"When we turn the mind inwards, God manifests as the inner consciousness.”
—Sri Ramana Maharshi

Day 1. Jan 15. Depart your country of origin for your overnight flight to Chennai.

CHENNAI

Shiva Temple in Chennai

Day 2. Jan 16. Chennai. The starting point for our journey begins in Chennai, India (also known as Mother India). Arrive and transfer to the Radha Regent Hotel. Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is the capital of one of the most beautiful states of southern India - Tamil Nadu and a gateway to the sunny south. In the afternoon we will visit the Kapaleeswarar Temple. (The presiding deity of this temple is a form of Shiva called Kapaleeswarar. The form of Shiva's wife Parvati at this temple is called Karpagambal from the Tamil for "goddess of the wish-yielding tree").

In the evening we will have talks by Dr. Amit Goswami and Dr. Uma Krishnamurthy.

Day 3. Jan 17. Chennai. Begin morning with yoga practice and meditation. Visit St. Thomas Mount and Little Mount. There is a very strong tradition that “Doubting Thomas” visited India and lived here for many years before his martyrdom. St. Thomas Mount is crowned by another 16th century Portuguese church, while Little Mount is a place of pilgrimage for the cave where St. Thomas lived. We will also visit the J. Krishnamurti Center. Krishnamurti is undoubtedly one of the greatest philosophical minds of the 20th century.

PONDICHERRY

A meditation session at bodhi tree in Auroville
Photo: James Estrin, New York Times

Day 4. Jan 18. Begin morning with yoga practice and meditation. After breakfast we will drive along the coast to Pondicherry, a lovely French city by the sea and home of Sri Aurobindo's ashram. Pondicherry is close to the modern spiritual city Auroville designed and inspired by Aurobindo's partner, The Mother, and supports many projects for agriculture and the arts. Overnite: The Promenade

Day 5. Jan 19. Begin morning with yoga practice and meditation. After breakfast, all day visit to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram where we will be introduced to the vision of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother and their method of spiritual practice. Click on the LOCATION link above for more information on Sri Aurobindo.

Matrimandir "The Mother Shrine" — Auroville

Day 6. Jan 20. Begin morning with yoga practice and meditation. After breakfast we will depart for an all day visit to Auroville Township — a utopian community founded in the 1960s by the Sri Aurobindo Society. The purpose of Auroville is to realise human unity – in diversity. Today Auroville is recognised as the first and only internationally endorsed ongoing experiment in human unity and transformation of consciousness, also concerned with - and practically researching into - sustainable living and the future cultural, environmental, social and spiritual needs of mankind. In 1966 UNESCO passed a unanimous resolution commending it as a project of importance to the future of humanity, thereby giving their full encouragement.

CHIDAMBARAM

Nataraja Temple

Day 7. Jan 21. Begin morning with yoga practice and meditation. After breakfast we will drive to Chidambaram. Afternoon visit to Nataraja temple, a magnificent gopuram structure devoted to Shiva in his “dancing” form. Chidambaram is one of the most ancient and most celebrated of shrines in India. It is of great religious as well as historic and cultural significance. Chidambaram is associated with Nataraja, or Shiva in his Ananda Tandava pose (the Cosmic Dance of bliss) in the cosmic golden hall and the hall of consciousness (Chit Sabha). Shiva is also worshipped in the "formless form" of the Chidambara Rahasyam, while the temple is known for its Akasa Lingam, an embodiment of Shiva as the formless Space. The word "Koyil" or temple in the Tamil Saivite tradition refers to the Chidambaram Nataraja temple. Overnite: Saradharam Hotel.

Day 8. Jan 22. Begin morning with yoga practice and meditation. After breakfast we will drive to Tiruvannamalai. Overnite: Sparsa Resort.

TIRUVANNAMALAI

Arunachaleswar Temple, Tiruvannamalai

Day 9. Jan 23. Begin morning with yoga practice and meditation. After breakfast we will depart for an all day visit to the Sri Ramana Maharshi ashram. Ramana Maharshi remains one of the most important saints of the modern era. Click on the LOCATION link above for more information.

Day 10. Jan 24. Begin morning with yoga practice and meditation. For the energetic, an early morning parikrama (circumambulation) of the sacred hill of Arunachala (13km) in company with other Saivite pilgrims, which is considered to ensure liberation. The hill represents the presence of Lord Siva. We will visit the great Arunachaleswar temple, one of the largest and most sacred in India.

MAHABALIPURAM

Mahabalipuram Photo by Ingmar Lee

Day 11. Jan 25. Begin morning with yoga practice and meditation. After breakfast we will drive to Mahabalipuram, a 7th century port city situated on the Bay of Bengal coast. This important sea-side town is home to beautiful beaches and fourteen hundred year old Pallava dynasty rock temples and sculptures. Overnight at the Ideal Beach Resort, which fronts onto a beautiful sandy beach, and is a perfect place for a couple of days’ relaxation.

Day 12. Jan 26. Begin morning with yoga practice and meditation. We will visit one of the oldest of the south Indian Temples, the Shore Temple and rock carvings, now a World Heritage Site. At this temple complex are two are Shiva Temples, facing east and west respectively, and a Vishnu Temple.

Shore Temple

Day 13. Jan 27. Begin morning with yoga practice and meditation. Relax on the beach at Mahabalipuram. Evening transfer to Chennai for Farewell Dinner and transfer to airport for departure home.

NOTE: Throughout the tour, in addition to discussions and dialogues, Dr. Goswami will initiate us in quantum activism, a new integral (karma) yoga for re-establishing spirituality in our society. Dr. Krishnamurthy will lead experiential sessions using yogic tools such as hatha yoga practices, chanting of mantras, meditation, and classical Indian dance, allowing us to explore the realms of superconscious states. No prior experience is necessary and these sessions are optional.