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The word ashram is derived from the Sanskrit 'aashraya', which means 'protection'. (In the pronunciation of 'aashraya', the ending 'a' is not lengthened to 'aa'.) In many respects, a Hindu ashram is analogous to a Buddhist Monastery . Ashrams have been a powerful symbol throughout Hindu history and mythology. Most Hindu kings until the medieval ages are known to have had a sage who would advise the royal family in spiritual matters, or in times of crisis, who was called the Rajguru (Literally 'royal teacher'). A world-weary emperor going to this guru's ashram, and finding solace and tranquility, is a recurring motif in many folktales and legends of ancient India. Ashrams were usually located far from human habitation, inside forests or mountainous regions, amidst refreshing natural surroundings conducive to spiritual instruction and Meditation . Sometimes, the goal of a pilgrimage to the ashram was not tranquility, but instruction in some art, especially warfare. In the epic , Lord Krishna , in his youth, goes to the ashram of Sage Sandiipanii , to gain knowledge of both intellectual and spiritual matters. Sometimes, the word is used as a synonym of Matha , but mathas are generally more hierarchical and rule-bound than ashrams, belonging to ancient orders of Hindu Sadhu s (Renunciants who are still searching for realization, as opposed to Rishi s who have found it.) Today, the term ashram is used to refer to an Intentional Community formed primarily for spiritual upliftment of its members, often headed by a religious leader or mystic. A number of Ashrams have been founded in India in the 20th century as well, most notably the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad which served as Mahatma Gandhi 's headquarters during the long struggle for India's independence and Aurobindo Ashram , founded in Pondicherry by the Bengal i revolutionary-turned-Hindu-mystic Aurobindo Ghosh . The world-famous Karar-Ashram in Puri , in the state of Orissa , India was founded by Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri in 1903. Up to this day, the ashram is maintained and, having had such illustrious heads as Swami Satyananda Giri, and Paramahamsa Hariharananda , its monastics are still teaching Kriya Yoga which became very popular in the western world through Paramahansa Yogananda . EXTERNAL LINKS
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