Come Along …. Last few days to join my India Sublime Shakti Yoga and Goddess Temple Tour…Feb 9-25 …. have a look …big love life change ! Pics are on the web sananda.ca Sublime Shakti, Yoga and Goddess Temple Tour India 2015 Rishikesh, Varanasi, Calcuta, Puri February 9 to 25, 2015 17 day tour sananda,ca Utterly fearless and uninhibited it is this consciousness, Shakti, that brings into manifestation and sustains the infinite variety of beings, from the creator to the blade of grass. It is ever dynamic and active, yet it is more inactive than a rock and is more unaffected by such activity than space. (Yoga Vashishtha - 5:2) Feb 9-13 Rishikesh Rishikesh, sits at the foot hills of the Himalayas, sometimes named the world capital of Yoga. It has a sublime atmosphere that anyone can feel whether they are visiting as a tourist or a spiritual aspirant. Rishikesh is filled with ashram and yoga centres that draw spiritual seekers from all over the world, coming to learn the teaching of yoga and be have their hearts and minds elevated by the sublime atmosphere and gurus and hold men and women who reside there. It is believed that meditation in Rishikesh brings one closer to attainment of moksha, spiritual liberation, as does a dip in the holy river Ganga that flows through it and is pure and pristine in the Rishikesh area. As a holy city and is vegetarian by law. Activities in Rishikesh: Shakti Peetha Situated on the top of Neel Parvat, in Haridwar, Chandi Devi Temple is one of the most famous temples of India. Considered to be one of the Shaktipeeths of North India, this place is of great religious significance. It is said to have the power to fulfill the wishes of devotees and this is why it is also known as Siddhpeetha. As per a legend associated with the temple, Goddess Chandika Devi rested on at Neel Parvat, for a short while, after slayings Demon kings - Shumbh and Nishumbha. The temple was built to welcome her back. The presiding deity of this temple is Chandi Devi, a form of Shakti. Triveni Ghat A confluence of three holy important Rivers the Ganges, the Yamuna and the Saraswathi, is a most revered sacred bathing spot in Rishikesh and is situated on the banks of Ganges River. It is of belief that those who take a dip in water at this ghat washes away all the sins and purifies the soul and will have salvation, a relief from all sins carried out; the water here has the power to purify them. Daily in the morning and evening there are thousands who take bath here and enjoy the Maha Aarti being performed. It very soothing to sit on the banks of the river and enjoy the cool breeze from the river. Bharat Mandir Built by Adiguru Shankra Charya around 12th century, Bharat Mandir is situated in the heart of the old town on the banks of the Ganges. The Inner sanctum of the temple has the idol of Lord Vishnu, carved out of a single Saligram. In the inner canopy above the idol is Shree Yantra installed by Adi Sankraya Charya. Lakshman Jhula A 450 feet long an iron suspension bridge situated in Rishikesh . Lakshman Jhula is one of the most prominent landmarks at Rishikesh. It is made over river Ganges to cross the river and is a landmark of Rishikesh. It is said that Lakshman crossed Ganges on jute ropes between the place where this bridge is built. Lakshman Jhula was built in 1939. There are spectacular views from the bridge. Gita Bhavan Place of Guru Shri Ram Sukh Daasji, (the great thinker of his time) Popular among the Hindu Brahmin Community. Twice a year people gather at this ashram to read the Ramayana together. Swarg Ashram Shri 108 Baba Sali Kamli Wale Swami Atam Prakash Ji. Swargashram ( Heavenly Adobe) as the name connotes is a beautiful place situated in picturesque surroundings at the foot of Himalayas on the left bank of the Ganges between Rishikesh and Laxmanjhula. It is the spiritual ground of Rishikesh, filled with a concentration of ashrams and temples. The areas is known for its healthy and satwik living environment. It is this spot where from ages of yore the famous Yogis and Rishis have been doing the Tapasya. Numerous mention of this spot occurs in the holy scripture Puranas. Parmarth Niketan Parmarth Niketan is one of the few Ashrams left in India where Kids get the Vedas Education. Must Visit in Evening for the Pooja/Aarti. 5 PM in Winter and 6 PM in summer. Neelkanth Mahadev Temple Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is situated on the outskirts of Rishikesh, around 12 km away, is a revered temple, known as ‘Nilkanth Mahadeo’. Perched on top of a hill, at a height of around 1675 m, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Legends say that the venom that oozed out while the ‘Samudra Manthan’ was ingested by Lord Shiva at the place which is now known as the Nilkanth Mahadeo. Vashista Goofa One hour drive from Rishikesh up river is situated Vasishtha Goofa , where famous Saint Vasishtha meditated on the banks of the Ganges. The cave is very peaceful and is a perfect place for meditation, and just up the river from Vasishtha Goofa is The Jesus Cave, where is it said Jesus did meditation during his time in India. Varanasi Feb 14-19 A CITY AS OLD AS TIME A City as Old as Time Varanasi popularly known as benaras and mentioned as Kashi in the scriptures , has a glittering history of yore. One of the greatest pilgrimage , it is situated in the bank of holy river Ganga. It is strongly believed that a dip in its holy waters washes away the sins and purifies the soul. The unique combination of Kashi -the gateway to moksha ( spiritual liberation ) , Ganga the celestial river and Lord Shiva the supreme god makes the city the most sacred and the ultimate pilgrimage destination. Enthralled by its mythological legacy and traditions. MARK TWAIN complimented VARANASI AS Benaras is older that history, older than tradition, even older than legend. Kashi Viswanath Temple Kashi city is the place for Moksha and Ganga. Those who live here attain Mukti or Salvation, even without having to travel to any place of pilgrimage. Any one, be it a man, woman, young, old, of whatever caste, all attain Moksha. There is not an iota of doubt in this. Whatever a person may be doing, eat, sleep or anything else, if he departs from this world from Kashi, he definitely attains Moksha. Any small act of goodness, takes away all the sins. Good as well as bad people are born on this earth. But by living in Kashi, both attain Moksha. River Front Ghat Varanasi is the city of temples , ghats, gallies(narrow lanes) the spectacular long sweep of ghats on the holy Ganga is unique and creates fascinating sights. Life, in almost panoramic detail, unfolds here from dawn to dusk as a steady stream of devotees, swelling to thousands on auspicious days ,perform rituals . Durga Temple Durga temple, also known as the monkey temple is one of the important temples of Varanasi. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga. The Durga temple was built in the eighteenth century. A Bengali Maharani built the Durga temple in Nagara Style (the North Indian style of temple architecture). It is stained red with ochre and has a multi-tiered shikhara (spire). The Durga temple is situated on a rectangular tank, called the Durga Kund. According to the Puranas, Goddess Durga has kept this place for many centuries and protects the holy city, Varanasi, from the South. According to legends, the present statue of Goddess Durga was not made by man but appeared on its own in the temple. The Durga temple is also called Monkey temple because of the presence of large number of monkeys. In Hinduism, Durga is represented as the embodiment of shakti or female power, clad in red, riding a tiger and fully armed with Shivas trident, Vishnus discus and a sword. Non-Hindus can enter the courtyard of the Durga temple but not the inner sanctum. Sankat Mochan Temple Sankat Mochan temple is one of the sacred temples of Varanasi. It is located in the southern part of Varanasi, near the Banaras Hindu University. It is dedicated to the Hindu God, Hanuman. The word Sankat Mochan means one who helps in removing sufferings i. e. Lord Hanuman. Tulsidas, the author of the famous Hindu epic Ramacharitamanasa, founded the Sankat Mochan temple. According to Hindu mythology, one who visits the Sankat Mochan temple regularly, his wishes get fulfilled. Every Tuesday and Saturday, thousands of devotees queue up in front of the Sankat Mochan temple to offer prayers to Lord Hanuman. According to Vedic Astrology, Hanuman protects human beings from the anger of planet Saturn and those who have ill placed Saturn in their horoscope visit the Sankat Mochan temple to get remedy. People put Sindoor on the statue and offer laddoos to Lord Hanuman. The Sindoor, from the statue of Lord Hanuman is put on the foreheads of devotees. Tulsi Manas Temple Tulsi Manas temple is one of the most famous temples of Varanasi. It is also an important tourist attraction of the holy city. The Tulsi Manas temple is located near the famous Durga temple. It was built in white marble in the year 1964. The temple has been made more charming by the magnificent landscaping around it. The Tulsi Manas temple is dedicated to lord Ram. It is believed to be built at the same place where Tulsidas wrote the famous Indian epic, Ramcharitamanasa. The walls of the Tulsi Manas temple are engraved with verses and scenes from the Ramcharitammanasa, the Hindi version of the Ramayana. Vishalakshi Temple- Shakti Peeth The Vishalakshi Temple or Vishalakshi Gauri Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Vishalakshi (an aspect of goddess Parvati/Gauri) at Mir Ghat on the banks of the Ganges at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, India. This temple is a Shakti Pitha, the most sacred temples dedicated to the Hindu Divine Mother. The earrings or eyes of the goddess Sati are said to have fallen on this holy spot of Varanasi. Vishalakshi Temple is known for its temple festival on Kajali Tij, held on the third day during waning fortnight in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada . Calcuta Feb 20,21 Dakshineswar Kali Temple A Hindu temple located in Dakshineswar near Kolkata. Situated on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, the presiding deity of the temple is Bhavatarini, an aspect of Kali, meaning, She who liberates Her devotees from the ocean of existence i.e. Saṃsāra.The temple was built by Rani Rashmoni, a philanthropist and a devotee of Kali in 1855. The temple is famous for its association with Ramakrishna, a mystic of 19th Century Bengal. The temple compound, apart from the nine-spired main temple, contains a large courtyard surrounding the temple, with rooms along the boundary walls. There are twelve shrines dedicated to Shiva—Kalis companion—along the riverfront, a temple toRadha-Krishna, a bathing ghat on the river, a shrine dedicated to Rani Rashmoni. Nahavat-Khana, the chamber in the northwestern corner just beyond the last of the Shiva temples, is where Ramakrishna spent a considerable part of his life Kalighat Shakti Peetha Temple Kalighat Kali Temple is a Hindu temple in West Bengal, India dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali. It is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. The name Calcutta is said to have been derived from the word kalighat The river over a period of time has moved away from the temple. The temple is now on the banks of a small canal called adi ganga which connects to the Ganges . The Adi Ganga was the original course of the river Ganges. The temple is visited by pilgrims from all over India irrespective of sectarian differences. The thousands of pilgrims who flock daily to the Kalighat temple treat Kali very much like a human mother, bringing her their domestic problems and prayers for prosperity, and returning when their prayers are fulfilled to express their gratitude. Their attitude towards the Goddess is guided by their religious traditions and training, their spiritual and intellectual capacities, and the guidance of their temple priests Kalighat is regarded as one of the 51 shakti pithas of India, where the various parts of sati s body are said to have fallen, in the course of Shivas RUDRA TANDAVA. Kalighat represents the site where the toes of the right foot of dakshayani or sati fell. Legend has it that a devotee discovered a luminant ray of light coming from the Bhāgirathi river bed, and upon investigating its source came upon a piece of stone carved in the form of a human toe. He also found a Svayambhu Lingam , and started worshiping Kaali in the midst of a thick jungle. Belur Math Belūr Maṭh is the headquarters of the Ramakrishna mission founded by Swami Vivekanada a chief disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamhansa . It is located on the west bank of Hoogly river , Belur, West Bengal, India. and is one of the significant institutions in Calcutta. This temple is the heart of the Ramakrishna Movement. The temple is notable for its architecture that fuses Hindu, Christian and Islamic motifs as a symbol of unity of all religions.[ In January 1897, Swami Vivekananda arrived in Colombo with his small group of Western disciples. Two monasteries were founded by him, one at Belur, which became the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission and the other at Mayavati on the Himalayas, near Almora called the Advaita Ashrama. These monasteries were meant to receive and train young men who would eventually become sannyasis of the Ramakrishna Mission, and to give them a training for their work. Swami Vivekanandas days as a parivrajaka (wandering monk) before his visit to Parliament of Religions, took him through many parts of India and he visited several architectural monuments like the Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri palaces, Diwan–I–Khas, palaces of Rajasthan, ancient temples of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and other places. During his tour in America and Europe, he came across buildings of architectural importance of Modern, Medieval, Gothic and Renaissance styles. It is reported that Vivekananda incorporated these ideas in the design of the Belur Math temple Belur Math is a , A Symphony in Architecture. Feb 22-25 Puri Puri Beach is counted amongst the most beautiful beaches in India. The beach is visited by thousands of tourists every year for picnics and excursions. The beach of Puri is an ideal retreat for the people. Situated in the Bay of Bengal, the beach at Puri gives a spectacular sight of the sunrise and sunset. One can also take a holy dip or swim in the sea, stroll around the sandy beach or engage oneself into any other activity. Konark Temple Here the language of stone surpasses the language of man. —Rabindranath Tagore The name Konark derives from the combination of the Sanskrit words, Kona (corner) and Arka (sun), in reference to the temple which was dedicated to the Sun god Surya. The temple was originally built at the mouth of the river Chandrabhaga, but the waterline has receded since then. The temple has been built in the form of a giant ornamented chariot of the Sun god, Surya. It has twelve pairs of elaborately carved stone wheels some of which are 3 meters wide and is pulled by seven pairs of horses. The temple follows the traditional style of Kalinga architecture. It is carefully oriented towards the east so that the first rays of sunrise strikes the principal entrance. The temple is built from Khondalite rocks. The original temple had a main sanctum sanatorium (vimana), which was supposedly 229 feet (70 m) tall. Due to the weight of the super structure (70m tall) and weak soil of the area the main vimana fell in 1837. The audience hall (Jagamohana), which is about 128 feet (30 m) tall, still stands and is the principal structure in the surviving ruins. Among the structures, which have survived to the current day, are the dance hall (Nata mandira) and dining hall (Bhoga mandapa). The Konark temple is also known for its erotic sculptures of maithunas. The Lingaraj Temple An ancient temple built dating back to 7th century, is a majestic monument of Oriyan architectural style and craftsmanship. The temple, a massive structure of 147 feet high, is enclosed by fortified walls and is surrounded by many ancient small shrines. It is believed that the construction of the temple took place a long period during the rule of three dynasties. This beautifully and elaborately carved lofty tower is a special attraction of the temple. The Unique feature and identity of the temple is the main deity, a Swayambhu Linga, a merge of Half Vishnu and Half Shiva. The temple encloses a Shivling placed in a pancha-ratha sanctum, a hall for offering. 64 Yoginni Temple Dating back to the 9th century AD, the 64 Yoginni shrines give a glimpse of the religious and occult practices of medieval times. Today only four of the architecturally distinct 64 Yoginni shrines survive in India. Out Of them two are in odisha and one of them at Hirapur,Bhubaneswar.Odisha The Hirapur Temple of Odisha is built of coarse sand stones blocks with literate stones in its foundation. While its Yoginni are curved from fin grained grey chlorinate. The inner walls of this circular pavilion or Chandi Mandapa,30 feet in diameter built of coarse sandstone and has barely 8 feet high walls containing 64 inches to house the sculptures of yoginis(2feet hight). The Haripur Yoginis are extraordinary beautiful figures with exquisite features and sensuously formed bodies. The Yoginni traditions are tantric in nature and therefore have strong connections to rural and tribal traditions. However references about these deities have been found in puranic literature too. That the cult of sixty-four yoginis was widely prevalent is evident from several lists of sixty-four yoginis recorded in different texts. The Kalika purana,Skanda purana, Brihadnandikeswara Purana, Cansatha yoginni namavali, chandi purana of Sarala Das, Durgapuja, Brihndla Tantra, Bata Avakasa of Balaram Das and other texts contain the list of sixty-four yoginis. BIOS: ANANDA SHAKTI / XENIA: Ananda Shakti/Xenia is a devotee of Shakti the Divine Feminine, she is a gifted and highly skilled yoga teacher, askashic record karmic reader, intuitive healer, and musician who is dedicated to a genre of music she calls Soul Songs, music and words, intuitively received that support deep healing and inspires a greater love and devotion to higher consciousness. Anandashakti is the founder of Sananda Yoga a Classical style of yoga that brings ancient wisdom to modern life and makes them relevant for our times and lifestyles. She is also the Founder of Sananda Art of Life, karmic readings and healings, which offers cellular enlightenment by revealing and transforming life/karmic patterns. Ananda has received numerous initiations and attunments including the Kalachakra initiation with the Dali Lama, and the Metatron initiation into intuitive readings of the akashic records. She acts as a conduit for communication between the Higher Realms Beings and our day to day Selves and provides healing information and energy about Core Karmic Patterns as well as offering oracle readings and Life Coaching. Leading spiritual retreats and tours is one of her greatest delights. TOUR GUIDE - PARTHA PAITANDI: Partha Paitandi is a Braman Priest, and a dear friend of mine, who lives in Bakreswar, West Bengal where he is a Priest in the main Shakti Peeth temple there. Partha delights in sharing Indians wealth of Spiritual heritage and has been leading foreigners on tours all over India from the Himalayas to the south of India, for the last few years. He is fluent in English, Hindi, and Bengali. COST: $1800 CDN double room, single room $2000 CND $500 non- refundable deposit due with registration the remainder due Jan. 9. Payment options, Cash, Cheque, banking e-transfer to [email protected] and Pay Pal, (3% paypal charge applies) Please be in Rishikesh by feb 9/ 15. The closest airport is Deradun. Partha will be in Rishikesh before Feb 9 to greet you and arrange pick up for you. You may also take bus, trains and cars from Delhi to Rishkesh. After registration you can discuss these options with Partha and confirm the travel plans. It is a short an simple travel leg. Price Includes: *All accommodations *All travel within India *All pilgrimages to Temples, Ashrams, and Gurus to receive teachings and blessings and sight seeing destinations *Professional India tour guide * Classes with Anandashakti / Xenia, which include: *Yoga Training Course ( exercises to bring vitality, longevity and strengthen, flexibility and stress release) * Pranayama ( breathing exercise to remove stagnant energies in body, mind and emotions and super charge the system with new potential ) *Meditation ( brings stillness to mind and body to expand consciousness and ultimately attain Self Realization ) *Chanting ( classic Indian, Shakti scriptures, bringing light and praise to the mysteries of the Divine Feminine offering Great Blessings to the chanter) *Philosophy classes ( a chance to live into the profound teachings the Vedic system and awaken higher consciousness) *Basic Sanskrit (learn how to read and pronounce the transliterations of the Devanagri Sanskrti Script ) * spiritual support and assistance * assistance in creating a daily yoga practice that is best suited to your needs Price does not Include: *Airfare to and from India *Daily Meals (we will be eating together in restaurants selected by our guide, each person will choose meals independently from the menu to suit their needs) Please budget for aprox $200 cdn for meals for the entire trip. CONTACT: Please contact Ananda Shakti for further inquiries at [email protected] sananda.ca/india sananda.ca
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 18:43:05 +0000
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