Traditionally, an ashram (Sanskrit/Hindi: ) is a spiritual hermitage or a monastery.[1][2] Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, similar to a studio, yeshiva or dojo.

The word ashram (also as ashrama) comes from the Sanskrit root srama which means "giving the meaning of making an effort towards liberation" (moksha).[3]

An ashram would traditionally, but not necessarily in contemporary times, be located far from human habitation, in forests or mountainous regions, amidst refreshing natural surroundings conducive to spiritual instruction and meditation. The residents of an ashram regularly performed spiritual and physical exercises, such as the various forms of yoga. Other sacrifices and penances, such as yajnas were also performed. Many ashrams also served as gurukuls or residential schools for children under the Guru-shishya tradition.

Ashrams have been a powerful symbol throughout Hindu history and theology. Most Hindu kings, until the Middle Ages, are known to have had a sage who would advise the royal family in spiritual matters, or in times of crisis, who was called the rajguru, which literally translates to royal teacher. A world-weary emperor going to this guru's ashram, and finding solace and tranquility, is a recurring motif in many folktales and legends of ancient India.[citation needed]

Sometimes, the goal of a pilgrimage to the ashram was not tranquility, but instruction in some art, especially warfare. In the Hindu epic Ramayana, the protagonist princes of ancient Ayodhya, Rama and Lakshmana, go to the Rishi Vishvamitra's ashram to protect his yajnas from being defiled by emissary-demons of Ravana. After they prove their mettle, the princes receive martial instruction from the sage, especially in the use of divine weapons, called divyastras (Sanskrit divya: divine + astra: missile weapon; the Sanskrit word astra means missile weapon, such as an arrow, as opposed to shastra, which means a hand-to-hand weapon, such as a mace.) In the Mahabharata, Lord Krishna, in his youth, goes to the ashram of Sage Sandipani, to gain knowledge of both intellectual and spiritual matters.

Residential schools especially run in the tribal areas of Maharashtra and elsewhere in India are called Ashram Shala or Ashram schools. One such school is the Lok Biradari Prakalp Ashram Shala.[4][5]

There are also Christian monasteries in India that are called ashrams and are run by the Nasrani Oriental Orthodox churches.

In recent years, a number of ashrams have been established outside of India. Typically, these ashrams are connected to Indian lineages. Sometimes they are headed by Indian spiritual teachers, and other times by Western spiritual teachers.

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Ashram - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

We are nestled in a secluded nook in the foothills of the beautiful Santa Monica mountains, only a few short miles from Malibus sandy beaches, yet seemingly a million miles from the hustle and bustle of metropolitan Los Angeles.

As our driver takes you up through a small, winding glen dotted with clusters of coastal oak and solitary ranch homes, if you listen very carefully you will hear a gentle streams soft serenade coming from below.

And as you arrive at the main building and pause at the front door, a wonderfully comforting presence invites you to enter and stay a while.

You have arrived. Your weeklong retreat dedicated to health, fitness and renewal has begun. Get ready for the time of your life. Welcome to The Ashram!

"Only in L.A., the spiritual home to something called 'life enhancement' and 'wellness', would they invent a boot camp for the movie stars. Ashram alumni include Oprah Winfrey, Dan Aykroyd, Shirley MacLaine, Jane Fonda, Faye Dunaway, Ashley Judd, and Amber Valleta."Vogue

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The Ashram | Spa Retreat Resort | Calabasas California ...

Ananda Ashram in Monroe, New York, is a Yoga retreat and spiritual-educational center just over one hour from New York City, founded in 1964 by Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati (then Ramamurti S. Mishra, M.D.) as the country center of the Yoga Society of New York, Inc.

Located in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, the Ashram provides a serene, natural environment with woods and meadows surrounding a lake. Accommodations are simple and meals are vegetarian.

We offer daily meditation programs with Yoga-Vedanta studies, chanting and readings and daily Hatha Yoga and Sanskrit classes, plus classical Indian dance and music instruction and a variety of weekend workshops and special events. The Ashram is open year-round and welcomes guests from all origins, faiths and cultural backgrounds.

Ananda Ashram is also the location of the International Schools of East-West Unity (Gurukula), Inc., established by the Founder in 1992. The workshops and courses offered throughout the year cover the various aspects of Yoga, the creative arts and natural health, and East-West cultural performances highlight summer weekends and special celebrations. Guest teachers and artists from a variety of traditions are regular contributors. The Ashram philosophy is nonsectarian with an emphasis placed on Self-awareness and meditation.

Guest and student accommodations provide dorm and semiprivate rooms with around fifty beds. Facilities include classrooms, meditation room, program halls, temples, memorial shrine, gift shop, seasonal swimming pool and publication center. The inspirational Ashram environment is well suited for a meditative retreat, holistic studies and exploration of the deeper aspects of life.

Ananda Ashram is easily accessible by car, bus or train.

Historical Perspective

Ashrams have existed in the East from the earliest period of civilization as places of meditation, spiritual practice and research, higher learning and culture, where teachers and students lived and worked in togetherness. Ananda Ashram was dedicated as a universal center following that same tradition, for the exploration and application of the principles of Yoga and Vedanta through East-West philosophical and cultural exchange. Since its beginning, the Ashram has introduced and hosted many outstanding teachers, guest lecturers and artists from various disciplines. A preferred platform is given to those who focus on the underlying unity of all. In its core program, Ananda Ashram strives to maintain a distinguished, nonsectarian spiritual and educational standard throughout.

Universal Teachings

Yoga is understood here to be the essential harmony and union of individual existence with cosmic existence, as well as the physical, mental and spiritual practices leading to its realization. Nondualistic Vedanta philosophy declares the oneness of all beings in the Supreme Spirit and the ultimate freedom of the Self as Pure Consciousness, referred to by Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati as the "I-Am" beyond the body and mind. These and related teachings are studied at Ananda Ashram both through English sources and through the original Sanskrit texts, with emphasis on the Upanishads, Yoga Stras, Bhagavad Gt, and Shankaracharya's writings.

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Welcome to Ananda Ashram! | Ananda Ashram

Where poverty is widespread, people believe more in religions. They are uneducated but they have hopes and dreams, based on God. Some gurus take advantage of their dreams and suck the little money that they have out of them. Lets spread education so that they can really live their dreams.

Does a soul get more comfort by expensive rituals after death?

Sects go to extremes - Either lots of sex or no sex at all!

Video games taught children that violence and rioting is fun! They learned how it should look like when you break into a store and when they see that it works, they get greedy and steal mobile phones, game consoles, electronics and more. I think violent video games have encouraged teenagers to see this all as fun!

Isnt it crazy how religion is often only a way to manipulate people? Just tell people often enough that something is Gods wish and they will believe it!

Dont be shy to show a little gesture if you think it will make someone happy.

Sharing has a double effect: it decreases sadness and increases happiness!

Why do we need to pretend to be who we are not?

Every child is same and when you have this wish to give love to children, you should share your love with every child, no matter if it is yours or the child of someone else.

The only good reason for the wish to have a child is because you have love in your heart and you want to share it with a child. You want to give a child the happiness that you feel when you are loved and when you can love someone.

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Ashram in India | Spiritual Retreat Center | India Ashram ...

SHILLONG: The sixth Durga Puja will be celebrated by Bharat Sevashram Sangha (BSS), a charitable non-governmental organization, at its city based Ashram at Jail Road.

What makes this puja different from others is its worship of goddess Durga as per innate tradition and culture of Hindu Almanac.

The BSS has also taken the initiative to ensure that the joy of the celebrations also reach the needy. It identified 350 beneficiaries which include the children of Anath Ashram, Hindu Mission, Mawprem, among others and offered them new clothing.

It may be mentioned wearing new clothes is a tradition that is attached to the Durga Puja celebrations.

Meanwhile, this year two monks from BSS Gaya Ashram and Arunachal Pradesh Ashram will participate in the Durga Puja celebrations here.

A 75-minute duration Hindi CD, dedicated to the life and works of BSS founder Swami Pranabananda Maharaj besides complete details on what BSS stands for, what it does and why was it established will be distributed among devotees on the day of Dashami.

The annual magazine of BSS, Seva, will be released prior to the start of Durga Puja.

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BSS donates to the needy ahead of Puja celebrations