Kriyaban

I have arrived in Chennai!

I'm in southern India and right at the equator of my journey, nice coincidence!

This part is going to be quite different from everything before for several reasons. Until now, I have mostly visited Yogananda's ashrams and all the spiritual tourism related to his world. From now on, I will only visit two Yogananda ashrams for the rest of the trip: Chennai and Coimbatore. The rest will be completely different and also very desired experiences.

The Chennai ashram is on the outskirts, completely isolated from everything and composed of two buildings that house the rooms, the chapel, and the dining room, all in the middle of a dense field of vegetation and very well maintained. A lake with beautiful fauna, right next to the large compound, puts the icing on the cake. I'm going to be the only devotee during these days.

During the night you only hear crickets, and the path from the dining room to the room is full of frogs crossing your path.

Upon arrival, after the usual logistical deployment, I tried out the incense I bought in Puri which is a delight. I also tried out a newly renovated bathroom in the room. The meditation room is very well equipped and very cozy, I hope to have good meditations in it. This seems like a very good place to be completely alone for the next three days. I don't think I'll have much to tell, since I'm not going to leave here, there's nowhere to go and there's no one to share with, beyond chatting from time to time with Subramaniam, the gentleman who is in charge of running this enormous space. He is a very pleasant person and has offered to buy all the train and bus tickets online necessary for traveling through the south. If you're in India traveling as a tourist, this gesture has incalculable value.

YSS Ashram in Chennai

The next day and after having spent the previous afternoon, I have a familiar feeling that I had left behind a long time ago, I find it very difficult to meditate and when I want to focus on the guru, my head gets distracted with incredible ease, it's as if "the magic" has gone away. I start to scrutinize what's happening, but I don't notice anything in particular, so I decide not to worry too much and continue with my activities, among them, enjoying the views and calm from a "watchtower"-type viewpoint, roofed and with a chair, which I have baptized as: "The King's Tower", from which I see the fantastic landscape of the lake.

At first I feel that it's hard for me to be calm, relaxed and enjoy the landscape. Internally, I feel nervous and restless, but very slowly the times of calm lengthen more and more each time. Finally, in the afternoon, in meditation, I have started to feel the "magic" again, it's the feeling that God is with you again, it's practically impossible to describe. I think God moved away because for just one day I forgot about Him and was not very compassionate in some situations. When I reoriented my thoughts and became more compassionate, I think that's when the light came back to me. So I discover in a very visceral way that God is present in compassion. I should have noticed that the symptoms of restlessness and nervousness are closely linked to disconnection from God. This is something that all of us who are on some kind of spiritual path already know, because we have read it many times. However, something very different is to experience it. I trust I will be able to experience with the same depth the many other aspects in which God makes Himself present.

Lake viewpoint

Tomorrow I leave for Puducherry. In Puducherry I hope to be able to visit Aurobindo's ashram. The truth is that I don't know anything about him, but all of Puducherry is "Aurobindo". On this occasion, since there are no YSS or Kriya Yoga ashrams, I will stay in a guesthouse that looks very good. I must say that the Chennai ashram has been excellent in all aspects, we'll see if a guesthouse that looks like a beach hotel is up to the standard of YSS ashrams.

What a moving feeling to be here again, after four years. At first glance I perceive some changes, but they are not significant. My reason for returning has to do with my interest in seeing progress on the supposedly major renovation of the place. And I read that the Chennai Kendra had become an Ashram, including resident monks, all of which caught my attention.

Once here I can confirm that I have arrived too soon and although you can see that the place is somehow preparing itself, the major construction work has not yet begun. Talking to various devotees, what I have been able to learn is that the large meditation building could possibly be finished in 3 years and the module for devotees' stays about two more years. So, in the best case scenario, it won't all be finished for another 5 years. However, the images of what the project will look like are spectacular.

The new Ashram project in Chennai

When the construction work is completely finished, the Chennai Ashram is going to become a must-visit place, likely becoming a focal point of attraction for devotees from other nearby regions. It's really exciting to be able to see the entire project once it's finished. I hope that next time I return the construction will be complete and on my pilgrimages through the south I can stay here for a week to do a retreat.

A renovated Ashram

Currently, the fact that it has gone from being a Kendra to becoming an ashram has already had its impact on the current facilities. The meditation room is now a proper meditation room and being able to meet with any of the three resident monks so easily and at any time is great.

Meditation room

My three days in this place have been very peaceful and the meditations very good. I find there are quite a few people doing retreats, many more, proportionally, than other more important places like Ranchi or Dakshineswar. Once again, the devotees are treating me wonderfully and I feel a beautiful connection with all of them.

The tropical environment

At this time of year, November and at the end of the monsoon rains, the climate feels like the typical stuffiness of tropical areas, since this place is immersed in a jungle and next to a nature reserve for birds. So the nights are a bit heavy and with mosquitoes. Fortunately these are two things that can be endured as long as you are in the room. For a white-skinned European, being in the gardens exposing your pale skin seems to be an attraction for flying insects. Although incense is burned to ward them off, the place is so large that mosquitoes surf over any inconvenience.

Personally I don't have a major problem with all of this since my stay here is summed up in meditating and reading quietly in my room, a place where I am very comfortable. The jungle environment can surprise you with a monkey, pheasant or dragon lizard when you least expect them.

From time to time I go out to have tea, take a walk through the gardens or visit the cows to feed them, something I love.

Spaces for spiritual connection

The meditation viewpoint was the first structure built at the Chennai ashram. With views of the serene Mannur Lake, this humble space has become a sacred place for meditation. I think it has been renovated; now it seems taller and bigger to me. I had the opportunity to meditate there for a while and enjoy the views and tranquility at a time when the mosquitoes are digesting.

Renovated viewpoint

The place has signs scattered everywhere with quotes from the master, something I thought was great since, while walking in silence, you can receive the inspiration of his wisdom and advice.

The grounds have several other places that help devotees connect with nature and deepen meditation in the midst of it. These include an altar in the garden, a gazebo and a lotus pond. The ashram grounds house a large variety of coconut and mango trees, many varieties of flowers and a vegetable garden. With benches to sit comfortably in various places, this environment allows devotees to connect with the Divine in nature and relax in body, mind and spirit.

Meditation spaces and gardens

My arrival journey to the ashram was long. Once I arrived at the Chennai airport I had to figure out how to get a taxi to take me to the ashram, something that was not easy at first. The ashram's address is not known by taxi drivers and when you use Uber to indicate the route some taxi drivers refuse the ride. First I had to guess where to get Ubers and taxis at the airport, which forces you to take a small shuttle at the exit, which takes you to the taxi pickup point.

Once there, while watching different taxi drivers reject my ride on Uber, I entrusted myself to the master and gave him the problem. Soon after, a guy approached me saying he knew how to take me to the place and although it later turned out not to be true, at least the master sent me someone who was willing to help me, thank God. It took us quite a while to get out of Chennai and get on the highway, as it was rush hour and the traffic jams were monumental. This is a taxi ride that can cost you about 2,500 rupees and an hour and a half journey.

On the day of my departure from the ashram, a taxi came to pick me up and took me to the bus station from which buses constantly leave for Tiruvannamalai. A 45-minute ride and about 2500 rupees. Once at the bus station it's easy to find the one you need, you just have to ask and people will direct you. Prepare for a good 6-hour journey, but for 200 rupees (2 euros) and perhaps two hours more than a taxi, you can save about 50 euros which to me are worth it.

Conclusion

The conclusion of my days in Chennai is that, although the place still has 5 years to go to be what the project proposes, today it is a fantastic place to do a retreat. A place where the atmosphere in the meditation room and the walks through the extensive gardens are going to welcome you in a fantastic way. For me it's a mandatory stop if I go south. A place to connect 100% with the master and your sadhana. Bravo Chennai for its change from Kendra to ashram, a great decision that I applaud and receive, as a devotee, with great joy.

Information of interest

Transportation:

Flight from Bhubaneshwar (Puri) to Chennai, cost: 54€. Taxi from Chennai airport to the ashram, cost: 2500 rupees.

Accommodation in Chennai:

Contact and reservations at: website

Recommended donation: voluntary, not defined.

Things to visit:

Enjoy for hours, sitting at the lake viewpoint.

Important:

If you haven't read the Considerations section yet, don't forget to do so. In this section you will find very valuable information that can save you many headaches. In particular, there are details related to credit cards and mobile phone use that are essential.