The Bhaktivedanta Ashram was established by disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada for the purpose of propagating the teachings of sanatana dharma as taught by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. The Ashram has its headquarters in Bhadrak, Orissa, but conducts programs throughout India. Some of the important activities of the Ashram include food distribution to the poor (anna-danam), providing education to underprivileged children (vidya-danam), and educating people in general in the understandings of spiritual life.

The Ashram's educational wing, Bhaktivedanta Academy, specializes in conducting courses on spiritual orientation in the schools and colleges throughout India in order to inspire the students to take up spiritual practices in their daily lives. Over 20,000 students have benefited from the courses conducted by the Academy.

The Bhaktivedanta Ashram carries out food relief programs in India in the states of Tamil Nadu and Orissa. Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada instructed his disciples to feed all the needy people in the world with spiritual food, and thereby solve both their material and spiritual problems in life. Following his instruction, the Bhaktivedanta Ashram conducts food distribution every month to thousands of needy and poor children.

The only hunger that should exist in society is the hunger for spiritual knowledge. As long as the physical hunger is not removed, it is not possible for man to focus internally towards spiritual advancement. With this in mind, the Ashram keeps food relief as one if its most important activities in India.