The Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi Ashram in Tadpatri was founded on August 22, 1982. On a land of 2.5 acres there are several small houses with an 8-sided meditation hall in the middle. There is a library, an office, a dining hall, a storehouse, a garden and several dwelling houses. A lot of the local black Cudappa stone was used in construction.

The Ashram land is situated at the northern edge of the town of Tadpatri (pop. 91 000) in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Just outside the Ashram lies the wide riverbed of the presently dry river Pennar. Just nearby is a beatiful Shiva temple built by the architects of the Vijayanagar Empire in the 15th century.

The Ashram is devoted to charitable activities and relies upon donations.

Twice a year, at the birth and death anniversaries of Sri Ramana Maharshi, the Ashram offers free food to 5000 poor people.

Thanks to financial support the Ashram was able to start providing daily free food for 10 poor people since January 2004.

People in difficult life situations are given shelter and food.

Regular Ashram activities include lectures by Sri Brahmam and invited speakers, cultural programmes like classical dance and bhajans.

Donations from the Czech Republic enabled the Ashram houses and garden to be renovated in 2003.

In November 2004 two new projects were completed in the Ashram. Visitors will now be able to stay in a new guest house, donated by devotees from the Czech Republic and a new entrance gate donated by Sri Justice Ravichandar from Australia welcomes all.

At present funds are collected for establishing a free dispensary.

In the future the Ashram is planning to build a school for physically handicapped children and a school for poor children and orphans.

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photos by Ramana Mahesh