Three weeks ago, I returned from this year’s journey to India. It started already six weeks ago, at Christmas. This time, I did not write any blogposts – I was still a bit groggy from my time in hospital and a heavy cold I caught in Bengaluru. However, it was a beautiful time with profound teachings and rituals, interesting exchanges with group members and some excursions into the surroundings.
It started with the December Call celebration in Bengaluru. End of December we flew to Visakhapatnam for the seminar with members from the West. It started on 1 January and ended on 9 January. This year’s topic was “The Ashwins – Healing Devas”. About 70 members from various countries of the West participated.
There were two excursions, one to Hamsavanam / Ramadri, an environmental development area with a school for poor children, a garden with sacred trees, and a meditation center amidst small temples. The other to the Annavaram temple, which is located south of Visakhapatnam.
Before the start of the Guru Puja celebration we visited, like in the previous years, the Simhachalam temple, this time accompanied by Master Kumar. It is a spiritually very vibrant temple on a hill above Simhachalam. Then followed the 3.5 days of the Guru Puja celebration, which are always very intense, filled with rituals, presentations and exchanges. The days were long and the nights were short. It is a kind of intense inner cleaning and charging of the batteries.
When on 14th, 15th January we set out for our journey’s home, we all felt filled with profound experiences.
Sunrise on the flight from Delhi to Bengaluru
At Sadguru Tapovana, the site of the December Call celebration
Ceremonial opening of the celebration
Children presenting classical Indian dances
Sunrise at Visakhapatnam on 1 January 2019, during the celebration
Ceremony at the Master EK statue, Visakhapatnam beach road
Fire Ritual at Radhamadhavam
Statue of Lord Dattatreya at Radhamadhavam
Welcome greetings by children of the Mithila school at Ramadri – Hamsavanam
Ceremoniously decorated bull at Ramadri
Visit to Annavaram temple near Visakhapatnam
“Gosala” cow temple at Annavaram
Group picture at Annavaram
Distributing gifts at the end of the seminar
Decorated altar at Radhamadhavam
At Simhachalam temple before the beginning of the Guru Pujas
The stage at the Guru Pujas celebration in Simhachalam, showing pictures of great Masters of Wisdom
Master CVV statue
Ladies during the Lalita Puja
Fire Ritual at the Guru Pujas
Good-Bye – sunset over Radhamadhavam
