When a story begins with a young professional couple renouncing their lucrative careers in 2015 to spread awareness of our country's spiritual wealth, you know that you are dealing with an unusual duo. That would be an understatement in the case of Adinarayanan and Smrithi Adinarayanan, founders of the Anaadi Foundation Ashram, located about 18 km away from the famous temple town of Palani, Tamil Nadu.
In the eight years of its existence, the Anaadi Foundation and ashram has produced a network of activities for children, youth, and families, which are both online and in-person. There are programmes on yoga, Itihasa-Purana, and Vedanta, blended with unique insights from modern science. Since its inception, the foundation has been actively involved in conducting classes for school children, as well as pursuing research on Indian sciences, astronomy, ayurveda, yoga, and ecology.
Situated in the picturesque foothills between two holy rocks, Periya and Chinna Iyvar Malai (respectively, the big and small hills), the nineacre ashram is intended as a place for seekers to practise sadhana, yoga, and ayurveda.
After their marriage in 2004, Adinarayanan and Smrithi worked in the software industry for a couple of years, before functioning for a decade as teachers in the Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetam (part of Mata Amritanandamayi's initiatives) in Coimbatore. Adinarayanan is a native of Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, a graduate in electrical engineering, with an MS in computer science from the USA. It was during this latter phase that he underwent a deep spiritual experience (which he later recognised as samadhi) and it ignited a strong desire to return to India to dedicate himself to spirituality and service to society.
This story is from the August 2023 issue edition of Life Positive.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2023 issue edition of Life Positive.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The 20 Best Postmillennial Spiritual Memoirs
If you are a spiritual seeker, then you will find that the list of books recommended here by Ashish Virmani will save you the time and effort of googling for modern spiritual classics to further your journey. And if you are not, perhaps it's time to start the process with these gems
Who says healing is no laughing matter?
In January 2016, Sheetal Agarwal from Delhi heard about medical clowning for the first time.
Zealous healer provides an alternative to allopathy
Satyendra Singh from Mumbai has had a remarkable journey.
Reaching Out with Kriya Yoga
Sanghamitra Chatterjee from Thane was initially inspired by her maternal grandmother and Swami Vivekananda to tread the path of spirituality.
Bavarian Beauty
Rashi Bunny’s decision to visit Bamberg instead of the more touristy cities in Germany gives us a taste of a historical town seeped in picturesque beauty as well as its gory witch-hunting past
The Power of the Gayatri Mantra
Navni Chawla explains the deeper significance of the 'most powerful mantra' by referring to quotes from the late Swami Veda Bharati, whose intuitive wisdom brings forth its splendour
From Squalor to Splendour: Reviving Puducherry
An inspiring tale of a feisty woman's fight to clean up a decaying city. Shivi Verma interviews Kiran Bedi, the formidable former IPS officer, who leaves an indelible impression wherever she goes
What does leading a good life mean?
A life well-lived is one that truly makes you happy and not one where you live according to someone else’s or the world’s idea of happiness.
Messenger of the masters
In a conversation with Pradeep Krishnan, Ann Shaw reveals how her spiritual journey led to her awakening at the feet of her master, Sri Ramakant Maharaj, a direct disciple of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
Freedom from Mind
As Suma Varughese embarks on freeing herself of the mind, she finds her allies in her inner Spiritual Warrior and her Vast Higher Self