Write to us if you wish to stay with us.
The Ashram is open for devotees of Ramana Maharshi and volunteers to visit and spend time with us. Shared accommodation is available for up to eight people at any one time, but needs to be booked at least 4 weeks in advance. Please write to ramanalayam.sl@gmail.com requesting your dates and explaining your purpose to visit the ashram. While staying at the ashram, visitors are expected to follow the observance of the ashram and refrain from external activities.
Devotees are usually allowed to stay here for up to 3 days. Volunteers may request a longer stay. All rooms are well equipped with attached toilet and showers.
A request may be cancelled if extraneous circumstances prevail. Visitors who violate the codes of conduct of the Ashram may be asked to vacate ashram on short notice.
When making a request, please provide details of full name (as appearing in your identity document), date of birth, nationality, the place where you are travelling from and the place you will travel to. You will also be required to fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and carry a certificate of proof.
What We Do
At The Ashram
Updates of Project Eye Opener Next phase of Project Eye Opener Appeal Aum Namo Baghavathe Shri Ramanaya! As you are aware an Eye Clinic was held at Saraswathy Illam –…
From time to time, the Ashram hosts Residential Spiritual Retreats. The retreats are usually for about three days on teachings of Bhagavan and Advaitic Scriptures.
The Saraswathy Scholarship Program (SSP), was initiated in February 2021. The program provides incentives to primary school going children.
Before Visiting the Ashram Learn
The Rules Of Ashram
The Ashram observes a strictly vegetarian diet.
Use of alcohol and substances are totally prohibited.
For residents to practice quietude and meditation, “mouna” or silence is encouraged at all times. Use of phones in common areas are restricted and when listening to audio media, please use your headphones.
“Soucha” or cleanliness is observed throughout within the premises.
residents may not entertain private visitors unless such visitations are related to Ashram activities.
The timetable provided at the time of checking in shall be followed. Meal times are fixed and consumption of food in rooms are discouraged to keep vermin and insects out.
Books borrowed for reading during your stay at the Ashram should be duly returned prior to checking out.
Ashram respects the religious beliefs of all spiritual aspirants. Residents are allowed to practice their own methods of worship, as long as they do not hinder or disturb fellow residents. However, the practices and observances at Ashram are primarily Hinduism based.
Our Daily Activities
What We Do At The Ashram
- A routine of daily activities are scheduled each day at the Ashram. Morning and evening poojas are held in the Pooja Hall at 6:30 am and 5:30 pm respectively. Following the evening pooja, an hour of Parayana or Bhajans will be held in the meditation hall.
- Yogasana practice followed by Pranayama (breathing exercise) and meditation is held at 5 am in the Northern veranda. If numbers are greater than 4, yoga is held in the pooja hall.
- Outside the regular meal times, morning satsangs are held at 09:30 in the Northern veranda for about an hour. Book readings in English and Tamil will be held in the evenings from 3:00 until 4:00 pm. Informal satsangs may be held in the evenings after pooja or dinner.
Yogasana, Pranayama and Meditation classes are held for those interested on a regular basis in the mornings at set times. Styles incorporating several schools are taught to students at all levels. Use of props to achieve greater precision in alignment and posture are also introduced.
Breathing techniques for effective breath control and meditative practices are also taught for those interested.
From time to time, yoga workshops have been held, introducing yoga to a wide range of people.
- Monthly Luncheons
On the 3rd Sunday of each month, Spiritual Luncheons are held at the Ashram primarily for the elders in the community. However, all age groups are welcome. During the monthly luncheons, speeches on Spiritual or General learnings, stories about Ramana Maharshi, Updates on essential life support news are shared with the audience. Bhajans for Ramana Maharshi are jointly sung and the day culminates with a sumptuous vegetarian lunch for all gathered. - Weekly Satsangs on Atma Vichara On Thursdays each week, spiritual sharing on Ramana’s Atma Vichara is conducted by Swami Gunatitananda Saraswati of Chinmaya Mission of Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Swamiji expounds on the teachings of Ramana Maharshi and on verses from other scriptures with those aspirants visiting from the neighborhood. All attendees are invited to lunch at the Ashram after the satsang.
- Language Classes The Ashram recently begun providing basic spoken English classes for adults and youngsters from local villagers. An hour long practical and interactive class is held twice a weeks and is offered for nominal fee to cover costs. Classes in Sinhala language are to follow shortly.
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