We are happy to share with you an important update about the YSS Chennai Retreat.

In order to better serve YSS devotees in South India, starting from February 7, 2024, YSS sannyasis will be staying at the Chennai Retreat on a continuous basis. At least two monastics will be residing at the Retreat; they will lead meditations, conduct special events, provide spiritual counselling to visiting devotees and retreatants, and periodically visit major centres in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. We envision these initial measures as the first steps toward realizing our long-cherished dream of establishing an ashram in South India, creating a spiritual haven for all.

Please read further to know more about our plans and upcoming events at the retreat and how you could benefit from them.

A 17-acre facility

Over the last several years, interest in Yoganandaji’s teachings has been increasing at a rapid pace, especially in South India. Devotees from the southern states constitute a significant proportion of our YSS devotee community.  Further, with the release of the new edition of the YSS Lessons in Tamil and Telugu, the increase in interest in Guruji’s teachings in this region is even more remarkable.  As a result, we have been receiving many requests for monastic guidance from devotees in this region to help them with their sadhana.

Currently, all four YSS Ashrams are located in the northern and eastern parts of India, requiring devotees from the southern region to embark on long journeys to reach them. We hope that the Chennai Retreat, with its monastic presence, will become a convenient and easily accessible spiritual sanctuary for both new and existing devotees in the southern region.

The Chennai Retreat spread over seventeen acres currently has the following facilities and conveniences:

• 15+ acre tree plantation and vegetable garden

• Three gazebos and one meditation tower for private meditation

• Goshala with two cows that supply milk to the kitchen

• Air-conditioned Dhyana Mandir for 60 devotees

• Kitchen & Dining: 50-seat dining facility

• Accommodation:

  • AC dormitory-style accommodation for men: 30 beds

  • AC dormitory-style accommodation for women: 24 beds

  • AC single room devotee accommodation: 8 rooms 

We are grateful for the dedicated, selfless service and contributions of several devotees for over a decade that has made this retreat flourish and be available to all YSS/SRF devotees.

YSS monastics residing at the Chennai Retreat will be conducting:

• daily meditations

• weekly satsangas and commemorative functions at the Chennai Retreat/ Chennai Kendra

• Sadhana Sangams in February (Tamil), March (English), and April (Tamil) at the Retreat

• visits to major centres in the nearby states (starting April)

• summer camps for children

A detailed programme schedule for the first half of the year is available on the retreat website (along with other helpful information). All are welcome to participate in the programmes and benefit from them.

We encourage devotees to embrace the opportunity offered by this serene and expansive facility, nestled amidst a lake and a reserve forest, for their personal sadhana and retreats.