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{{short description|Hindu spiritual hermitage or monastery}}
{{about|spiritual hermitages or monasteries|other uses|Ashram (disambiguation)}}
[[File:Ashrams on the banks of Ganges, Rishikesh.jpg|200px|thumb|[[Sivananda Ashram]], [[Rishikesh]], the headquarters of [[Divine Life Society]], founded by [[Sivananda Saraswati]] in 1936]]
[[File:Sabarmati-Ashram-8.jpg|200px|thumb|[[Sabarmati Ashram]], where [[Mahatma Gandhi]] stayed]]
Traditionally, 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> ([[Sanskrit]]: ''ashrama'' or ''ashramam'') is a spiritual [[Hermitage (religious retreat)|hermitage]] or a [[monastery]] in [[Indian religions]].<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==
The term ''ashram'' ({{lang-sa|आश्रम}}, {{IPA-sa|aːɕɽɐmɐ}}) comes from the [[Sanskrit]] root ''{{IPA|śram-}}'' ({{script|Deva|श्रम्}}) ('to toil').<ref>{{OEtymD|ashram}}</ref> According to S. S. Chandra, the term means "a step in the journey of life".<ref name="ChandraSharma1996">{{cite book|author1=S.S. Chandra|author2=S.S. Chandra & Rajendra Kumar Sharma|title=Philosophy of Education|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u6UQJ1sWrQoC&pg=PA173|year=1996|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist|isbn=978-81-7156-637-2|pages=173–}}</ref> In contrast, according to George Weckman, the term ''ashram'' connotes a place where one strives towards a goal in a disciplined manner. Such a goal could be [[ascetic]], [[spirituality|spiritual]], [[yogic]] 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==
[[File:Kailash Ashram, Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh.jpg|200px|thumb|Kailash Ashram, [[Muni Ki Reti]], [[Rishikesh]], established by [[Dhanraj Giri]]]]

An ashram would traditionally, but not necessarily in contemporary times, be located far from human habitation, in [[forest]]s or [[mountain|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 [[yajna]]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= [https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/70 70]|editor=K. S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref> Many ashrams also served as [[gurukula]]s, 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.

==Popular Ashrams in Rishikesh==
* <b>Parmarth Niketan</b> - Parmarth Niketan provides various yoga and meditation programs, lectures, and workshops, making it an ideal destination for spiritual growth and self-discovery.
* <b>Swargashram</b> - This serene ashram is nestled amidst lush greenery along the Ganges. It's an ideal place for meditation, yoga, and spiritual contemplation. Swargashram also offers affordable accommodations and is famous for its Gita Press, where visitors can purchase religious books and texts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Popular Ashrams In Rishikesh|url=https://www.bizarexpedition.com/bx/places-to-visit-in-rishikesh#Ashram|access-date=2022-10-10 |website=timeofindia.com}}</ref>


==Schools in Maharashtra==
[[Boarding school]]s, 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|Lok Biradari Prakalp Ashram Shala]].<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==

A number of ashrams have been established outside India. Typically, these ashrams are connected to Indian lineages,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.yogadaindia.com/|title=200 hours Yoga teacher training course in Rishikesh India |website=yogadaindia.com|access-date=2018-04-23}}</ref> focus on imparting [[Yoga]]-related teachings, often in [[Yoga tourism|residential retreats]], and are headed by spiritual teachers (Indians or Western).

==See also==
*[[Parbrahm Ashram]]
==References==
{{reflist}}

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

{{Worship in Hinduism}}

[[Category:Ashrams| ]]
[[Category:Asceticism]]
[[Category:Hindu architecture]]
[[Category:Hindu monasticism]]