The Newsletter of Alandi Ashram and Alandi Ayurvedic Gurukula

Summer 2001 issue 

Agni 

The 

Newsletter of Alandi Ashram 

and Alandi Ayurvedic Gurukula 

Letter from Alakananda 

Hidden Master Reappears 

in Boulder 

As I look back on the outstanding events of the 

spring, what strikes me as most remarkable is the 

unprecedented outpouring of dream appearances 

by Raghudas. In almost nineteen years since his 

mahasamadhi (great departure from the body) 

Raghudas has rarely granted his darshan in 

dreams, appearing on very special occasions such 

as when we first arrived in America, or on the eve 

of an important ritual. Yet recently he has appeared 

in several dreams, both to myself and Sadananda, 

and to other members of the Alandi family. Clearly, 

he wants to let us know that the current growth and 

expansion of Alandi’s mission is his doing. 

In the Indian context, most people have three 

gurus, a personal guru, a family guru, and a village 

guru, who guides and blesses the local community 

providing cohesion and direction. Within our 

Alandi community, there are numerous personal 

gurus, different members of our family having taken 

initiation from Karunamayi, Amritanandamayi, 

Anandi Ma, Guru Mayi, Neem Karoli Baba, 

Shivabalayogi, and other great embodiments of the 

spirit of guidance. Whilst fully respecting the paramount 

importance of these connections, Raghudas, 

in his recent cycle of dream apparitions, is clearly 

showing himself as the village guru. 

To quote just one dream that illustrates this point, 

I recently dreamt that I was in a place which was a 

combination of Alandi, India, and Alandi, Boulder. 

(For those of you that haven’t yet read Pilgrimage to 

the Mother, Alandi is Raghudas’ place of spiritual 

practice.) Suddenly, Raghudas arrived looking 

youthful and healthy. To my surprise, he seemed to 

be wearing blue jeans. After I brought him inside, I 

realized that he was actually wearing a robe made 

of blue denim and blue muslin, a special 

“American outfit” which he had made himself. He 

gave darshan, sitting down on the floor with everyone 

gathered in a circle around him. And what a 

circle it was! If you have been to Alandi Ashram for 

chanting, meditation, shabbat or classes, then you 

were clearly visible in that circle. I saw each one of 

you distinctly. I woke from the dream knowing that 

Raghudas’ message to us this spring is “I am not 

dead. I am alive and well in Alandi, Boulder. And I 

am with you, each one of you. You may not know 

me, but I know you.” 

To make a closer connection with Raghudas, read 

some of the stories about him in Pilgrimage to the 

Mother. Open the page with his 

continued inside 

2 My Healing Journey 

2 News Briefs 

3 Family News 

3 Announcements 

4 Karunamyi, Life Divine 

5 Boulder Lags in Giving 

6 Flower Essence: Rocky Mountain Iris 

6 Comments on Pilgrimage to the Mother 

6 Gurukula Graduation 

7 Recipe: Herbal Summer Cures 

7 Sadananda: On Vedic Fire Sacrifice 

We are excited to bring you the fifth issue of Agni, the newsletter of 

Alandi Ashram and the Alandi Ayurvedic Gurukula. This is our opportunity 

to extend the community out of the physical space of the 

Ashram, and to invite you to participate by reading and by coming to 

Ashram events. If you are interested in becoming more involved by 

attending Ashram events, attending classes, having an Ayurvedic consultation, 

participating in seva, advertising in the newsletter, or anything 

else in any way, please call us at 303-786-7437 for more information. 

We can also be reached by e-mail at alandi_ashram@yahoo.com 

Thank you to everyone who helps us to support community and to 

everyone who has helped to manifest Agni. 

Agni Staff: Editors: Alakananda Devi, MountainSun Diamond; Design: Scott Harmon 

Alandi Ashram and Ayurvedic Gurukula • 1705 14th St. PMB392, Boulder, CO 80302 • 303-786-7437

Agni The Newsletter of Alandi Ashram and Alandi Ayurvedic Gurukula 2 

picture, ask him to bless you with a dream or intuition 

of his love and presence, or come to the little 

temple at Alandi Ashram for his darshan. 

My Healing Journey 

Bea Enright, Yoga Teacher 

May 2000. I knew something was wrong, very 

wrong. It was the first evening of the Advanced 

Yoga Training at the Y of the Rockies. Although I 

live in Boulder at 5500 feet, I found at 8000 feet I 

could hardly breathe walking up the road from dinner 

to Wind River Lodge. I felt light headed, weak 

and winded. Every 10 feet I had to stop to catch my 

breath. What was going on I thought about going 

home, but decided to stay. That night I opened 

Pilgrimage to the Mother and by Wednesday I had 

called Alandi Ashram and made an appointment 

with Alakananda. As I told my roommate Joan, I 

know she’ll be able to help me. 

The further I read in her book, the more I was convinced 

that Alakananda would uncover what was 

wrong with me and she would know what to do. A 

few days later I met with Alakananda. The first 

thing she said to me, before reading my pulses or 

doing any diagnosis was, “Are you always so pale 

There’s no color in your face!” Her words struck me 

as peculiar, as we had recently returned from the 

sun and I thought I had a tan. “No, no you are 

much too pale.” 

Alakananda questioned me carefully, listened 

attentively to all my symptoms and explanations, 

then checked my pulses, tongue, gums, eyes, etc. 

When she finished her examination, she said, “I 

think you are extremely anemic and I think you've 

been this way for a long time. I want you to go to 

your primary western doctor and have blood tests 

done today if possible.” And she wrote out exactly 

what tests I should have. “And I want to have the 

results of the blood work as soon as it’s available.” 

When I saw her again a few days later, she was 

concerned. I explained that after a stool test that 

was positive for blood in the stool, my other doctor 

referred me to a gastroenterologist for a colon procedure 

the following week. Alakananda said, 

“You’re in the hands of your western doctors now; 

their tests will find out the reason for the anemia.” 

I sensed that she knew more than she was speaking. 

The colonoscopy revealed several benign 

polyps and a cancerous tumor. Throughout this 

time I was aware of Alakananda’s presence, peaceful 

and loving, especially during my daily meditations. 

I asked if we could do a healing ceremony at 

Alandi before my surgery and she and Terra and 

Felicia met with me for a fire ceremony. 

After surgery Alakananda gave me a special diet 

and regime to follow. I was so impressed with how 

my healing was going that I asked to study 

Ayurveda with Alakananda in the fall. In the past 

seven months, I’ve changed my diet; become more 

involved in the mission of Alandi, To Open Hearts; 

I’ve done Pancha Karma and all my family members 

have seen Alakananda in clinic, reporting positive 

results. I’m grateful to Alakananda, Alandi 

Ashram, and Ayurveda. 

News Briefs 

Temple Activities: Spring got off to a wonderful 

start with our night long celebration of 

Mahashivaratri. Twelve gallons of Panchamrit were 

poured over the Shiva lingam, at a cost of $200. 

Attendance at Monday night Shiva bathing continues 

to grow in numbers and enthusiasm. 

Ramanaumi (Lord Ram’s birthday) was celebrated 

with chanting of Ram Nam and stories from the 

Ramayana. Agnihotra and meditation continue on 

a daily basis and are open to participants. Please 

call to confirm time. 

The Alandi Ashram Vision Retreat was a huge 

success. Members of the community gathered to 

share their visions for Alandi as we grow from a 

family to a village in our endeavors. Participants of 

the retreat volunteered to work on committees to 

support the ashram in such areas as: fundraising, 

education, spiritual activities and residential community. 

Boulder Co-op Market now has over 500 members, 

possibly the largest pre-opening membership 

of any co-op to date. The impressive number shows 

the strong need for a co-op in Boulder. To be among


the original 1000 founding members, call 303-447- 

2669 for more information. 

Action against GMO’s in Colorado is being 

spearheaded by the Rocky Mountain Peace and 

Justice Center. According to the teachings of the 

Vedas and Ayurveda, genetic engineering will lead 

to environmental degradation, with a shortened life 

span and diminished intelligence among humans 

and other life forms. The first priorities are to stop 

the planting of GMOs on Boulder County Open 

Space and to ensure that GMOs are labeled in the 

state of Colorado. For more information on becoming 

actively involved, call Carolyn Bninski at the 

RMPJC, 303-444-6981. 

Proposed burn is scheduled at Rocky Flats for 

Spring 2002. Not again! Yes, a burn is scheduled 

at Rocky Flats for Spring of 2002. And though the 

Rocky Flats Coalition of Local Governments asked 

DOE to fund a panel of experts to examine alternatives 

to burning vegetation on the nuclear contaminated 

site, this panel’s reports will not be considered 

until the latter half of this year. This committee’s 

report must be considered sooner to ensure 

a responsible decision. Please call your elected 

government officials and inform them that that the 

panel’s report should be considered in a timely 

manner. Tell them your opinion; do you think that 

they should be burning the vegetation at this 

nuclear contaminated site 

Thank you to Jane Bunin, P.C. Brokers and Sita 

Sharan for donations, respectively, of a computer, 

monitor and fax machine. And a big thank you to 

Ali Tameem for setting up our computer and database. 

With a foothold in the information age, we 

hope to reach you more effectively. 

Thank you to Felicia Tomasko, who volunteered 

on our greenhouse and composting project as service 

learning hours for her environmental ethics 

class at C.U. and to Satya, who designed our garden 

plan as a final project for her Naropa vegetable 

gardening class. 

Family News 

Congratulations to Felicia Tomasko and Ali Tameem 

on graduating from C.U., Felicia as a Biology major 

and Ali as a Physics major, and to Hilary Moshman 

for graduating from her INVST program. 

In Memorium Padrig Carr, Donegal beekeeper 

and far-flung member of our Alandi family. Paddy 

was a man of genuine goodness and wisdom. Our 

prayers are with his family at this time. 

Announcements 

Prema Press is now accepting orders for 

Alakananda’s second book, The Rainbow 

Bridge: Prophetic Encounters with the Mother’s 

Path of Unity. Second in the Patchwork Mandala 

Trilogy, the book follows Alakananda and 

Sadananda’s adventure from the Himalayas to 

Colorado. “In travels that span East and West, we 

will encounter yogis, Tibetan Lamas, medicine 

men, Christian saints, divine mothers and a 

California born Sufi teacher. In prophetic dream we 

will glimpse the shimmering form of the future, 

reflected in the mirror of the present, and hear the 

voice of the awakening feminine as she guides us 

with a new millennium.” (From the introduction.) 

Subscribe now and pay only $15.25 (a 15% discount 

form the cover price).You will receive your 

signed copy as soon as the books rolls off the press. 

Outside Boulder, include a $3. shipping fee; 

Boulder residents can pick up the prepaid copy at 

the book party, TBA. Make checks payable to: 

Prema Press, 1705 14th St. PMB 392 Boulder, CO, 

80302. All proceeds from Prema Press support 

Alandi Ashram and Alandi Ayurvedic Gurukula. 

To add a sick, dying or deceased person to our 

prayer list please call Alakananda at 303-786- 

7437. Photographs are appreciated, especially of 

those who have recently died; photos will be 

returned. 

Alandi Ashram offers pastoral services or 

home visits for sick, elderly and dying people 

interested in healing chanting or sacred music. 

There is no charge for pastoral service. Call 

Sadananda at 303-786-7437. 

Teaching clinic starts in August and is available 

at a low cost to individuals and families who qualify. 

Call 303-786-7437.


Thank you to our donors, Alice Robinett, Bea 

Enright, Debbie Feyh, and Glen Mowery, and to 

Tamara Matthews for donating her time for our 

communication workshop. 

Thank you to all who have donated for 

Karunamayi’s visit. Donors (as of May 1st) 

Alakananda, Sadananda, Dawn Mahowald, Leslie 

Kalechman, Eli Shapiro, David and Liz Ford, David 

and Liz Moloney, K.C. and Usha Gupta, Prema and 

Vivekanandan, Linda Cowan, Haily Oomen, 

Northern Lights Bookstore, Morris Cohen, 

Rosemary Brown, Ann Rae Pons, Alfred Terrell. 

Thank you to all who donated gifts or services for 

our silent auction and to those who bought these 

lovely items and services. We raised over $1500! 

Thank you to Habiba Kabir and Alakananda for 

donating their flower essence business, Earth 

Keeper Essences. This donation reflects years of 

patient work and research and is a great enrichment 

for Alandi. 

A huge and loving thanks to all of the people who 

helped make graduation fabulous! Alakananda, 

Sadananda, Seva Singh, Ali Tameem, Dawn and 

Tom Mahowald, Sushil Singh, Mimi Bergen, Meirav 

Lesham, Royal Peacock Restaurant, and The Taj 

Restaurant. 

Karunamayi, Life Divine 

Rachel Corday 

All my life I have been trying to find the Divine 

Presence. I went from the Congregational and 

Episcopal church, to the born again churches. I 

went to the church of alcohol, marijuana, LSD, and 

mescaline and the church of social and political 

protest. I went to the church of nihilism and existential 

void, the church of sex, bars and rock and roll. 

When Maharishi came to visit America in the midsixties 

I learned Transcendental Meditation. I read 

the Upanishads, Bagavad Gita, Tao Te Ching, the 

Greek myths, and the Bible. I read J.D. Salinger, 

Ayn Rand, Dostoevsky, and William James. 

I chanted, “Nam Yo Ho Ren Ge Kyo” and “Om”; I 

studied world religions and 18th century philosophy: 

the Age of Enlightenment and left-brained glory. 

Neither I nor the Divine was anywhere to be found. 

My life was a daily experience of extremes, and 

through the frantic intensity of this entanglement 

with Maya, and the suffering that my longing forced 

me through, I awakened one day as I sat on the 

floor of the Berkeley library reading Samuel 

Beckett’s Waiting for Godot. 

In this lonely spot, Grace came to visit me. I was 

awake, my heart rested and I was no longer in 

between things but among everything. But while I 

knew the Divine and could see that nothing was 

not Divine, I desired communion with another 

being like myself, another form of Divine art similar 

to mine. I wanted to experience heart-life and 

come up against direct power. I wanted Shakti. 

Two years ago I met Alakananda Devi. I could see 

she had traveled many roads and had welcomed all 

they brought her. I could see she the light of awakening 

in her eyes and in her form as she walked. I 

was blessed and gifted by her healing power. One 

day I had the occasion to go into Alakananda’s 

home and Sadananda was there. I looked around 

and on the walls there were many, many pictures of 

beloved ones, people who brought light and healing 

to the world. 

In one glance I saw Karunamayi, and I went to her. 

I said to Sadananda, “Look! Here she is. This is the 

one I want to see.” Sadananda smiled and said, 

“She’s coming. She’s coming to Boulder.” 

Two months later I sat before Karunamayi herself, 

Amma. The Divine Mother had come, and in her 

Presence my heart was filled with joy and sorrow, 

and delight and sadness, and all the longing and all 

the love I had ever felt. It was a power greater than 

any I had ever known. Here, in and through Amma, 

I could see and feel all that was in the world. And 

it was love, all love, infinine love. 

Amma is the power of love and the gentleness of 

love. She is the compassion of love and the humility 

that love teaches. And the love that Amma is, is 

the love that I am, and the love that you are, and 

the love that is the heart of all things that are. 

In this experience that I had been searching for 

throughout my life, in this union of love with the 

Beloved, the door opened, and I entered the heart 

of home.


Amma is home, for Amma is the heart of us all. It 

cannot be but so. We cannot be and will never be 

outside the love of Amma. My heart is grateful and 

free, and as Amma has given to me, I would say to 

each of you, “When you seek, the love of Amma 

will come. Amma will come because she has come 

already. She is the love of you, the ever-abundant, 

eternally-giving, fountain of life of you. She is the 

call of you, calling you home. 

Boulder Lags in Giving 

Alakananda Devi 

According to survey data collected by The 

Community Foundation, “The level of giving is 

lower in Boulder County than in comparable communities 

across the nation”. Specifically, Boulder 

falls far behind Denver. Only 84% of Boulder residents 

give, compared to 90% of Denver residents. 

And the amounts given by people in Boulder tend 

to be smaller than those given by Denverites, 

despite the fact that the average after-tax income is 

$6,000 a year more in Boulder than in Denver. In 

other words, Boulder, a prosperous community, is 

giving below its capacity. 

Why should we give, and to whom According to 

the teachings of all wisdom traditions, giving is not 

optional, it is a duty. One who does not give is a 

barbarian, even if she or he lives in a large home on 

Mapleton Hill. Bhagavad Gita explains that gift-giving 

falls into three categories. When a gift is given 

to an unworthy person, such a gift reflects tamas, 

the mode of ignorance. Even a gift to a good cause 

expresses tamas if it is given in a contemptuous or 

disrespectful manner. Sant Jnaneshvar, in his commentary 

on Gita, warns his listeners not to try to 

get away with a gift of “a trifling sum”. If the cause 

is worth giving to, stretch yourself and give a larger 

gift, an amount that means something to you. 

A gift given with hope of return reflects rajas, or the 

mode of passion. Not only should we not hope for 

return from the recipient of the gift, we should also 

avoid the temptation to win fame or respect with 

philanthropy. For our gift to reflect sattva, the mode 

of goodness, we must give to a worthy cause, without 

the hope of return and with the understanding 

that we are simply doing our duty. 

Giving is not a random act, not just something we 

do with our spare change. Rather, we should set 

aside a designated percentage of our income and 

allocate these funds to our “giving portfolio”. The 

giving portfolio is a type of investment. We invest 

in quality of life, for our local community and for 

the world. The Vedas emphasize two types of causes 

as paramount, those that relieve poverty and 

those that preserve sacred outlook. 

When assembling your giving portfolio, first 

include an agency such as the homeless shelter 

that relieves poverty at the local level (for more 

ideas, look up www.cultureofgiving.org). Next, 

select some organizations that relieve poverty in 

less wealthy countries. One suggestion for 2001: 

relief for the aftermath of the Gujarat earthquake. 

Also include in your portfolio some non-profits that 

address deeper causes of poverty and suffering 

such as the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice 

Center. Perhaps you feel that global warming could 

be an underlying cause for drought and famine in 

places such as Afganistan. In that case, relieving 

poverty requires you to support some environmental 

organizations. Protecting animals and trees also 

ranks high in the order of worthy causes. 

Finally, remember that the most sattvic gifts of all 

are those given to organizations which promote 

sacred outlook. Non-profits such as Alandi serve to 

nurture your spirit, awaken your heart and spread 

more love in the world. If you yourself have 

received spiritual upliftment, remember that helping 

to provide this upliftment for others is an important 

investment in the future and a significant 

aspect of your giving portfolio. We at Alandi believe 

that today's pressing challenges such as poverty, 

famine, war and environmental degradation can 

only be met by the awakening of love, oneness, 

simplicity and connectedness with in the human 

heart. This is our mission and thus we address 

poverty and suffering at its root cause. 

By now, you may be feeling like the President of the 

United States, as you allocate a budget to relieve 

poverty, protect the environment and preserve 

sacred outlook. And it’s true. Millions of citizens, 

investing responsibly in the community and the 

world, have untold power. Now that you have covered 

the primary aspects of giving, remember the 

other non-profits that enhance your quality of life.


Without music, art, literature, community radio, a 

co-op market, and other enrichments, what would 

your life be Creating a giving portfolio is both 

empowering and educational, encouraging you to 

respect and support many aspects of communal life 

that you might otherwise take for granted. 

A percentage of all donations made to Alandi Ashram 

during 2001 will be given to grassroots community 

organizations in Gujarat. 

Flower Essence of the Season 

Rocky Mountain Iris 

The radiant blue bog iris is for states of feeling 

“bogged down” or stuck in the mud. In these states 

of mind, Rocky Mountain Iris brings inspiration, 

helping us to higher illumination. It can be helpful 

when one wishes to gain greater understanding of 

higher purpose and when there are issues around 

creativity and artistic expression. Because malignant 

disease is related to blocked creativity, Rocky 

Mountain Iris may be useful for those who have 

cancer. Iris is under the dominion of the Moon and 

is an important essence for those whose charts 

have a strong influence of the Moon or Cancer. 

If you would like help with emotional issues from 

flower essences, please make an appointment with 

Alakananda. 

complete understanding of the pilgrim's path in 

India, as ideas, customs and rituals were 

explained. From the sea to the hills and from the 

plains to the lofty Himalayas, my soul was carried 

along through the drama of self-discovery that 

flowed from Alakananda’s heart. 

If I physically never make such a pilgrimage, it’s 

okay, because I feel in essence I’ve been there, the 

mystic journey revealed and accepted. 

The pilgrimage is in the heart and the open-hearted, 

trusting seeker is led along by this story of 

Alakananda Devi, to the goal, because this is our 

story and we are one. 

Pilgrimage to the Mother, Prema Press, $17.95 

ISBN 0-9657559-0-8 

To order send $17.95 plus $3.00 shipping to Prema 

Press, 1705 14th St. PMB 392, Boulder, CO 80302. 

Gurukula Graduates 

On May 19th Alandi Ayurvedic Gurukula held its 

first graduation in the Healing Garden at Alandi 

Ashram. It was a beautiful and delightful ceremony 

Comments on Pilgrimage to 

the Mother 

Glenn Mowery 

Can our ordinary attachment to family, culture and 

personality be transformed into the freedom of 

oneness with all Pilgrimage to the Mother, a 

Woman’s Journey to the Source of the Ganges, is 

an inside look at one such transformation, told in 

an easy to understand manner while revealing the 

depths of the soul’s true capability. 

I was drawn along by the excitement of the tale, as 

though I was being led to the feet of spiritual masters 

and given their blessings. I came to a more 

which commenced precisely as the gentle afternoon 

sunshine broke through the day’s clouds. Terra 

Richardson and Nita Desai graduated as Ayurvedic 

Practitioners. Felicia Tomasko, Heather Pehnec, 

Jyoti Seth and MountainSun Diamond graduated as 

Ayurvedic Educators and Felicia Tomasko graduated 

as a Pancha Karma Therapist.


Alakananda, Sadananda and the graduates performed 

a yagna to the Goddess of Learning, 

Sarasvati with the support of family and friends of 

the graduates. 

The ceremony blessed each one of the graduates as 

a healer steeped in the Ayurvedic tradition and as 

a vehicle for compassion. Alakananda invited each 

one of the graduates to carry the tradition of heartcentered 

healing and compassion that was experienced 

at Alandi Ayurvedic Gurukula out into the 

world. May it be so! 

Summer Herbs & Cures 

MountainSun Diamond 

“Lavender Vinegar” Sunburn Spray 

1 cup apple cider vinegar 

1 /2 cup aloe vera gel 

1 /2 cup lavender flowers (infusion method) or 

25 drops lavender essential oil (quick method) 

In a glass canning jar place 1/2 cup lavender flowers. 

Pour 1 cup apple cider vinegar over flowers. 

Close canning jar with a plastic lid (specially made 

to fit canning jars) or use wax paper and the ring 

top of the canning jar.* 

Let lavender flowers infuse into the apple cider 

vinegar for 1–2 weeks. Shake or stir daily. Strain 

apple cider vinegar (now called “lavender vinegar”) 

and add 1/2 cup aloe vera gel. 

For the quick method add 40 drops pure lavender 

essential oil to the apple cider vinegar and then add 

1/2 cup aloe vera gel. 

Put in a cosmetic-type mister bottle and spray on 

skin after a day in the sun or sunburn. Use as needed 

for relieving heat and pain from sunburn. 

* Use only a plastic lid when making any type of 

herbal vinegar to avoid metal corrosion from the 

acetic acid. 

“Herbal Flower Honeys” 

A great way to preserve edible summer flowers is to 

preserve them in honey. Flowers of such plants as 

violets, rose, harebells, dandelion, bee balm (my 

favorite for honey!), yarrow, red clover and mint are 

delicious, medicinal and can be easily preserved 

for the year to come in honey. Honey is a great natural 

preserver for flowers, leaves, roots and plant 

juices due to its high sugar content. 

Gather flowers on a cool, dry morning. (It is important 

that they are not wet, this could cause mold to 

grow in your honey.) Pour honey over the flowers, 

covering the flowers by 1–2 inches. Mix daily for 1 

week and start eating, using as a medicine or 

sweetening your tea as soon as you can taste that 

the honey has become flavored. There is no need 

to strain; keep flowers in the honey and eat them 

along with the honey. 

Other great honeys can be made with the leaves of 

such medicinal herbs as: thyme, oregano, peppermint, 

alfalfa, garlic, onion, turmeric, and osha. 

Herbal honeys are best made with herbs that have 

volatile oils. A volatile oil is the medicinal components 

of a plant that gives the plant its smell and 

taste. This is well preserved in honey whereas hot 

water (such as in a tea, infusion, or decoction) easily 

disperses the volatile oils. 

Let summer be a time of deeply and joyously connecting 

with the plants that grow around your 

home and in your neighborhood. There are many 

medicinal plants just waiting to meet you! 

Conversations with Sadananda 

On Vedic Fire Sacrifice 

“When we perform a fire ceremony such as agnihotra 

or healing mantra homa, we are uniting 

mantra, breath, mudra and intention. When the 

mantra is chanted via the breath, joined with the 

mudra or hand gesture of offering and with our 

intention, the prayer is carried into the fire through 

the medium of the offering. Then, on the vehicle of 

the smoke, our mantra, prayer and intention are 

spread into the surrounding area, to purify the 

atmosphere, balance the pranas, or vital airs, and 

energize the trees, plants, birds, and animals in the 

surrounding area. Thus, through the smoke of sacrifices, 

we can create a mantra-charged area.” 

Sadananda gives individual meditation instruction, 

free of charge. If you are interested in learning meditation, 

please call him at 303-786-7437

Alandi Ayurvedic Clinic 

with Alakananda Devi 

British Medical Doctor plus 12-year Ayurvedic Practitioner 

Pancha Karma, Yoga Therapy, Nutritional 

Counseling, Postpartum Care, Reiki 

available from supporting staff. 

Low cost options available for qualified people. 

303-786-7437 

Alakananda Devi 

(Olivia Hudis M.B., B.S.) 

Ayurvedic Consultations 

Flower essences for adults, babies, and pets 

303-786-7437 

Pilgrimage to the Mother 

A Woman’s Journey to the Source of the Ganges 

by Alakananda Devi 

From Yoga International: 

“Pilgrimage to the Mother 

is an extraordinary tale 

of spiritual unfoldment 

that is powerful and 

inspiring. An enthralling 

read from beginning to 

end, it is both a wonderful 

introduction to India’s 

spiritual lore and a call 

for every spiritual seeker 

to undertake (his or her) 

own inner pilgrimage.” 

To order your copy of Alakananda’s book, send 

$17.95 plus $3.00 shipping to Prema Press, 

1705 14th St. PMB 392 Boulder, CO 80302. 

Alandi Ashram and Ayurvedic Gurukula 

1705 14th St. PMB392 

Boulder, CO 80302

Alandi Ayurvedic Gurukula 

Certification Courses 

 

“Education through the transformation of consciousness.” 

The Alandi Ayurvedic Gurukula is a nonprofit school founded by Alakananda Devi. Its purpose is to 

transmit the ancient teachings of Ayurveda in the modern world, yet in the traditional Vedic style of the 

oral tradition, sitting with the teacher. Students are active participants, rather than passive receivers of 

information. Classes are held at Alandi Ashram, and students become part of our extended community. 

Proceeds support Alandi Ashram. 

Ayurvedic Practitioner certification 

Pancha Karma Therapist certification 

Ayurvedic Educator certification 

Multiple learning modalities of the apprenticeship program include classes, study groups, clinical studies, 

yoga, meditation, service learning, ashram experience. Gurukula means “family of the teacher.” Our 

programs are accessible to all income levels. 

“Our goal is to train caring, compassionate, open-hearted healers who are rooted in the spiritual core 

of the teaching and grounded in their practical application within contemporary society. 

Alandi Ashram 

Summer/Fall Calendar 

Upcoming Events 

Raghudas Mahasamadhi, Friday, September 

21, 5:3pm, including Ramayana play and 

sumptuous feast and kirtan. 

Little Girl's Festival, Friday, October 26, 4:15 

pm. 

Ongoing Events 

Every Monday at Alandi Ashram: 5:30pm, 

chant healing mantra, enjoy devotional singing 

and share a delicious Indian meal. All welcome! 

At 2457 20th St., in Boulder. Call 303-786-7437 

for more info. 

Sunday evenings Karunamayi Satsang: chant 

the Sarasvati mantra at sunset. Call 303-786- 

7437 to confirm time. 

 

Alandi Ayurvedic Gurukula • 1705 14th St. PMB392, Boulder, CO 80302 • 303-786-7437

Alandi Ayurvedic Gurukula 

Fall Classes start August 20th! 

 

Nidan: Ayurvedic Diagnosis* with Alakananda 

2 credits 

Mondays, 9:30am–12:00noon, prerequisites: Basic Ayurveda 

Learn the ancient art of Ayurvedic diagnosis, including assessment of Vata, Pitta and Kapha, face reading, 

clinical examination, nail diagnosis, palpation, history taking and more! 

Ayurvedic Nutrition* with Alakananda 

2 credits 

Wednesdays, 10:00am–12:00noon, pre/co requisite: Basic Ayurveda 

Learn how to create an Ayurvedic diet for optimal heath. Learn about the six tastes, diets for body types 

and dhatus; specific uses of grains, pulses, vegetables, fruits, spices, condiments, milks, oils, ghee and 

honey; medicinal foods and diets for specific conditions and diet counseling. 

Basic Ayurveda** with Alakananda 

2 credits 

Wednesdays, 2:00am–4:00pm 

An introduction to the history of Ayurveda and an in-depth study of basic Ayurvedic principles including: 

Vata, Pitta, Kapha, the 5 Pranas, Pittas, and Kaphas, Dhatus, Ojas, Tejas, Prana, Chakras, and more! 

Pancha Karma Workshop with Divya Palmer & Terra Richardson 

2 credits 

Thursday, 10:00am–12:00noon, pre/corequisite: Basic Ayurveda 

This course will cover the theory, techniques (abyanga, shirodhara, swedan, nasya, netra basti), cleansing 

actions (shodanas), and procedures for daily routines before, during & after Pancha Karma. This is a hands 

on course! 

Ayurvedic Medicine Making with MountainSun Diamond 

1 credit 

Sundays, October 7, 14, 21, 10:00am–4:00pm, $20 materials fee 

Learn how to make your own Ayurvedic and “Western” herbal medicines: infusions, decoctions, syrups, 

herbal oils, medicated ghees, salves, tinctures, and more! Bring home medicines. 

Teaching Clinic with Alakananda 

Alternate Fridays, 10:30am–12:30pm, open to certificate students only 

Marma Points Workshop with Patricia Hansen 

December 1–2, $200 

Classes cost $200 per credit hour. 

Register by July 15th to ensure your place in semester classes. Applications after July 15th will be taken 

on a space available basis. There is a $25 per person, per semester, registration fee. 

* Required course for certificate programs taught once every 3 years. ** Required course taught annually. 

 

Alandi Ayurvedic Gurukula • 1705 14th St. PMB392, Boulder, CO 80302 • 303-786-7437

The Newsletter of Alandi Ashram and Alandi Ayurvedic Gurukula

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