The Ashram was founded by the divine saint Swami Amar Dev in 1920 in Kotjai - a part of the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) in the undivided India. Later from 1935 to 1947 it functioned in Darya Khan, and from 1944 also in Mankera, both parts of the Miawali district (now in Pakistan). After the partition of India in 1947 Swamiji made a new beginning by setting up the Ashram Harimandir Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya in Pataudi (district Gurgaon), Haryana, India. After the Mahasamadi of Swami Amar Dev in November 1976, his sannyasin disciple Swam Krishan continued and expanded the mission of his Sadgurudev. Swami Krishan Dev left his mortal coil in October 1999. Since then his sannyasin disciple Swami Dharam Dev is heading the institute and lending his guiding light to its work programme.