Kurisumala Ashram
Kurisumala Ashram is a Trappist monastery of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, located in the Sahya Mountains of Vagamon, Kerala, India.
History
[edit]In 1956, Zacharias Mar Athanasios, then the Bishop of Thiruvalla,[1][2] invited Francis Mahieu, a Trappist monk from Scourmont Abbey in Belgium, to Kerala to establish the ashram.
He was later joined by Bede Griffiths. On 1 December 1956, Mahieu and Griffiths laid the foundation at Tiruvalla in the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church [citation needed]. They acquired 88 acres (360,000 m2) of land[2] and, on 20 March 1958, traveled sixty miles to a mountain known as Kurisumala. The monastery was officially established on 21 March 1958.[1] They soon started a dairy farm with cattle imported from Jersey to support themselves .[2][3]
Within three years, the population of the monastery grew to fifteen individuals.[3][4] Prayer services were initially held in Syriac.[3]
Francis Mahieu later changed his name to Francis Acharya[5] and became an Indian citizen.[6]
The monastery was incorporated as an abbey into the Cistercian Order of Strict Observance in July 1998.[1][3][7]
After Acharya's death, Yesudas Thelliyil became the monastery's second abbot in March 2002.[1]
Bede Griffiths spent the last years of his life at Shantivanam in Tamil Nadu.[8] Francis Acharya became the sole religious leader of the Ashram at Kurisumala. A couple of years before his death in 2002, Acharya, who had remained in touch with the monastery of his youth, had the Kurisumala Ashram affiliated with the Trappists [citation needed].
Name
[edit]"Kurisu" is the Malayalam translation of the word "cross," the language of Kerala, while "mala" means mountain and "ashram" means monastery.[4]
Practice
[edit]In the monastery, the liturgical services follow the Syro-Malankara tradition and use the Indian Rite Mass.[4][9][10] The Mass includes chants, ceremonies, and symbols adapted from Hindu tradition.[4][11]
The ashram also emphasizes the importance of "bread-labour," where monks engage in farming and housework for several hours each day.[12]
The monks have a nightly satsang, a time of reflection that may include readings from Christian or Hindu texts.[9][10] Kurisumala is seen as a place for both Catholics and those who follow Gandhian philosophy.[13]
The monastery has hosted Hindu guests and religious leaders.[10]
In 2023, the current abbot is Tarrawarra, who succeeded Ishananda Machiyanickal in 2018.[14]
See also
[edit]- Urukunnu Kurisumala [Mount Holy Cross Urukunnu] is a pilgrim centre. It is a spiritual destination centre for Christians. About is at an altitude of a sea level of 1500 ft. This holy place is situated at Urukunnu, close to Ottakkal Railway Station, Kollam district,Kerala, India.
There is an ascent of 328 steps to reach on the top of the mountain. Devotees come here to venerate the Holy Cross. The Death of Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross and The experiences of Inflict is commemorated here where during the Lenten especially on Good Friday. The 14 stations of the Way of the Cross have been clearly marked as one climbs the steps of the mountain. It is two and a half kilometres away from the Holy Cross Church. Every Good Friday, the Way of Cross procession begins from the Holy Cross Church, at 7.30 am and reaches at the top of the Holy Cross Mount.ross Church, at 7.30 am and reaches at the top of the Holy Cross Mount
Bibliography
[edit]- Francis Acharya: Cistercian Spirituality: An Ashram Perspective, Cistercian (Monastic wisdom series), 2011, 136pp.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Origin and Growth". Kurisumala Ashram. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ a b c Bose, Abhish K. (23 April 2017). "Kurisumala ashram at Vagamon rejuvenates the visitors". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Our Founders". Kurisumala Ashram. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Kurisumala Monastery". www.keralaonline.in. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ Kerala Backwater website
- ^ Vagamon website
- ^ "Kurisumala". Ordre Cistercien de la Stricte Observance. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ Tradition in Action website
- ^ a b Wilkes, Paul (18 May 2016). "Kurisumala made it clear I couldn't walk away". www.ncronline.org. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ a b c Ulrich, Edward T. (1 January 2009). "Book Review: "Kurisumala: Francis Mahieu Acharya - A Pioneer of Christian Monasticism in India"". Journal of Hindu-Christian Studies. 22 (1). doi:10.7825/2164-6279.1447. ISSN 2164-6279.
- ^ Tradition in Action website
- ^ Vagamon website
- ^ Kerala Backwater website
- ^ OCSO website, Retrieved 2023-06-06
External links
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