Retreats with the Pravrajikas of America
Pravrajikas of the Vedanta Society of Northern and Southern California Convents guide Samiti retreats for our members and friends.
What Makes a Religion Universal? Pravrajika Virajapranaji
Meeting Monastics
A pravrajika is a woman, a nun, who has taken her final monastic vows in the Indian tradition. Sannyasa is considered to be the final stage of life wherein a person totally renounces all possessions and takes to a mendicant life. Pravrajika is a Sanskrit word that literally means "a wandering religious mendicant" and can be used as an honorific title. Sannyasini is a Sanskrit word describing a woman religious mendicant.
In the United States, there are three convents for women monastics operated in the tradition of the Ramakrishna Order of India. The convents in Hollywood and Santa Barbara are a part of the Vedanta Society of Southern California. The Vedanta Society of Northern California has one convent with locations in San Francisco and San Rafael, California. Women monastics dedicate their lives to the service of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother, and Swamiji. That service differs depending on the need and circumstances.
What is monasticism?
Vedanta Society of Northern California
Vedanta Society of Southern California
First Samiti retreat in 1997, Prayer and its Efficacy led by Most Revered Pravrajika Amalaprana Mataji
Past Samiti Retreats
Samiti Retreats with Pravrajika Virajaprana
Pravrajika Virajaprana is a senior sannyasini of the Vedanta Society of Northern California Convent. She gives lectures and serves in various capacities in the San Francisco temple and at the Olema Retreat. Her past Samiti retreat topics have included:
2023 “Pilgrimage to Ancient Temples of South India”
2019 "Sri Sarada Devi, A Silent Transformer"
2017 "Practical Vedanta"
2015 "Mother's Untold Stories: Making them our Own"
"Worship of the Spirit by the Spirit"2013 "How did Holy Mother and Swamiji integrate all Aspects of their Lives: Spiritual Practice, Work, and Relationships?"
2012 "The Spiritual Relationship between Swami Vivekananda and the Holy Mother"
2011 "Holy Mother: Human and Divine"
2010 "Mother's Life: Our Paradigm"
2009 "Mother's Simple Path to Liberation"
2008 "Spiritual Practice according to the Holy Mother"
2007 "Following in the Footsteps of the Holy Mother"
2006 "Holy Mother's Prescription for the Stages of Life"
2004 "In the Company of the Holy Mother"
Samiti Retreats with Pravrajika Dayaprana
Pravrajika Dayaprana is a sannyasini of the Vedanta Society of Southern California's Sarada Convent. She guides retreats; leads a chanting and music group, Vedanta Bhakti; and serves in various capacities both in the Hollywood temple, in the Pinon Hills Desert Retreat, and in Japan. Her past Samiti retreat topics have included:
2023 “Antaryoga Contemplative Retreat on Lord Shiva”
2019 "Antaryoga Contemplative Retreat: Meditations on Madhu Vidya and Prashna Upanishad"
2018 "Antaryoga Contemplative Retreat: Meditations on the Upanishads"
2016 "Antaryoga Contemplative Retreat: The Master as I Saw Him by Sister Nivedita"
2016 "Pilgrimage to the Himalayas: Kedarnath, Gangotri, and the Source of the Ganges River"
2014 "Purusha Suktam Retreat"
2013 "Purusha Suktam Intensive Retreat"
2012 "Antaryoga Retreats on Swami Vivekananda"
Samiti Retreats with Pravrajika Vedaprana
Pravrajika Vedaprana is a senior sannyasini of the Vedanta Society of Northern California Convent. She composes music; participates in chanting and music; and serves in various capacities at the Vedanta Society and the Olema Retreat. Her past Samiti retreat topics have included:
2023 “Our Undivided Self Reaching for Mother”
2019 "Holy Mother, Key to the Essence of Life"
2017 "Sister Nivedita: An Ideal Disciple"
2016 "Sister Nivedita: Her Life with Swami Vivekananda and the Holy Mother"
2015 "The Poetry of Swami Vivekananda"
Samiti Retreats with Pravrajika Madhavaprana
Pravrajika Madhavaprana is a senior sannyasini of the Vedanta Society of Northern California Convent. She gives lectures and serves in various capacities both in the San Francisco temple as well as the Olema Retreat. Her past Samiti retreat topics have included:
2003 "Stories of Courage and Strength"
Lectures & Talks
by the Pravrajikas of America
What Faith Looks Like Now: A Conversation with Pravrajika Brahmaprana