SADHANA YATRA December 23, 2012~ January 1o, 2013 {option to start on December 27, 2012} {optional extension January 11 - 12, 2013}

JOIN NĀMARŪPA & FRIENDS ON A PILGRIMAGE TO INDIA Chennai Beach Resort ~ Tiruvannamalai Retreat with Swamijis from Himalayas Chidambaram Festival ~ Puducherry ~ Kanchipuram ~ Tirupati ~ Govardhan Eco ~ Village Retreat ~ Ashta Vinayaka ~ Pandharpur ~ Trimbakeshwar ~ Mumbai Sunday December 23, 2012 ~ Chennai MGM Beach Resort Prithivi (earth) lingam and Varadharaja Perumal (Lord Vishnu). Arrive in Chennai no later than the night of December 22 or early Tuesday January 1, 2013 ~ Tirupati morning on December 23. Check into MGM Beach Resort. Relax. Depart for Sri Kalahasthi and darshan of Vayu (air) Lingam, and then Meet the group & discuss the Yatra, daily programs, & local customs. on to Tirupati. Monday December 24 ~ Tiruvannamalai Retreat Wednesday January 2 ~ Tirupati After a late morning's rest we will travel through the beautiful South Climb 4000 steps in 4 hours (optional travel by bus) to have darshan Indian rice paddies and ancient boulder formations to the temple of Lord Venkateswara (Balaji). We will take the bus back down! town of Tiruvannamalai and check into the Sparsha Eco-Resort. Thursday January 3 ~ Fly to Mumbai ~ Govardhan Eco Village Tuesday December 25 ~ Tiruvannamalai Retreat A short flight north to Mumbai and then on to the Govardhan Eco During our stay here we will gather together for informal discussions Village for a Bhakti Retreat. with Swamijis from the Himalayas. The swamis are specially gather- Friday January 4 ~ Govardhan Eco Village ing here to greet and talk with us. We will also go for darshan of the Take a well earned rest in the quiet natural setting of the Sahyadri Agni (fire) lingam in the great temple of Arunachaleswara and climb mountains. Observe organic farming, natural building, vedic cooking Arunachala mountain. Quiet time will be spent in Ramana Ashram. and alternative energies that sustain the eco village. Wednesday December 26 ~ Tiruvannamalai Retreat Saturday January 5 to Tuesday January 8 ~ Ashta Vinayaka, Thursday December 27 ~ Chariot Festival in Chidambaram Trimbakeshwar, Pandharpur Travel to Chidambaram for the annual Markazhi Arudhra Chariot We will visit the eight holy shrines of Lord Ganesha, the Jyoti Lingam Festival at the Temple of Sri Sivakamasundari and Lord Nataraja. at Trimbakeshwar and Lord Vithoba temple at Pandharpur . Friday December 28 ~ Chidambaram Wednesday January 9 ~ Mumbai Witness the sacred bathing rituals of Lord Nataraja at 2 AM in the Return to Mumbai. Visit Siddhi Vinayaka and Maha Lakshmi temples. thousand pillared mandapam. Attend a special homa for our group Walk to Sri Babulnath temple for evening darshan. and have darshan of the Akasha Lingam during morning puja. Thursday January 10 ~ Mumbai and departure Saturday December 29 ~ Neyveli and on to Puducherry Darshan at Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir, meet H.H. Radanath Temple darshan, then proceed to Neyveli and yoga demonstration by Swami. Last minute shopping. Book your departure flight for late Yasudas' All India yoga champions. Reach Puducherry by evening. afternoon or night of January 10. Sunday December 30 ~ Puducherry Optional extension: Extra cost - contact us to reserve if desired. Visit the Manakula Ganesha Temple and Aurobindo ashram. Free January 11 ~ Visit Elephanta Caves Day trip by boat. time and shopping in the bazaars and Fab India. Celebrate New Year. January 12 ~ Lord Jaganath Rath Yatra Depart late night or early Monday December 31 ~ Kanchipuram next day morning. Note This itinerary is an outline. Travelling in 'The City of a Thousand Temples'. We will at least have darshan of India often leads to the unexpected and things may change. Yatra, Tirtha and Darshan Sadhana Yatra guides The ancient Puranas of India are huge volumes containing stories of the Radhakunda das is our indispensable guide from Mumbai, who arranges makings of the universe as well as thrilling tales of innumerable gods and “everything.” Yatra leader is Robert Moses (co-publisher of Namarupa), goddesses. The geography of the Puranas coincides with that of the entire veteran of multiple yatras through North and South India, who will also Indian sub-continent. Countless places mentioned in these ancient texts give talks on Indian philosophies. Yoga will be taught by Kate O’Donnell, are fully alive today and are important places of yatra (pilgrimage). Within of Boston, who also advises on Ayurveda and Barry Silver, of Ashtanga their sanctums worship is performed daily to the resident gods and god- YoYogi, Tokyo. desses in a tradition that reaches back many hundreds of years. These places where the sacred stories unfolded are sometimes called NAMARUPA, Categories of Indian Thought. tirthas. A tirtha is a place of crossing over and most literally refers to fords Another very important aspect of this yatra will be to gather audio-visual of rivers. It also refers to a spiritual crossing place, where the divine is more and literary material that may appear in future issues of Namarupa. easily intuited, recognized or experienced. Reservations Daily, vast numbers of Hindu yatris (pilgrims) visit the sacred places to To secure a place on the Sadhana Yatra we will require a non-refundable have darshan of their favorite gods or goddesses. Darshan is both seeing deposit of $108 per person by August 1, 2012. Full payment will be due by and being seen by the deity. October 15, 2012. Once you have made a reservation we will assist you with further information regarding international flights, visas, immunizations, Sadhana Yatra suggestions for on-going travel should you stay for a longer period, per- Sadhana means spiritual practice. The intention of the Sadhana Yatra sonal clothing and other travel requirements. will be to go as much as possible as pilgrims to the sacred temples and, Please fill in this form and send it to us with your deposit, or use the on- where permitted, to have darshan of the gods and goddesses. This will not line form at www.namarupa.org/yatra/yatra12.php or simply e-mail to: be tourism. We will travel simply, lodge in Indian-style accommodations, [email protected] eat vegetarian meals and dress and behave appropriately according to lo- cal custom. Refunds We will practice early morning yoga, take time for meditation, as well as Full refund, excluding deposit, will be made by October 1, 2012. A fifty-per- discussions and explanations regarding our experiences. cent refund, excluding deposit, will be made up to November 15, 2012. No We will have ample time for the usual sightseeing, shopping and explor- refunds thereafter. Since the cost is based on group participation, no re- ing that travellers enjoy. The pace will be relaxed, but this being India, one funds can be made for any features not taken. If cancellation occurs while can expect the unexpected. the yatra is in progress there will be no refund for any unused portion. First name: ______Tiruvannamalai: Retreat with Himalayan Swamijis Last name: ______A number of Swamijis, gurubhais of Robert's from his earlier days in India, Address: ______will gather with us at the Sparsha Eco-Resort near Tiruvannamalai within view of the sacred mountain Arunachala. We will have satsang and hear ______about Yoga, Vedanta and puranic tales in informal groups with ample time City: ______for questions and discussion. State or Province: ______Zip or Postal Code: ______Govardhan Eco-village in Maharashtra: Bhakti Retreat Country: ______We will spend a few relaxing days in the devotional and environmentally E-mail: ______conscious atmosphere of this Vedic-based community Telephone: ______Cost of the Sadhana Yatra Best time to call ______We want to keep your expenses reasonable but your stay comfortable. How did you hear about us? ______Lodging will be Indian-style, comfortable but not luxurious. Meals will be ______South Indian vegetarian, nutritious but hot and spicy. Attempts can be Have you travelled to India before? ______made to have less spicy fare. Travel will be in a comfortable mini-busses. If so, when and where? ______There is one inland flight included in the cost. Previous experience with Indian philosophy (none required): ______Package A: 19 days: $2500 December 23, 2012 - January 10, 2013 ______Package B: 15 days: $2100 December 27, 2012 - January 10, 2013 Please check one: Optional extension: 2 days: $250 January 11 - January 12, 2013 Package A: 19 Days: US $2,500 /_ / Package B: 15 Days: US $2,100 /_ / Not included in the Land Cost. Deposit only: US $108 /_ / International air-fare to and from India (contact us for recommended Balance: US $ ______flights if required), visa costs, airport taxes, tips and temple fees and offer- I have read and understand the notes on this page: ings (additional collections will be made for tipping the bus driver and his assistant, and to engage local priests or guides), as well as all personal re- Signature: ______quirements during the yatra, are not included in the cost of the yatra. Date: ______Payment: Important. Travelling in India requires patience, flexibility and humor. Check or Money Order payable to Namarupa Events Visas Mail to: Namarupa Events c/o Robert Moses Visas are required for US citizens traveling to India. Citizens of other coun- P.O. Box 271, Dublin, NH 03444 USA tries should check if they require visas. Visas are obtainable online through Deposits only: via PayPal at www.namarupa.org/yatra/yatra2012-13.php www.travisa.com Balance payments by check please. We can accept credit card payments via PayPal which takes a large percentage for the convenience of using Immunizations their services. We will be obliged to add their fees to your payment if you No immunizations are required but several are recommended by the At- pay via Paypal with a credit card. All banks charge wire fees which will also lanta Center for Disease Control. be added to your payment if you pay by wire transfer.

Robert Moses & Eddie Stern, Publishers of Namarupa, Categories of Indian Thought, hope you will join the Namarupa Sadhana Yatra to gain insight into yourself, your practice and Indian philosophical viewpoints.