All Life is Sacred.

Jeev Daya, Care of Environment and the Gift of Food at Siddhachalam

Ever since the early 1980s, Siddhachalam has fed deer during the winters and birds and cats throughout the year.  It has sophisticated deer feed stations at various locations when more than 25,000 pounds of corn and other feed materials are made available during the winter.  Since 2009, Siddhachalam also makes available warm water for deer, birds and animals generally from late November through late March. Siddhachalam encourages all to donate for jeev daya (care of animal and bird life) and for their habitat.

Siddhachalam is a Jain ashram and an animal and nature preserve spread over 120 acres at the foothills of the Appalachian in northwest New Jersey. Rolling hills, large forested areas, beautifully kept open spaces with numerous meditation trails and spots, gift of food for all, and adherence to policies that promote austere living and care for all forms of life make Siddhachalam a refuge for all who seek tranquility. These policies include no-hunting, no-fishing, no-camping, no-campfire, no-alcohol, no-drugs, no-smoking, no-outside food, no-littering, no-outside music, and no-lights after 10 pm.

Siddhachalam is an ashram (spiritual refuge) for those who believe in the sanctity of all forms of life.  It is also a sanctuary for animals and birds, mainly deer, bear, cats, peacocks, turkeys, swans, and diverse and untouched flora-fauna, including rare species. Siddhachalam is an animal and nature preserve. It belongs as much to them, as to us.

Ever since the early 1980s, Siddhachalam has run a no-charge kitchen where homemade food is joyously made and served to all visitors as a gift of the Guru Acharya Sushil Kumar ji, the revolutionary Jain saint who founded the ashram. This is made possible through the generosity of visitors who sign up for “tithis” – days for which they underwrite the expenses associated with making fresh food available to all visitors.

Similarly, warm water and food is made available to deer, cats and other animals and birds, especially during the winter (in 2021, 25,000 pounds of corn was made available to deer alone) through visitors signing up for “Jeev daya” (care of animals and birds). The deer feed stations at Siddhachalam have provision for warm water throughout the winter.

“Jeev daya” at Siddhachalam, however, encompasses more than the provision of food and water.  It also means making habitat available to animals and birds.  This is done by maintaining large, protected, forested areas within Siddhachalam and by planned, continuous planting of trees.  During the past decade, for instance, Siddhachalam has planted at least one hundred trees each year.  Birds requiring more protected care, such as peacocks and their families, have pens that are heated during winters.  Similarly, cats have a home where they find safe shelter.

For nearly 40 years now, we’ve humbly sought to put to practice what Guruji taught us: that the care of our soul implies compassion towards all around us and care of our environment. We invite the community to support these initiatives.  Sign up for tithis, donate towards jeev daya, and help protect mother earth.

Siddhachalam is an accredited member of the United Nations Economic and Social Council and a site of the Peace Pole.  Siddhachalam is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions to it are tax deductible in accordance with applicable law.  For questions, please contact esg@imjm.org.