Satsangchela
In addition to the chela who live in the ashram, there are many of Ma’s chela who live outside the ashram in Ulm, around Ulm, in the whole of Germany and far beyond. Many of them have been coming regularly for years to practice seva in the Baba Mandir and Ashram Brindavon, helping to support both ashrams in this way.
Together, under the guidance of Durgamayi Ma, we practice paying more and more attention to how we do things, rather than what we do.
Almost all satsang chela are members of the Association of Friends.
Karishma
together with Jayanti, serves as chairperson of the Friends Association. She is responsible for the regular editions of the SatsangLetter.
On weekend celebrations and bhakti weekends, she is part of the kitchen crew and, together with Sombharibaba, she looks after the kitchen in the Baba Mandir.
She coordinates the baking of the extremely popular banana bread, which is regularly served as part of the evening prasad on the weekends when Ma is giving darshan.
Jayanti
together with Karishma, serves as chairperson of the Friends Association and takes care of membership administration.
She regularly practices seva in the Baba Mandir and coordinates the watering of the plants in the Baba Mandir garden.
She organizes the distribution of posters in Ulm announcing celebrations and regular events in both ashram.
Jayanti has been an accounting expert in the ashram for many years and still helps out now when we are at a loss.
Parvati
helps visitors in the Baba Mandir as a Chokidar on Bhakti weekends and weekend celebrations.
She regularly comes for seva and on Tuesdays, she decorates the pujas in the Baba Mandir before we all sing Hanuman Chalisa in the evening.
She also helps to take care of the garden and also the planting of the marigold seedlings that are planted in the garden every spring.
In the Baba Mandir, Parvati is often the second lead singer for kirtan and Hanuman Chalisa.
Yashoda
In the Baba Mandir, Yashoda is a regular chokidar on Bhakti weekends and during weekend celebrations and practices seva in both ashram for many years, especially helping to prepare the temples.
Yashoda often serves as second lead singer for kirtan and Hanuman Chalisa.
Chela
A chela is a spiritual disciple of a living master.
Chokidar
A chokidar takes care of visitors to the ashram, welcomes them at the entrance, helps them with any questions, and is the person to contact if anything is needed.
Seva/Sevaka
Seva is selfless service and a fundamental spiritual practice in Bhakti Yoga, as it helps us learn to renounce the fruits of our own actions. We practice seva to learn how to focus more and more on HOW we do things and thus become present in the very moment.
A sevaka is someone who practices seva.