The Madanapalle Ashram

Madhu ki Rasoi, or Madhu's Kitchen — a play on the name Madhukarnath given to Sri M by his Guru — provides three simple, nutritious and delicious vegetarian meals for all residents, volunteers and visitors who come to the Ashram to further their spiritual progress. The spacious dining hall, appended to a cooking and washing area, not only takes care of the most basic need of food, but also serves as a meeting point for all Satsangis to congregate and discuss spiritual matters, sitting on the benches outside surrounded by jamun, coconut and fragrant linden trees. Beautiful Warli artwork depicting scenes from various epics lines the walls outside. Visitors and residents can volunteer service in the kitchen, which also provides mid-day meals to the students of The Satsang Vidyalaya.

In the best tradition of India's rural economy, the kitchen is supported by a Gaushala with indigenous breeds of cows — Gir and Sahiwal. It currently hosts a total of nine cows and bulls. Buttermilk is served in the dining hall every day thanks to these gentle animals. Not only milk and ghee, but the dung produced by the cows is used as bio-gas for the kitchen, while the remains serve as fertiliser for the plentiful campus greenery, including the colourful rose garden at the entrance. Lord Krishna, in his form as the Cowherd of Vrindavan, is ensconced in a small temple in one corner, while Warli depictions of the Ramayana and Bhagvatam adorn the walls. The divine melody of the flute fills the air as the cows come home at dusk after grazing. Satsang Vidyalaya students, visitors and residents have a special corner in their hearts for rendering service at this space.

The Satsang Vidyalaya, now in its 26th year, is a prized academy for first-generation learners. Children of pastoralists of the Lambani community — the original inhabitants of the Nakaladenne settlement where the Ashram is situated — were its first students. Sri M started the school with a handful of them under a thatched hut in 1999. The school now has 211 students from the First to the 10th Standard, 15 teachers, 11 classrooms, a Library, a Computer Lab with Internet access and a Science Lab.

Learning is not by rote but by creative engagement, prompting curiosity, exploration, understanding and interest. Coming from the 10 villages that surround the area, the children cover not only the academic syllabus, but also learn indigenous music and craft, celebrate festivals across religions, perform cultural programmes and take care of plant and animal life in the vicinity. Many of them have graduated to become proud and responsible citizens of the country.

The elegant green and ochre Swaasthya Hospital building, sheltered by a tree-lined avenue, caters to the health needs of Madanapalle, providing its first trauma care centre and 24/7 Emergency Services. The 50-bed secondary care free hospital for the socially and economically marginalised is also equipped with two mobile diagnostic vans and a state-of-the-art cardiac support ambulance with life-saving equipment.

Its specialities include Medicine, General Surgery, OBG, Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, ENT, Dental and Psychiatry. Integrated services like Yoga, Nutrition, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation and Meditation are also provided, along with Counselling, Awareness Building and Education on Health and Hygiene. It also takes care of the health needs of the children of The Satsang Vidyalaya.

Appended to the Vidyalaya building on the ground floor is the reception and office of the Foundation where all visitors report. The office also has a wonderful collection of books on spiritual teachings that can be borrowed for use. Sri M's books are available on sale here, as are TSF tee-shirts, calendars, etc., the proceeds of which go towards sustaining the activities of the Foundation.

Across a small road, sheltered by a beautiful red Cassia tree, is the new office building where Satsang Foundation's back office activities take place. It also houses a wonderful collection of books on Yoga that can be read sitting in comfortable sofas around a library space. The students of the Bhartiya Yoga Vidya Kendra often spend time in study there.

Under a canopy of pink bougainvillea and jacaranda, permeated with the celestial fragrance of a parijat tree, is a small meeting room where Sri M meets Sadhaks and visitors who request an appointment whenever he is in station. Situated right opposite is the Rangashala, which houses a fully equipped studio where Sri M's talks are either recorded or broadcast live.

The beautiful flower-strewn path leads to a red-brick, ergonomic building that blends into the rustic scenery. This is Ashraya, where guests can stay either when they come in for Yoga courses or for deepening their spiritual practices. A little further down across the road is a sparkling white building, Vasant Vihar, also built for guests and visitors for the same purposes.

The path leading to the guest houses has to one side what is, for many sadhaks, the epicentre of the campus — the Guru Sthana — the quiet green shade of a flourishing Peepal tree under which Sri M addresses them every Guru Purnima and Shivaratri. It is difficult to imagine, but at least two thousand people gather here on those occasions.

Adjacent to the Peepal Tree is the Shivalaya with a majestic Shiva Linga, the Prana Pratishtha of which was done by Sri M in 2013. The installation was to provide a concrete focus for devotees, as the Shiva Linga is an abstract symbol of the Supreme, he said. The Prana Pratishtha, done with one hand on his heart and the other on the image, was necessary to make the image "live", he said. On one side is an image of Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and symbol of transcendence from the mundane to the celestial, and on the other, a Sri Yantra, the depiction of Shakti or energy that takes the Sadhak to the highest. Sri M always offers prayers at the Shivalaya before proceeding to speak under the Peepal Tree.

Just behind the Shivalaya, shaded within a grotto of flowering bushes and trees, is a beautifully carved image of Jesus Christ, his arms open wide to accept one and all who come to seek refuge. Sri M also refers to him as one of the great wandering Yogis who had no home, but gave up his all to provide succour to suffering humanity.

The Yogashala, where the Bhartiya Yoga Vidya Kendra conducts its various courses on Yoga and Meditation, is situated in the heart of the campus within a beautiful red-brick building that melds into the surrounding greenery. A serene smiling Buddha, seated in the lotus position in the midst of a pond replete with blooming lilies and teeming with tadpoles, fish, frogs, butterflies and red dragonflies, bids welcome to those who enter. Inside is a temple dedicated to Patanjali Maharaj, flanked by two snakes and images of Maheshwar Nath Babaji and Sai Baba. A small shrine to Sri Guru Babaji, with his image and a pair of Padukas, is on the right corner of the raised platform for the teachers and sometimes Sri M to teach.

Resplendent in grey stone, encased in simply carved pillars connected with glass panes, stands the largest temple in the world dedicated to Adinath Sri Guru Mahaavtar Babaji. A beautiful image of Sri Guru sitting in the lotus position in a rough-hewn rock cave within the 4,000 square feet enclosure immediately draws attention. The progenitor of the Nath Sampradaya is considered by many as the deity in charge of the current world cycle.

A pair of silver padukas and a Sri Yantra are placed in front of Him. A portrait of Maheshwar Nath Babaji, Sri M's Guru and the senior-most disciple of Sri Guru, stands on the right, with small idols of both the Nath Gurus that are taken out in procession on every Shivaratri and Guru Purnima. A simple wooden chair covered by an orange shawl is placed just outside the enclosure for Sri M whenever he is there. The serene ambience is conducive to quiet meditation, with aartis and parikramas performed for half an hour every morning, noon and evening.