Day at Isha foundation, Adiyogi- Coimbatore
Did you know that "112 feet Adiyogi Shiva statue" is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the "Largest Bust Sculpture” in the world?
This Adiyogi Shiva statue is at Isha Yoga centre near Coimbatore in Indian state of Tamilnadu. So this time I decided to travel to Coimbatore for Isha Ashram. As sometimes it is good to explore your spiritual side as well.
Before I start anything, first interesting thing which you should know is how people greet there, as this will be useful when you have to communicate with them for anything either on a phone call or through email or in person.
So here, people greet by saying Namaskaram and join hands 🙏 everytime they see each other. And they address each other by saying Akka and Anna. This I mentioned as most of the north Indians don't know the meaning of these words.
Akka means sister used for ladies 🙎♀️
Anna means brother used for Gents🙎♂️
Here people behave very calmly and patiently, either in the queue for Darshan or in the queue for food. They handle the crowd very calmly and that too without noise. At most of the places, everyone has to maintain silence in Bhairavi temple, Dhyanalinga, Chandrakund, Suryakund, or even in Bhiksha hall (Ashram dining hall). And they maintain silence by carrying and showing a poster written with "please maintain silence"
Here is my experience:
My overall experience was wonderful. As I stayed at Ashram Cottage & I loved it. It was a very peaceful place where I got the room. From the window, hills and forest were visible and could hear bird chirping sounds and peacock sounds too.
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Spotted a peacock 😁 |
I didn't feel to leave the cottage and that area, There was no outside world noise, just nature sounds, winds, birds, peacocks and insects sound only could be heard 😀. Peacocks also can be seen there, They were roaming there freely, I tried to capture in the picture but not very clear in this image.
Moreover I had to visit other nearby places in Coimbatore on 2nd day. but the positivity and calm vibes of Isha foundation made me drop my other plan and spend whole 2nd day there itself. but in those 2 days, I completely forgot the outside world and felt to stay more even. It was so positive and peaceful there even you can spend time just sitting at a place being with nature and doing nothing.
Adiyogi 3D Laser show:
When I reached At 7:00 PM, the ground was full with the crowd desperately waiting for the show to begin, but somehow I managed to get a place in the front row😅. And once it started, It became a highlight of the day, Where Adiyogi's story of how Yoga is offered to humanity is well depicted with 3D laser light & sound in some 13 minutes.
For a small video clipping, click below link:
Dip into Teerthakund(Pool): So before going into it, we have to deposit all the items mobile, wallet everything at the counter.
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| Chandrakund (for Female) |
About food, I had food at Bhiksha hall where sattvik food is served 2 times a day. Food was tasty, healthy and with many varieties like full meal.
When you are at the centre you can see many foreigners involved in Volunteering services at many places bhiksha hall, performing puja or other rituals too.
So if you are planning to visit, I will recommend you plan for staying at "Isha Ashram" only to get the actual feel of life there, instead of you coming as a day visitor and staying back to Coimbatore in some hotel.
Things not to miss when you are at Isha yoga Centre:
- Walk to the world’s largest bust sculpture of Adiyogi Lord Shiva
- Go to have a blessing at Linga Bhairavi temple
- Take a dip in the water bodies – Theerthakunds (Suryakund for men and the Chandrakund for women). https://isha.sadhguru.org/in/en/center/consecrated-spaces/theerthakund
- It is said that after dip into teerthkund, one should enter Dhyanalinga temple for better reception of the energies of Dhyanalinga. So you plan in such a way that you join for Nada Aradhna (offering of sounds) between 11:45 am to 12:10 pm or 5:45 pm to 6:10 pm at Dhyanalinga temple. Or you can go any other time just for meditation if this time slot is not feasible.
- Attend Aumkar sessions happen daily at the Centre from 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm
- Must attend 3D Laser Show Adiyogi Divya Darshanam at 7:00 pm
- Attend free yoga session of 30 min duration between 9:00am to 4:00 pm
- Do shopping at Isha shopee for rudraksha, Adiyogi miniature statues, organic clothing, books and other stuff.
- If you have sufficient days, you can join programs at Isha Rejuvenation Centre. There are various programs offered for some Ayurveda healing therapy, massage and yogasanas and much more. But booking is required in advance.
- Purnima or Amavasya is always special there, you will get to witness the musical performances and some other traditional dance shows.
Accommodation at Isha:
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| Cottage at Isha |
To enquire about accommodation availability at Isha, you have to email at "ishastay@ishafoundation.org" at least 4-5 weeks in advance or maybe earlier depending on special days like Purnima, Amavasya, Shivratri or Navratri or even weekends. Mostly weekends are booked in advance
In my case, I had enquired about booking approx 3 weeks in advance for weekend stay but only during normal days not during special festival, so got weekend availability.
There are various accommodation options ranging from standard to Deluxe Ac and Non -Ac Rooms and charges start from Rs 850 to Rs 3500 for different types of rooms inclusive of 2 times meals.
Cottage looks like this as in this picture. Ooh, to my surprise It is quite modern Ashram, I didn’t expect it would be like this.
Once you get your room allotted there, they will tie a Band on your hand with your cottage name written on it. This you have to wear all the time when staying at isha. This shows that you are staying there.
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| Handband |
Also, you will get a timetable for each and every activity of the Day at Isha:
How to reach Isha centre:
First, you have to reach Coimbatore by air, road or rail, The Isha Yoga Center is situated a 30 km or some 80-minute drive from Coimbatore airport. So from Coimbatore, there are cab, auto or bus options available. But I choose bus, as bus frequency is good. After every 30 min buses go from the railway station and Gandhipuram. But note that on weekends, buses for Isha get full quickly. Below is the timetable for the bus.
Bus timetable is available at Isha website also. for latest timing of the bus, you can directly check on Isha website.
To reach Adiyogi Statue:
It is some 5-8 min walk from the main gate. But you will find another interesting option as well which is Bullock Cart ride.😁 But I was walking much faster than the Bullock 😉 so I didn't take that ride. But it seems a good option for old age people.
Bullock Cart ride to Adiyogi:
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| This statue is at Entrance |
Volunteering:
If you staying at Isha centre and want to do Volunteering services, then you can do at Bhiksha hall (Ashram dining hall) or for gardening or you discuss at welcome point then they will tell you other options also for Volunteering.
As photography is not allowed at certain places. So I have limited pictures to share here.
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| Night view of Statue |
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| Picture captured during 3D light show |
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| Dhyanlinga Temple |
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| Linga Bhairavi Temple |
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| View from the cottage |
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| Isha Rejuvenation |
Hope I have shared enough information, just in case you have any queries, drop in a comment below or reach my instagram handle (instagram @shweta.traveler). I will revert on that.
Thanks for reading it.
Wow nice
ReplyDeleteThanks 🙂
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