Ananda Ashram at Sri Kambliswamy Madam Ananda Ashram at Sri Kambliswamy Madam - By Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri 1 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND In historical times, one of these Dravidian Masters called Agastya met with his Northern counterparts, some seven Long before Lord Shiva settled in meditation in the hoary great Masters in all, known collectively as the Sapta Himalayas, Mahadeva Shiva danced as the Supreme Lord Rishis. Vasishtha, Gautama and Bhrigu all journeyed to the of the Universe. Nataraja, across the red lands, the mighty cradle of knowledge in Dravidian to imbibe knowledge mountains and the azure sky of Dravidia, now South India. from the Siddhas. Later these great Yoga Rishis refined Archaeological and geological studies show that the high this ancient knowledge and put it into a framework of places of Dravidia have jutted above the landscape since Yoga and Vedanta that has been highly influenced by the time began. South India is perhaps the oldest part of any Aryan cults. The South of India is and was dominated by continent rearing itself above the ancient sea… the rest the worship of Mahadeva Shiva. The North of India was of the world and its dry land came much later. Known much more influenced by the Aryan Vishnu. Originally, as Kanyakandan in archaic Tamil, the land of Dravidia there were only two Yoga sects, those worshiping Shiva literature is older than the Aryan Vedic lore, older than and those associated with the worship of Vishnu. The any of the tales or myths of any people of the planet. Yoga of South India is Shiva-oriented and the natural So also, the worship of Lord Shiva in the South of India worship of the Shakta Lingam and the Shakti Yoni led to and the Yoga called Siddha Yoga is older than any insight a natural Tantra and Tantra-Yoga. These teachings were or practical techniques of any other form of Yoga. The later much adulterated as they were taken northwards. worship of Divine Mother as Kanyakumari, of Shakti yet Perhaps only in South India today does the pure Dakshina unwed to her Lord Shakta, gave rise to a cult predating Marga Tantra and its evolutionary Siddha Yoga still exist any religious worship or philosophy now known to man. and is still taught by living Siddhas and Rishis. The embodiment of this culture is still to be found in Saiva Siddhanta which is older than the Veda Vedanta of AN UNBROKEN ANCIENT TRADITION the North. In this healthy climate great Siddhas or Yogis stalked the land, great Masters in their own right. The center of Tantra and Yoga learning was the Siddha Ashramam or the Yoga Gurukula where students were taught in the direct presence of an evolved Master. The Rishi Agastya established such a camp called Dehra Agastya near the ancient city of Vedapuri in South India. Today, Vedapuri is known as Pondicherry, a sleepy, old French colonial town, basking in the sun on the shores of Entrance at Main Gate of Ananda Ashram the ancient Kurumandala Sagara, the Coromandal Sea of Cover Photo (PC Yogasadhak Padma) the Indian Ocean. Spiritual seekers flocked to the Masters As one crosses a small bridge from the Thattanchavady who followed in a long line of Gurus in the center founded Industrial Estate, the lush arch of rose bougainvillea, by the Rishi Agastya. A Paramparya line of teachers exists and other tropical vines greet the eye. Through the to this present day from that time. Part of the history is lotus iron grill work gates is a flower-potted driveway oral, while some details have been noted down in records. that is interrupted by a giant circular pool. Out of the center of this irrigation pool which also serves as the In the year 341 AD, a written item attests to a Gurukula at swimming pool, rises a green shaft, topped by a bright Thattanchavady, the gold market and goldsmith’s center pink lotus and rising from the center of the lotus is of Vedapura. A Mauni Swami, possibly one known as a gigantic ceramic statue of Shiva and Paravathi in Ramalingam Swamigal, from what is now Tiruvannamalai Ananda Thandava, the Cosmic Dance. Surrounded by the gigantic ring of gold fire are the two figures of in Tamil Nadu, was the Siddha Mahant. He was followed Shiva and Parvathi. Shiva and Parvathi have danced by one Gnanananda Giri who, during his lifetime, became themselves into such ecstasy that they do not know affectionately known only as Kambliswamy, the “Blanket they are upside down and utterance of the Nada “Aah” Swami”. Kambliswamy was a famous Master of Ashtanga by Shiva releases the Panchamahabhutas, the five Yoga. The Math that exists to this day bears his name. Cosmic Elements of earth, air, fire, water and ether and the universe is born. The lush foliage of the jungle-like Madam is the Tamil style for the Sanskrit “Matha.” As the orchard can be easily seen in this depiction. At the top word “Madam” has a corrupted meaning in the colloquial left are the leaves of a tropical fig tree while papaya French of Pondicherry, the term Madalayam is generally and other soft fruits Jut to the sky. The giant tree in the used to designate this spiritual center. background is a century old mango tree. Through the legs of Shiva and Parvathi the upper roof of the main Ashram office can be seen. Ananda Ashram at Sri Kambliswamy Madam - By Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri 2 THE PRESENT INSTITUTION The Main Entrance to the Samadhi of Srila Sri Kambliswamy (PC Yogacharya Dr Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani) The Paramparya from the time of Sri Kambliswamy is an illustrious one. When this Master of Ashtanga Yoga left his body in Jala Samadhi, he was After circumbulating the gigantic water pool and its put into his tomb by his disciple, Sri Ambalavanaswamigal who cared for fountain, potted plants line the walkways to the main and tended the Samadhi shrine. Ambalavanaswamigal was succeeded entrance to the shrine consigning mortal remains of by Sri Manikaswamigal, who was succeeded by Sri Shanmukaswamigal, the famous Siddha Sri Kambliswamy. Over the three gigantic arches marking the main entrance is a bas who was succeeded by Sri Veluswamigal. Sri Veluswamigal appointed Sri relief of Rama, Lakshman and Sita along with Hanuman Subrahmaniaswamigal who named Sri Shankaragiri Swamigal as his chosen worshiping the Shiva Linga. Shiva and Parvathi hover successor. Old age and ill health motivated Shankaragiri Swamigal to elevate in the ether above. The Tamil lettering says “Sri Kambli his disciple Dr. Swami Gitananda to the Ghanti of the Madalayam. Yogarishi Jnana Desigar Swamigal Samadhi’’. The buildings depicted had been brought up in 1974 through 1978 Dr. Swami Gitananda, trained and cultured in Tantra, Siddha Yoga and under the architectural inspiration of Yogarishi Dr. Ashtanga Yoga by his illustrious Gurus, has extended the Madam and all of its Swami Gitananda and merge into the giant jungle like activities by bringing together the physical assets and working technology gardens so that it is difficult to get any one single pic- of the many institutions under his care. A huge new complex of buildings ture expressing the Ashram completely. The buildings has come up on the Thattanchavady site, which is also known as Ananda are tastefully decorated in olive green with golden oak arches. The giant Murthi depicted is in brilliant Ashram. The Madam’s extensive lands are under cultivation of rice and other colour. The thatched (palm) roof above is Dr. Swami fruit crops. The gardens of the Ashram are extensive and well landscaped. Gitananda’s office, a long breezeway on the second The Madam complex is centered by a huge circular fountain with a beautiful floor that allows for both indoor-outdoor work-living. Murthi (statue) of Shiva/Shakti in the Ananda Thandava pose in the center of Note how the tree and vines have merged everywhere over the building in but a few short years. Plant life in the pool. Shady, sandy areas under sacred peepal trees are used for classes, as the tropics grows very rapidly. well as the upper patio deck of the main building and a large Satsangha Hall. Ananda Ashram at Sri Kambliswamy Madam - By Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri 3 Ashram Entrance (PC Yogacharya Dr Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani) As you enter the high flowing arches of Ananda Ashram, the eyes are arrested by the spectacular statues of young mend doing Asanas. The statues run up both sides of the entrance into the Ashram itself. Atop two giant wooden pillars are the figures of Viparita Karani, the Topsy Turvy Pose and a form of Vrishchika, the Scorpion Pose. The wooden doors have been re-built from the original Rangoon teak doors of the small Kutir in which the previous Madathipathis lived. As the door originally was too short for the mod- ern Yoga enthusiasts, and particularly Westerners, it was enlarged from other teak wood available in the Ashram. In rebuilding Sri Kambliswamy Madalayam, the rafters of the old Kutir were refilled into the woodwork of all of the windows of the ground floor of the building. Today it would be impossible to use such expensive material in building. All of the materials that could be reused went into the new construction while even the rubble was pounded into the floor before the new flooring was put on top. Not a single grain of sand, brick rubble or other material was lost in the reconstruction of the “new model” buildings. Ananda Ashram at Sri Kambliswamy Madam - By Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri 4 The East Entrance (PC Yogasadhak Padma) The only public approach to Ananda Ashram at the Sri Kambliswamy Madalayam is through the south on the north side of the Thattanchavady Industrial Estate.