The Ashram in its current location was established in 1985. It was inaugurated by the District Collector in the presence of Srimat Swami Tanmayanandaji, in a dry land infested with shrubs and thorny bushes. In the beginning the Ashram served as a place of spiritual practice with Srimat Swami Ananthanandaji Maharaj (Maharaj) practicing penance here. There were spiritual discourses and interaction with few visitors at the Ashram. A fire accident gutted everything in the Ashram in 1986 and it had

to be rebuilt with limited available resources.

The Matriculation school in the town of Ulundurpet came under the management of the Ashram in 1985. Started with a strength of 75 students from lower kindergarten to that of the 10th standard, this school today has a student strength of over 1700.

Earlier, some of the Sisters along with Rev. Yateeshwari Ramakrishna Priya Amba (Maji) had started a school in Virudhachalam in 1979 in a depilated building with the kitchen soot filled wall as the black board.                                                    

Early Days                                                                                                                                                                 Go Top

This school was later moved to the current campus in Ulundurpet 1988. Initially 7 Sisters along with Maji managed the school and also the Ashram. In 1988, the resident school had 25 students starting from class 1 onwards. With very little resources available at their disposal, the Sisters had to necessarily involve the parents of all the students in the town in the inauguration function - many of the facilities required for the guests to stay were borrowed from few co-operative parents. When the school started, the Sisters did the job of maids, taking care of the needs of the students, then took over the role of the teachers in the school and also managed to cook for the students.

The team of Sisters along with the Maji and Maharaj decided that it was their given duty to provide quality education in this neighbourhood. Though they could not afford to employ staff or provide for more facilities, they strove to develop the required skills in themselves. In Virudhachalam, the Swamiji even designed and rode the rickshaw which brought the students to the school. Maji had to get up at 1 a.m. in the night to start preparing breakfast for the students and many times share the kitchen with the house owner to cook lunch for the inmates and students. In the early days at Ulundurpet, the Sisters used to fetch firewood and provisions from the town on bicycles.

As the word of the dedication and spiritual quality of the Ashram started to spread, more parents and students were drawn to the school and the neighbourhood started getting influenced by the Ashram. Proper classroom and science lab were built in 1990 and the dining hall in 1992. The Sisters along with the Swamiji literally constructed parts of building. The current Shrine at the Ashram stands in such a spot.            

Expansion of Activities                                                                                                                                          Go Top

The Sarada Samithi - women's associations in the nearby villages affiliated to the Ashram were initiated in 1994. During the initial days, just a team of 7 members used to frequent the Ashram and plan and work towards cultural activities in the villages. These Samities were later adopted under the Self-Help Group (SHG) scheme when the Ashram started the Vivekananda Seva Prathistan (VSP), it's service wing in 1997. Many villages had Sarada Samitis launched in 1998 during the Centenary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda's return from the West. Many of the village based service activities were inaugurated then. Today, the Ashram works in over 30 villages around the Ashram and has over 150 village SHGs (a SHG could be a women's group of 15 - 20) facilitated by the Vivekananda Seva Pratishtan.

In 1994 the Ashram also initiated agricultural activities, initially to provide for its own vegetable and fruit needs and also to supplement its income. However, this soon developed into an area of interest and research. After trying out horticulture between 1998 - 2000, it was realised that the only sustainable and long term farming solution lay in practicing traditional organic farming. Today, the Ashram has a complete organic farm. It is is a demonstration farm for better water conservation and natural input management in sugarcane cultivation. It is a centre for agricultural research and consulting in traditional and organic farming methods and practices.

Today

Today the Ashram is a pleasure to the eyes, gone are the thorny shrubs and bushes, in their place has been created beautiful gardens and farms which along with the prayers and love of the Sisters soothe the mind and spirit of any visitor. The Ashram is the centre of very many development activities in the neighbourhood. Government authorities, Industries, Farmers, Non-governmental Organisations, Women's groups, teachers, Village elders, Youth, Children, Labourers all feel that here is a home for them to come to. Many of them actively participate in the activities of the Ashram, some are directly working with the Ashram. All know that they benefit from the prayers of the Ashram.