Satyananda Yoga · near Gokarna
A Yoga Ashram near Gokarna.
Yoga Nidra, seva and simple living in a century-old house.
Saturday · 4 pm and 5:15 pm
Yoga Nidra, then the havan fire ceremony and prasad
Every week, open to all. Find out more
Wednesday · 2:30 pm
Kirtan jam: devotional singing, bring an instrument
Every week, open to all. Find out more
Monday, Wednesday, Friday · 11 am
Hatha yoga, open to visitors
Every week, open to all. Find out more
Friday · 4:15 pm
Clean-up around the Ram Temple, all hands welcome
Every week, open to all. Find out more
An open spiritual family on a 2½-acre organic farm, come to practise, to serve, and to live simply.
Come for a class, a retreat, or a longer stay of seva and sadhana. All are welcome to visit, experience, rest, participate and stay; please give us a quick call before you come.
Shankar Prasad Ashram
About the ashram
A century-old home, a living farm
Shankar Prasad Ashram, the Shankar Prasad Organic Farm & Ashram, sits in a century-old heritage home on two and a half acres of organic farmland and coconut grove at Bankikodla village, near Gokarna.
The ashram is run as an open spiritual family in the Satyananda Yoga tradition of the Bihar School of Yoga: the days are shaped by practice, seva and simple sattvic living, and guests share in the life of the house and the farm.
The teacher & founder
Swami Yogaratna Saraswati
A Satyananda ashram for yogic life: seva (selfless service), sadhana (spiritual practice) and study.
Swami Yogaratna Saraswati, Swamiji, joined the Bihar School of Yoga in 1984 and is the founder of the Shankar Prasad Foundation. She is based at the ashram, which also runs community projects: the organic farm, Muddu Play School, the animal-care camps and the weekly havan (fire ceremony).
She teaches, and is best known for, Yoga Nidra, Yoga Nidra as Therapy, Advanced Yoga Nidra and high-quality Yoga Nidra Teacher Trainings, along with yoga from Meditations from the Tantras and Kundalini Tantra, and all the yogas of the Satyananda tradition. Swamiji has over 40 years' experience as a sannyasin serving humanity through the science of yoga, and can answer all your questions.
Volunteers and donations are most welcome to support the ashram's seva and community activities.
The tradition: Bihar School of Yoga · the Bihar Yoga app
What you learn
Practices & teachings
Swamiji teaches the Satyananda tradition step by step, for first-timers and long-time practitioners. A free class most mornings at 7. Courses and retreats run by the calendar: these are the next dates.
- 1–5 Nov 2026Yoga Nidra Foundation5 days
- 14–19 Nov 2026Chidakasha Dharana & Meditation6 days
- 23–29 Nov 2026Ayurveda & Yoga Nidra Retreat — 1 Week · Yolanda & Dr Anusha7 days
- 6–12 Dec 2026Yoga & Meditation for Elderly People7 days
- 6–10 Dec 2026Yoga Nidra Foundation5 days
- 24–28 Dec 2026Yoga Nidra Foundation · SWAN5 days
The farm & food
Grown here, cooked here, shared together
The ashram sits on a 2½-acre organic farm and coconut grove. Meals are sattvic and vegetarian, made mostly from what the farm gives, simple food, prepared and shared as part of the day's seva.
- 2½ acres of organic farm and a coconut grove
- Sattvic vegetarian meals, mostly grown here; vegan available
- A kitchen that runs on seva, guests help prepare and clear
Where you stay
Simple, clean, fan-cooled rooms
Rooms in the heritage home are kept simple and sattvic, clean, fan-cooled and quiet, made for practice and rest rather than luxury.
Heritage building
Manasa
₹1,200 per person, per night
- Mat and bedding, fan
- Shared bathrooms
- Volunteers: ₹600 part-time, ₹300 full-time
Attached bathroom
Ganesh Prasad
₹1,500 per person, per night
- Comfortable bed, ceiling fan, Wi-Fi on request
- Veranda and outside sitting / practice area
- Volunteers: ₹1,000 part-time, ₹800 full-time
Hot water · Wi-Fi
Green House
₹3,000 per person, per night
- Attached bathroom with hot water
- About 50 m from the main building; upstairs rooms have a kitchenette and balcony
- Volunteers: ₹2,500 part-time, ₹1,500 full-time
Off-grid · by the farm
Kutir
₹2,500 per person, per night
- Earthen heritage-style room, attached bathroom, veranda
- Kitchen space for simple self-cooking; 80 m from the main building
- Volunteers: ₹2,000 part-time, ₹1,500 full-time
Rates include your room, three vegetarian meals a day, the morning and evening mantra-chanting and meditation sessions, and satsang and kirtan with Swamiji. Prices may vary with season and availability; please confirm with us before booking. Guest rates assume 1 hour of karma yoga a day, volunteer rates 4 or 8 hours. See all rooms, facilities and rates.
Getting here
How to reach us
We are at Bankikodla village, Hannehalli, Taluka Kumta, about 5 km from Gokarna, on the Karnataka coast. Tell us your arrival and we'll help with the last stretch.
Goa, Mumbai, Mangalore or Bengaluru
Dabolim (Goa) is about 3 hours by taxi, Manohar (Mopa, Goa) about 5. Mumbai, Mangalore and Bengaluru also work. We can arrange a trusted village taxi.
Gokarna Road, Kumta or Ankola
Gokarna Road is 20 minutes away by auto-rickshaw. Kumta and Ankola are also on the Konkan line, then bus or taxi.
Gokarna Cross
Overnight sleeper buses run often from Mumbai and Bengaluru to Gokarna Cross, then an auto or our driver to Bankikodla.
You're welcome to drop in unannounced, or call ahead, either is fine. A quick message on WhatsApp helps us keep a place and a meal ready for you.
Full directions from Mumbai, Goa, Kochi and Bengaluru, with our taxi drivers' numbers: How to reach us. Not sure of the route? Ask any AI how to reach Shankar Prasad Ashram from where you are; here is the pin.
Map of the ashram, Bankikodla
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Directions in Google MapsOpen on OpenStreetMapGood to know
Questions, answered
How do I book, and what's the cancellation policy?
Please write to us with your dates and we will confirm availability. A booking is held with a ten per cent deposit. The full terms are on our cancellation policy page.
What should I bring?
Light, modest clothes that cover shoulders, chest and knees; men wear a shirt at all times.
Is there wifi? Can I use my phone?
Yes, there is Wi-Fi and mobile signal. If you plan to work online during your stay, please discuss it with Swamiji first.
What about food and dietary needs?
Meals are sattvic and vegetarian, mostly from the farm. Tell us your dietary needs in advance and we'll do our best to look after you.
Are first-timers welcome?
Yes. Practices are taught step by step.
Seva & support
Support the ashram & farm
The ashram and its organic farm are kept going by many hands. You can help by joining the seva and volunteer program, giving your time, skills or care to the farm, the kitchen and the daily life of the house.
Get in touchContact
Write to us
Write to us with your enquiry and your purpose for coming, and we will send you the stay details.
- Find usBankikodla Village, Hannehalli, Taluka Kumta · 5 km from Gokarna · Karnataka 581319, India
- Call+91 80953 29129 (Shyam S or Swamiji)
- WhatsApp+91 80953 29129
- Emailswamiyogaratna@gmail.com
- We replyUsually within a day or two. Please call or WhatsApp if it is urgent
Ready to come, or just a question?
Courses, retreats, stays and volunteering are all booked on one short form. For anything else, ask us.