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{{short description|Hindu spiritual hermitage or monastery}}
An '''Ashram''' (Pronounced 'aashram') in ancient ] was a ] hermitage where sages (See ]) lived in peace and tranquility amidst nature. Spiritual and physical exercises, such as the various forms of ], were regularly performed by the hermitage residents. Other sacrifices and penances, such as ]s were also performed. Many Ashrams also served as ]s or residential schools for children.
{{about|spiritual hermitages or monasteries|other uses|Ashram (disambiguation)}}
The word ashram is derived from the ] 'aashraya', which means 'protection'. (In the pronunciation of 'aashraya', the ending 'a' is not lengthened to 'aa'.)
]'' depicted on terracotta plaque, 2nd century BCE.]]
An '''ashram'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Ashram |url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/ashram |publisher=Cambridge English Dictionary |access-date=4 December 2019 |quote=a place where a group of Hindus live together away from the rest of society, or a place where Hindus can go in order to pray}}</ref> ({{langx|sa|आश्रम}}, {{IAST|āśrama}}) is a spiritual ] or a ] in ].<ref name="Swahananda1990">{{cite book|author=Swami Swahananda|title=Monasteries in South Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oCyRen5mGAAC&pg=PA92|date=1 January 1990|publisher=Vedanta Press|isbn=978-0-87481-047-9|pages=92–}}</ref><ref name="Dreuille1999">{{cite book|author=Mayeul de Dreuille|title=From East to West: A History of Monasticism|chapter=1 Hindu mansticism|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bXTaxKSFHeMC&pg=PA3|year=1999|publisher=Gracewing Publishing|isbn=978-0-85244-464-1|pages=3–27}}</ref>


==Etymology==
In many respects, a Hindu ashram is analogous to a ] ].
The Sanskrit noun {{IAST|āśrama-}} is a thematic nominal derivative from the root {{IAST|śram<sup>i</sup>}} 'toil' (< ] *''ḱremh<sub>2</sub>'', {{confer}} ]) with the prefix {{IAST|ā}} 'towards.'<ref>{{cite book|author=Manfred Mayrhofer|title=Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindoarischen I. Band|page=664|publisher=Winter|year=1992|place=Heidelberg}}</ref> An ashram is a place where one strives towards a goal in a disciplined manner. Such a goal could be ], ], ] or any other.<ref name="Johnston2000p94">{{cite book|author=George Weckman| editor= William M. Johnston|title=Encyclopedia of Monasticism: A-L|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GfC0TDkJJNgC&pg=PA94 |year=2000|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-57958-090-2|page=94}}</ref>


==Overview==
Ashrams have been a powerful symbol throughout Hindu history and mythology. Most Hindu kings till the medieval 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 ] (Literally '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.
]
An ashram would traditionally, but not necessarily in contemporary times, be located far from human habitation, in ]s or ], amidst refreshing natural surroundings conducive to spiritual instruction and ]. The residents of an ashram regularly performed spiritual and physical exercises, such as the various forms of ]. Other sacrifices and penances, such as ]s, were also performed.<ref>{{cite book|title=India through the ages|url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada|last=Gopal|first=Madan|year= 1990| page= |editor=K. S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref> Many ashrams also served as ]s, residential schools for children under the ].


⚫ Sometimes, the goal of a pilgrimage to the ashram was not tranquility, but instruction in some art, especially warfare. In the '']'', the princes of ancient ], ], and ], go to ]'s ashram to protect his yajnas from being defiled by emissary-demons of ]. After they prove their mettle, the princes receive martial instruction from the sage, especially in the use of divine weapons. In the '']'', ], in his youth, goes to the ashram of ] to gain knowledge of both intellectual and spiritual matters.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}
Ashrams were usually located far from human habitation, inside forests or mountainous regions, amidst refreshing natural surroundings conducive to spiritual instruction and ].


==Schools in Maharashtra==
⚫ Sometimes, the goal of a pilgrimage to the ashram was not tranquility, but instruction in some art, especially warfare. In the epic ], the protagonist princes of ancient Ayodhya, ] and ], go to the ] ]'s ashram to protect his Yajnas from being defiled by emissary-demons of ]. After they prove their mettle, the princes receive martial instruction from the sage, especially in the use of enchanted weapons, called ]s (Sanskrit Divya: Enchanted + 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 ], Lord ], in his youth, goes to the ashram of Sage ], to gain knowledge of both intellectual and spiritual matters.
]s, especially in the tribal areas of ] and elsewhere in ], are called ''ashram shala'' or ashram schools. One such school is the ].<ref>{{cite news|author=Hetal Vyas |title=Shocked HC files suo-motu PIL over ashram rape and deaths |url=http://www.punemirror.in/index.aspx?page=article&sectid=3&contentid=20090131200901310511574845e815b1b&sectxslt=&pageno=1 |work=PuneMirror |date=31 January 2009 |access-date=2009-03-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718051831/http://www.punemirror.in/index.aspx?page=article&sectid=3&contentid=20090131200901310511574845e815b1b&sectxslt=&pageno=1 |archive-date=2011-07-18 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Lok Biradari Prakalp | url=http://www.lokbiradariprakalp.org/ | publisher=Lok Biradari Prakalp | year=2009 | access-date=2009-03-17}}</ref>


==In the West==
Sometimes, the word is used as a synonym of ], but mathas are generally more hierarchical and rule-bound than ashrams, belonging to ancient orders of Hindu ]s (Renunciants who are still searching for realization, as opposed to ]s who have found it.)
A number of ashrams have been established outside India. Typically, these ashrams are connected to Indian lineages,<ref>{{Cite web |title=200 hours Yoga teacher training course in Rishikesh India |url=https://www.rishikeshyogastudycenter.com/200-hour-yoga-teacher-training-in-rishikesh-enroll-now |access-date=2018-04-23 |website=yogadaindia.com}}</ref> focus on imparting ]-related teachings, often in ], and are headed by spiritual teachers (Indians or Western).
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Sabarmati-Ashram-8.jpg|], where ] stayed.
File:Sevagram Ashram .jpg|Sevagram Ashram
File:Inside Gandhiji Ashram, Seva Gram.jpg|Ashram with folk architectural elements with wood and bamboo roof.
File:Gandhiji's room @ gandhi ashram.JPG|Arshram in Sabarmati
File:Sabarmati Ashram during Dwaraka DWARASPDB 2015 (14).jpg|Sabarmati Ashram with folk architectural elements; stone floors and wood and lime-plaster walls.
File:Refurbished roof of the Kutir of Maganlaal gandhiji at Sabarmati ashram , ahamadaabad.jpg|Wooden rafters in ashram
File:Hut inside Gandhi Ashram.JPG|Small ashram hut in Sabramati
File:Gandhi Aashram.JPG|Ashram at Sabramati with verandha
File:Acharjya Binoba Bhabe 's kutira at Sabaramati Ashram , Gandhi memorial , Ahamadabad.jpg|Acharjya Binoba Bhabe's kutira at Sabaramati Ashram
File:Ashrams on the banks of Ganges, Rishikesh.jpg|], ], the headquarters of ], founded by ] in 1936
File:Kailash Ashram, Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh.jpg|Kailash Ashram, ], ], established by ]
</gallery>


==See also==
Today, the term ashram is used to refer to an ] formed primarily for spiritual upliftment of its members, often headed by a religious leader or mystic.
⚫ *]
*]
⚫ *]


==References==
A number of Ashrams have been founded in ] in the 20th century as well, most notably the ] in ] which served as ]'s headquarters during the long struggle for India's independence and ], founded in ] by the ]i revolutionary-turned-Hindu-mystic ].
{{reflist}}

The world-famous Karar-Ashram in ], in the state of ], ] was founded by Swami ] Giri in 1903. Up to this day, the ashram is maintained and, having had such illustrious heads as Swami Satyananda Giri, and ], its monastics are still teaching ] which became very popular in the western world through ].


==External links== ==External links==
{{Commons category|Ashrams}}
*{{wiktionary-inline|Yogada Ashram}}
*{{wiktionary-inline|Rishikesh}}


⚫ {{Worship in Hinduism}}
* Articles on Spiritual Life, Meditation, Monastic Life and more.

⚫ {{Hinduism}}
{{hinduismstub}}


]
] ]
] ]
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⚫ ]
⚫ ]
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Latest revision as of 20:52, 8 January 2025

Hindu spiritual hermitage or monastery This article is about spiritual hermitages or monasteries. For other uses, see Ashram (disambiguation).
Ashram of sage Kanva depicted on terracotta plaque, 2nd century BCE.

An ashram (Sanskrit: आश्रम, āśrama) is a spiritual hermitage or a monastery in Indian religions.

Etymology

The Sanskrit noun āśrama- is a thematic nominal derivative from the root śram 'toil' (< PIE *ḱremh2, cf. śramaṇa) with the prefix ā 'towards.' An ashram is a place where one strives towards a goal in a disciplined manner. Such a goal could be ascetic, spiritual, yogic or any other.

Overview

Sevagram Ashram in Sabramati, 1936.

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 gurukulas, residential schools for children under the guru-shishya tradition.

Sometimes, the goal of a pilgrimage to the ashram was not tranquility, but instruction in some art, especially warfare. In the Ramayana, the princes of ancient Ayodhya, Rama, and Lakshmana, go to 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. In the Mahabharata, Krishna, in his youth, goes to the ashram of Sandipani to gain knowledge of both intellectual and spiritual matters.

Schools in Maharashtra

Boarding schools, especially 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.

In the West

A number of ashrams have been established outside India. Typically, these ashrams are connected to Indian lineages, focus on imparting Yoga-related teachings, often in residential retreats, and are headed by spiritual teachers (Indians or Western).

Gallery

See also

References

  1. "Ashram". Cambridge English Dictionary. Retrieved 4 December 2019. a place where a group of Hindus live together away from the rest of society, or a place where Hindus can go in order to pray
  2. Swami Swahananda (1 January 1990). Monasteries in South Asia. Vedanta Press. pp. 92–. ISBN 978-0-87481-047-9.
  3. Mayeul de Dreuille (1999). "1 Hindu mansticism". From East to West: A History of Monasticism. Gracewing Publishing. pp. 3–27. ISBN 978-0-85244-464-1.
  4. Manfred Mayrhofer (1992). Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindoarischen I. Band. Heidelberg: Winter. p. 664.
  5. George Weckman (2000). William M. Johnston (ed.). Encyclopedia of Monasticism: A-L. Routledge. p. 94. ISBN 978-1-57958-090-2.
  6. Gopal, Madan (1990). K. S. Gautam (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 70.
  7. Hetal Vyas (31 January 2009). "Shocked HC files suo-motu PIL over ashram rape and deaths". PuneMirror. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
  8. "Lok Biradari Prakalp". Lok Biradari Prakalp. 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
  9. "200 hours Yoga teacher training course in Rishikesh India". yogadaindia.com. Retrieved 2018-04-23.

External links

  • The dictionary definition of Yogada Ashram at Wiktionary
  • The dictionary definition of Rishikesh at Wiktionary
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