Saccidananda Ashram

Located in the village of Tannirpalli in the Karur District of Tamil Nadu, on the Kaveri River ({{coord|10.927413| 78.440890|format=dms}}), Saccidananda Ashram was founded in 1950 by two French priests, Jules Monchanin, who later adopted the name Parma Arupi Anananda ("the supreme joy of the Spirit"), and Henri le Saux, who later adopted the name Abhishiktananda ("bliss of Christ").{{sfn|Kim|2008|p=31}}{{sfn|Collins|2007|p=83–84}}{{sfn|Coward|Goa|2004|p=87}} Le Saux was also a Benedictine monk.{{Sfn|Du Boulay|2005|p=16}} The two wrote a book together about their ashram, entitled An Indian Benedictine Ashram {{harv|Monchanin|le Saux|1951}}, which was later re-published under the title A Benedictine Ashram.{{sfn|Robinson|2004|p=30}} The goal of le Saux and Monchanin was to integrate Benedictine monasticism with traditional Indian ashram life, including renunciate life (sannyasa), saffron-colored (ochre) robes, and a vegetarian diet.{{sfn|Taft|1986|p=244}}{{sfn|Teasdale|2001|p=34}} In other words, "Vedantic philosophy, Christian theology, Indian lifestyle".{{Sfn|Oldmeadow|2004|p=103}}

Trappist monk Francis Mahieu joined them in 1953, and later went on to found Kurisumala Ashram with Bede Griffiths in 1958.{{sfn|Taft|1986|p=244}} Griffiths himself stayed at Saccidananda Ashram in 1957 and 1958, returning from Kurisumala to the monastery in 1968 as its leader{{sfn|Trapnell|2001|p=51,xvi}} after Monchanin's death in 1957 and le Saux's increasing preference to live in the Himalayas as a hermit rather than remain at Saccidananda.{{sfn|Trapnell|2001|p=114}}

The monastery's name of Saccidananda refers to the Trinity of Christianity: God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.{{sfn|Kim|2008|p=31}} It is the literal translation of Trinity as "Being—Consciousness/Knowledge—Bliss" (Sat—Cit—Ananda) made in 1882 by Keshub Chandra Sen.{{sfn|Collins|2007|p=83–84}} The choice of this term for the monastery's name represented both Monchanin's interest in blending Christian and Hindu mysticism and his strong adherence to Christianity. It was not Monchanin's wish to identify Hinduism's concept of the Absolute (advaita) with the Trinity of Christianity, although he did believe reconciliation of the two mystical traditions could, with much effort, be made.{{sfn|Kim|2008|p=31}} As to the overall interest of the two men in integrating Vedanta with Christianity, however, le Saux was much more radical in his thinking than Monchanin, whose focus was on the transformation by Christianity of other religions. Le Saux's focus, however, was on the transformation of Christianity by non-Christian religions.{{sfn|Cornille|1992|p=79}}

In addition to Saccidananda, the monastery also has another name: Shantivanam, or "place of peace."Shantivanam stands for something of unique value in the Church in India today. It stands for the contemplative mission of the Church, the mission to lead men to the contemplation of the Trinity, in which the ultimate mystery of the Godhead is revealed."{{Sfn|Griffiths|2021}}

Following the departure of Swami Abhishiktananda (Henri Le Saux) in 1968, the ashram was led by Father Bede Griffiths, an English Benedictine monk, until his passing in 1993. the ashram's leadership includes Fr. George, Bro. Martin, Fr.Dorathick Rajan has been serving as the Prior of Saccidananda Ashram (Shantivanam) since April 9, 2018. Under his leadership, the ashram continues its mission of integrating Christian monasticism with traditional Indian ashram life, fostering interreligious dialogue, and promoting contemplative practices.

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• [https://www.shantivanamashram.com Shantivanam Ashram]
• [https://oblatesofshantivanam.yolasite.com Oblates of Shantivanam]
• [http://www.bedegriffiths.com/shantivanam/ Shantivanam at Bede Griffiths Trust]
• [https://comment.org/the-tree-of-india/ The Tree of India (a 2023 pilgrimage to the ashram)]

Category:Catholic Church in India

Category:Christianity in Tamil Nadu

Category:Benedictine monasteries in Asia

Category:Camaldolese monasteries

Category:Religious organizations established in 1938

Category:Tiruchirappalli district

Category:Christian ashram movement