Anandashram
Encyclopedia
Anandashram (English translation = "Abode of Bliss") is a spiritual retreat located in the city of Kanhangad
, a city and a municipality in Kasaragod district
in the Indian state of Kerala
.
Swami Ramdas and Mother Krishnabai, endearingly called Papa Ramdas and Pujya Mataji, founded Anandashram in 1931, in Kanhangad, Kerala, South India. Their life and teachings serve as a beacon to mankind. Their vision was universal and their life was devoted to the service of humanity.
in Kasaragod district
, Kerala
.
As one enters the gate, to the right is the Reception office to welcome visiting devotees, register their names and allot accommodation.
A few meters from the gate there is a small circular garden and on its southern side stands the flag mast atop which flutters the Ashram insignia with the holy Ram Nam printed on it. The aim of human life is realization of God, for which the easiest way is constant remembrance of God. The flag reminds us of this goal and the act of hoisting the flag symbolizes our commitment to raise ourselves to the higher plane and attain the goal.
On important days, e.g.: Jayanthi and Samadhi days of Beloved Papa and Pujya Mataji and also on Sannyas day of Beloved Papa, a new flag is hoisted amidst chanting of Ram Nam.
To the right of the circular garden is a small cottage which is the Information Centre. All new visitors are shown a video giving a general idea about the Ashram and its activities.
To the left of the circular garden is the Book Stall, from where visitors can get all the books published by the Ashram.
Adjecent to the Books Stall is the Satsang Hall, where the reading of the books of Beloved Papa and other saints is taken up very afternoon between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Going up a few steps from the garden, one comes to the Panchavati. The name signifies five trees, planted by Beloved Papa in 1931. On this level ground of about 60' x 200' Beloved Papa used to conduct Satsang in the mornings and evenings.
A few steps ahead is the Ashram Bhajan Hall. Several years ago, Beloved Papa, sitting on an Asan in the centre of the Bhajan Hall, used to have a direct view right up to the main road.
At the southern end of the Bhajan Hall is a small room. This small room was the "Anandashram" started by Beloved Papa in 1931. It was here that Beloved Papa and Pujya Mataji lived with a handful of devotees in those early days of the Ashram, and it was the launch pad for their unique mission of Universal Love and Service. This room is now called the shrine.
The relics of Beloved Papa are preserved in a beautiful silver box, which is placed over a marble platform in the shrine, packed with the holy ashes of Beloved Papa and Pujya Mataji and several books containing Ram Nam written by devotees. To the left of the silver box, marble replicas of Beloved Papa’s and Pujya Mataji’s holy feet are implanted. Two beautiful pictures of Beloved Papa and Pujya Mataji are placed on the wall above the platform. The walls of this room are adorned with pictures of Gurudev•(Beloved Papa’s father and Guru), Beloved Papa's photo as a young man of 17, as well as pictures of parents of Beloved Papa and Pujya Mataji.
Beloved Papa’s cut-out in the same posture as He used to sit during the Bhajan sessions and next to it is Pujya Mataji’s picture. On the walls of the Bhajan Hall one can see pictures of several saints and sages, including those of Jesus Christ, Zoroaster, Guru Nanak and others.
To the right of the Bhajan Hall is the Centenary Hall. Coinciding with the 100th birthday of Pujya Mataji, a new spacious hall for satsang was constructed and christened Mother Krishnabai Centenary Hall, on September 25, 2003.
There are two Samadhi Mandirs – one of Beloved Papa and the other of Pujya Mataji. These are situated to the left of the main gate.
Both the Samadhi Mandirs are uniform in design - a 16' x 16' tile-roofed structure, large twin doors on all the four sides and eight windows. The Ram Mantram "Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram", in the style written by Beloved Papa and Pujya Mataji, is beautifully engraved on the wooden panels above the windows. The windows and doors are exquisitely carved, the Samadhi platform and the floor are set with white marble, and the ceiling is artistically decorated with carved and painted Ram Nam. A portrait in standing pose of Beloved Papa and Pujya Mataji adorn the wall just above the southern door of the respective Samadhis.
The Ashram has a Goshala (Cow Shed), in the south-east corner of the campus, with over 50 heads of cattle and the milk yield is passed on to the Ashram Bhojan Shala (Canteen) which feeds not only the devotees but also the poor and hungry who happen to come to the Ashram.
A well equipped library in the Ashram provides an opportunity to visiting devotees to gain spiritual knowledge through well over five thousand spiritual and religious books in different languages.
Right next to the library is the "Ram Nam Bank", where written repetitions of the phrase "Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram" are provided by devotees in notebooks (or any written medium). Ram Nam Likhit Japa was started with a target of 25 crores (1 crore = 10 million units). The goal was to provide a symbolic presentation of the Likhit Japa note-books to Pujya Mataji on September 29, 1955, on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee Celebration of her renunciation. However the Likhit Japa continued even after that, though with lesser intensity, and is still continuing. The total Likhit Japa is over 75 crores, or 750 million repetitions of the phrase "Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram". When Vinoba Bhaveji visited the Ashram in the 1950s and saw the Ram Nam Bank, he said, "These are more powerful than atom bombs."
Kanhangad
Kanhangad is a town and a municipality in Kasaragod district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is 28 km from the district headquarters of Kasaragod. Bekal Fort is a 300-year old fort, one of the largest and best preserved forts in Kerala and lies 10 km north of Kanhangad. The fort is...
, a city and a municipality in Kasaragod district
Kasaragod district
Kasaragod District is one of the districts of the Indian state of Kerala. Kasaragod District was organised as a separate district on 24 May 1984...
in the Indian state of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
.
Swami Ramdas and Mother Krishnabai, endearingly called Papa Ramdas and Pujya Mataji, founded Anandashram in 1931, in Kanhangad, Kerala, South India. Their life and teachings serve as a beacon to mankind. Their vision was universal and their life was devoted to the service of humanity.
Location
Anandashram is located approximately 5 km from the city of KanhangadKanhangad
Kanhangad is a town and a municipality in Kasaragod district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is 28 km from the district headquarters of Kasaragod. Bekal Fort is a 300-year old fort, one of the largest and best preserved forts in Kerala and lies 10 km north of Kanhangad. The fort is...
in Kasaragod district
Kasaragod district
Kasaragod District is one of the districts of the Indian state of Kerala. Kasaragod District was organised as a separate district on 24 May 1984...
, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
.
Inside Anandashram
Standing below the arch one can see the main Ashram building on an elevated hilly spot at a distance of about 250 meters. The path from the arch to the main gate of the Ashram is hedged by thickly grown coniferous plants making it appear as a green wall on either side of the path.As one enters the gate, to the right is the Reception office to welcome visiting devotees, register their names and allot accommodation.
A few meters from the gate there is a small circular garden and on its southern side stands the flag mast atop which flutters the Ashram insignia with the holy Ram Nam printed on it. The aim of human life is realization of God, for which the easiest way is constant remembrance of God. The flag reminds us of this goal and the act of hoisting the flag symbolizes our commitment to raise ourselves to the higher plane and attain the goal.
On important days, e.g.: Jayanthi and Samadhi days of Beloved Papa and Pujya Mataji and also on Sannyas day of Beloved Papa, a new flag is hoisted amidst chanting of Ram Nam.
To the right of the circular garden is a small cottage which is the Information Centre. All new visitors are shown a video giving a general idea about the Ashram and its activities.
To the left of the circular garden is the Book Stall, from where visitors can get all the books published by the Ashram.
Adjecent to the Books Stall is the Satsang Hall, where the reading of the books of Beloved Papa and other saints is taken up very afternoon between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Going up a few steps from the garden, one comes to the Panchavati. The name signifies five trees, planted by Beloved Papa in 1931. On this level ground of about 60' x 200' Beloved Papa used to conduct Satsang in the mornings and evenings.
A few steps ahead is the Ashram Bhajan Hall. Several years ago, Beloved Papa, sitting on an Asan in the centre of the Bhajan Hall, used to have a direct view right up to the main road.
At the southern end of the Bhajan Hall is a small room. This small room was the "Anandashram" started by Beloved Papa in 1931. It was here that Beloved Papa and Pujya Mataji lived with a handful of devotees in those early days of the Ashram, and it was the launch pad for their unique mission of Universal Love and Service. This room is now called the shrine.
The relics of Beloved Papa are preserved in a beautiful silver box, which is placed over a marble platform in the shrine, packed with the holy ashes of Beloved Papa and Pujya Mataji and several books containing Ram Nam written by devotees. To the left of the silver box, marble replicas of Beloved Papa’s and Pujya Mataji’s holy feet are implanted. Two beautiful pictures of Beloved Papa and Pujya Mataji are placed on the wall above the platform. The walls of this room are adorned with pictures of Gurudev•(Beloved Papa’s father and Guru), Beloved Papa's photo as a young man of 17, as well as pictures of parents of Beloved Papa and Pujya Mataji.
Beloved Papa’s cut-out in the same posture as He used to sit during the Bhajan sessions and next to it is Pujya Mataji’s picture. On the walls of the Bhajan Hall one can see pictures of several saints and sages, including those of Jesus Christ, Zoroaster, Guru Nanak and others.
To the right of the Bhajan Hall is the Centenary Hall. Coinciding with the 100th birthday of Pujya Mataji, a new spacious hall for satsang was constructed and christened Mother Krishnabai Centenary Hall, on September 25, 2003.
There are two Samadhi Mandirs – one of Beloved Papa and the other of Pujya Mataji. These are situated to the left of the main gate.
Both the Samadhi Mandirs are uniform in design - a 16' x 16' tile-roofed structure, large twin doors on all the four sides and eight windows. The Ram Mantram "Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram", in the style written by Beloved Papa and Pujya Mataji, is beautifully engraved on the wooden panels above the windows. The windows and doors are exquisitely carved, the Samadhi platform and the floor are set with white marble, and the ceiling is artistically decorated with carved and painted Ram Nam. A portrait in standing pose of Beloved Papa and Pujya Mataji adorn the wall just above the southern door of the respective Samadhis.
The Ashram has a Goshala (Cow Shed), in the south-east corner of the campus, with over 50 heads of cattle and the milk yield is passed on to the Ashram Bhojan Shala (Canteen) which feeds not only the devotees but also the poor and hungry who happen to come to the Ashram.
A well equipped library in the Ashram provides an opportunity to visiting devotees to gain spiritual knowledge through well over five thousand spiritual and religious books in different languages.
Right next to the library is the "Ram Nam Bank", where written repetitions of the phrase "Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram" are provided by devotees in notebooks (or any written medium). Ram Nam Likhit Japa was started with a target of 25 crores (1 crore = 10 million units). The goal was to provide a symbolic presentation of the Likhit Japa note-books to Pujya Mataji on September 29, 1955, on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee Celebration of her renunciation. However the Likhit Japa continued even after that, though with lesser intensity, and is still continuing. The total Likhit Japa is over 75 crores, or 750 million repetitions of the phrase "Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram". When Vinoba Bhaveji visited the Ashram in the 1950s and saw the Ram Nam Bank, he said, "These are more powerful than atom bombs."