One of the most powerful parts of our South Indian Spiritual Adventure is our trip to the orphanage in Chidambaram. Located just a few minutes outside the center of town, the orphanage is a true place of nurturing, good will, and infectious love. The orphanage provides shelter, food, care, and education for children with special needs. Most of the children at the orphanage came to live there because they had been abandoned or rejected by their families, as providing care for handicapped children is an expensive and sometimes impossible feat for families.
The orphanage began as a philanthropic mission and initially housed only six children. Since then the number of children provided for has grown exponentially, and the orphanage has reached its maximum housing capacity thanks to the devotion of the orphanage caretakers.
The priests at the famous Thillai Nataraja Temple are actively involved with the orphanage. One priest provides the children with fresh milk from his cows each morning, and prasadam (sacred food offerings that are made in the temple) are consistently distributed to excited little hands.
On past trips we have taken our spiritual adventurers to the orphanage for what proves to be an unprecedented powerful experience. After being filled with awe by the magnificence of the temple, heart strings are pulled and humility swells by the selflessness of the orphanage care-givers and the innocent, unabashed joy of the children.
During our spiritual retreat in South India in March 2014 trip we will once again return to the orphanage. It stands as one of the highlights of the trip and a moving experience to say the least.
