Explorations. Outwards and Inwards
On a Monday morning, I'm about to start day's work and YouTube's autoplay starts playing this ethereal tune from the great Paramhansa Yogananda. Tears well up in comic unity and the divinity everywhere! Here, put on the speakers, turn it on and close your eyes: https://www.youtube.com/embed/6i_GM-l3VxI About Esraj and Lyrics for the Chant Now, what's … Continue reading Paramhansa Yogananda Playing the Esraj – “Who is in my temple?”
Silence is the most eloquent language and the most powerful transmission happens in mouna. But till our instrument gets tuned to the frequency of silence, words can provide beautiful satsangha (company of the truth). Experiences of devotees and seekers on the path prove to be of immense value and support. The thought for this post … Continue reading Spiritual Books for Nourishing the Inner Journey
Headlines are to impress. And I'm sure this one does. When one thinks of Mount Arunachala, Ramana Maharshi's name occurs simultaneously. They're both the same, the same guru tatva (essence), the same absolute reality. All these efforts to describe the indescribable are like meditations to reach a point where there is no meditator. And perhaps … Continue reading Ayya Swami of Arunachala: 18 Years on a Mountain Top Without Food
This story will sound like one from yesteryears. 12 years in a cave on the banks of Narmada. This is the story of a man who has found truth by his own experiments, probably the only way in which one can find peace. Following a master or any set practice and having a guru is … Continue reading 12 Years in a Cave: A Sadhu’s Tapasya on the Banks of River Narmada
I’ve been to Rishikesh before. Few times in this lifetime and there’s a strong aabhaas (impression) that surely in other time frames too. We spent good time in retreat in Hrishikesh (as it is written traditionally) at turn of the year, 2022. The moment one thinks of the place, the divine river Ganga comes to … Continue reading Meeting Hrishikesh, Lord of the Senses
It is around Saturday noon in Mumbai. I am fast asleep owing to some exhaustion from the working week that has just passed. On the 74th floor of a high rise in Parel, this body felt heavy in sleep. It was like something pushing down as a thrust and taking flight. Not an imaginary flight … Continue reading Meeting Devi Amma in Whitefield, Bangalore
"Writings from Arunachala" is a collection of stories, reflections, illustrations and photographs by devotees of the sacred mountain Arunachala in Tiruvannamalai (read Tiruvannamalai Travel Guide). The mountain is considered to be the physical manifestation of Lord Shiva and popular sages like Sri Ramana Maharshi have meditated on the mountain for decades since time immemorial! This … Continue reading Writings from Arunachala, Tiruvannamalai
The Narmada Parikrama is a 3500km walk around the river Narmada in Central India. A centuries-old tradition, devotees walk the path in complete surrender to the spirit of the river and the people living on the banks. Thousands of people take the holy circumambulation every year but most of them are men or groups of … Continue reading Letters from Narmada Parikrama
Tiruvannamalai is considered to be the spiritual heart centre of the world by Ramana Maharshi and devotees of Shiva. This is a modern day travel guide to this ancient temple town.
Food is such an intimate aspect of one's life. And as soon as we say food- all the aromas and our favourite delicacies come to mind but as one of the author points out in an article, "Even empty space is a part of our diet- fasting." This magazine is a collection of such reflections … Continue reading Our Relationship with Food- Interviews and Reflections