Sleeping in an Ashram in India
I was fortunate enough to be traveling with an Indian male named Shiv, who I met in Rishikesh, so sleeping in an ashram was much easier to establish. If you don’t have a local guide or friend, take the following into consideration:
Not everywhere will let you sleep for free, in fact most do not. A gift of chewing tobacco, incense, sweets or money is expected.
Some do not accept foreigners. I’m not talking about the westernized “ashrams” which are actually just hostel-esque retreats with some spiritual overtone and a paid Baba to make the scene look legitimate. I’m talking about a real sacred space where people are meditating and quite serious about their practise, so the last thing they’d want is a traveler looking to save a buck. Accept it and move on.
Proper dress code. Take off your shoes, keep up with your bathing and cover up if you’re a female.
Eat with your hands in silence. The vegetarian-only food tastes better without utensils anyways.
Follow the daily schedule. You are a guest and therefore required to accommodate to your hosts as much as they give you accommodation. Plus it’s a great cultural experience joining in chanting or seated meditation. Engage in the spiritual practise as it's a devotion not a fantastical aesthetic to be glamorized and isolated. Participate in rituals, ceremonies or pick up some Hindi and make a new friend.
Perform some karmic duty in exchange for the sleeping arrangements and food. Clean up the kitchen, floor or the ashram grounds. No work is too little or too great and your service is not overlooked.
Some ashrams have dorm facilities, others we slept on the cold floor inside a common room. Bring a compact sleeping bag with you if you want to be comfortable and not bothersome.
Keep away from the monkeys. Some can be friendly, but I’ve been bit by one by trying to avoid another. And once they see you with food they will try to snatch it. So keep food hidden as well. This is good advice if you’re only just day visiting the ashram or temple.
