The word ashram comes from “ah—without” and “shram—stress”. An ashram is a spiritual center, meant to be a place of quiet and peace and a place for spiritual discipline and meditation practice. An ashram is a haven of peace for doing selfless service for others and having the time and environment to dive inwards and find the place where we are truly ourselves and in communion with God and the Universe.

Ma Anandamayi Ashram is located in the rolling hills of Central India in the Province Madhya Pradesh and is situated on the holy Narmada River. It is on these very banks that the Rishis and Yogis of India have practiced intense spiritual endeavors from ancient times and up to the present day. The clear green waters of the Narmada and the charming beauty of the surroundings lift the mind and heart to the Spirit and impart a power and vibrancy to spiritual life.

The daily life in Indian Ashrams is usually very loosely structured in distinction from retreat centers in western countries. Usually ashram members and visitors meet for spiritual gatherings in the morning and evening and the remainder of the time is free for everyone’s personal schedule.

In Omkareshwar we gather every morning at 5:30 in the main Temple and begin the day by chanting with harmonium, drums and cymbals while walking through the entire ashram. We go down to the banks of the River and offer arati (lights and incense with prayers) to the holy River, which is considered to be a Goddess of blessings and purification. Still singing we come up into each of the ashram temples and sing the arati, ending once again in the main Temple where we have a short period of group meditation, followed by chanting and a Yoga Class.

Visitors to the ashram are invited to join in informal retreats in yoga and meditation throughout the day, and are free to structure their own schedule to pass the day in a conducive manner. We meet for meals at midday and evening, and at 7:30 we once again meet for evening arati and bhajans (devotional chant) which are done with great joy and dancing. This is followed by a short meditation period from 8:45-9:00.

In the evenings we have the great good fortune to meet with our Baba Kedarnath, who is a holy perfected Yogi and Saint. We sit with Baba and can ask questions or meditate or sing bhajans with him.

Being in an ashram can bring great benefit to the seeker of Truth, by stabilizing their inner practices by the association with other seekers and Saints, and by the effect of the holy environment of ancient, spiritual India.