Ever dream about visiting an exotic foreign country? Have you ever imagined a land that is closely wedded to the Spiritual Life? Come with me to Brahmavarta, just 20 km north of Kanpur, India and enjoy the ceremonies for the Nine Nights of Mother Divine.
My last blog post in October 2008 was about the Autumnal festival Sharadiya Navaratri, Nine Nights of Mother Divine. This festival in March will be the Spring version of that. But there is an important difference. Join me as I travel to and from Kanpur and enjoy the ceremonies for yourself! I think it would fun to travel with like minded people, pay our own expenses when advantageous (share taxis and minibus tours) and explore a fascinating part of India.
I’m not leading a tour this time, I’m welcoming companions.
Pandit Dixit at the entrance to the new guest house
Pandit Dixit has finished construction on the guest house – 4 bedrooms suitable for guests used to European or American style hotels. The guest house looked like this in September 2008:
Beginnings of the Guest house in September 2008
I won’t kid you. It will be the inaugural visit by any guests to the guest house. So we’ll be guinea pigs in a way. But there is sterling compensation for this.
First, we get to stay in the Vedic Life Foundation Ashram! The atmosphere is very sattvic there. Sure, air quality is the same as all India, but there is a very special mystical feeling about the grounds of the Ashram. Just behind the guest house is one of the flower gardens where they grow some of the flowers for the yagyas. Nearby on the banks of the Ganges is the Brahmavarta (brahma = universe, avarta = rotation) Ghat. It is a most holy place where Brahma created Man and Woman on Earth!
Second, Pandit Dixit has extended this hospitality free of charge to our yagya clients who participate fully in the Vasantik Navaratri, the Springtime Nine Days of Mother Divine. Begin a one month Royal yagya at this time and you are welcome to stay for free from the 14th to the 26th of March.
Third, expertly prepared Ayurvedic vegetarian meals will be served each day. Arrangements can be made for anyone staying outside of the Ashram to eat the midday meal with us. Free meals are for clients enjoying yagyas during Vasantik Navaratri. There will be a small charge for minibus service to and from the Ashram.
Fourth, we’ll get to meditate together each day.
Fifth, we’ll take tours around Bithoor to the Ghat and other local places of interest.
Sixth, …I almost forgot! The new Shiva Temple is almost complete. It has been dressed in white marble and the specially commissioned marble statues of Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha, Kartikeya, and Nandi will be delivered from Jaipur in a few days. We will get to participate in the dedication ceremonies on the 23rd of March.
Here is a picture of the temple back in 2004:
Temple superstructure in 2005
You can see the progress in this image. The picture is taken from the same vantage point as the last:
Temple in September 2008. Note the stairs in the same position as the previous image.
The next image is taken from a vantage point off to the right from the 2008 image.
East side of the Temple
If you come with us on this trip, you’ll see the finished Temple in its setting at the Ashram. It is a gem in a very spiritual setting.
I intend to fly out of Newark on the 11th of March and return on the 27th or 28th. We could meet in the air port and catch the same plane. This way my friend, Ashish Tiwari can meet us and take us to a comfortable hotel. We’d get a good night’s sleep and visit a few interesting temples the next day. Early to bed that night and up at 5 am to catch the early train to Kanpur.
Pandit Dixit’s daughter and office manager will meet us at the Kanpur station and drive us out to the Ashram.
I’ll post more about the coming trip in the next few days.
Topics will include how to get your visa with some links to sites that help with this, specifics on some of the tours, news on what sort of workshops we can participate in with Pandit Dixit or the Pandits at the Ashram.
