Kodaikanal Nature

At the ashram we live by the belief that the earth is a living being with a conscious field of awareness. Her awareness brings each living creature into connection with the other, and through this connection life on every level is sustained. Every human being is linked into this collective consciousness, however for most this connection has been suppressed to a subconscious or unconscious level recognition, appearing in the haphazard intuitions, déjà vu or obscure visions of the dream world. One of the easiest ways to expand your consciousness is through nature as nature is the most accessible and abundant feature of the physical dimension of human life whose consciousness is interdependent. Reconnect with nature and you will automatically reconnect with a higher state of consciousness.

Nature is the hidden guide of our spirits. She tends to our every step, anticipating our growth and awaiting our self-actualization when we become one with the creation. According to many world spiritual traditions, from the Mayans of the America’s to the Trantrics of India, moving to the rhythms of nature creates an indestructible bond between individual spirit and the eternal. Conscious of this truth, the Tureya ashram in Kodaikanal is situated in the serenity of nature so that every student can rediscover their cosmic mother.

The location of the Tureya Ashram has been specifically selected for its connection to the natural world. Close enough to civilization to have road access and electricity but far enough away to be free from the man-made world, our ashram in Kodaikanal is a place where students can reestablish their relationship with nature. A few important features that are worth mentioning to the first-time visitor of the ashram:

~ Location: Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India. Elevation: 1.700 m or 5,600 ft. Average temperature: 24-27 C or 75-80 F. Climate: Sub Tropics

~ Aside from the few farmers near the ashram, the surrounding area is wilderness with a mixture of rocky slopes, grassy hills, and temperate forests. On every side of the ashram are mountains filled with the flora and fauna of Southern India, the air filled with the songs of over 300 species of birds and the sky fresh with clean air provided by the neighboring trees and other greenery.

~ The total size of the ashram grounds is over 30 acres giving students ample space to roam into a quite space where they can relax, read, meditate and unite with the surrounding wildlife.

~ Many hiking trails connect to the ashram venturing to the peaks of the mountains and random hideaways amongst the different nuances of the valley which together provide students with the space necessary to explore the surround nature.

~ With over 8 months of sunshine each year in a higher elevation the ashram’s environment is warm enough to never receive snow or frost but cool enough to avoid the extreme heat of the plains of India. In the middle of winter the coldest temperature is 20 C at night and in the peak of summer the hottest temperature during the day is 28 C. All and all Kodaikanal offers an ideal climate for spiritual practices.

~ Above all, Mother Nature has blessed us with a sanctuary amongst the holy land of southern India, and with this gift of life and nature we offer ourselves as temporary caretakers to share her love and beauty with all those who come to visit the ashram. Om Shanti!