Arunachala Siva´ Yatra!

Pilgrimage at Tiruvanamalai, Maha Deepam 5-13 december 2019

Yogi Mahe´svara Khecari Devi Ashramam – Igreja Coraza˜ode Jesus Christo khecaridevi.com

Digambara Siva!´ Pilgrimage at Tiruvanamalai during the auspicious period of Maha Deepam, when a ghee fire is lit on top of Arunachala mountain, considered as Siva´ himself, fire lingam. A week of immersion into the Siva¨ıtetradition´ of Tamil Nadu, south-east of India. The stay will be punctuated by pujas of the different temples and ashrams of the city, hatha yoga, time in nature, devotionnal chanting, and the reception of what will be offered to us. A small group (maximum 10 devotees), by its practice and devotion, will participate to feed this ”energetical vortex” that is called Arunachala Siva,´ who in turn will feed and teach us. A simple, clean, comfortable (and silent!) accomodation located at the foot of the mountain. A simple food, varied and adapted to the practice. A family atmosphere of intense, palpable and contagious devotion... Trishuladhara Siva!´ – 2 –

” My children; the coolness of the breeze, the rays of the moon, the immensity of space, and all things in the world are imbued with Divine Consciousness. To know and experience this truth is the goal of every human birth.”

Sri Amritanandamayi Devi

”Pilgrimage is one of the many ways to develop one’s self positive qualities. It makes a lot more sense than a simple touristic trip.”

Lama Teunsang

”When one starts in an atmosphere of confidence and devotion, accompanied by an inner joy, one develops the patience and the tolerance to get through the difficulties that might arise on the way. It is the level of belief that determines the importance that the person will attribute to the pilgrimage, as well as the strength it will derive from it. It is a fact that every person who goes to these places expends a great calm, a feeling of intense joy. Why? Because these are special places, where wise men filled with love and compassion have reached enlightenment. It’s not nothing.”

Lama Karta

”The rare privilege represented by a human body has been given to you for the sole purpose of following a discipline to achieve your Divinity. You have drawn this body to the material plane so that you can do what you have to do, that is, evolve spiritually. The effort to awaken to one’s true nature is the duty of any human being.”

Sri Anandamayi Ma – 3 –

The place Arunachala mnountain is, since ages, considered as one of the most holy place in India. The mountain is considered as the fire lingam. Its altitude is 865 meters, its base circumference of 14 kilometers and it is traditionally traveled barefoot, as a sign of veneration and on appeal to the Divine Grace.

This place is just magic and highly propitious to spiritual experiences and to the trans- mission of teachings! I invite you to read the article I wrote on Arunachala and which describes this place1, as well as certain experiences that invited themselves during a pilgrimage I had in 2017 with my family.

Program We will spend the week at the feet of the holy mountain and won’t use any public transportation, expect the ”tuk-tuk” if convenient and relevant. Everything will be at walking distance and we will do it quietly and peacefully. I detail here the program of the week. If a fairly square storyline is proposed, a significant part is left to improvise so that the precious ”unexpected” can invite and express itself in a timely and relevant manner. This is how the timetable is adjusted ”in real time” and most spontaneously and naturally possible.

• morning Puja: The big temple and the different ashrams of Tiruvanamalai propose morning pujas (celebration rituals), generally around 4/5 h AM. We will participate to a morning puja one day in two. Afternoon puja are also given and we might participate also.

• Hatha Yoga. This is not a yoga retreat but a pilgrimage. Howerver, hatha yoga is a precious tool in order to prepare body, mind, spirit to spiritual experience. We will practice about 5 hours a day, generally in the morning or/and evening to avoid hot hours, on the covered roof top terrace of the hotel designed for that. These practices will have little focus on posture, just a bit in order to take care and cherish the vehicle to help him to stay in the seating posture without disturbance. We will practice pranayama (breathing techniques), dharana (concentration) and meditation. These sessions will aim to raise our internal vibration so to stir our devotion and our sensitivity to the vibration of the place and put us ”in tunes”.

• Bhakti Yoga: we are at the heart of the subject! A pilgrimage is a devotional practice.

1http://khecaridevi.com/arunachala-siva-the-trishula-sadhana/ – 4 –

An important place will be made to devotional songs. We will follow the one proposed at the ashrams (in particular those of Ramana Maharsi’s ashram2). We will practice devotional singing together, especially accompanied with harmonium, drums, maracas, and other instruments that you might bring with you! Considering Arunachala as a Siva´ lingam, we will chant daily and without moderation (most likely more than 108 times!) the lingastakam, the eight verses to the glory of the lingam3.

• Nature ride. Tiruvanamalai is close to nature; it is easily accessible by walk. We will walk in the mountain to the caves where Ramana has meditated several years. There is also a lake for ballads.

• Yogic experience sharing. Some time will be dedicated to yogic experience sharing, for example khecari mudra, and other experiences detailed in my texts. Beyond the transmission aspect, these sharings allow us to illustrate, from a yogic point of view, some functioning of the human body (in a broad sense) and the practices proposed.

• pratice time. About 5 hours of hatha yoga, visit to ashrams/temple, devotionnal songs... The daily practice time is not fully defined and will be adjusted in real time. It will be proposed about 10 hours of practice per day. In fact, the border between ”practice time on the carpet” and the rest of the day will naturally fade away; the idea is that this week is a uninterrupted practice, from morning until evening, maybe even at night in our sleep! If the program is too loaded for some, it is possible to not participate to everything, take time for oneself, no obligation of results!

• Free time. The idea is a one week immersion, and we will take care of the dynamic of the group which is important for the experience we will live together. That said, it is sometimes necessary to take time for oneself, to isolate for a moment, which will of course be possible at any time, according to one’s needs. In particular, the program of the end of the afternoon and the evening meal will be at the discretion of oneself. There are many restaurants in Tiruvanamalai, ranging from Indian canteen very spicy where you can eat for less than one euro, up to restaurants more adapted to our western stomachs (from 4/5 euros the meal). We will have a small and simple kitchen at the hotel.

2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H75T3ScIhR4 3See the following videos where I lead the lingastakam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrf- RrHUJMI & https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= mru1WWJNWA&t=24s – 5 –

Giri Valam during Maha Deepam! Since Arunachala mountain is believed to be Siva´ himself, devotees turn around the mountain, in particular once a month during full moon. It is called girivalam: giri means mountain and valam turning around. The walk is around 14 km. This spiritual practice is at its maximum during Maha Deepam. The full moon night is lit a giant fire on top of the mountain, and during the next 9 nights, huge quantities of ghee are burnt to keep that fire alive. This year, the fire will be lit on december 10th. The number of pilgrims is valued to several millions. Two or three millions of devotees come to walk around the mountain during 48 hrs. Such a huge number can be scary (I am personnally not fond of crowds), but in such an ambience of celebration it is different. The atmosphere is familial and the devotion is intense, palpable and contagious. Western pilgrims are rare and Indian pilgrims are generally happy to share this event with Westerners sensitive to their culture.

Yogi Mahe´svara Heir to a timeless and immortal tradition, receiving the initiations of different lineages, I embody certain yogic teachings. It is a blessing for me to accompany you at the feet of this holy mountain. I live in the world, am a family father and an academic researcher in astrophysics (cos- mology, galaxy clusters formation and evolution at Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille, France). The teachings that I embody are sometimes little known because covered with secrecy and of esotericism, such as khecari mudra, an essential practice of hatha yoga on which I wrote a booklet describing part of my experience4 of the Divine mudra. The story of this experience is illustrated by passages of texts translated from Sanskrit (10/15th century), which show that this technique is well documented, although little known at present in its advanced form. Indeed, what I am able to transmit is in no way something original: everything is already contained in the traditional texts and in the word of the masters. I do not invent anything new and I express gratitude and devotion to the source of these teachings, which is simply Divine. The ”added value” I bring is: (i) to express these teachings with a contemporary Western culture and vocabulary; (ii) to embody, to give life to these teachings by practicing them.

4This work has been translated in english and is freely available:http://khecaridevi.com/khecari-mudra- when-the-divine-goddess-takes-off-in-inner-space/ Other papers are available in french, being currently trans- lated to english. I recomment going through this booklet to get a flavour of my approach. – 6 –

I am not a master! That is to say that I am not able to fully identify the inner world of an aspirant, to gauge the quality of his meditation in order to fully accompany him to yoga (Union with the Divine). ”Yogi on the Path of Eternal Bliss” (Milarepa), I am able to share some ”yogic tricks” that may be useful for your sadhana. I emphasize the concept of autonomy, which is in my sense fundamental, even if one is fortunate to have a master of confidence.

Framework/Rules A frame is proposed from the first evening and discussed together. The goal of this framework is to set up a ”secure” environment in order to be confident and to be able to live fully what is present and offered to us. The basic rule is benevolence towards the group and towards oneself. Everyone is at their own pace in relation to what is proposed, with the possibility of getting out of a practice at any time if it is considered inappropriate or if it is not the moment. No obligation of results! The proposed practices can make us contact the emotional dimension, which is an integral part of the yogic work. Emotional discharges are welcomed with no judgment and benevolence. The aspect of ”group work” is essential. We sometimes experience intimate things during these meetings and a confidentiality rule is laid down. Those who have resistance to postural yoga are invited to go at their own pace, not to force themselves and take their time. If needed sitting on a chair can replace the seat on the floor. The proposed teachings are part of the ”public domain” and are not covered by confi- dentiality. Each one can experience, modify, distribute what is transmitted. However, it is recommended to wait until an experiment is stable enough to share it.

Climate The climate in this period of the year is very pleasant. The monsoon is already far away and the temperature oscillates between 20 and 30 degrees. Few humidity, nights are ”fresh”. I do not remember being bugged by mosquitoes during this time of the year. No manda- tory or recommended vaccines.

Travel From Chennai (Madras) international airport: in bus (a few euros and a couple of hours) or in taxi (about 50 euros, 2 hours maximum, a car comes to pick you up at the – 7 – airport). The road is in good shape. On site, we will be able to do everything on foot or in tuc-tuc if necessary.

Accommodation and meals We will stay at Rainbow Guest House5. It is located at 10 minutes walk from Ramana’s ashram, in a charming little alley where we share Indian life. This area is very quiet for the Indian standard. Mostly individual rooms. I spent a couple of nights there in 2017, the welcome is warm, the rooms very clean, spacious and bright. The building is recent and endowed with improbable colors. On the roof, a large covered terrace to welcome our practices, with a breathtaking view of the mountain. We will have a personal kitchen. Lunches will be taken in a nearby restaurant (Satya’s cafe, 300 m from the hotel) who will propose us a vegetarian thali. I ate there every day during a month in 2017, with my partner and our children. This restaurant has the distinction of welcoming both Westerners and Indians customers. This family establishment is held by sincere Siva´ devotees with whom I regularly exchange. The family father regularly organizes food distribution6. Breakfast can also be taken at Satya’s cafe. Another option will be to prepare some fruit salads at the hotel. The evening meal is at oneself’s discretion (except the first night we meet and dine together). It is likely that we all eat together in the evening too. That being said, this freedom allows the one who needs to take a moment for oneself’s to do it on this occasion.

Planning and price The final price will depend on the number of people registered (lim- ited to a dozen). A range will be proposed, each paying what seems to him possible in this range. The most likely range is between 550 and 800 euros, all included (accomodation, meals, teachings, donations). In any case the minimum price of 550 euros is fixed and will not increase. Possible to pay in several times over the period end-2019/mid-2020 (contract based on mutual trust). If sincere motivation but financial difficulties, contact me. Possible to leave

5https://www.facebook.com/RainbowTiru/ 6https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65i7Uf7MTcM & https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Yw-QbGhPvw – 8 –

more, that will be used in the development of Khecari Devi Ashram activities. Not included: visa, trip to Tiruvanamalai and evening dinner (between 0.5 and 5/10 euros at restaurants; possible to cook simple dinner at the hotel). 200 euros at inscription. 100 euros non refundable, 100 euros refundable before october 15th, 2019. What remains before departure, unless you pay in several times until mid-2020. Inscriptions open until october 15th.

Around This week of pilgrimage may be part of a longer trip to India, even in Asia? A safe travel agency allows to book/buy bus/train/plane tickets. Tiruvanamalai is located at one hour driving from Pondicherry and Auroville. Nice temples long the coast. I can help to organise what comes before and after the pilgrimage if necessary.

Fig. 1.— Arunachala. Left: Very green, during rain season. Right: As seen from Anna- malaiyar temple. – 9 –

Fig. 2.— Rainbow Guest House. Top: Roof top terrace. Bottom: View from the roof top.