Swami Arunachalananda
Sri Swami Chidbhavananda Ashramam, Theni
(From December 2014 - May 2015)
Late in 2014, saw an advertisement in Vedanta Kesari for a six month residential course on Vedanta and Sanskrit at an ashrama
in Theni; didn't even know there is a place called Theni in India! After some online search for details and phone talk with the
Acharya, filled the course form; was selected for the course after a brief telephonic interview.
Reached the Ashramam at Vedaneri, Theni via Madurai in early December 2014; it was a beautiful place surrounded with natural
scenic beauty. The main Dakshinamurthy Temple and inner statue of the Lord was also very magnificent. Surabhi Saraswati river flowing behind
the Ashrama and surrounding background of Wester Ghats added to the sublime atmosphere. Soon explored the ashrama and our accommodation
building - 'Antewasi Niwas'. After the inaguration ceremony which was graced by Swami Dayananda Saraswati of Arsh Vidya Gurukulam, the
course picked up steam within 10 days.
We were around 15 students selected from about 100 or so shortlisted candidates; all were from diverse backgrounds with the basic urge
to learn Vedanta common in all. During first couple of months, few student left the course and the remaining were: the senior most student
- aged above 80 - Swami Chidananda Bharati from Shankaracharya Math, another swami from Malasia Divine Life Society - Swami Brahmajnanananda,
another swami from Tirunelvelli - Swami Sarvananda Puri, Two ex-Vivekananda Kendra volunteers - Suresh and Atmaprasanna (also devotee of Bihar School of Yoga) ,
two ex-Ramakrishna Math inmates - myself and Murali, one student from Romania - Silviu, one Osho follower and Yoga teacher - Sanjit Prasad,
one local Theni-boy - Vinothkumar, one student from Sri Lanka who was Chinmaya Mission devotee - Rajasheelan. I was surprised and
elated to have company of this diverse group; also the ashrama environment, inmates, teachers were good. The teachers (Acharyas) were:
Swami Sarvananda Saraswati (disciple of Swami Dayananda Saraswati for Arsha Vidya Gurukula) - he was our main Acharya for Vedanta and Sanskrit,
Swami Adhyatmananda (disciple of Swami Chidbhavananda and Ex-Ramakrishna Tapovan inmate) - he was instructor for chanting classes,
Mr A Ramanujan (had extensive corporate world experience and later during the course he became Swami Prajnananda) - he conducted value education classes and workshops.
Some Pics: Ashrama
and Dakshinamoorthy Temple
Video: In Dakshinamoorthy Temple
The Vedanta class covered following texts: Bhaja-Govindam, Sadhana-Panchakam, Tattvabodha, and entire Bhagawad-Gita. This was quite
extensive considering the short span of six months but the Acharya maintained the speed with precision and clarity. He also covered
lot of ground in Sanskrit class; we went from basic grammer and memorisation of charts to brief introduction to Sandhi, Samasa, and
even Panini grammer basics! The speed of Sanskrit was dizzy for many students!! For one week, he called a spoken Sanskrit instructor who
taught us simple way to quickly learn basic Sanskrit words. In the evening he also conducted a class on the Value Structure of Mahabharata.
Swami Adhyatmananda made us recite stotras like Pratahsmaranam, Annapurnastotram, Dakshinamurtystotram, Gangastotram, Suryamangalashtakam,
SankatnashanGaneshstotram etc. and also many suktas and shantimantras. He also helped those students who were lagging behind in main
Sanskrit class. In the evening he used to explain the meaning of stotras and suktas. Swami Prajnanandaji taught us values expounded
in Bhagawad-Gita Chapter 13 which are the pre-requisites for Self-Knowledge. He also conducted various workshops, group-discussions,
presentations for us which involved research on various topics and preparation of presentation; all the students were divided into three
groups (Satyam, Jnanam, Anantam) for this.
Some Pics: Pongal (15-16 January 2015)
Videos: Brahmavidya Kutiram Class
and Brahmavidya Kutiram Class 2
We used to have Satuday as our weekly Karmayoga day; the sewa was generally divided into Kitche cleaning, Temple cleaning, and garden
cleaning. It was fun-time too as all the students participated in sewa with playful and joyous attitude. After sewa we loved to go to
Surabhi Saraswati river at the back of ashrama and have our swimming, bathing sessions! Sundays were off and some of us used to go to
Theni town for some purchases as well as for tea, coffee, snacks!
Some Pics: KarmaYoga
and Video: Homa at Theni Ashrama
Once during the course the Guru of Sw Sarvananda Puri - Revered Swami Subramaniananda came from his Tirunelvelli ashrama alongwith his
disciples; we students had good fortune to have satsang with him.
We once went to Madurai with our Acharya Swami Sarvananda to see the famous Meenakshi Temple, Lord Muruga temple,
and to watch the movie on life of Swami Chinmayananda produced by Chinmaya Mission. At another time i went to Madurai with Murali;
we had darshan at Meenakshi Temple and then went to nearby Ramana Mandiram (the place where Bhagawan Ramana Maharshi had his famous
death experience); we also visited Ramakrishna Math, Madurai.
Some Pics: Madurai Visit
All students alongwith all acharyas once visited the famous Thekkady Forest Reserve; we also enjoyed boat ride there.
Some Pics: Thekkady Visit
and Video: Thekkady Boat Ride
All students were keen to visit Sri Ramanashramam at Thiruvannamalai and had planned the visit privately; but our Acharyas disproved
this and later agreed to make it an official visit! We all with Acharyas went and stayed in Sri Ramanashramam during 11th, 12th April 2015.
We all were very happy to have darshan at Bhagawan shrine, Skandashramam, Virupaksha Cave, Arunachala Temple; we also did Girivalam
in the evening with Acharya Swami Sarvananda.
Some Pics: Thiruvannamalai Visit
In April i took a break of few days from the course and went to Kanhangadh. I travelled from Theni to Aluva in Kerala via Munnar by bus
and from Aluva by train went to Kanhangadh. I stayed at Swami Nityananda Ashrama and visited Guruvanam & Anandashrama.
Some Pics: Kanhangadh Visit (15-18 April)
and Video: Guruvanam
Once i visited the Kailashpatti Shiva temple near Theni on bike with Atmaprasanna; beautiful mountain ranges could be seen from here.
Video:Visit to Kailashpatti Shiva temple near Theni
Swami Omkarananda, the founder of the Ashrama was admitted in a Chennai Hospital and during the entire course, he was not in the
Ashrama. In fact somewhere in the middle of the course, he was undergoing an operation at the Chennai hospital and we all students
alongwith Acharyas, other monks, and devotees chanted in the temple, specifically for his recovery and success of the operation.
Once the Surabhi Saraswati Arati was live streamed to him in the hospital and we could see him on screen! He came to the Ashrama just
a couple of days before the conclusion ceremony. One evening we all students had a good satsang with him in his living quarters.
Just as the inaguration of the program was graced by Swami Dayananda Saraswati, the conclusion was graced by his foremost disciples:
Swami Paramarthananda of Chennai and Swami Satswaroopananda of Pune. Swami Subramaniananda and his monastic disciples too attended the
conclusion ceremony. I made a small sppech of gratitude on behalf of all students.
Some Pics: Opening and Conclusion
Videos: With Swami Dayananda Saraswati
and Swami Dayananda Saraswati in Class
It was uniquely enjoyable experince for six months and the students developed strong friendship bonds.
Total Period Approx.: 6 Months
Next : Ramakrishna Kutir Almora
----------- Om Tat Sat -----------
