Tag: March 2014 Spiritual Adventure
7 Posts
Wildlife, spices, & tea plantations in Periyar
As we explore all of the regional and cultural wonders that South India has to offer, we find ourselves traversing through the rolling hills of Periyar. Periyar is the green-thumb region of the west, the western ghats, or Sahyādri, offering cool respite from the customary heat of the south. Many ...
Read MoreBeauty in Bloom: A walk through the Madurai Flower Market
One of the most aesthetically beautiful parts of our meditation retreat to South India is our visit to the local flower market in Madurai. It is one of the biggest markets in all of India and provides exports of many different species of flora. Though it is an effort of the local Madurai c...
Read MoreCulture in Color: Sari Shopping in Madurai
Saris are a traditional type of dress worn in India, among many other places. They come in a variety of colors, patterns, designs, and are often tastefully embellished. During our South Indian meditation retreat we make sure to allow a little time to delve into the beauty of the culture with a li...
Read MoreThe Goddess of Madurai and her temple
This spectacular temple is a sacred place of pilgrimage for Hindus the world over. The hallways and chambers are crowded from dawn to dusk, filled with pilgrims eager for darshan (sight) of the Goddess Meenakshi in the sanctum sanctorum. Pilgrims come to offer prayers, to have wishes fulfilled, t...
Read MoreRespecting your elders…including the cows
Chidambaram is an ancient pilgrimage place where for thousands of years pilgrims have come to discover their higher Self. Even the famed yogi, Patanjali, visited here and worshiped God in the form of Nataraja (Hindu god Siva in his aspect of dance). Chidambaram is one of my favorite places to vis...
Read MoreSelfless love in Chidambaram
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 e...
Read MoreOh so that’s where Krishna dropped his butterball…
Your eyes do not deceive you — there are children taking shade in the shadow of a massive boulder that seems to be precariously perched on the side of a steep hill. Krishna’s Butterball, a popular destination spot for tourists and locals alike in Mamallapuram, South India, is one of those “gotta ...
Read More