Australian_Yoga_Journal_July_2017

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The temple at Gomukh At Gomukh, there is a small stone temple nestled among mountain peaks that seem to protect the big ice cave from which the river flows. When I got there, I knelt before a statue of Lord Shiva, held my hands at my heart, and silently wished for clarity. Collecting water at Gomukh Elephant sanctuary in Dehradun Meditation caves at the ‘Beatles Ashram’ Ma Ganga flowing through Rishikesh Young pilgram at Gangotri Temple thelastlegofthetrekwasconsiderably easierthanthegroundwe’dcovered thedaybefore,givingmymindthe chancetowander.Andthereinthe highHimalayas,aftersharingthe trailwithsadhusandchantingand meditatinginacavewithababa, mythoughtsreturnedagaintomy Irish-Catholicgrandmother. Whatwouldshehavethoughtof myIndianpilgrimage?Wouldshe havebalkedattheHindumythology, orurgedmetosayafewHailMarys atthesummit? AndwhatImostwantedtoknow: Whatinvisiblestirringshadmy grandmotherfacedasshewalked barefootupCroaghPatrick,andwere theysimilartomyownasImademy waytowardGomukh? Mygrandmotherdied1oyearsago, soI’llneverknowtheanswerstomy questions.ButIdoknowthatshortly aftershemadeherownpilgrimage,she leftherfamilyandallthatsheknewin hertinyvillageinIrelandandemigrated toNewYork. AtthetopofCroaghPatrick,there isalittlewhitechurchwherepilgrims saytheirprayersbeforeheadingback downthemountain.Iimaginedmy younggrandmotherwalkingintothat churchandlightingacandle,praying forstrengthasshepreparedtoleave herhomelandandaskingforblessings intheunknownfutureshe’dhavein America. AtGomukh,thereisasmallstone templenestledamongmountainpeaks thatseemtoprotectthebigicecave fromwhichtheriverflows.WhenIgot there,Islippedoffmyshoes,knelt beforeastatueofLordShiva,andheld myhandsatmyheart.ThenIwalked overtothebankofMaGangamere feetfromwhereshestartsflowingand bowed,silentlywishingforclarity andcomfortasImovedonfromthe heartacheandlessonsofmypastand towardmyownunknownfuture.The fewpeoplearoundmeseemedtobe justasreflectiveasIwas,baskinginthe peaceful,comfortingenergythat crystallised—botharoundandwithin us—hereatthesource. AsIcuppedmyhandsintheicy riveranddrankfromit,Iheldthe feelingsoflossandhopemy grandmothersurelyexperiencedasa youngwomanabouttoleaveIreland, aswellasmyownpasthurtand optimismforwhat’stocome.Andthen Iopenedmypalmsandletitallgo, watchingthecleardropletsmergewith theflow.This,Ithought,iswhypeople ofallfaithsgoonpilgrimages,andwhy Iwasonthisonenow. Thesejourneysarelikelifeitself, filledwithsetbacksandstrugglesas wellasvictoriesandbeauty,justasmy grandmotherhadtoldme.Andno matterwhatyoubelievein—awhole posseofHindugodslikethesadhusand babasworship,theholyTrinitylikemy grandmotherdid,ornohigherbeingat all—thejourneyservesasareminder thatwe’reallonourownpath,facing ourfears,feelingoursadness,and trustingintheunknowablegiftsofthe future. Want to go on a retreat in India or lead one for your students? Visit learningjourneys.com to find out how. PHOTOS: MEGHAN RABBITT
2 weeks in NorthIndia Most experts recommend spending at least 14 days to see some of the holiest cities and temples in North India. To make the most of your time, here’s a suggested itinerary: DAY 1 Arrive in Delhi and take in the bustling metropolis on a bicycle rickshaw; attend an aarti ceremony (a spiritual ritual) at ISKCON temple. Bali’s best retreat centre since 2003 Over 50 retreats every year Footprints in Bali with Iyan Yaspriyana & Wayan Partawan NEW PROGRAM DAY 2 Travel to Agra (a two-hour train ride from Delhi) to visit the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. DAY 3 From Delhi, take the train to Haridwar (a six-hour journey). The city’s name means ‘Gateway to God’ and it is one of the most accessible pilgrimage sites in India. Attend the aarti ceremony at Har-ki-Pauri and visit the Jain Temple. DAY 4 Drive to Rishikesh, commonly referred to as the birthplace of yoga. Visit the ‘Beatles Ashram’ where the band reportedly wrote 40 songs while learning meditation from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1968; shop in the open-air markets; and attend the Maha Aarti ceremony at Triveni Ghat, where the purifying waters from three holy rivers come together and you can drop an offering into Ma Ganga and make a wish. www.oneworldretreats.com DAY 5 Drive to Uttarkashi (approximately six hours from Rishikesh) and stay overnight en route to Gangotri. DAY 6 Drive to Gangotri (approximately four hours from Uttarkashi), stopping at Gangnani for a dip in the village’s hot sulphur springs. Visit Gangotri Temple for evening prayer dedicated to Ma Ganga, and participate in a puja ceremony, a ritual performed by Gangotri Temple’s priest to keep those hiking to Gomukh safe on their journey. DAY 7 Begin hiking to Gomukh and stay the night at the campsite in Bhojwasa. NEW IN BALI DAY 8 Walk to Gomukh and spend time on the banks of Ma Ganga. Fill a vessel with the holy water to take home with you. Walk back to Bhojwasa for another night at camp. DAY 9 Return to Gangotri, then drive to Uttarkashi. DAY 10 From Uttarkashi, drive to Rudarparyag (approximately seven hours) for an overnight respite en route to Badrinath, one of the most sacred and respected shrines in India and one of the four pilgrimage sites collectively called Char Dham (the ‘four abodes/seats’), which every Hindu is supposed to visit to attain salvation. DAY 11 Drive from Rudarparyag to Badrinath (approximately seven hours) to visit the Badrinath Temple, take a bath in the thermal hot springs (where pilgrims bathe before entering the temple), and visit Mana, India’s last civilian village before the Tibet/Indo-China border. DAYS 12 & 13 From Badrinath, drive back to Rishikesh (about nine hours) for a two-day stay at NaturOvillé Ayurvedic Spa. DAY 14 Drive to Haridwar (approximately one hour) and take the train back to Delhi. The place for an authentic Panchakarma experience www.oneworldayurveda.com
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GOING WITHIN POSES FOR STRENGTH AND
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