Dhamma Nagari (Upcoming Center)

We are very pleased to inform you that we are going to start a new and permanent Vipassana meditation and research center called ‘Dhamma Nagari’ in the Davanagere area! Vipassana meditation activities started in Davanagere area about 21 years ago. At present, we are conducting 10 day Vipassana courses and other vipassana activities at a make-shift arrangement (a gypsy center) near Anjaneya cotton mill, Davanagere. This gypsy center has accommodation facilities for total of 35 students (Male:18 Female:17). As of this date (July 21-2022), 32 ten-day courses, 6 three-day courses, 2 Dhamma Server workshops have been conducted. A total of 898 meditators in ten-day courses, 118 meditators in three-day courses, 84 meditators in Dhamma workshops and around 130 children in one day course have participated. Further, around 4000 children have participated in 70 minutes Anapana meditation programs.

In order to build a permanent meditation center in Davanagere, which is located in the central part of Karnataka, we (a group of old Vipassana meditators) have established a public charitable trust in February 2016. We bought and fenced 1.8 acres of land near Kondajji village (around 15 KMs from Davanagere Railway station) and a fence has been erected around the purchased land. We drilled a borewell and fortunately it is providing us sufficient water (3 inches). We have been organizing Tapodana in the new premise. We have a master plan designed for the new center with the help of Area Teachers. The master plan has residential facilities to offer vipassana courses for 88 students at a time (Male: 48 and Female: 40), with a large dhamma hall capable of seating up to 100 meditators. The facility will also include two mini dhamma halls, separate accommodation for course-conducting teachers (male and female), and long-term accommodation for center manager/maintenance personnel. A parking lot is set aside.

The current masterplan has a budget requirement of ~4 crores. We are trying to bring down this cost with the help of several old meditators, friends and patrons without compromising on the quality of construction. In Phase I, we would like to complete few essential facilities to start offering regular 10-day courses there, as listed below.

Phase I Construction

Budget estimate for Phase I construction
SL No.	Name of the Facility	Area of the facility (in Sq. ft.)	Budget estimate (in lakhs) (INR)
1	Office block	1430	29.00
2	Dormitary block	1655	33.00
3	Meditation block, Kitchen & Dining	2591	52.00
4	Teacher’s quarters	1164	23.60
Total		6841	137.00

Master Plan for Phase 1

Vipassana Meditation Centre_Davanagere_Master Plan_25 JUly 2022

Upon receiving sufficient donations, we intend to complete the rest of the construction. This is a wonderful opportunity for the old vipassana meditators to earn Dana Parami. As you know, Vipassana Meditation Centers are established with the support of old meditators only (those who taken at least one 10-day course). It may be appropriate to remind ourselves of the venerable Guruji Shri. S.N. Goenkaji’s words:

Whether the gift (of Dana) is a handful of earth or millions of rupees, it makes no difference; it is the volition that counts. Whatever I give, the amount is immaterial, my volition must be a Dhamma volition. I give for the good of others, for the benefit of others, not expecting anything in return. May you all keep growing in Dhamma not only for your good and benefit, not only for your liberation, but also for the good and benefit of so many others, for the liberation of so many others. – Bhavatu Sabba Mangalam– (may all beings be happy)

Old students with the right volition of dana can contribute towards the construction of the centre by offering Dana (Donation) – click here for more details.