Our Vision
Today the natural therapies are taking their rightful place in the mainstream of health care, due to an increasing understanding of importance of treating the whole person, and even perhaps, the whole of society in order to create healthier world. Increased awareness among people and demand for health oriented, preventive care made the founding of this institution an imperative.The seed of Anandkunj – Shivambu Naturopathy and Yogashram, the first institution of its kind in India, was sowed in June 1974 to meet the growing need for holistic treatment of patients suffering from psychosomatic, autoimmune and immunodeficiency disorders and scientific clinical research.
The main purpose of SHRI is to pursue scientific research and study different harmless, ancient, natural therapies and use them in integrated approach to provide total Holistic Health and to disseminate its fruits to as many people as possible. As science-based preventive, integrative and natural medicine is central to our mission; the efficient treatment, quality education, training and research are our priority. Today this center has developed to serve as an effective leader – a vital force – in the improvement of health and well-being of the community at large. The vision of this institute is to grow from the roots as an ideal treatment center of Yoga and Naturopathy to University of Natural & Integrative Health Sciences.
Dr. Shashi Patil, pioneer in integrating Shivambu, Yoga & Naturopathy has dedicated his life for providing successful clinical care to poor and needy patients. His unparallel contributions in the field of Shivambu Chikista will always remain as milestone. He has developed his unique ways of treatments and a powerful healing ability after years of experience and experimentation.
Dr. Shashi Patil established the ‘Shivambu Yoga and Nature-cure Center, Kolhapur’ first of its kind in India and has successfully helped thousands of patients suffering from cardiac disorders, diabetes, obesity, asthma, allergies, cancers, arthritis, chronic skin diseases, digestive dysfunctions, kidney stones, infertility, gynecological diseases and several psychosomatic disorders.
Dr. Shashi Patil, born on 25th June 1945 in Jaysingpur, completed his schooling in a spiritual residential school of Bahubali. In the initial phase of his career he followed the footsteps of his elder brother who was an ENT surgeon and received clinical training from him. Then he practiced allopathic medicine in the rural outskirts of Kolhapur district. After years of successful modern medical practice, there happened an incidence that turned his career.
A Kind of miracle changed the direction his practice completely, persuading him to in-depth study of complementary and alternative medicine. To a landlord couple, who were childless for fifteen years, a healthy baby was born as a result of practice of an ancient yogic kriya called Amroli (AUT). The couple had learnt the technique from a spiritual master Adrushya Sri Kadsiddheshwar Swamiji. Initially Dr. Patil approached him with lots of doubts and questions but as the spiritual saint showered his blessings all question disappeared. Swamiji encouraged Dr. Patil to practice AUT on himself first and revealed to Dr. Patil the purpose of his life. Thereafter Dr. Patil wholeheartedly and selflessly started treating poor and downtrodden patients with incurable diseases using Amroli.
Dr. Patil himself in his childhood suffered from polio, and after practicing AUT he is leading a perfectly normal life even at this age. Later on he studied in depth the ancient Indian scriptures such as Damar-tantra, Sushrut Samhita, Bhavprakash, Ashtangsanghrah, Yogratnakar, Hathyogprdipika, Gherand Samhita etc. which have authentic information on Auto Urine Therapy. He also had the opportunity to interact with many spiritual masters, saints and experts in the field and he made continuous effort in improving his Integrated treatment protocol, which started giving miraculous results. At first, he successfully tested AUT on a group of leprosy patients suffering with non-healing wounds. Then gradually he devised specialized integrated AUT treatments for almost all types of incurable diseases. For a period of almost four decades he has been serving poor patients with low cost treatment modules. Later in 1975 he invited all experienced yoga and urine therapy practitioners from all over the country and formed an association called ‘Shivambu Prachar-prasar Mandal’ in order to systematically develop and bring the benefits of AUT to grass root level.
He had very good relations with the former Prime Minister of India Shri Morarjibhai Desai, the staunch follower of yoga and AUT. Shri Desai had personally visited the Shivambu Yoga and Nature-cure Center at Kolhapur on the 19th December 1983 and had congratulated and encouraged Dr. Shashi Patil and his team for their missionary work. Dr. Patil use to often visit Shri Desai’s residence for personal treatments and experience sharing.
As the years passed Dr. Patil’s communications and interactions reached all over the world. He was then acknowledged as an experienced specialist of AUT. The Government of Rumania took note of his vast experience and knowledge in the field, and invited him to Rumania to treat patients suffering from breast cancer. He arrived in Bucharest with his team and displayed his unparalleled expertise in AUT, leaving Rumanians and the people in the Indian embassy astonished. His unique treatment programs emphasize mainly on AUT blended with lifestyle interventions for physical detoxification and Yogic techniques blended with mindfulness meditation for purification mind. He has deep understanding of laws of Nature, the origin and dimensions of human existence. He has an extremely effective and uncanny ability to convince people about AUT by giving simple examples. He has also greatly contributed to literature by writing many simple books on AUT and health. In fact his literature on health is an eye opener for the people of modern age who are always under stress, losing happiness of life and thereby falling prey to modern psychosomatic, auto-immune and lifestyle diseases.
Dr. Patil, who continuously wrote in newspapers, journals, magazines and gave lectures and conducted seminars and camps, has also released many audio-cassettes. He was very caring and soft-spoken by nature; always spreading laughter and happiness to the people he came in contact with.
Today he is primary inspiration for Anandkunj in helping dedicated patients. For those suffering from fatal diseases, mentally and physically handicapped, depressed and dejected in life, he was and is a ray of hope. He use to explains his principle at Anandkunj in simple words: ‘It is the First Choice or the Last Resort.’
Shivambu Health Research Institute is working with humanitarian objectives since last many years. The multidimensional activities like health care services, health education, research and health awareness (through outreach activities and publications) programs are being conducted by SHRI with missionary zeal.
The journey of this mission had its inception in year 1974 at Kolhapur. Shivambu Yoga and Nature Cure Center a thirty bedded indoor hospital of Shivambu, Yoga and Naturopathy was founded by honorable Dr. Shashi Patil, President – Shivambu Health Research Institute (SHRI), a versatile personality with pursuit of uplifting the mankind by service and compassion. In spite, there was no awareness in those days about these natural modalities like Shivambu, yoga and naturopathy in the society, he with the ability of his resourceful personality motivated and treated thousands of patients suffering from different diseases.
The Center has accomplished many achievements and milestones since its founding. Due to the dedicated efforts, determined perseverance, and the results shown to patients and medical community; this Center became guiding force for the people who want the effective treatment and for students who want to learn these drugless and harmless therapies. 
Later in November 1990 recognition of our status as pioneers in Amroli (a yogic kriya) and Natural medicine came when Government of Romania invited the founder of this Institute for treatment of cancer patients as official guest.
As the treatment combinations & therapeutic plans devised by Dr. Shashi Patil were found effective and useful many experts in filed and well-wishers suggested for bigger project and campus. Since beginning Dr. Patil was motivated and inspired by the Principle ‘To Serve Man is to Serve God’, preached and practiced by spiritual and social masters like Swami Vivekananda, Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi, Vinoba Bhave and Baba Amte. And from there the dream of Anandkunj was conceived and then nurtured.
The search for ideal location came to an end when 30 acres of beautiful hill, surrounded with abundant and pure Nature was purchased by Trust in year 2005. The land is situated on banks of river Kasari, the one among five rivers of Panchganga. In first phase, the excavation for approach road & its construction, laying of five inch big water pipeline scheme from river, construction of huge water storage tanks and laying of L.T. electrical line was completed under the guidance of expert team.
The architectural layout, landscapes and plans were designed and actual construction work started in year 2006. Initially the friends, well-wishers and cured patients of Dr. Patil gave their support and donations were raised through Anandkunj Sahayogi Scheme. On the auspicious day of 26 January 2008, the Anandkunj was officially inaugurated with a grand function. There was a huge gathering of all new and old patients and well-wishers of Anandkunj.
Today as internationally known – vital force – in evidence based Holistic Medicine, education and research; Anandkunj offers highest quality treatment and training in various modalities of Integrative Medicine. At this center the students, physicians, experts and researchers gather to expand the frontiers of Holistic modalities and understanding of healing. Anandkunj invites and welcomes all likeminded and devoted people to join our mission as life members.