Yoga Tandava Experience

February 26 – March 5, 2016 New Delhi –Varanasi - Rishikesh

7 Mystical Nights Namaste! Welcome to the Yoga Tandava Experience.

This is a sacred sojourn to experience the deeper self, understanding one’s Karma and the Lila or divine play of our individual spiritual journey through Delhi, Varanasi and Rishikesh.

Program begins with your arrival in New Delhi February 26, 2016 by midnight.

All Hotel Check-In, Check-out time 12:00 NOON.

The program will end in Rishikesh for those who will be joining the Shiva Ganga

Yoga Shakti Program March 5.

Those returning to Delhi will board the train from Haridwar March 5.

Please ensure you book your international return flights from Delhi airport after 1:00

AM on March 6. Program Schedule - this is subject to changes on a daily basis. Feb 26 – Arrive in New Delhi by midnight

Feb 27 – Day 1 - Delhi – Shanidham -Akshardham –Fab India

Feb 28 – Day 2 – Travel from Delhi to Varanasi

Feb 29 – Day 3 - Varanasi - Night

March 1- Day 4 - Varanasi – Night

March 2 - Day 5 – Overnight train to Haridwar.

March 3 - Day 6 -Rishikesh – Night

March 4 - Day 7- Rishikesh-- Night

March 5 – 12:00 Noon drive to the Glass House to attend the Shiva Ganga

Yoga Shakti Program.

Delhi

Akshardham The Swaminarayan temple epitomizes serenity, amazing sacred art and the experience of a boat ride down the Saraswati River. The evening fountain display is a spectacular show of ancient lore.    Akshardham' means the divine abode of God. It is hailed as an eternal place of devotion, purity and peace. Swaminarayan Akshardham at New Delhi is a Mandir – an abode of God, a Hindu house of worship, and a spiritual and cultural campus dedicated to devotion, learning and harmony. Timeless Hindu spiritual messages, vibrant devotional traditions and ancient architecture all are echoed in its art and architecture.

Shanidham, Saturn Temple

Saturn is one of the most important planets and as the Great Karmic Leveller is revered by all spiritual seekers.  Saturn is deeply benevolent in nature despite his nature of being the great karmic Leveller. Saturn’s energy is restricting, separating, seceding,

disconnecting, detaching and withdrawing. Saturn’s causes delays but never denies one.

Saturn represents the power of our own actions through discipline and conscientiousness. The discipline reinforced becomes our karmic imprint for several lifetimes. Saturn’s initiation ensures we master our conscious nature to expand the powers of truth and harmony in lifetimes to come.

Saturn affords us the perseverance, discipline, patience and detailed attention towards mastering perfectionism in our inner and outer lives.

VARANASI

Varanasi is Shiva’s citadel and is unquestionably one of the oldest sacred inhabited settlements in the world and a contender for the oldest in Asia dating back to 800bce and likely much further. Every moment in this ancient city unfolds as a sacred ritual.

Kashi the sacred name for Varanasi is eternally auspicious poised on Siva’s trident as seekers say. The sacred ghats are a mystical experience of sadhana, worship, sacred offerings, rituals and meditation.

Varanasi is the ancient city where people come to pray and offer rituals to appease the Ancestors. Pind Daan is the ritual offering food and prayers to ancestors.

Varanasi is a city of temples. Kashi Vishwanath, the Shiva temple is first mentioned in the ancient Skanda Purana. The powerful Durga Kund, Annapurna and Sankat Mochan Hanuman are amongst the most sacred pilgrimage sites. Varanasi has nearly 23,000 temples.

The evening arati is the most magnificent display of sacred choreography and grace whilst athletic young priests offer arati in rhythm with all the elements.

At the break of day whilst the filtering rays of Sun light up dawn every seekers heart unveils a symphony of prayers as the Ganga flows silently to the backdrop of temple bells, chirping birds and mantra chanting.

My own pilgrimage took me on a boat ride on Maa Ganga along the majestic ghats watching pilgrims offer prayers and rituals by the holy banks.

There are 87 ghats in Varanasi along five kilometers of Maa Ganga.

Varanasi is the bastion of ancient learning with seven universities and sixteen hundred Sanskrit vidyalayas or traditional schools.

The ancient saying ‘Kashyam maranam muktih’ translates as death in Kashi is liberation. Yet the Upanishads reiterate that without awareness and knowledge, liberation is not possible.

The elderly come to serve the dharma in their old age and seek liberation. Manikarnika ghat is where cremations take place and the fire there has been burning since eons. There is a satirical rhythm to the chants of ‘Ram Naam Satya Hai’ –The name of Rama is Truth. One is drawn gently to the eternal truth that nothing is permanent and always says a prayer with folded hands in Namaste to departed souls in funeral processions.

Varanasi (also known as Banaras) is the heart of ancient weaving – the famous Banarasi silk sari. Thousands of weavers deftly work at traditional designs in pure god and silver zari.

The famous Banarasi pan –or betel leaf wrapped around betelnuts and savory, literally melts in the mouth. The Banaras sweets are very famous like the rabri, malai and jalebis.

Though Maa Ganga is the living Mother Goddess, we have not truly given Her the kind of reverence, nurturing and attention as the Goddess most dearly deserves.

Our current Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has made it a personal prayer to restore the pride, care and reverence to Maa Ganga once again and ensure that Varanasi is clean and graceful.