linga.
The Ankapat area is believed to be where Krishna washed his writing tablet. On a stone, the numbers 1 to 100 are engraved, which tradition ascribes to Guru Sandipani himself.
Parents who want their children to do well in their studies come here for patti puja — the worship of the slate on which children learn to write. It is one of the ashram’s best-loved customs.
Janmashtami is celebrated here on a large scale, and draws crowds. The ashram is near Mangalnath, so the two can be seen together. We are an independent booking service, not the ashram’s office.
We do not run a separate ashram pooja. Our poojaris perform Rudrabhishek, Maha Mrityunjaya Jaap and other rites in Ujjain on your behalf. Booking through us is free.
According to tradition, Krishna, Balarama and Sudama studied here in the gurukul of Guru Sandipani.
A stepped water tank beside the ashram. Tradition holds that Krishna summoned the waters of all the tirthas here for his guru.
The worship of the slate on which children learn to write. Parents arrange it for their children’s studies.
In the Ankapat area of Ujjain, near the Mangalnath temple.