- Latest Class videos
- AVC BayArea YouTube channel “subscribe” to be notified for Live Class
- Archive of Previous AVC Talks
- https://music.youtube.com/@AVCBayArea/podcasts
Announcing 2 Day Vedanta Retreat with Swami Sachidananda
Register Now for the Retreat Dec 13th-14th 2025
Register Now
Note: Registration is required only for in-person attendance, and NOT for viewing remotely
Poster to share with keen students of Vedanta and invite to participate.
Retreat Talks will be broadcast Live on https://www.youtube.com/@AVCBayArea/streams
Contact: Lakshmi, at Varathirumagal@gmail.com, 860-655-5229
Topic: Selected verses from Aṣṭāvakragītā
Venue: Milpitas Tech Center, 691 S Milpitas Blvd, Milpitas, CA 95035, (downstairs Main Hall, next to lobby)
When:
Dec 13th Saturday: 8am-2.30pm,
Dec 14th Sunday: 8am-2.30pm.
Please arrive on-time and be seated silently. Each Day starts with meditation. Lunch included both days. More timing details on registration page.
Aṣṭāvakragītā presents the nondual truth through a conversation between Sage Aṣṭāvakra and King Janaka. Its message is profound and bold: real knowledge is seen directly in silent, steady meditation. This text is an advanced text in the study of Advaita Vedanta.
Unlike texts that slowly guide the seeker through stages of practice, this scripture points instantly to the highest truth: your nature is pure awareness— unborn, limitless, untouched by the world. Swamiji will cover selected verses from this text during this retreat along with Question-and-answer sessions.
“In its radical clarity, the Aṣṭāvakragītā gently invites us to lay down our struggles, our sense of ownership, and all the identities we tirelessly uphold. It calls us to rest and Just be. This is not a text to be dissected through grammar or argued with. It is a text to be sat
with, breathed with and contemplated.”
-Swami Sachidananda
Swami Sachidananda Saraswati is a disciple of Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati and is known for his clear, simple, and compassionate exposition of Advaita Vedanta, making the timeless teachings accessible and relevant to contemporary seekers.
Swamiji is one of the Resident Acaryas of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Pennsylvania. He teaches regular Vedanta classes and conducts residential retreats at the Gurukulam. while also offering outreach programs and public talks across the United States. His unique offerings — such as meditation retreats grounded in traditional contemplative practice, and Next Gen Vedanta retreats for young adults — are especially cherished by students.
A dynamic sanyasi. He completed a Fellowship at Harvard Divinity School, focused on comparative religion and interfaith dialogue. He is Trained extensively in Vedanta and Sanskrit in Coimbatore and Rishikesh, Swamiji is also appreciated for his music, Vedic chanting, and joyful teaching style.
He currently guides students through traditional study, meditation. and values-based living, while also heading Arsha Vidya Kendra and Sri Vasavi Peetam in Bangalore. His vision is to help seekers discover inner peace, freedom, and harmonious living.
Group Picture from 2024
Oct 11/12 Bay Area Vedanta Retreat with Sri Vijay Kapoor was wonderful
Youtube Playlist: Keys To Opening The Door To Isvara Darshan
AI assisted summaries of the retreat:
Retreat summary notes
Audio summary -15min
Youtube Podcast summary – 40min
Many local students (some new and most long term) attended a very successful and insightful in-person teaching retreat with Sri Vijay Kapoor at our Milpitas Tech Center on Oct 11/12 weekend. On the theme of “Keys to Opening the Door to Ishvara Darshan”, the talks covered Drk Drshya and other Vivekas, Vairagya and especially Mumukshutvam (the intense longing for the greater truth) as the main sadhana to transform our life towards Ishvara.
The students also had the opportunity to meet each other after a long time and share a couple of enjoyable lunches over Saturday and Sunday.
Alternatively: use Zelle to transfer money by email to “AVCbayarea@gmail.com”
Upcoming Summer Retreat with Vijayji at AVG, May 3-10th 2026 is now being planned.
Come join the group for “AVG Retreat with Vijayji” in 2026, email to vijaykapoor@gmail.com to let him know as soon as possible.
Last year’s topic “Finding Fulfillment through Bhagavad Gita”
Videos of the retreat talks, which was well received.
Here is the group of local AVC students who traveled to AVG (PA), for Vijayi’s retreat on “fulfillment through Bhagavad Gita”. Several east coast students also attended the retreat. The Saylorsburg ashram facilities has had many new upgrades to the facilities and more to come, so must visit.
Please see this link for more pictures.
A Series of Podcasts on Youtube (Podcast), by Vijay Kapoor (currently on pause)
As planned, these will be short (20 minutes) English language Audio/video podcasts to facilitate listening/viewing on the move. Please use free Youtube Music App for the free Audio downloads https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=piFDY-GyI4E
Weekly classes continuing – Sri Vijay Kapoor
Mandukya Karika (Sat 8.30-9.45 am)
Class Videos, Class Texts, Class Swami A PDFs
Register by sending email to vijaykapoor@gmail.com (give your background)
Based on Sri Gaudapadacharya’s Karika on Mandukya Upanishad, the classes generally follow Swami Akhanadanandaji’s Hindi discourses on the 4 prakarnas of the Karika.
References to texts are available.
Sept 4-7th Retreat Talks by Swamini Svatmavidyananda
Online Guru-Dakshina for Swaminiji
Guru Dakshina
Select Swami Visit as the cause and put Swamini Svatmavidyananda in the comment window.
Alternatively: use Zelle to transfer money by email to “AVCbayarea@gmail.com”
All the 7 talks are available on this Playlist on the AVC youtube channel.
The Summary Podcasts (AI) assisted talks Short, Long version. Summary Notes of the Retreat.
Swami Muktatmananda Retreat, April 4-6th 2025
Topic: “Nirvana Shatakam”
FLYER share this flyer with friends and family invite them to meet Swamiji.
TEXT of Nirvana Shatakam, please download as reference for retreat, soft copy or print as needed.
Video Recording Playlist
Retreat Summary Notes by Niranjan
Swamiji presented the text in a very clear and direct manner, the deep subject of achieving Nirvana, or discovering the Self/Consciousnesses. The audience participated with interactive Q&A and satsangs.
Satsang Photo with Swamiji, More retreat photos
Ebook by Swami Dayananda on Nirvana Shatakam (Atma Shatakam) is available on Swami D Teachings App
Online Guru Dakshina for Swami Muktatmananda
Accessing AVC Classes
Vedanta classes
AVCBayarea – Live classes channel on Youtube for “Live streams” page > click on the “live” class video that may be running -> make your presence known on Chat window using the chat text space below the Chat window.
AVCBayarea -Playlists channel
Archive of all AVC Classes
Special Talks: Kaivalya Upanisad, 2024 Retreat– complete in 18 classes
Subscribe to the AVC BayArea channel so you can receive notifications on when a class has started by clicking on “Subscribe” button or the “bell” icon at home page.
Sanskrit Classes and Resources
Knowing sanskrit is beneficial in deeper understanding, assimilating and remembering of Vedanta teachings. There are several resources for learning.
Kumud Singhal has taught Sanskrit in the local Bay Area for several years. See this page for the extensive details, about learning the language, and various resources available. She has published some excellent and enjoyable books.
Children’s Classes and Resources
a) AVBG is offering children’s classes at 8 levels
The Arsha Vidya Bala-gurukulam (AVBG) Vedic Heritage program is greatly appreciated by all. The program attracted hundreds of students from far and wide, all of whom graduated under the guidance of highly dedicated and experienced teachers. The Registration link is required by August 15th to avoid disappointment
There are eight levels for children between 6th and 17th years. You or your friends with children in this age group can benefit from this opportunity if they are interested in the Vedic Heritage program.
From: Suddhatma Chaitanya and the BalaGurukulam Team
b) Kumud Singhal has taught children on Hinduism, Culture and Tradition for several years. See this page for extensive details. She has published several very popular, colorful and enjoyable books (available on Amazon) on Hindu Culture and learning Hindi for children. These are highly recommended.
Self-Study Satsang Groups
Participating in self study satsang groups is a good way to stay immersed in the Vedanta language. Groups can be formed per your experiences or locations.
a) Swami Parmarthananda has suggested a syllable of classes to study in a particular order See this chart. The PDFs of the Upanisads are located here.
You may download an Android App called “Sastraprakasika” and purchase the digital audios, either for self study or group study.
b) Contact Kumar Padmini at hpalumni73@gmail.com, to enquire about joining a BGita study group.
AIM for Seva – Fulfilling and Beneficial Seva opportunities for AVC students
Transforming Rural India, One Child at a Time
Danam – Giving is twice blessed, it blesses the one who gives and the one who receives
Be a Contributor not just a Consumer.
Learn all about the great contributions and positive change affected by our local https://aimforsevabayarea.org efforts.
Be a part of the Seva Movement and donate, select “FSHs sponsored by Bay Area”.
See this wonderful short video clip.
Volunteer in our local activities, send email to aimforsevaba@gmail.com with your interests. Several programs are underway throughout the year.
AVG Arsha Vidya Gurukulam newsletters and online Talks
See AVG/AVP USA links as below for classes in English:
Schedule of events.
Live and Archived courses
AVP media site– Course recordings
Digital book store
Newsletters Arshavidya India
Arsha Vidya Swamis frequently visiting Bay Area
We are blessed to have the following AVG Swamis regularly visiting the SF Bay Area for Talks.
Swamini Svatmavidyananda, Swami Muktatmananda, Swami Sachidananda and Swami Paramatmananda. Newsletters and announcements will be sent.
Please also visit this page to get information about other Swamis of AVG and other Mahatmas.
Chanting and mantras
Shanti Mantras 10 from major Upanishads
Mantras Others
Shiva Rudram Chanting, PDF
Nirvana Shatkam chant with lyrics
Audio chants & Lyrics
contact raj.paripatyadar@gmail.com