There is always a first time for everything!

While looking back on some of my best memories , I want to share my first experience of staying in an Ashram in a Village in India

For a girl who has lived in cities all her life with all the comforts, the thought of living in an Ashram had never crossed my mind!

The experiences of staying in Ashrams and Villages initiated when I started looking for my purpose in life. A wise man suggested that I should visit an Ashram in a small village in Kerala, India.

In the blink of an eye, I packed my bags, booked my tickets and started my journey to a city called Kochi in Kerala. Little did I know what was in store for me! I spoke to the Monk, who was the owner of the Ashram and he arranged for a pick up for me from the Airport.  As I sat in the cab, I realized I did not know a word of Malayalam, the native language of the city and to my dismay the cab driver did not know Hindi, our national language or even English. Imagine living in a village where nobody knows your language! As strong as I was, to be honest, I was a bit nervous!

As he started driving towards the Village, I started enjoying the greenery of the beautiful city. Since I visited Kochi right towards the end of the monsoon season, every corner of the city was blessed with beautiful green trees. As the journey continued, we transitioned from the city to the village. The roads became narrower and the natural beauty increased drastically as we entered the village area. Kerala is known for its backwaters and as we were approaching the Ashram we started driving on narrow roads through the backwaters. The water was almost kissing the road from both sides. I had never seen anything like this in my whole life.

As I approached the Ashram in the village, I noticed that the village and Ashram was right in the centre of the backwaters and the beach. How blessed were the people who lived amidst musical beach and the serene back waters.

Just as I was getting mesmerized by the beauty of the place, the car came to a halt. I communicated the amount to be paid to the taxi driver using hand gestures and then walked towards the Ashram.

The Ashram was a cluster of small huts and rooms. Some rooms were made of red bricks while others were made of wood and tin. I was placed in a room made of bricks that day and since I had arrived late evening, the monk asked me to rest and promised to meet me early next morning.

As I walked into my room, the lights were dim (since the voltage is low in villages). While I was just getting used to staying all alone in an absolutely unknown place I yelled with fear at the sound of athunder storm. Nights in villages are so silent that the sound of thunder was ten times of what we would experience in cities. While praying for my life and hoping that I made the right decision of visiting a village alone, I finally could sleep.

The next morning I met the Monk who could speak English. The Monk was a simple man, who wore just a simple saffron coloured sarong around his waist. I was honoured to meet a simple yet strong personality. At that moment I learned that looks can definitely be deceiving. He barely paid attention to what he wore or how did he look, but the moment he started talking, words of wisdom flowed like a river. Later I got to know that is was an Engineer, an Ayurvedic Doctor and a Yoga Trainer who had worked as an officer for a reputed organization.  

In the coming days, I was taught yoga and treated for some of my ailments. I also got acquainted with other people in the Ashram and the village. I could now communicate with people around for basic necessities like water, food etc. Apart from that, I felt a lot of love and warmth around me. People were relaxed, happy, helpful and healthy.

I was happy that we did not know each other’s language as I got some time to myself. I spent a lot of time alone and in nature.

Unlike the stressful work-life, things were slower. I would do yoga with the sun rising at the backwaters and go for a long walk at the beach while the sun was setting. The experience of staying in this village was magical. I felt lighter mentally and stronger physically. I was staying away from technology and people. Being on my own surrounded by nature, living in a village and doing yoga everyday gave me my Eureka moment. I finally found my passion in yoga.

I was elated at finding my passion, but now it was time for me to leave. I bid Adieu to the monk and the innocent and loving people of the Ashram and Village with a heavy heart.

After this experience, I visited this village and another Ashram and village in India a few times. Now whenever I feel an overdose of the city madness, I head to an Ashram or Village.

My first experience in the Ashram and Village will always be one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I would urge anyone who is reading this to visit a village once in your life.

PS: The website of the place I visited is http://agastyashram.com/