TreeLog

I am now back in Mauritius, reminiscing about my 10 days spent in India. I had intermittent access to internet and did not have much time to use my phone as my schedule was full.

The “Grace of yoga” programme at Isha Yoga Center was packed with various activities: yoga, meditation, watching documentaries, rituals, singing and dancing. 

I started my three day Shivanga sadhana there with the culmination on Maha Shivratree. Shivanga means a limb of Shiva and doing this yoga practice and rituals really made my heart fill with devotion, preparing myself for the grand night of Shiva (Mahashivratree).

We wore white clothes for the grace of yoga programme and an orange shawl  for Shivanga sadhana. 

In the evenings we had Yaksha celebrations at the yoga center where we experienced Indian classical music, singing and dancing. 

One evening we also had the opportunity to attend linga bhairavi abhishekam at night where the deity was smeared lovingly with neem paste. We learnt a devotional song during one of our sessions which we sang after the prayer was over, making the night vibrant and blessed.

One highlight was seeing the Pada yatra (Shiva yatra/pilgrimage), where people walk from across different regions of south India and come to the yoga center with their Adiyogi ratham ( a chariot with Adiyogi) and the 63 nayanmars ( Tamil saints devoted to Shiva). This was an occasion of great celebrations at the yoga center with singing and sounds of drums.

The food during these days was simple vegetarian meals served with much love by the volunteers. I thoroughly enjoyed the fresh fruits, specially the yummy watermelons!

Some changes cannot be seen from outside, they come from inside… when the soul is happy you experience a state of bliss by just sitting; like nandi sitting and utterly devoted to Shiva.