The place where Shivpuri is presently located was initially defined as a special area by Shree Swami Samartha Maharaja. During one of His journeys, He stopped in the area of Shivpuri and sang a Hymn of Lord Shiva. This was His indication for the times to come and to foretell the fact that this land will be known far and wide as the land of Lord Shiva. In Vedic tradition the word Shiv is also used to denote fire or energy.

The place was named Shivapuri after Swami ShivanandYogendraMaharaj, the father of ParamaSadguru Shree GajananMaharaj.

ShivanandMaharaj was the highest among Yogis. He was a Nada Brahma Yogi who exemplified the Shabda Brahma concept.

Shabda Brahma means "the word that was in the beginning, which was with God, which was God and by which everything was made that was made" (John 1).

People held him in highest esteem as the incarnation of Maharishi Jamadagni, the great sage of Bhrugu dynasty, who enunciated the Akshar Brahma concept (concept of the indestructible word). Literally the word Jamadagni in Sanskrit means the blazing Yajnya fire.

The Vedic word Shiva also connotes Yajnya fire. Hence Shivanand means fire which grants Ananda or 'eternal bliss'.

ShivanandYogendraMaharaj possessed astonishing Yogic powers. Even while he used to be in deep sleep one could hear the chant of Mantra in his breathing rhythm.This great Yogi once declared "Death shall not conquer us".

The devotees believe that he is still in the state of Samadhi in Shivapuri in the cellar where the holy body is preserved before the place was sealed with stone. It seems that there is some mission yet to be performed by the holy body in the cellar called Shiva Gumpha.

Before actually purchasing this small piece of land in the year 1953 as a proposed site for preparing Swami Shivanand's Samadhi many auspicious signs were shown to Shree. He had seen the 'Rising of the sun' on the horizon as he first cast his glance on the piece of land which later was to be known as Shivpuri.To Shree, thatsymbolised the ushering in of the New Era.

As if it was the rising sun of New Era of Super Science and Universal Brotherhood.

Shree many times had stated that a special sky is created over Shivpuri.

• Quotes of Shree on Shivpuri:
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• Shivapuri is showered with the blessings of Sapta Rishi or the Seven Stars –known also as the seven great seers. (Kshyap, Atri, Bhardwaj, Vishwamitra, Gautam, Vashishtha and Jamadagni.)
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• If any seed of Sat Karma (Good Karma) is sown in the land of Shivpuri, it sprouts and blossoms in to a big tree within no time and effort.
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• This land is special. It is conducive to right action and right thought.
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• Shivpuri, in future, will be the most Holy place of pilgrimage for innumerable followers of Five-fold Path spread all over the world.They will come to pay their respects to this holy land from where their beloved Master reiterated the eternal and universal message of Vedas. Shivpuri will henceforth be associated with our name like Bodh Gaya is with Lord Buddha, Mathura with Lord Krishna, Jerusalem with Lord Jesus Christ and Mecca with Prophet Mohammed. Purity and sanctity of this place will remain charged for thousands of years to come.
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Maha Soma Yajnya:

A grand Yajnya was organised in the year 1969 to commemorate the 50th Birth Day of Shree. The Yajnya was called MahaSomayaga, a unique process mentioned in the Vedic texts. It was one of a kind as for the first time a true and all Vedic Yajnya was performed which meant that there was no sacrifice of any kind. Thousands of people from all over and many Vedic scholars from all over India came to witness this majestic event. came to witness this one of a kind event. The Yajnya lasted for six days and ended with the river bathing ceremony.

The place to perform this Yajnya was chosen near the Samadhi site of Swami Shivananda. This place was named as ‘Yajnya Nagar Shivpuri’, by Shree after this Yajnya. The memorials of this Yajnya can still be seen in Shivpuri.

Shree said:

The Somayaga performed at Shivapuri in 1969 was a non-violent Yajnya that was performed after thousands of years. No animal flesh was offered in it. Yajnya pillar at Shivapuri is announcing this truth. Materials obtained from cow alone (milk, butter, ghee, etc) were offered in Yajnya. Every inch of Shivapuri is associated with Somayaga.