Construction of a Kriya Babaji Shrine and hawankund was personally directed by Sri Yogi Ramaiah at the Gayathri Peedam in Verulam, South Africa. On the day of construction it was pouring with rain but Yogiar insisted that the construction be completed, which it was. The shrine was consecrated by Yogiar on the 18th of January 2000. This was Yogiar’s first visit to South Africa and the Gayathri Peedam.

Yogiar was drawn to the tremendous energy of the Gayathri Peedam as he was driving by, during his visit to Durban. Unable to visit the Peedam on that day, he asked his assistant to note the address of the ashram in order to return the following day, which they did.

For many years Yogiar had carried around the world with him a murthi (sacred stone) of his spiritual master, Babaji Nagaraj, looking for the right home for it. That home was found at the Gayathri Peedam.

During the same visit, Yogiar also initiated Swami Shankarananda and a number of Swami’s yoga students into Babaji’s Kriya Kundalini Yoga, returning again during October 2004 to visit Swami and initiate a new group of students into the discipline. The Gayathri Peedam in Verulam houses the only Babaji shrine in Africa today.

Om Kriya Babaji Namah Aum