Sri Sri Swami Chidananda Giri, president and spiritual head of Yogoda Satsanga Society of India/Self-Realization Fellowship, had approved the permanent presence of YSS sannyasis at the Chennai Retreat in February 2024, to serve YSS devotees with daily meditations, spiritual counselling, conducting satsangas, sadhana sangams, retreats, and commemorations. Since then, there has been a surge in the interest of devotees for participating in various programmes and this demand is expected to grow in the times to come as more devotees seek spiritual rejuvenation and guidance.
Challenges with the Current Facilities
The existing facilities — originally designed for a retreat — have now become inadequate to meet this increased demand. The accommodation, kitchen, dining areas, administration, and other ancillary facilities require significant upgrades to support the ashram’s expanded role.
Some of the major challenges are as follows:
- Guest Accommodation: Most accommodations are dormitory-style, however, many devotees have requested separate rooms with attached baths.
- Sevaks’ Accommodation: There is a shortage of rooms for full-time sevaks and those who oversee the kitchen, reception, and other areas.
- Monastic Quarters: The monastics currently reside in a small, repurposed, former caretaker’s quarter, which lacks essential facilities such as an office space, dining area, kitchen, and laundry.
- Office and Reception: The existing office space must be increased to handle the increased administrative workload. During special events, reception and registration occur under a tree. Also, there is inadequate space for book display and sales.
The Need for Interim Upgradation of Facilities
While a comprehensive master plan is being developed for the ashram’s long-term growth, the existing facilities must be enhanced to ensure smooth operations and provide comfortable accommodation and services for devotees, sevaks, and monastics.
Proposed Facility Upgrades
Shown below are the architectural renditions of the accommodation facilities.
- Gents’ Accommodation: There is a plan to convert a large dormitory on the first floor into six double-bed rooms with attached baths and also construct four large rooms on the second floor, each with four beds and attached baths.
- Ladies’ Accommodation: Similarly, the first floor dormitory is being planned to be converted into six double-bed rooms with attached baths. On the second floor, three large rooms with four beds each and one double-bed room with an attached bath will be built.
- Office Block: A new office block with space for reception, book display and sales, accounts department, and resident sevak, a store, and a public toilet will be constructed. This block is expected to efficiently manage all organizational and outreach activities of the ashram.
- Monastic Quarters: A dedicated block with six rooms, bathrooms, an office area, a meeting room, a kitchen, and dining facilities for the monastics will be constructed.
- Sevaks’ Block: Once the monastics vacate their current quarters, these will be repurposed into six quarters for sevak couples, each with attached baths.
These upgrades will significantly improve the ashram infrastructure — providing larger living spaces, better furniture, spacious bathrooms, improved office space with additional amenities.
Estimated Cost
The total estimated cost for these upgrades is ₹ 4 crore. Your generous offering will help devotees experience a much more sublime and spiritually rewarding experience when they visit this Ashram.
