1025 posts since 2008

Dandapani’s Blog

Welcome! Sharing my reflections on the spiritual path.
Join me on a profound journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth.

Oct 13, 2011

The Indian drumstick

In South India, a drumstick is not something used to make music but an unusual vegetable, almost unknown in the United States. The long pods come from a tropical tree and are prepared in a multitude of ways, most often in the light lentil and vegetable stew called "sambar." The drumstick is cut into pieces an inch or two long and is eaten by chewing the delicate pulp while avoiding the woody f...

Oct 12, 2011
2 MINUTES READ

Amritsar and the Golden Temple

The Golden Temple in Amritsar, located in the state of Punjab, India, is the holiest shrine for Sikhs around the world. The temple was founded in 1577 by guru Ram Das (the fourth guru). Amritsar is 32 kilometres (20 miles) east of Lahore, Pakistan and therefore, very close to I
Oct 11, 2011
1 MINUTE READ

India's capital, New Delhi

Aaaah....New Delhi! It brings a wave of emotions. This capital is a concoction of mixed experiences for the traveler. Spiced with rich history and over salted with modernity, New Delhi is a curry to sample but not indulge in. It is our meeting ground for our upcoming spiritual
Oct 10, 2011
2 MINUTES READ

South India's Mouth Watering Treasure

Tamil Nadu Cuisine Tamil Nadu, the land of the Tamils, was dominated by the Dravidian culture for 2500 years. The cuisine is distinctly different from that of the north, and is based primarily on rice rather than wheat and an abundant use of coconut. With a largely vegetar
Oct 9, 2011
1 MINUTE READ

Chidambaram's dedicated priests

One of the joys of traveling is getting to know the locals, their way of life and the things that are important to them. On Vedic Odyssey's spiritual adventures we take great pride in ensuring our spiritual adventurers get to experience this. During our visit to Chidambaram la
Oct 8, 2011
1 MINUTE READ

South Indian Home Cooking

The best South Indian food is prepared in home kitchens. No restaurant or hotel can match the love and care that goes in to feeding the family. Family recipes, passed down through the generations are as numerous as the households of India, and each cook has individual spe
Oct 7, 2011
2 MINUTES READ

Chidambaram's Siva Nataraja Temple

Sacred to Saivite Hindus the world over, this majestic temple complex in Chidambaram sprawls over 40 acres and is dedicated to the Hindu god Siva. Here Siva manifests as Lord Nataraja, the Lord of Dance. Although there are many temples in South India dedicated to Siva, five amo