Ashram

[2][3] The Sanskrit noun āśrama- is a thematic nominal derivative from the root śrami 'toil' (< PIE *ḱremh2, cf.

[5] An ashram would traditionally, but not necessarily in contemporary times, be located far from human habitation, in forests or mountainous regions, amidst refreshing natural surroundings conducive to spiritual instruction and meditation.

The residents of an ashram regularly performed spiritual and physical exercises, such as the various forms of yoga.

In the Ramayana, the princes of ancient Ayodhya, Rama, and Lakshmana, go to Vishvamitra's ashram to protect his yajnas from being defiled by emissary-demons of Ravana.

In the Mahabharata, Krishna, in his youth, goes to the ashram of Sandipani to gain knowledge of both intellectual and spiritual matters.