“Life is a journey, With Many destinations” We survive and savor most of it.
While on this life journey, we travel to seek happiness and freedom, to seek understanding of how much place we hold for ourselves in this vast and beautiful universe … which in turn gives us immense pleasure and learning. I started listening to Sadguru’s talk in the last few years. I found a connection to his life nuances, logic, and reasoning. Certain unknown queries started making sense. Many cultural and traditional rituals, many about self, that was never given due diligence started making sense.
I was on a path to understanding myself. The human body is a self-sufficient machine; if taken good care of, it functions without a glitch. As I dwelled deep in meditation and yoga. It was a call to visit the ISHA Foundation in Coimbatore.
Short breaks are breathers
With a chance of a five-day break in the calendar, I made the most of the opportunity. We did face challenges, many deterred us from touring during the monsoons but in vain. Situated at the foothills of Velliangiri hills, driving through a road lined with coconut and beetle tree plantations and freshly planted fields we find ourselves at the ISHA center at Coimbatore. Euphoria of a bucket list tick sets in, as we reach ISHA. Tourist thronging from all around the world, it’s almost a world in itself.
ISHA Foundation Coimbatore
It’s around noon and we are asked to visit the ISHA yoga Centre first and the Adi Yogi later, as the former closes for a break. With Bags, and cameras deposited at an appropriate place and with volunteers guiding you … yes, the young volunteers are offering services.
Volunteering the way to learn
Each seeks all life lessons looking for the highest returns in the longer RUN. Irrespective of age, color, and language, the center boasts on service to self and others. As we enter the ISHA yoga center, the deep chants and meditative music in Sadguru’s voice draw your attention.
Vibe
The center is based on 150 acres and has a cover of local trees like coconut and TAD GOLA (Palmyra) and betelnuts. The boardwalk is lined up with kiosks of organic and local products along with books on meditation and Archana. What is more imposing is the positive aura of the center lined with volunteers silently guiding the visitors.
Understanding some life lessons
In recent times it’s dawned on me, that it’s very easy to talk about everything and anything under the roof, what’s most difficult and takes away most of your energy is to keep mum. Once inside ISHA, silence is the mantra. Storing your energy and channeling it to meditate, and find your inner strength is of utmost importance. ISHA Center is a beautifully created space with a lot of divinity, positive vibes, and meditative spaces, the vibe is toxic and catches you to let it flow through you.
Volunteers clad majorly in white are guiding us and what strikes me is that the majority of them are young in their mid-twenties and thirties. This makes me think, Is the younger generation seeking solace much earlier than me? Is contentment understood better by them, or is it too much to handle and confusion has brought them here.” Where did I lose my vision in the race of life?
Deep in my thoughts and following the sign language of the volunteers guiding us, I climb the steps and face the SURYAKUND.
SURYAKUND
The cascading sound of water soothes you further. Steps going down to the Surya kund and further into the water to offer thoughts to the beautiful idol of NAGA Lingam in black stone is divinity. Adorned with lamps and colorful garlands, all elements of the KUND are deep and you are transported somewhere as you relax.
The ISHA center holds two kundas, each an energized water body 20 feet below ground level. The informative plaques add knowledge as the SURYAKUNDA is for men and the CHANDRAKUND is for women. The Surya kund for men is masculine, and a dip in it helps spiritual receptivity. Now I am eager to move on for a dip in the Chandra Kund. I walk past volunteers and participants in varied meditative stages.
Mediation
Each quiet, peaceful, and calm, I am unaware of what’s going inside each one … none of my business though, but the place and its aura, the independence to sit idle and not do anything but to meditate/ daydream at that moment is very alluring. I give in to the temptation and find myself enjoying the time.
The Chandrakund
As I prepare for a dip collecting the robes from the counter, which comes with a small fee I prepare myself to descend the 32 steps in the pond. The pond charged with feminine energies is soothing …. Again, I give in to the elements around the pond, the cool water and the divine feel… The only place with so many women together & still it’s pin-drop silence … Amazing isn’t that?
DyanLinga
Next, we visit the DyanLinga—yet again guided by volunteers we are led to this huge dome built with some 2,14000 fired bricks, at the entrance a colossal pillar signifying “ Sarv Dharm Samuday” lays its emphasis on the structure & its sacred nature.
The DHYANLINGA is a powerful energy form …true to its meaning as I enter there are around 500 to 600 people seated irrespective of age. The Dhayanlinga in the center is lit by multiple oil lamps and adorned with a red garland that emanates powerful energies.
The dome has multiple triangular COUPES said to be energized by the yogic mantras …majority of them are occupied, and the atmosphere is powerful, unique, and surreal but true. The allotted time slots to meditate are over, but no soul moves. It’s transformative. Consecrated by Sadguru on 24th June 1999.
LINGA BHAIRAVI
In awe of the place, our next visit is to the LINGA BHairavi.This expression of the divine feminine, sometimes covered in turmeric and other times in KUMKUM for me is symbolic. I had seen pictures of Linga Bhairavi and the eyes always attracted me, the pull is huge, and the energy is exuberant.
Lingabharavi stands eight feet tall, a woman figure of ultimate proportion as described by Sadguru, and she is. We find ourselves right in front of her for the abhishekam. You are left staring at her and the connection is internal and deep.
Aadi yogi
Our last stop is at the world’s largest bust of “Adiyogi-The source of yoga” it stands tall at 112 feet high representing the 112 ways the Adiyogi offered for one to attain one’s wellbeing.
As we were visiting in the monsoon the Light and sound show was not available. But what was important was the bullock cart ride from the main entrance to the Aadiyogi Satue.
Takeaways FROM ISHA
- Visiting ISHA is a conscious effort. Check if are you just a tourist
- It’s a step towards Self-transformation
- Volunteering – it’s great to shed self-misconceptions
- You Connect to humans irrespective of Nationality, language, and religion.
- Survive you do… Rest all is a farce
You should know this
A.Inside ISHA yoga center Phones and cameras are not allowed. Deposit B.them safely at the counters.
- For females for a dip in the Chandrakund, you will need ropes.
D.LINGA Bhairavi. is closed from 1:20 pm to 4:20 pm
E.Cafeterias and washrooms … are accessible to all
F.Do shop for some organic products
