Ladies Satsangas & Community Projects
A Comprehensive Guide to Śrī Vṛndāvana Dhāma
KIRTAN ASHRAM
A Token of Loving Gratitude
The Kirtan Ashram project focuses specifically on Srila Prabhupada’s spiritual daughters who sacrificed their youth to help Srila Prabhupada in his mission. Thus, for the first three years from the time of completion of the project, the eligibility for permanent residence at the Kirtan Ashram will be reserved to Srila Prabhupada’s initiated disciples in good standing.
Meanwhile, the Ashram will host senior ISKCON preachers for limited periods of time. Subject to availability, the Ashram will also host VIHE students and teachers.
We wish to create a model community exemplifying the six loving exchanges described in “The Nectar of Devotion”—not just for the benefit of the residents but also for the members of the Vaisnavi community living in or visiting Sri Vrindavan-dham. Thus, we envision a long-term situation wherein seniormost ISKCON devotees residing at the Kirtan Ashram will share their devotional experience with visiting Vaisnavis and assist one another in preparing for the final test, and wherein younger devotees will reciprocate by engaging in loving service to the senior Vaisnavis.
The Ashram has ten residential rooms, and it has been designed in such a way as to promote sadhu-sanga with a greater number of devotees. Thus, besides the large mandap of the already existing temple, we have built a multi-purpose hall and a basement (for cool summer meetings), a kitchen and pantry, a patio opening onto the garden, an additional toilet and shower room, and a couple of roof gardens—still to be developed.
The Ashram also has an office for organizational work.
From the onset, the Ashram aims at offering regular classes on sastra, kirtans, bhajans, istaghostis, a library, and festivals and seminars open to all.
ADMISSIONS AND STAY IN ASHRAM
a) Categories of residents - Temporary (up to six weeks)
- Short-term (up to three months)
- Long-term (up to one year)
- Permanent
b) Admissions in Ashram
- An admission committee will decide about applications for permanent and long-term residence.
- A smaller admission committee will decide about applications for short-term residence and temporary residence.
- Admissions for permanent and long-term residence must be filed with a recommendation letter.
- c) Admission criteria:
- The candidate must have the standard profile of an Ashram resident (see “Rules and Regulations of the Kirtan Ashram” for tentative guidelines)
- The Ashram residents (long-term and permanent) must be committed to the Kirtan Ashram mission and share the financial burden as per their capacity.
- A personal evaluation, based on interview, recommendation, trial period, etc., will be required.
- Once all the available rooms are occupied by permanent residents, applicants will be put on a waiting list or directed to future similar Ashrams to be developed.
- The admission of permanent residents is irrevocable, and once admitted none will be asked to leave, except in severe cases of deviation from the Ashram rules and mission.
- The Ashram is not a hospice. Very old ladies or ladies with very weak health, terminal diseases, or preparing to leave their body may not to apply for residence. Once accepted in the permanent category, however, the residents will be accommodated till they breathe their last—unless their desire is otherwise or their condition requires that they be transferred to the ISKCON hospice or some other institution of their choice.
- Initially, only disciples of Srila Prabhupada fulfilling the criteria will be considered for permanent residence. Thereafter, subject to availability, younger devotees will be considered for permanent residence.
d) Financial contributions
- Permanent residents and VIHE teachers will contribute as per their income.
- Guests will be charged according to the needs of the ashram. (In other words, we will try not to charge as much as the other ashrams in Raman Reti, but if we are not able to meet our monthly expenses we will have to charge the regular tariff for similar accommodation and security.)
RULES AND REGULATIONS
FOR THE KIRTAN ASHRAM RESIDENTS
- All long-term and permanent Ashram residents are required to dress in a sari during public programs and outside of the Ashram, so as to represent Srila Prabhupada properly and set an example in both ISKCON and society at large.
- The Kirtan Ashram is in the mood of renunciation. All categories of residents are requested to live a life of simplicity, conducive to transcending the bodily concept of life. (Artifacts that increase the bodily concept of life are not in that mood.)
- The Ashram welcomes single women who have come to Vrindavan to strengthen their sadhana in the association of similarly minded devotees. All categories of residents will have to fill in a C form upon arrival in order to comply with the local police regulations.
Directions: The Kirtan Ladies Ashram is located about a two minute walk from the Krishna Balarama Temple. It is near the beginning of the parikrama path, Parikrama Marg, Vrindaban 281121, U.P. India.
Link: www.vaisnavi.org