I am currently working toward establishing a unique and exciting new project for ISKCON: the Devi Ashram, an International Vaishnavi Training and Retreat Centre.
Based in the beautiful natural environment of Pandavas Paradise (Paraíso dos Pândavas, Brazil), the Devi Ashram will offer ladies of all ages an opportunity to come and learn or teach all aspects of a Krishna conscious lifestyle, or just relax and read/study Prabhupada’s books in a good devotional atmosphere. The resident students at the ashram will receive training in the philosophy of the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam, and learn to cook, give classes, worship deities, preach, play our traditional instruments, lead kirtans, even grow their own vegetables, and more. Those who come for reading retreats will be free to participate in all student activities or simply relax and study Prabhupada’s books. All the ladies at the Devi Ashram will also be able to take advantage of our nature trails and crystal clear water pools and waterfalls.
The infrastructure for the Devi Ashram is already in place. We have the rooms, beds, bathrooms, kitchen, temple room etc. What we need now are the teachers, students and visitors. I will be sending out a more official announcement and invitation for applications soon, but if you happen to be reading this un-official preview and you are interested in spending some time at the Devi Ashram, please contact me! (Carana.Renu.DAS@pamho.net) As an international centre, our main languages will be English, Portuguese and Spanish.
At Pandavas Paradise we are fortunate to have very comfortable temperatures all year round. We are able to cater to individual requirements in terms of study, service, diet, sleeping arrangements etc. – we offer a highly personalized program. We expect that most of our teachers and students will spend somewhere between 1-6 months with us (the maximum stay in Brazil for people from most countries is 6 months) but visitors will be welcome at any time for shorter periods.
So, if you think you might like to apply, visit, get involved, or just want to find out more, please contact me, Carana Renu dasi, at Carana.Renu.DAS@pamho.net or leave a comment below!
Hare Krishna
this sounds like a fantastic project, it appears to me there is little in ISKCON focused on the needs of the ladies, I’m sure it will be most appreciated
Ys Dave
Hare Krishna, PAMHO, AGSP
I think this is a beautiful idea. Congratulations!
I am a member of Varnasrama Research Team, Secunderabad (india)- Chapter. We were and are still exploring the area of Women’s education in the Vedic context. I hope your resources will be of great help for our other research team members. May be sometime down the line I would like to visit your place also, which appears quite serene and exotic.
Till then why not build this relationship little further. You can know more about us by visiting http://www.varnasrama.org.
The research team has recently launched a small newsletter, which is available at:
http://www.varnasrama.org/images/stories/8petals_vrt_newsletter_augsep_2009_vol.1.pdf
Let us explore some common ground and see in what way we can help each other grow.
Congratulations once again.
Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada
Vrndavanlila dd (Dr Vrinda Baxi)
vrindavanlila.brs@gmail.com
Thank you. Obligado. Gracias.
This is very much needed.
Hare Krishna matajis:
All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Best wishes for success to your much needed project.
I suggest that you start publishing a newsletter, so that devotees who are not able to visit your project can still get news, and more importantly, get a Vaishnava perspective on Krishna Consciousness from the feminine side; something that we don’t get at all since all the Vaishnava media is controlled by the male bodied devotees.
Wonderful project, fantastic location to bring peace and harmony to anyone’s life.
This ‘out of this world’ experience would surely help someone to develop a balanced and focused lifestyle, conducive for meditation and spiritual practices.
Satya Medha
Newcastle
UK
Would it not be difficult for streight female devotees to have many lesbians around while being in that asram? I may be a disturbance, I think?
Thank you for all the encouraging comments.
Vrindavanlila – your project sounds interesting. Our goal, in terms of training, is to give ladies the knowledge, experiences and skills they need for practicing Krishna consciousness in their day to day life. They will also receive training in teaching Krishna consciousness to others. But apart from that we also want to create a space where other ladies can come for happy and healthy spiritual retreats, whether they be seasoned ISKCON veterans or new spiritual seekers, or anything in between. I hope you can visit sometime.
Hari Mohan – we are planning a website with a blog where the residents of the Devi Ashram will share their news and experiences.
Marko – I don’t know what makes you think that there would be so many lesbians in the ashram since only a relatively small percentage of the population is gay. But anyway, I don’t forsee any big difficulties with that. In my experience, some of the biggest difficulties come from having men around. The Devi Ashram will be run by women for women and there will be no men’s ashram around. That should help to keep things focused
. The ladies will generally only stay for relatively short periods anyway, which will naturally create a more focused atmosphere than we see in long term ashram situations.
am interested in joining the ashram. will be grateful to you if if kindly let me know the procedures. am 35 years old and working as a school teacher.single and living alone.
Hare Krishna Charana Renu mataji,
PAMHO
AGSP
Thanks for your response. Your project definitely sounds interesting. Do you offer any online course too? — a short gap arrangement till i am myself able to visit your ashram.
Mataji, I come out with a monthly newsletter, THE EIGHT PETALS. I will be glad if you can submit an article on your ashram, your experiences and realizations…It is still an unchartered territory, a lot needs to be done in this direction.
Let us try to know each other more, for we seem to be marching in the same direction.
Congratulations for your effort!
You can mail me at vrindavanlila.brs@gmail.com
Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada
Vrndavanlila dd
Hare Krishna,
I would like to ask you about a possibility to come to your ashram? How to do it, what is a cost of it,what is the procedure?
Please let me know.
Sukinkara devi dasi
namasthey my name is chandini residing in India, i’d like to join in your ashram, could you please give me details regarding ashram details.
Hare Krishna
I am very much impressed and i would like to spend mywhole life in this seva. Can I do it? Waiting for favourable reply.
i would like to spend my entire life in your ashram..will you please inform me about the rules and regulations to join your ashram?..thanks.
i want to join and reside there, what are the required things to participate in this..?
I want to Join and Reside there with everyone. What I have to do to contact you and what do you require from me. Thank you.
I like to join your ashram but there is any other in india your ashram is situated becoz i don’t have enough money to travel india to brazil
I am very much impressed and i would like to spend mywhole life in this seva. Can I do it? Waiting for favourable reply.
Hare krishna, can you please let me know how to apply to reside and advance my spiritual life at your ashram, i want out of the life and people around me,please help.
Thanks (from S Africa)
i want to joint and live rest of my days. please suggest if it is possible
How can i join with you?