India Pilgrimage 2009

Prem, Namadeva

Itinerary

Day 1 -

1:05am departure from Los Angeles

Day 2 -

Meeting on arrival and transfer from airport to: Hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3 -

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning excursion to Mahabalipuram Afternoon after lunch at Hotel Temple Bay, Mahabalipuram, travel to Kanchi to meet (If available) H.H. Shankaracharaya Jayendra Saraswati or his successor Sri Vijayendra Saraswati of Kanchi Math. Sri Vijayendra met with us in 2005 and it was a tremendous experience for all experiencing his great love, compassion and spiritual power. In 2009, we had the extreme blessing of chanting Shiva mantrasand singing Kirtan for H.H. Shankaracharaya Jayendra Saraswati and then meeting with his successor Sri Vijayendra Saraswati and receiving his blessings. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel in Chennai.

Day 4 -

Breakfast at the hotel. Later transfer to airport to connect 9W-445 1005/1050 hrs. Transfer from airport to Hotel. Visit to the spectacular Hanuman Temple with a 25 foot tall black marble relief of both Lakshmi and Hanuman. Our tour Manager Kirit Pandya will chant his beautiful rendition of the Hanuman Chalisa. Visit to the Bangalore Ramakrishna Center. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 5 -

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to Vishwa Shanti Ashram outside Bangalore. In 2007, Guru Rama Mata was present and met with our group, giving many blessings to each person. Lunch will be served in her home. Here everyone will have the rare opportunity to offer puja to a 30 foot murti of Vijaya Vittala (The victorious avatar of Panduranga – Krishna). There are also beautiful temples on the grounds for Durga, Gayatri, and a huge Bhagavad Gita Temple with the entire Gita carved on brass plates in three languages around the hall. There is a 35 foot tall murti of the universal form of Maha Vishnu and a huge chariot and horses carrying Krishna and Arjuna. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 6 -

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to airport to connect Flight to Mumbai/Bombay. Transfer from Bombay airport to Pune.

Then we begin the Ashta Vinayaka Temples Pilgrimage and Darshan. Each of the eight Ganesha shrines visited over the next several days celebrates a particular form of Ganapati, complete with lore and legends. It is said that one must be blessed by Ganesha to even feel a desire to perform a pilgrimage to one or all of these shrines. Together they form a mandala of the sacred cosmos of Ganesha, providing a symbolic expression of his cosmic form on the earth plane. The formless omnipresent One is represented so that we may relate to and propitiate divinity, both within and without. If one visits all of the shrines on a single pilgrimage, one is said to have done a circumambulation of the Divine, participating in the cosmic dance of the universe. The blessings of such a pilgrimage are so immense that words cannot properly convey them.

Sri Varada Vinayaka Temple of Mahad - From the blessings of Sage Narada, (this is a huge convoluted drama) the shunned Gritsamada had the Darshan of Ganesha and became healed of leprosy. This temple is erected to Varada Vinayaka, who bestows boons.

Sri Balla Leshvara Vinayaka Temple of Pali - A group of young boys became spontaneously devoted to Ganesha. Going to the forest they forgot family, location and time of day as they worshipped Ganesha. The father of one of the boys was summoned and after searching eventually found them. His rage at the elder boy resulted in a beating and a curse. The boy prayed to Ganesha and received his darshan. Through little Ballal’s prayer Ganesha agreed that those who come to him there will have their miseries removed. Lunch enroute. Arrive Pune, check in at hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 7 -

Breakfast at the hotel. Full day excursion to Pandharpur to the Panduranga-Rukmini Murtis that blessed Pundalika, Namadeva, Tukaram and a host of other saints and sages. He appeared to each of them, blessed them in multiple ways and conveyed the highest spiritual blessings. The Panduranga-Rukmini Murtis are said to be a huge radiation point for spiritual energy during this spiritual winter (Kali Yuga) that began over 5,000 years ago. Hundreds of thousands of people visit here every year to obtain blessings. We will chant sacred songs to Panduranga-Rukmini composed by Sadguru Sant Keshavadas. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 8 -

Breakfast at the hotel. Ashtaka (Eight) Ganesha Temples Darshan continues. Lunch en route.

Sri Siddhi Vinayaka Temple at Siddhatek - When Lord Vishnu could not defeat two powerful demons, he prayed to Lord Shiva, who instructed him to propitiate Lord Ganesha with the mantra: Om Sri Ganeshaya Namaha. Maha Vishnu chanted the mantra and was blessed by Ganesha for one hundred years. This aspect is called Siddhi Vinayaka, a form of Ganesha powerfully aiding humanity during this spiritual winter (Kali Yuga). This temple is a place where one can attain the Siddhi (power/perfection) of Lord Ganapati, leading to spiritual and material success and eventual perfection. We will also chant together the great and powerful mantra of Ganesha to banish and conquer any evil.

Sri Chintamani Vinakaya Temple at Theur - When Sage Kapila's wish-fulfilling gem, the Chintamani, was stolen by Prince Gana, Ganesha's spouse, Siddhi Devi, appeared to protect the sage. Ganesha then warned the prince in a dream, causing Prince Gana to proceed to destroy Sage Kapila. The divinely protected sage, tired of worldly struggle, asked Ganesha to remain in that place to bless those who come. Ganesha agreed and took the name of the stone as one of his own. We will offer our prayers to the wish-fulfilling aspect of Ganesha here.

Sri Mayueshvara Temple at Morgoan - Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Devi and Surya meditated here to discover who created them. A flame emerged from their meditations that took the form of Ganesha. This is also the place that Brahma was overcome with desire, starting a drama that ended with creation of the Turiya Tirtha River, also called the Karha River. Turiya is the Sanskrit term for the highest state of consciousness. Birth of the demon Sindhu (from the Ganesha Purana) led to the incarnation of Gunesha, who rode a peacock is his vehicle. The story of Sindhu and Gunesha will be recounted as part of this trip. We pray and meditate here to attain the Turiya state of consciousness by the grace of God.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 9 -

Breakfast at the hotel. Lunch en route.

Sri Girijamata Vinayaka at Lenyadri - "O Ganesha, you dwell in the secret cave, located high above the realm of sense pleasures, which gives divine delight to those who enter therein. You are the lord of the mountain. You are the destroyer of the eight inner demons. Thus I meditate on you, Guru of gurus." This cave is where Parvati did twelve years of discipline to prepare and invoke an incarnation of Ganesha. The Brahma Vaivarta Purana and the Ganesha Purana give variations of this story. To reach this temple one must climb 283 steep steps out the mountain face to a dark temple where Ganesha's murti resides. Beside Ganesha's murti are murthis of Shiva and Hanuman. If you are a spiritual teacher or serve God through humanity in some way, the blessings of this temple are a must for you. (If you are unable to climb, you may wait with others not climbing on the bus or environs.)

Sri Vighneshvara Temple at Ojhar - The demon Vighna created havoc for all, preventing puja, yajna and other forms of divine sacrifice. When Ganesha was invoked by the celestials, Vighna discovered that he could not defeat Ganesha. He surrendered and asked that his name - Vighna - be taken by Ganesha. Agreeing, the Vighna Raja form of Ganesha came into being with the understanding that remembering or chanting Ganesha's name would remove any obstacles to the beginning activity or enterprise. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Sri Maha Ganapati Temple at Ranjangaon - Here Lord Ganesha appeared to Lord Shiva and gave him a mantra to defeat the seemingly unconquerable demon Tripura. Then Ganesha conveyed to 1,000 names of Ganesha (Ganesha Sahasranama) which we will chant here if possible. We will definitely perform the Ganesha Sahasranama Fire Ceremony in the Himalayas later on this pilgrimage. Ganesha told Shiva that by chanting the 1,000 names one will attain victory in any endeavor, have all obstacles removed and achieve whatever is desired. We will also chant a Ganesha Gayatri Mantra here, to achieve enlightenment even in this age of darkness.

Day 10 -

Day free for Ayurvedic Treatments (at own cost to be paid directly by the clients.) Lunch, Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Possible visit for evening arati to the Janeshwara Temple dedicated to Panduranga.

Day 11 -

Breakfast at the hotel. Day free for Ayurvedic Treatments (at own cost to be paid directly by the clients.) Lunch, Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Evening Satsang with Namadeva.

Day 12 -

Breakfast at the hotel. Later transfer to airport to Delhi. Transfer from airport to hotel. Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon Visit: Aksherdham Temple. Birla builds magnificent temples all over the world. We will have the darshan of this one in Delhi. The Lakshmi Narayana Temple (Birla Bhawan), which has many other temples to Krishna and other deities, is one of the major spiritual attractions of Delhi. The Birla Temples are beautiful and very well kept. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 13 -

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer from hotel to airport: Dep: Delhi at 0655 hrs. arrive Haridwar at 1122 hrs. Transfer to Rishikesh, On arrival check in hotel. After lunch visit Laxman Jhoola, temples and ashrams. In the evening witness aarti ceremony at the ghats and also visit The Divine Life Society, the Ashram of the great Swami Sivananda whose disciples Satchidananda, and Vishnudevanada started some of the first hatha yoga centers (Integral Yoga Institute and Sivanada Yoga Centers) in the United States. At The Divine Life Society Ashram in Rishikesh, the Maha Mantra (Hare Krishna Mantra) has been going on 24/7 since the 1950s. Return to hotel Neeraj Bhawan for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 14 -

After breakfast, drive from Rishikesh to Rudraprayag (6 hrs). The mountainous stretch of the route begins from Rishikesh at the bank of the sacred Ganges (Ganga) River and follows its course up to Devprayag, where the rivers Bhagirathi from Gangotri and Alaknanda from Badrinath join to form the Ganga. The road, then running along Alaknanda, zig-zags its way to Rudraprayag. Packed lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight at Monal Resort Hotel. Evening Satsang and/or mantra chanting with Namadeva and Satyabhama.

Day 15 -

After breakfast head for Auli, a spectacular drive (6 Hrs) along river Alaknanda, dense forest & views of the snowcapped mountain. Packed lunch enroute. On arrival check-in MHE Luxury Camp. Evening: 1,000 Names of Gayatri Fire Ceremony led by Namadeva and Satyabhama Dinner and overnight at luxury camps.

Day 16 -

Day free to explore the area. Evening: 1,000 Names of Lalitha Fire Ceremony led by Namadeva and Satyabhama. Meals and overnight stay at Camp.

Day 17 -

Day free to explore the area. Evening: 1,000 Names of Ganesha Fire Ceremony. Meals and overnight stay at Camp.

Day 18 -

After breakfast drive to Ranikhet (9-10 hr drive). Via Karan Prayag Ranikhet is a small hill station set in the Kumaon hills. It offers the tourists a panoramic view of the mighty Himalayan peaks. The environs of Ranikhet are sylvan, peaceful and attractive. Ranikhet is a cantonment town and is known for its ancient temples. Packed lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight in hotel resort. Evening Planetary Puja or Fire Ceremony, depending upon hotel facilities, led by Namadeva and Satyabhama.

Day 19 -

Breakfast at Hotel. After breakfast, full day visit to Babaji’s Cave. This is where Babaji fulfilled the great desire of Lahiri Mahasaya, guru to Yogananda's guru, and bestowed the highest blessings upon him. We will have the great blessing of being able to meditate and chant in this holy cave. Packed lunch from the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel.

Day 20 -

Breakfast at Hotel. Morning free. Afternoon drive from Ranikhet to Haldwani (130 kms / 5 hrs) in time to board overnight train to Delhi. Dinner at a local restaurant enroute. Leave Kathgodam at 2040 hrs.

Day 21 -

Arrive Delhi at 0440 hrs. Transfer from Station to hotel, check in time 12 noon . We have generally been accommodated earlier than noon. Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the hotel.

OPTIONAL - Day return trip to Agra by surface visiting Taj Mahal and Fort only - No Fatehpur Sikri

Day 22 -

This day is free for shopping and independent activities and rest. Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the hotel. Evening, transfer to International airport in time for Singapore Airlines flight. Destinations of Los Angeles, San Francisco or Seattle.

Day 23 -

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