Welcome to Pushpashrama the Ranithota (queen’s garden) of the distant past. The word Pushpashrama makes sense to anyone who has some Sanskrit/Kannada background. Pushpa means flower and Ashrama means a monastery. No doubt, all those who visit Pushpashrama admire its beautiful lawns and gardens. There is something more to this name than these celestial gardens. The name was first given in 1965 even before any gardens were designed at Pushpashrama except the coconut garden which existed already. Primarily, this name stands for its Patroness, St. Therese of Lisieux namely Little Flower, the greatest Carmelite Saint of our modern times and a renowned Doctor of the Church. She is the one who promised to shower roses from heaven. Pushpashrama has seen many such showers in the recent past. I welcome you to visit this website to count these showers one by one.

Today Pushpashrama is known for its beautiful and elegant Infant Jesus Shrine, a masterpiece of art and architecture inaugurated and blessed on 4 January 2004. Hundreds flock every day to pray to the Infant Jesus. On every Thursday their number swells to thousands and for the annual feast of the Infant Jesus, they come in tens of thousand. The Shrine is growing in leaps and bounds. God is manifesting his Glory through the miraculous Infant Jesus irrespective of their caste, creed and colour. “The more you honor me the more will I bless you” these words attract devotees from India and abroad to visit this beautiful Shrine.

In 1965, the Carmelites were the first men religious to set foot in the diocese of Mysore. From then on, the Carmelites have rendered yeoman service to the diocese of Mysore – to the parishes, religious institutions, and the people of God. Many of the older religious and priests in Mysore still have vivid memories of Fr. Boniface and Fr. Jerald. Carmelites obtained this piece of property in the outskirts of the city of Mysore. Though it is located within five kilometers from the city center, in those days, the Catholics of Mysore frequented it only once every year on foot for the annual feast of the patroness, Little Flower. Placed tangent to the ring road, today Pushapshrama is easily accessible to all its devotees from near and far.

Right from its very inception, Pushpashrama has been a formation house of the Discalced Carmelites of the Karnataka Goa Province. It can boast of its glorious past when the Pre University students resided here and frequented St. Philomena’s College and I am one of them. It was in the year 1982, the newly erected Karnataka Goa Province chose Pushpashrama to be its Philosophy study house. Recently, we had the bi-decennial celebration. The name Pushpashrama is synonymous with spiritual excellence. We have also made an impact in the field of spirituality. Pushpashrama has given birth to Dhyanavana and Dhyana Sadhana, the two centers of spirituality that have strengthened the presence of the Carmelites in Mysore.

Pushpashrama has carved a name for itself in the diocese of Mysore by taking up specialized apostolates, through computer center, tailoring center, music school, etc. The Yuvajyothi programme to empower the youth and the Inter Religious dialogue towards communal harmony speak for its social concern and its humane face.

Come and visit Pushpashrama. You will find a Carmelite monastery with a remarkable difference. Hospitality is the hallmark of our qualitative approach to life.

Fr. Archbald Gonsalves
Rector