south indian ashram

merrymoon

Hello out there!

This is my first post. I'm a newby.

I've only been to india once. My sister had her wedding in Goa and I had a two week trip out there.

It had such a profound effect on me i've never forgot it. It has that effect I know.

I want to stay in an Ashram somewhere in south india. Tamil Nadu Maybe? I'm not sure. What I do know is that I want it to have a definite slant towards yoga (don't know what type) and ayurveda (I want to eat according to my dosha and consult a ayurvedic vaidya).

I have had an awakening. I realise now that I do not know who I am or what i want from life!

I want a serious ashram. Not one just catering to the whims of westerners. One where indians would go to.

I will stay as long as it takes. I realise this may involve experiences/sacrifice I don't fully appreciate at this moment as I write this. My eyes are open and my feet on the ground.

Anyway, any suggestions/realistic expectations etc. please respond to my thread.

Thankyou all in advance. I'm so excited at the journey about to unfold!

gaurav1441

You may like to check out auroville and related communities.

federica

Auroville is not really an ashram, but a settlement and town-to-be in-future with a spiritual aspect and centre (the Matrimandir).

atala

There are basically two types of ashrams. Some have clear directions by some authoritarian type structure/person, others you need to be self-directed generally and take instructions as you go and are able to integrate. It seems you are looking for the first type, but are so specific about your (self-directed) desires, that it makes it an odd mixture, so that you need that very specific ashram that fits you.

What will benefit you is that you go on a journey to find that ashram that you need and like. An ashram is just a place of practice. What the practice is, is defined by the people/belief-systems behind it. If you are looking for a strictly enforced identity, then you have the choice between many sectarian belief-systems. If you are the creative and open type, you will opt more for a place with minimal external direction. Often people grow from the first stage of fanatical belief into a relaxed, mature view and practice.

I do not know what you want to create for yourself. You have many choices, but might also end up frustrated. That is a risk. Inform yourself online first what belief-systems there are that have ashrams in India, then check them out with an open mind.

Good luck.

Eastern Mind

You could check out the Tiruvanamalai ashrams that center on Ramana Maharshi. I know nothing personally but have heard hither thither.

atala

The Ramana Ashram at Tiruvannamalai is a typical place for self-directed folks.

girlfromvenus

you can check out Ramana Maharshi ashram here:

http://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/


or if you don't mind all the rules and timetables:
Sivananda Ashram in Trivandrum:

http://www.sivananda.org/trivandrum/


also there is Vivekananda ashram in Kanyakumari:
http://www.vkendra.org/

or Amma's ashram in Kerala:
http://www.amritapuri.org/

I do recommend that you take use of the internet and research some travelblogs from people who have been to ashrams, just to get an idea what you are up to and find the right place to suit your needs and personality.

abracax

In Coimbatore there's the Isha Yoga Centre. Interesting place.

http://www.ishafoundation.org/

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eager beaver

I have heard of a vedic village in Tamil nadu where they train vedic scholars and speak in sanskrit. Anyone know about this? pls let me know. Is it near Kanchi peeth?

Eastern Mind

There is a priest training school (one of several I suppose) at the village of Pillaiyarpatti in Chettinand district. But the focus is temple priesthood, and you start at a very young age. Not likely what you're looking for, but then again, who knows?

eager beaver

thanks but not this one

girlfromvenus

I think it's this one:

Maitreyi vedic village:

http://www.maitreyivedic.in/others.htm

eager beaver

you are right! this is the one. I have heard a lot from travellers of the spiritual experience here

merrymoon

Thanks everyone. Food for thought.

atala

This is a Maharishi TM institution. They are in general out to make big bucks for well-packaged, stream-lined, cut-to-size products. Their Bhagavad-Gita consists of 6 chapters (instead of the original 18), their Ayurveda of a few dozen recipies, and anyone can learn Nadi-reading (=pulse-reading) in some week-end courses.

Indians are easily impressed by well-organized institutions influenced by western values, given the fact that most things Indian have a chaotic tendency. TM is geared to the West, and to educated people/academics. TM's services are always over-priced.