Samadhi Hermitage - INDIA (SaH-India)
and
Advaita Ananda Samadhi Ashram
Ellora, Maharastra India
The Samadhi
Hermitage, Inc. New Mexico, now has a two-part Ashram in the village of Ellora, India ...
Samadhi Hermitage - India
and
Advaita Ananda Samadhi Ashram
Ellora is a place of Ancient Buddhist, Hindu & Jain Spiritual Caves carved into a beautiful Volcanic Hillside,
near to Aurangabad, in the western state of Maharashtra, approximately 7 hours journey from Mumbai.
Samadhi Hermitage - India
The purpose is to provide:
(a) facilities for sadhana (meditation), tapasya, satsang and yoga classes for local villagers as well as visitors from elsewhere;
(b) "spiritual lodging" for visitors and friends who wish to visit Ellora and it's famous caves;
(c) an Indian home base for Ananda, who now prefers to live in India, moreso than in USA;
(d) a place for Ananda to host his friends .. Sadhus and those who are not .. who wish to visit him at Ellora; and,
(e) a place for Sita Tambe to serve local village girls and women, when she is older and ready to do so,
as a yogini, sadhuni, massage therapist, and/or whatever else she chooses to develop herself in.
This Hermitage is currently under construction,
with a goal of fall 2010 for completion of facilities sufficient to receive visitors.
We are building internal walls, and other places, from old volcanic stone blocks, to give an ancient temple/cave-like atmosphere.
Samadhi Hermitage - India
and
Advaita Ananda Samadhi Ashram
Ellora is a place of Ancient Buddhist, Hindu & Jain Spiritual Caves carved into a beautiful Volcanic Hillside,
near to Aurangabad, in the western state of Maharashtra, approximately 7 hours journey from Mumbai.
Samadhi Hermitage - India
The purpose is to provide:
(a) facilities for sadhana (meditation), tapasya, satsang and yoga classes for local villagers as well as visitors from elsewhere;
(b) "spiritual lodging" for visitors and friends who wish to visit Ellora and it's famous caves;
(c) an Indian home base for Ananda, who now prefers to live in India, moreso than in USA;
(d) a place for Ananda to host his friends .. Sadhus and those who are not .. who wish to visit him at Ellora; and,
(e) a place for Sita Tambe to serve local village girls and women, when she is older and ready to do so,
as a yogini, sadhuni, massage therapist, and/or whatever else she chooses to develop herself in.
This Hermitage is currently under construction,
with a goal of fall 2010 for completion of facilities sufficient to receive visitors.
We are building internal walls, and other places, from old volcanic stone blocks, to give an ancient temple/cave-like atmosphere.
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Behind the windows is a hall for Yoga, Meditation, Satsang, etc. That's
the front half of the building. The Heart Mandir photo below is in that
front half, facing the windows. Behind the Heart Mandir is the back
half, which contains the kitchen (to the left) and Ananda's living
quarters to the right. The Verandah wall (photos below) is the backside of that space, providing about a 5 foot wide verandah overlooking the creek (the village "Ganga") below. |
Ananda's
first old stone project .. a giant plant pot. It now has the Chickoo/Saporta tree in photo to the left. |
 Three
guest rooms are planned for the lower
level, overlooking Ellora's very small "Ganga" River.
There will also be a small yoga deck on that side. |
 The
Resident monk quarters, containing
this small meditation cave .. named "Ananda
Gufa" (the Hindu word for "cave"), will be completed soon on the 2nd level.
|
 A
meditation cave, made with these large old stone
blocks in the style of
old India temples, will
be partially sunken
below ground level in the garden.
|
 Work Crew 2008 & 09 |
 Work Crew March 2010 |
 That's Sagar, Sita's brother and my very good work buddy. We did that floor we are sitting on together; and he has also helped with so many other things. Great attitude; not much of a lazy bone in his body. Later he will be a great sadhu!! |
 Work Crew July 2010 |
Yep, that's Ananda enjoying the bliss of being in India,
using the old stones to construct a giant plant pot for a fruit tree.
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| Heart Mandir
(Temple) |
Meditation
"Throne" in the Verandah Wall |
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| Verandah Wall on 2nd level |
Meditation
"Throne" in the Verandah Wall
|
That's Sita and Sagar's mom (Sarubai) on the right, with that big stone on her head!
 and, here is our most precious Sita and Sagar visiting the Hermitage! |
 Meal Time with Sagar and Sita. Chapatti and veges evening; the dozen or more Bananas & other fruit are Ananda's diet throughout the next day of Stone masonry. |
The "Samadhi Hermitage-India" is here to serve your visit to India,
as is Sita's family and home ... the "Advaita Ananda Samadhi Ashram".
This "family ashram" is the home we built for them in 2005-6,
and of course our ongoing support of this precious family
is a two-way blessing .. to them, as well as to ourselves and friends who visit.
So, the "Samadhi Hermitage - India",
and their home ... the "Advaita Ananda Samadhi Ashram"
comprise our two-part ashram in the village of Ellora, Maharastra, India.
Please feel free, inspired and welcome to visit.
Advaita Ananda Samadhi Ashram (home of Sita's family),
visited by a Nandi bull on Maha-Shivaratri, Feb. 12, 2010
As well as being a peaceful home-base for myself here in India, the Hermitage is also part of my vision
for the future of Sarubai's two middle children .. Sita, and her younger brother Sagar.
Sagar speaks strongly about sadhu life, not married life;
and Sita is a precious jewel, hopefully to be a yogini in service to village girls and women.
Thus, through the vehicle of the Hermitage, they will find their own means of
"returning the gift" of such all inclusive family support the Samadhi Hermitage has provided since 2002.
Youngest fellow is Ravi, now in 4th grade at a local private English speaking school.
We talk of his offering free tutoring to poor village children, as his village-service gift later in life.
This was Sita's 16th Birthday party, Aug. 30, 2009 ..
August 1st, 2009 her sister Sunita gave birth to her first baby .. Chandrani (means "moon queen").
Pictures of, and from, the Yogeswari Cave here in Ellora .. where I spent a good part of my birthday, Dec. 2009.
If you are coming to India, and any this feels of interest to you, then please come for a visit.
This and a few other pages are under construction .. as is the Hermitage itself ..
so please check back for updates, more pics, etc.
Thanks again for your caring and wonderful support.
Donations are always welcome, and always go direct in service either to the families we support,
or for Ashram construction expenses.
