Vinod Khanna met Osho in the 1970s. Influenced by Osho, Khanna soon started to wear orange robe, normally worn by the spiritual gurus disciples

The year was 1980. Actor Vinod Khanna was riding high on the success of his films The Burning Train and Qurbani. While Khannas fans expected him to increase the momentum, the actor had something else on his mind all of a sudden, he stopped all his projects and started to return producers money.

Amid confusion and rumours, Khanna addressed a press conference with his first wife Geetanjali to announce his plan to go to the United States to be with his guru Rajnish, popularly known as Osho, Indian mystic and spiritual leader who practised meditation.

The actor met Osho in the 1970s, when the latter was in Mumbai. That was a time, when many from the film fraternity followed Osho.

When Osho established his ashram in Pune, the actor started frequenting it. He used to finish his shooting assignments from Monday to Friday and come to the ashram every Saturday, said Sadhana Amrit, spokesperson of Osho commune.

Influenced by Osho, Khanna soon started to wear an orange robe, normally worn by the spiritual gurus disciples. There are stories of how he would insist that directors let him wear the orange attire even on sets.

When Rajnish went to Oregon in the US in 1980, he invited Khanna there, said Sadhana. Without thinking twice, Khanna went to Oshos Oregon ashram, where he turned took up the responsibility of gardening.

After returning from the US in mid-1980s, Khannas career witnessed a decline. His association with Osho and the Pune ashram, too, ended over some differences.

A few years later, Khanna reconnected with Osho, their association lasting till Oshos death in 1990.

Khannas contemporaries had it not been for the Osho stint, Khanna could have become the next Amitabh Bachchan.

Seven years later, Khanna joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and contested the Lok Sabha election from Gurudaspur in Punjab.

Three years later, he was made the chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune.

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When actor Vinod Khanna gave up films, glamour at the peak of his career to join Osho - Hindustan Times

The Gujarat High Court today dismissed a petition filed by the Sant Asaram Ashram challenging an I-T Department notice about special audit of alleged shell companies owned by it.

A division bench of justices M R Shah and B N Karia allowed the I-T Department to go ahead with special audit of the group of companies owned by the controversial 'godman' asaram, and his institution, Sant Asaram Ashram.

The ashram floated several shell companies which indulge in money laundering, the notice alleged.

With the court dismissing the petition, the department will be able to carry out a special audit as provided under section 142 (2)(A) of the Income Tax Act.

Asaram was arrested by Jodhpur police on August 31, 2013 in a case of rape filed by a minor girl. Later, two sisters from Surat also levelled allegations of rape against Asaram and his son.

The self-styled godman is in jail, facing trials in the two cases.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

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HC rejects Asaram ashram's plea against special IT audit - Daily News & Analysis

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court today dismissed a petition filed by the Sant Asaram Ashram challenging an I-T Department notice about special audit of alleged shell companies owned by it.

A division bench of justices M R Shah and B N Karia allowed the I-T Department to go ahead with special audit of the group of companies owned by the controversial godman asaram, and his institution, Sant Asaram Ashram.

The ashram floated several shell companies which indulge in money laundering, the notice alleged.

With the court dismissing the petition, the department will be able to carry out a special audit as provided under section 142 (2)(A) of the Income Tax Act.

Asaram was arrested by Jodhpur police on August 31, 2013 in a case of rape filed by a minor girl. Later, two sisters from Surat also levelled allegations of rape against Asaram and his son.

The self-styled godman is in jail, facing trials in the two cases.

PTI

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HC rejects Asaram ashram's plea against special IT audit - The Siasat Daily

The Hindu

Students of ashram schools set to get healthy snacks The Hindu About 14,000 students of Tribal Welfare Ashram Schools in eight mandals of Vizianagaram district will be getting nutritious snacks from the current academic year, thanks to the initiative taken by Sabala, an NGO that promotes millet cultivation and ...

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Students of ashram schools set to get healthy snacks - The Hindu

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Although fully enlightened, Ramana lived thesimplest of lives and remained mostly in silence Ramana Maharshi was the epitome of simplicity. He lived what he preached. It so happened that the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, came to visit Ramana Maharshi in his ashram, at the base of Arunachal. The ashramites started cleaning and decorating the ashram for the occasion. It was the tradition at Ramana ashram to feed animals first, followed by the beggars and guests.

Ashram residents would be the last to eat. This practice started by Ramana continues in the ashram.

On that day the beggars and monks were told to stay under a tree a little further away from the ashram and that they would be fed there. The president came and went straight to Ramanas hut to meet him. But he was not there. Everyone was perplexed because Ramana never left his hut. The president waited for him there and the ashramites started to search for Ramana but couldnt find him anywhere. After a long search, they found Ramana sitting under the same tree designated for the beggars. The ashram residents persuaded him to come back to his hut. Once he reached the hut, Rajendra Prasad touched Ramanas feet in reverence and asked him why he was sitting with the beggars.

Ramana answered, It was repeatedly announced in the ashram that the beggars should go and wait for their meal under that tree. I also have been a begging monk my whole life. Thats why I went and stayed with the other beggars.

Today is the Mahaparinirvan day of this rare saint who lived in South India in the past century.

Although fully enlightened, Ramana lived the simplest of lives and remained mostly in silence. He was born at 1.00am on December 30th 1879 in Tiruchuzhi, a small village in Tamil Nadu, 30 kilometers from Madurai, the famous Hindu pilgrimage in South India. He is considered the anshavatar, part manifestation of Shiva. Ramana came to his abode, the Arunachal hill, two hundred kilometers east of Madras, at the age of seventeen and lived there for the next 44 years. Arunachal is thought to be the Kailash of South India and is considered the physical manifestation of Shiva.

Ramanas father, Sundaram Ayyar, was a rural lawyer who was known for his honesty and purity. All the people in the area respected his honesty and truthfulness, even thieves. One day a group of thieves stole goods from a bullock cart. When they found that the goods belonged to Sundaram, they promptly returned it. Even the thieves did not like robbing him. His mother Alagamma was also equally pure and saintly. When Ramana was 12, his father died and the familys difficult times started. Since they lived in a joint family, Ramanas uncle, Subbir, took on the responsibility of Ramanas family, and they moved to his house at Madurai. Subbir loved Ramana dearly. He was admitted to Scotts Middleschool, but Ramana had no interest in formal studies. He would rather spend his time playing, wandering around and meditating in the nearby temples.

One day an elderly relative came to visit Subbirs house. Ramana asked him where he was from. When the relative said that he was from Arunachal, Ramana was thrown into a sudden ecstasy.

Ramana had often heard of Arunachal but when he realized that the holy hill was a real tangible place on earth that men could visit, he felt a magnetic pull towards Arunachal.

An event that occurred when Ramana was 17 brought about the great turn in his life. One day in mid-June 1896, he had the experience of death. In his own words, The shock of the fear of death drove my mind inwards and I said to myself mentally without actually framing the words, Now death has come; what does it mean? What is it that is dying?

He felt his consciousness leave his body. His body lay dead but his consciousness felt fully alive.

For the first time he experienced the eternal nature of the soul. This event made him absolutely introverted and he lost all interest in his studies and any other external work. Annoyed by his lack of interest in anything, his brother Nagaswami scolded him, You dont know how to study and neither do you help out in household chores. It is better that you become a wandering monk.

One day Nagaswami asked Ramana to go and pay his college fees and handed him five rupees.

Instead of paying his brothers college fees, Ramana used the money to go to Arunachal. When he found that it cost just three rupees to reach Arunachal, he left two rupees in an envelope along with a note for his brother that became famous later. It said, I am leaving home in search of my lord as it is his wish. This is a spiritual journey. None of you should be sad and dont waste money and energy trying to find me. I havent paid your college fees. I have taken three rupees and the rest of the money is in the envelope.

When he reached Madurai station, it was already past the departure time of the train to Villupuram, but miraculously it only left once Ramana got on it. A Muslim priest who suddenly appeared in the train saw that Ramana was divinely possessed and asked him where he was heading. The priest then informed Ramana that the train was going to Tiruvannamalai and disappeared as mysteriously as he had appeared. Ramana reached Tiruvannamalai on the morning of September 1, 1896, where after the darshan of the Arunachal temple and hill, he went into a deep and blissful trance. After that he never left Arunachal till he left his body on April 14, 1950.

When he reached Arunachal he had very few possessions with him. However, after the darshan of his beloved Arunachal he decided to get rid of whatever little was left with him. It included a little money, food and clothes. He tore a piece from one of his shirts and turned it into a loincloth, which became his only possession from then on. He started meditating inside the temple of the thousand pillars. When others of his age saw that he was entranced in deep meditation they started to play pranks on him. Ramana was fed up with their pranks so he left his spot and started meditating in the basement of the temple where there was a Shivalinga, which was called the Patallingam. The youths stopped bothering him there but the Patallingam was heavily infested by insects since no sunlight reached there. The insects bit him all over his body but Ramana, who was in deep samadhi, took no notice.

Seeing such deep vairagya (detachment) in a young boy, a local sadhu, Shosadri Swami, started to care for Ramana. He started protecting Ramana from the local boys as well as from the insects. He then shifted Ramana to a safe place in a different temple. Slowly Ramanas vairagya and his ability to sit in one place, drowned in bliss for days, made him famous in the area. Curious folk started coming to have darshan of this silent young saint. Ramana spent time in various temples of Tiruvannamalai and in the end he came to the Virupaksha cave in the Arunachal hill. Eventually Ramana Maharshi and the Arunachal hill became synonymous with each other. Due to his presence Arunachal became famous around the world. If someone came and asked him a question, he would only gaze at the questioner with utmost compassion. After a while the questioners questions would disappear and he would be filled with great peace and spiritual fulfillment.

The Superintendent of British Police in Vellore, F. H. Humphreys, came in contact with Ramana Maharshi in the most interesting manner. Humphreys became the Superintendent of Police of Vellore at the age of 21. Due to his past life sanskars, Humphreys was a clairvoyant seer and regularly had spiritual visions. While meditating, he started to frequently see the vision of a young saint clad only in a white loincloth sitting on a hill. He made a sketch of his recurrent vision and started showing it around. The locals said that it must be Ramana Maharshi of Arunachal.

Humphreys came to Arunachal on his motorcycle all the way from Vellore, eighty-seven kilometers away. He parked his bike at the base of the hill and started scaling it in his heavy policemans uniform. The extreme midday heat and the uphill climb left Humphreys exhausted and parched.

Ramana was sitting quietly under a tree as usual. When Humphreys came near him, Ramana kept on looking at him without blinking. They were both of the same age. Humphreys couldnt take his eyes off Ramanas gaze. After 15 minutes Humphreys felt as refreshed as he had ever been before. His exhaustion disappeared and he felt as if he was bathing under a fresh spring.

Humphreys had come there with countless spiritual questions but in Ramanas presence, his questions started to sublimate. Neither did Humphreys ask any question, nor did Ramana have to utter a word. Humphreys felt so light that he thought he could fly. Without saying anything to Ramana, he started to climb down the hill. He was so elated that he spontaneously broke into a dance. While climbing up he was a serious police officer full of questions and queries; on returning he was happy and joyous like a little boy, without a tinge of worry on his face. Such was Ramana Maharshis magic.

Humphreys was Ramana Maharshis first western disciple and he visited him frequently. His love for Ramana started to grow and he asked him if he could leave his profession and give up Christianity. Ramana said, No, you need not renounce anything at all. If the need to renounce is so great then why dont you renounce your assumption that you are this body? Search deeply within for your real self. To go into this search, there is no need to quit your profession or your religion.

Along with Humphreys, there were a few other seekers from the West who knew the value of Ramana Maharshi and made him known to the world. Among them were Paul Brunton, Arthur Osborne, SS Cohen and Major AW Chadwick.

Such was the power of Ramanas silence. Ramana was in silence most of his life and his silence was totally alive and powerful. It would take seekers to a deeper space and transform them more than did the discourses of many masters. Just one compassionate glance by him would bring deep peace and contentment to many of his devotees.

swamiarun@gmail.com

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On Ramana Maharshi - Republica

Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation was established in 1977, in memory of Jamnalal Bajaj, a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. The Foundation aims to serve the ideals to which he had dedicated his life and promotes Gandhian constructive activities in which he was deeply involved during his lifetime.

Very few people are able to embodycore Gandhian principles throughout their lives. However, Jaywant Mathkarhas gone a step further beyond just embodying Gandhian valueshe has used them to set up organisations and initiatives that have improved the lives of hundreds across rural India.

Born on November 6, 1940, dedicated and selfless visionary are synonyms to Jaywant Mathkar. Since his teenage years, Mathkar got associated with and followed the well-known Konkan Gandhian Appasaheb Patwardhan. For more than six decades since then, Mathkar has been involved in Sarvoday movements. He brought development in his native Sindhudurg as well as in Maharashtra through many Gandhian organisations. At the all-India level, Mathkar helps in policy designing and bridging various social barriers.

Through the efforts of Mathkar and his associates, migration of peasants and landless people to cities outside Sindhudurg has stopped. As the Vice President of Gopuri Ashram, Mathkar strives to bring about overall development of the village community. Under his leadership, the organisation invented and installed smokeless chulhas in 2010 in 274 homes, conducted cleanliness drives in villages, and installed biogas plants in homes. It supports several Gram Panchayats that have won State and Central Governments Model Village awards.

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Gopuri Ashram has worked on sanitation initiatives since Patwardhans time. Mathkar has contributed significantly, with constant efforts to further strengthen the initiative. He has also helped set up several womens self-help groups. In 2010-11, Mathkar promoted 35 SHGs involving 350 women who have been empowered.

He addressed the issue of lack of livelihoods by creating food processing opportunities in Sindhudurg. In the 90s, he encouraged farmers to plant more of the traditionally grown cashew trees. The Ashram developed various 100 % natural cashew products, including the traditional barfi, modak, sharbat, etc. To set up these processing units, the Ashram provided loans to the farmers.

Employing 70-75 women in these units, these processors, through a cooperative, provided cashew trees to womens self-help groups. For that they have donated land too. The established farmers and the Ashrams team travel around the country to train farmers on cashew processing.

In addition, the activities of Gopuri Ashram include farming, banana/cashew plantation, nursery and natural medicine production, and sales of festive food items and Goseva. Gopuri Ashram has played a vital role in the areas of cleanliness, energy, water conservation, agricultural industry, education, and textile industry. The organization plays a very important role at the outset, giving a good start, soon after which the same work becomes the peoples work. As a result, people, on their own, encourage others for the fulfillment of objectives of the organization, and thus help it grow with their mind, soul, and resources.

Mathkar strongly believes in providing education to girls, which led to setting up a primary and secondary school for school dropout girls in 1979 in Kudal village of Sindhudurg. It is worth noting that the building was made utilizing donations received from the community and teachers. It now has 250 children of landless labourers, workers, etc. Many of these children receive scholarships that are raised by donations by teachers and the community. Emphasis is also laid on non-formal education.

Mathkar believes in peoples participation. This is conspicuous when you see involvement of each person at all levels associated with a particular activity. The team members and the beneficiaries are well-versed with the basic principles, values, and ethics of the Organization, i.e. Sarvoday.

The indefatigable Mathkar spends long hours traveling in public transport to reach and monitor several other Gandhian institutions and initiatives. Among the most successful of these is his khadi unit in Solapur. He set it up to make and sell khadi without the support and involvement of the government. It is among the few such large units today. From spinning, weaving, and dyeing to selling khadi, each activity is conducted independently, and several lakhs worth of khadi is sold every year.

An ardent Sarvodaya worker, Mathkar, in 1962, trained himself in Gramdan, Gram Swarajya, and Shanti Sena. Subsequently he joined Bhudan Gramdan movement with Vinoba Bhave. Mathkar vigorously worked in this movement, getting several thousand acres of land donation, and distributed it to the landless through Gramdan Nav Nirman Samitee. In the process, he registered about 20 villages for Gramdan, the most well-known of which is Vinobas birth place Gagode in Raigad.

Mathkar also worked hard for the Bhangi Mukti campaign under the leadership and guidance of Appasaheb Patwardhan.

Between 1982 to 1989, Mathkar served as the President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Sarvodaya Mandal. He is the Joint Secretary and Trustee of Shantivan Ashram near Mumbai, running an old-age home and serving the disabled and Leprosy patients.

At the all-India level, the Sarvodaya fraternity knows Mathkar well.He works as an organiser of the Khadi Samitee of Sarva Sewa Sangh. Here, he organised Charkha Yagya, inviting 55 spinners from all the states of India to raise their voice and advocate for their genuine demands. Mathkar also successfully organized the Kargha Yagya (Weavers Congress), which addressed and tabled the concerns and difficulties of weavers on the floor of the Government.

With a khadi bag slung over his shoulder, Mathkar keeps going, ever ready to serve the needy. Bubbling with new ideas, he defies age in every way. Mathkar acts locally and thinks globally.

After receiving the Jamnalal Bajaj Award, Mathkar accepted chairmanship of the Sewagram Ashram Pratishthan, a trust founded by Mahatma Gandhi. Jamnalal Bajaj, whom Gandhi called his fifth son, was instrumental in establishing this Ashram.

Every year, approximately 10 to 12 lakh people from around the world (from about 150 countries) visit the Ashram to get inspiration from Gandhian thoughts. The Ashram has 122 acres of agricultural land, which is only partially under cultivation. But over the last three years, it has brought almost all the land under cultivation through natural farming. The Ashram produces all the types of vegetables it requiresin the farm. The Ashram makes tooth powder, jams, squashes, turmeric powder (haldi), and other naturally processed products from agricultural produce. The Ashram has a cowshed (gaushala) with 34 cows of one of the best local breeds.

Recently, Mathkar created a centre for demonstrating the complete process of converting cotton to cloth in the Ashram. This prototype produces the cloth and demonstrates the process to visitors, and enlightens them about the potential of employment it generates, inspiring them to use hand-spun hand-woven cloth i.e. khadi. All these activities demonstrate to visitors some of the economic foundations of gram swaraj.

To explain the historical role of the Sewagram Ashram, and to demonstrate all the activities of Ashram, it has four female guides who inspire the visitors while taking them through this place.

The Ashram runs one khadi shop and a book stall to spread Gandhian thoughts. Combined sale of both these outlets is approx. 30 lakh annually.

Dr. Ram Jadhav, the secretary of the Ashram, is very dynamic. He takes care of all the activities of the Ashram round the clock. The Ashram has a team of 40 inmates working dedicatedly in different areas and functions.

Radha Bhatt andex-acting Chief Justice of Bombay High Court Chandrashekhar Dharmadhakari are the guides and philosophers for all the activities of the Ashram.

The Ashram does not take aid or grant from Indian or foreign governments, or any of their agencies. The Ashram generates its funds from donations from visitors and general people, in addition to various agricultural and dairy produce.

For more information about other past winners, visit the Jamnalal Bajaj Awards website.

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Appasaheb PatwardhanGandhianGopuri AshramJaywant MathkarMaharashtramahatma gandhirural indiaSarvodaya

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TBI Blogs: How a Gandhian's Ashram in Maharashtra Has Helped Local Farmers Earn Record Turnovers - The Better India (blog)

The Hindu

A climb wrapped in silence The Hindu Two essential volumes by Arthur Osborne combined to give me a wealth of honestly rendered perspective: Ramana Maharshi and the Path of Self-Knowledge and My Life and Quest (the autobiography of the founding editor of the ashram's journal Mountain ...

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A climb wrapped in silence - The Hindu

MUMBAI: The Aam Aadmi Party has demanded that the Maharashtra government immediately releases funds for the ashram shalas meant for the Scheduled Caste community in Mumbai. An AAP press release said there are 322 such ashramshalas in Mumbai with a staff of around 4,000 and 50,000 students. These are currently being run with aid from local non-governmental organisations. "Till date, they have been subjected to numerous inspections but have not been allotted the funds which they were promised. It is shocking how governments after governments launch schemes to supposedly uplift the poor but after the launch these schemes are abandoned," said the AAP press release. In 2003 Ashramshalas were started across Maharashtra for children belonging to scheduled castes. These were to be funded by the Central Government. In 2010 it was decided that these will be funded by the state government. However, it has been 14 years but these ashramshalas have not received any funds - and the BJP government that is building statues, sanctioning funds for large scale infrastructure projects, building smart cities claims it has no money to support these ashramshalas. "Around 300 members of the 'Kendriya Anusuchit Jaati Nivaasi Ashramshala Shikshak v Shikshakitar Karamchari Sangh' are protesting in Azad Maidan since April 14. The government has turned a deaf ear to their demands. Also three persons are on a fast unto death but they have received no attention or assurance from the anti-Dalit BJP government," said an AAP press release. A delegation on Wednesday met minister for social justice Rajkumar Badole. Though it is well within his purview, Badole has claimed helplessness, added the press release.

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AAP demands immediate release of funds for SC Ashram Shalas in ... - Times of India

Not many know that 'Pink' actress Kirti Kulhari is married to actor Saahil Sehgal, and that the couple is spiritually inclined. The husband-wife jodi, along with Saahil's parents are expected to visit Osho Ashram in Pune over the next few days. Kirti elaborates, "Saahil and I got married in June last year in Bhutan, before the release of Pink. My mother-in-law, my husband and I are Reiki experts. Saahil and his mother believe in Rajneesh's philosophies and this will be my first visit to the ashram." The actress reveals that she turned to spirituality in 2009. She says, "I'm not going to the ashram to achieve anything. I just want to be. I'm looking forward to exploring the meditation techniques there as well as the food!" Speaking of Rajneesh and his ashram's controversial perception, she says, "I have been reading his teachings. Rajneesh believed in the luxuries of life. So why not? As far as sex or other desires are concerned, he believed that you have to go through it to go beyond it. If someone tells you not to do something, you will be tempted to do it even more. He taught that you must do something till you don't want to do it anymore."

Pink raises all the right questions women have faced since long

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Kirti Kulhari to visit spiritual ashram in Pune - Times of India

Eat, Pray, Love 10 Things to know about staying at an Indian ashram

At 6 AM. the morning fog was lifting off the lake. Devotional music poured joyously over the loudspeaker of a neighboring temple and echoed eerily, as fly by birds bore life to the serene setting. Sitting in silence I felt the sun spreading its rays across my body with an exquisite orange and gold. I inhaled. OM.

Kerala was a perfect escape from the heat, haggling, piss-perfumed stains and madness I know as India. Lush green foliage and forest, the Keralan coast was degrees cooler and more welcoming. Still, an epiphany was coming through that there were spots in India which could be peaceful, clean, beautiful and serene!

Universities, nice roads, lush forestry, posh and brightly colored mansions backed by Saudi money .Yes, Gods own country (as the saying goes) was truly rich.

An example of some of the more well-to-do houses in Kerala.

Each day at the Sivananda Yoga Ashram in Kerala(Neyyar Dam)I awoke to the early morning practice of satsang (aka devotional chanting) and meditation. At first I did this with fervor, but by the end of the week, I started tiring of it and realized, chanting for a half hour really isnt my thing.

But in an Indian ashram, you dont question things; you simply follow.

Sunrise devotion and song felt right today, though. I had found an idyllic haven complete with new yogi friends, where I could live my passion for yoga and meditation in a stress-free environment away from daily chaotic life. I didnt want to have to leave the ashram. It was one of the best experiences of my life!

The Sivananda Trivandrum ashram was a gem of a campus, secluded in the 12-acre fold of a tropical wildlife preserve. At night, I was lulled to sleep by the sounds of crickets, weird night animals and the husky deep heaves of tigers in mating-heat (not kidding).

The ashram offered an all-inclusivestay with two daily yoga sessions, clean dorm accommodations, exquisite meditation halls dressed in Hindu mythology, two vegetarian meals a day and unlimited filtered drinking water. It also has a Ayurvedic doctor and massage room, where a lady rubs warm oil over your body as Ayurvedic treatment. You have to wash it off with chickpea mix. Its a little grease but an interesting new experience.

The campus had awesome facilities that were geared a little more towards western travelers. Most people know Sivananda as a yoga teacher training center (ReadHow to Choose a School in India for your Yoga Teacher Training) andthey offer that too. But if youd like toexperience yoga in India, learn about Ayurveda or experience a deeper spiritual practice, then Sivananda ashrams offer a lot. Check out some of my photos below.

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Every need was conveniently provided for.

This makes a monumental difference when youre in India. The rigors of travel are often rife with the obstacles of food/water safety and sanitation. Ease is a luxury thats hard to come by here.

Like many yoga enthusiasts or travelers, Ive seen the film, Eat, Pray, Love But each ashram is different, varying in rules and codes of conduct.Heres a peek inside my ashram experience and 10 things you should know about staying at an Indian ashram, you can expect.

Staying in an ashram is not a vacation, but a retreat into deeper practice and focused discipline; thus, strict attendance to the schedule is required. While I may not care for or agree with everything on the menu, Im here to immerse myself in a new learning environment and its teaching me its lifestyle.

My schedule was intense from 5:30AM and driving until 10 PM.

6:00 AM Satsang

7:30 AM Tea time

8:00 AM Asana Class (Beginners & Intermediate)

10:00 AM Breakfast (Vegetarian)

11:00 AM Karma Yoga

12:30 PM Coaching Class (Optional)

1:30 PM Tea Time

2:00 PM Lecture

3:30 PM Asana Class

6:00 PM Dinner (Vegetarian)

8:00 PM Satsang (group meditation, changing, talk)

10:30 PM Lights out

2. Engaging in spiritual practice

You dont have to be religious to stay at an ashram, but understand the term ashram is synonymous with spirituality. Its foolish to think of divorcing the two. Duh.

Whether you are or are nota spiritual/religious person, know youll be expected to practice open-mindedness and respect the ashrams key spiritual beliefs, which is predominantly Hindu. Or else, why are you there?

You will see depictions of Hindu deities, devote an enormous time to chanting devotional songs in honor of these gods (and your ashrams guru), meditating and taking part in spiritual ceremonies.

If youre not ready to do this, then youre not ready for an ashram.

Video of satsang (if youre unable to see the video, click here).

3. The Bare Foot Etiquette

Some practices may test your comfort level. In Indian temples, you remove your shoes before entering; thus in an ashram, you remove footwear when entering buildings. For some, not wearing footwear can spell liberation; for me, I dont like baring my feet on walkways, even if theyre paved!For me, walking into communal restrooms takes open-mindedness and cupped feet!

4. Observing silence and eating with your hands

Staying in an ashram gives you the excuse to wear the cultural suit. Observing silence during meals and eating with your handsis a practice youll learn to enjoy. While the meal time hush is a rule at Sivananda, eating with your hands isnt compulsory. Though youre not supplied with utensils, you can bring them with you.

But before you reach for the silver spoon, give your hand a try first. As one Mumbaiknar told me I normally use utensils when I eat, but if I eat with my hands, the food tastes better!

Ill tell you a secret it does.

5. No Internet?

An ashrams focus is on spiritual development not your Facebook profile; thus, accommodating your internet needs arent a high priority.

At the ashram, the internet hours were limited. During those hours, you could use the internet and hook your laptop up to the Wi-Fi. However, the Wi-Fi, but it was very spotty and three PC computers they had at the internet room always had a long sign-up. Im glad I bought a USB internet hub with me (Read 5 Travel Must Haves for India)!

Generally, many spiritual centers and ashrams have some form of connection with outside technology. Gurus and administration offices have to have some internet access.

If all options fail, they can direct you to a location in town, where there is an internet cafe.

Meat eaters may have difficulty surviving on a meatless diet, missing the feeling of gnawing into something of substance. For me, the ashram was a vegetarian dream. The food was tasty, Ayurvedic, healthy and best of all, safe for my western stomach. I could eat to my hearts content without worrying about how it was prepared or how the dishes were washed .

7. Performing karma yoga

Cleaning the kitchen, serving food, cleaning the dorm floors, taking out the garbage, working in the store, taking out the trash

The ashrams generally support the idea that their attendees help maintain the ashram grounds. This is fair, as ashrams dont always make or charge a lot for their room, board and classes. Thus, one hour each day is required of each attendee to spend in performing selfless service. This is called Karma Yoga. For guests, its a chance to burn off some of your karma by doing good deeds. My job was to mop the hallway of my dorm I stayed in.

Ashrams may have double and single guest rooms available, but the standard is most likely, dorm style living quarters.Many dont offer lockers for security, however. If you have any valuables, you might ask to store them at the front desk. But this is at your discretion.

9. Making friends

Making friends with travelers and locals, who share your passion is another perk. Engaging in ashram activities and sharing a relaxed downtime makes your time lively and enriching.

In lieu of Holi festival (and the fact we couldnt leave campus for it) the ashram prepared their own celebration for us.

We all want to know why certain cultures worship the way they do. Ceremonial rituals take place and its nice not have to press our nose to a glass pane to look in.

An ashram is a bit like a homestay. You get to experience local customs and spiritual practices as if you are an insider. Unless you have good English translations, you may not completely understand what everything is about; yet its wicked to experience a ceremony, nonetheless.

Priest performs a puja ceremony for initiating Yoga TTC students.

Receiving tikka (3 types- ash, red, yellow) and prassad (an edible blessing) after the puja.

By Train: Trivandrum Central Station is connected by rail to all main cities in India. When you reach Trivandrum, the bus station is situated across the street, where there is regular service to Kattakada/Neyyar Dam. The Ashram is about one hour drive from Trivandrum (28km). Prepaid taxi is available at the airport, and prepaid auto rickshaw and taxi outside the train station. They give government rates, approximately Rs 350 for an auto rickshaw and Rs 800 for a taxi.

Where I stayed:Hotel Regency,Majalikulam Cross Road,Thampanoor, Thiruvananthapuram,Tel: 2330377 484 Rs/Night== $10 Other Hotels located nearthis ashram

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Eat, Pray, Love... Things you should know about staying at an Indian ...