Journey to the Source: India 2014 Vedanta in Everyday Life, with Swamiji

Journey to the Source: India 2014 February 6 – 25, 2014

Vedanta in Everyday Life, with Swamiji

Ramana Maharshi's Ashram

The Holy Hills of South India Mysore Thiruvannamalai Velliangiri Mountains

The Chakra Institute and Sri Shyamji Bhatnagar invite you on a pilgrimage of self-inquiry and sacredness to some of the most revered destinations of the land of India.

The Journey begins in Bangalore on February 6. After a couple of days of gathering and acclimation, the group will depart for Mysore for a stay at the Indus Valley Ayurvedic Centre.

From the Centre, the group will take afternoon drives to attend an unprecedented seven-day series of seminars with Swami Atmanandendra Saraswati, an exemplar of the sattvic way of life and one of the world’s foremost authorities on Advaita Vedanta. To take a seat in Swamji’s parlor is literally to sit at the foot of the master.

On February 15, the group departs for Thiruvannamalai, in Tamil Nadu, where we will be accommodated at Sparsa Resort. Thiruvannamalai is the town that Ramana Maharshi made famous, and we will not only visit his ashram but the cave on nearby Mount Arunachala where he lived from 1899 to 1916.

Arunachala is the ‘hill of wisdom,’ where Shiva is said to have manifested as a column of light for the benefit of those who wish to obtain illumination. A walk around the hill – a distance of 14 kilometers or 8 miles, traditionally done barefoot – is considered a preeminent spiritual practice.

Possible side trips from Thiruvannamalai include visits to Chidambaram and the temple of Shiva Nataraja, the ‘Lord of the Dance,’ and to Kanchipuram, one of the ‘seven cities of moksha.

On February 20, we journey on to Isha Yoga Center, situated at the foothills of the Velliangiri mountains, 30 kilometers west of Coimbatore. Velliangiri is the spot where, according to legend, Shiva performed his cosmic dance of ecstasy. A trek to the top of the peak, at 6,000 feet, to a shelter formed in the space between three large boulders, is said to be an incredibly powerful experience.

The Isha Yoga Center has wonders of its own, among which are an immersion pool built 30 ft. deep into the earth and housing a lingam made of solidified mercury, whose vibrations are reputed to be tremendously energetic; a colossal ‘dhyanalinga,’ enclosed in an enormous meditation hall where spiritual transformation can happen, it is said, in an instant; and a ‘Linga Bhairavi,’ an expression of the divine feminine in the form of a linga, the Ultimate Grantor of any wish.

Throughout the Journey, Sri Shyamji's teachings will deepen our understanding of all that is being revealed. On February 24 our yatra comes to an end, with a final night in Bangalore.

Program Details

U.S. pilgrims depart February 5; Europeans depart February 6 morning so as to meet The Chakra Institute’s representative at the Bangalore airport at night.

Pilgrims should expect to do some hiking, which may be strenuous in places. Accommodation is double-occupancy. Isha Yoga Center serves only two meals per day, food is eaten the traditional way (on the floor, with the hand), no outside food is permitted in rooms, there are no newspapers or television, and conservative dress (no exposed arms or legs) is required.

Land Program Cost $4,190 (U.S.)

To Register

Please contact [email protected]

All pilgrims are advised to send their itinerary in advance to: [email protected]

Changes

All rights are reserved by The Chakra Institute, Inc. and the program directors to make substitutions and/or to modify the itinerary (including hotels/ashrams/other venues) as needed.

Insurance

Travel insurance is highly recommended for losses necessitated by you having to cancel your participation. Please consult your own insurance agent.

Cancellations

All cancellations must be received by The Chakra Institute, Inc. in writing. Cancellations received 40 days prior to departure: full refund less $1,000 non-refundable deposit per person; 20 days prior to departure: 50% refund per person after non-refundable deposit of $1,000. No refunds after this date.