Weekend at Art of Living Ashram, Bangalore Photo Journal

Vishalaskshi mandap

Vishalaskshi mandap, Art of Living Ashram, Bangalore

Do your 100%

"Do your 100% in everything you do," Dr Divya insisted. …Things done half-heartedly never get done.

Dr Divya and Pankaj ji our teachers for the weekend Basic course at the Art of Living Ashram had the same effect on me as the very ashram.

Tapa, incessant work has gone into the making of the ashram. The ashram is a living organism, populated and under continuous creation by the likes of Dr Divya. Life at the ashram is a yagya, a continuous prayer for betterment of the world we live in. And this happens by touching the soul's need to know and express itself as bliss.

If this sounds like poetic prose to you, bear with my Pranayama-induced happy mind.

Tapa is the dictum that rules the Art of Living ashram. There is no lazy road to bliss, I gather after the 3 days well spent here.

Shiva's Nandi

Nandi at the main entrance to Vishalakshi mandap

This Nandi at the main entrance to Vishalakshi mandap faces a painting of Ma Vishalakshi inside the mandap. Beautiful paintings, possibly in acrylics, are hung on walls in different places in the ashram, including one of Ardh-Narishwar and Ma Annapurna.

The ceiling at Vishalakshi mandap

The ceiling at Vishalakshi mandap

That's Ma Vishalakshi :-)

Inside Vishalakshi mandap

Inside Vishalakshi mandap

The circular hall with double storeyed seating may be huge but it has the feel of being at home in your drawing room with close friends, even though many of those present here are first time visitors like me :-)

The essence of Sri Sri Ravishankar's motto of 'a one-world-family' or 'Vasudhaiv kutumbakam' is exuberantly alive here.

Inside Vishalakshi mandap

Lodging facility at Aparna

Lodging facility at Aparna, Art of Living Ashram, Bangalore

The number behind my photo identity card issued at check-in was my key to the shared room at Aparna. My roommates, Saumya and Prisilda – two bubbly girls on a retreat, were a source of unending joy.

Divine Shop

Divine Shop, Art of Living Ashram, Bangalore

Shopping is nirvana for city-folks like me, but this Divine Shop had real roadmaps to nirvana. I picked up a commentary by Sri Sri Ravishankar on Yogasara Upanishad.

Sri Sri Kriti

Sri Sri Kriti, Art of Living Ashram

That's Saumya and Prisilda just done with exploring the hand made clothes and artifacts at Sri Sri Kriti – a shop which sells products made by rural women, under guidance by designers.

Sri Sri Ayurveda

Sri Sri Ayurveda

Sri Sri Ayurveda Panchakarma

Sri Sri Ayurveda

Panchakarma facilities

Sri Sri Panchakarma, Kerala Ayurveda, Art of Living Ashram Bangalore

Walkabout Ashram

Pankaj ji, Art of Living Ashram, Bangalore

Pankaj ji (right) leading the way…

Dining Hall

Dining Hall, Art of Living Ashram, Bangalore

Food glorious food, under the supervision of Ma Annapurna

Annapoorna Dining Hall, Art of Living Ashram, Bangalore 

In Radha kunj

Radha Kunj, Art of Living Ashram, Bangalore

Radha kunj by the lake in the ashram is another quiet walkway lined by trees and plants chosen with great care, just as everything else here.

A Yagyashala in Radha kunj

Radha Kunj Yagyashala Art of Living Ashram Bangalore

Radha kunj opened up at Ved Agam Sanskrit Maha Pathshala, a gurukul where boys study the Vedas, Puranas, Agam, and more in Sanskrit literature…

Ved Agam Sanskrit Maha Pathshala

Ved Vigyan Maha Vidya Peeth Bangalore

This gurukul is overlooking a natural lake, which has 2 crocodiles.

Lakeview

2 crocodiles live in this lake at the Ashram

This security personnel had met Guruji Sri Sri Ravishankar this morning, while guruji walking on this dirt road, was touched by a shrub's need for something. 'Why is this shrub wilting?' Guruji thought aloud.

With no one but himself around, the security personnel replied, 'Sir, it may need water.' And no sooner had he spoken, he was sorry for saying 'sir'. He was speaking with guruji, how could he call him 'sir' a word of formal address!

Guruji is his own, one of a one-world-family:-) When I met him after breakfast, he was still regretting his slip of tongue – 'Sir, instead of Guruji!' How could I address him like a stranger!

More about the Ashram

Basic and Advance courses happen every weekend. Please contact ashram for latest details. Sri Sri Yoga and Sehaj Samadhi also take place regularly. Anyone who has done a course or wants to do one is welcome to stay at the ashram. Weekend retreats also take place. Sri Sri Panchkarma is also available here with Ayurvedic doctors who diagnose through Nadi parikshan. The food at the ashram is vegetarian. It is a no-smoking and no-alcohol zone.

I have just returned after doing an advanced course here. It was amazing! Art of Living is for everyone. Please do the courses and practice...

Upcoming courses and events

The Art of Living International Centre
21st Km Kanakapura Road
Bangalore-560082
Tel: +91-80-28427060
www.vvmvp.org

For queries regarding accommodation contact the Housing Department at [email protected].

Talks by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

http://wisdomfromsrisriravishankar.blogspot.com/

http://www.youtube.com/user/ArtOfLivingTV

Roadmap to Art of Living Ashram, 21st Kanakpura Road, Bangalore


View Larger Map

Anisha Sharma
Views: 187266



blog comments powered by Disqus

aol center very good

ashish on Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Excellent. Next time you may like to visit Shakti Kutir, Sumeru Mantapam near old kitchen, old Ashram. March last weekend, Ugadi time, I was also there attending advance course. All the best and Keep Smiling. ~Manish, layers7.blogspot.com

Manish Panchmatia on Friday, April 10, 2009

The ashram was like a swarga! We just come back from the ashram & met pujya 'GURU JI'. The canteen was was vary clean & had healthy food.

sheshnath soni on Friday, May 22, 2009

It is heaven on Earth! Where Almighty Stays....

Ritesh Agarwala on Thursday, June 4, 2009

Lovely! It is nice to see some of Bangalore, I have friends there.

Jennifer on Tuesday, July 21, 2009

It is a heaven. Canteen is very good.

R. Narayana Swamy on Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Really nice....I had been to ashram but couldn't take the photographs....now I am happy because i got the pics.

Puspanjali Sarangi on Friday, September 11, 2009

I had the opportunity to visit the Ashram on 7th dec'09. It was an unforgottable experience. visited all important places. The volunteers are very good & caring. The little lady in the reception even took special care & arranged my lunch in the canteen. I was overjoyed.

G Chaturbhuj Patro on Wednesday, December 16, 2009

nice one dear friend.I want to visit Ashram in the month of may. thank u very much for sharing. jai guru dev.

jayasri on Friday, December 18, 2009

it's really too good. i want 2 see d ashram closely. you provided me a cute part of that, thank you. jai gurudev

saamidh panda on Saturday, December 26, 2009

Art of Living Basic course in Lucknow: January 5-10, 2010. 3 hours daily. choose your time slot: 6-9 am, 10am-1pm, 6-9 pm. Venue: CrossRoad Plaza, Badshah Nagar, Lucknow. Contact: Tanuj Narain: 2325985 Got a new birth through Art of Living DSN course with Anand Rajendran ji. :-) http://anandji.net

anisha on Sunday, December 27, 2009

Art of Living courses with Guruji Srii Sri Ravishankar at Bangalore Ashram: January 6-February 12, 2010. See: http://www.vvmvp.org/UpcomingCourseEvents/tabid/70/Default.aspx Contact: [email protected] Art of Living courses with Guruji Srii Sri Ravishankar at Rishikesh Ashram: February 24- March 13 2010. Contact: [email protected] , [email protected]

anisha on Wednesday, January 13, 2010

what can we say about the place where god himself is staying

priyanka on Friday, February 5, 2010

i hear a lot about the guru ji i just plan to join the classes.

binny on Wednesday, March 10, 2010

amazing creation by sri sri

bhavesh on Sunday, May 16, 2010


राम रमापति रामा बोलो सीता रामा, Awadhi Sri Ram Bhajan, Home Satsang