Friday, December 28, 2007

Went to my last set of lectures at Sivananda Ashram yesterday. Really enjoyed them as they reinforced some of the knowledge passed on by Guruji and Mataji in satsang and for me this was very timely. I feel 'directed' again.

After the lectures, I visited with some former Hare Krishna devotees who now have an Ayurvedic centre here in Rishikesh. Purnamasi is going to Vrindavan tonight so it was a very timely meeting as she had all the info on a sleeper bus(!) - I had been told there was no bus only a 6am train from Haridwar.

Later on, Kumiko and I walked along the opposite bank of the Ganges where it is very quiet and peaceful.

Came across a small beach.

And further on as we climbed back up the bank, a sadhu's cave with built-in door!

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Still in Rishikesh

Learning the Tabla is going well, although a bit of a hiccup a few days ago when Kamal, my teacher, asked his older brother, the 20-year sitar player to take my lesson and check my progress - very intimidating, almost abandoned it all, but thought of Guruji and just went and practised more.
This is my teacher Kamal in the one-room music school; the room is the width of the house and is at the top of a narrow stairway which then looks down onto the Ganges. The window also looks over the Ganges of course; the sun shines into the room in just the right way -
I would like to live in this room.


Yoga was cancelled last night so I went to the internet cafe to celebrate my night of freedom! Sad,sad..but I met an American woman who told me about morning lectures in Vedanta that are being held over Christmas/New Year, in the area known as Ramjullah, at the Sivananda ashram. Kamal (music teacher - lesson follows straight after) tells me this is The Divine Life Society. The lectures started this morning and 2 Swamis spoke on introductory-type topics. It was very timely for me so I will go again tomorrow - there is a Mataji who will be giving both lectures!

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Rishikesh Days

My yoga teacher asks me what do I do between my morning meditation and evening yoga class. I can only laugh and tell him I have the happy sutra Guruji gave me for each day.

However I spend my days, they are really enjoyable, and relaxed. Tried a couple of ayurvedic massages and a facial - most vigourous. Oh and I had my hand 'hennaed' ..


Also made some day trips - to Haridwar to visit Mansadevi and Chadidevi temples high up on opposite sides of the Ganges. You take a cable car to visit both.


Liked Chandidevi and the atmosphere, although it seemed to me there were a lot more monkeys than at Mansa Devi!




..with great views of the Himalayas in the distance.







Earlier this week I went with Kumiko who is a Japanese woman staying in the next room, to Khunjapuri which is about 24 kms from Rishikesh. This is a temple to the goddess Durga. We trekked a few kms uphill to get there and the higher we went the more the magnificent Himalayas revealed themselves.

As we neared the top, the path curved around the mountain and below us was the Ganges and all of Rishikesh. Couldn't get a good photo because of the light - My niece, Bianca's lessons on the camera were in vain I'm afraid.

Kumiko and I also spent a lovely afternoon last week looking down on the Ganges as it flowed past Laxman Jhula temple in Rishikesh, which is close to the area of Tapovan where we are staying. Busloads of pilgrims visit this temple each day.


And yesterday I started tabla lessons at a tiny little school just up the road from Laxman Jhula temple. My teacher, Kamal, tells me I have the technique and the sound will follow, so looks like more daily lessons to keep me here a while longer; I guess until New Year.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

We also some took unforgettable excursions from Laran Kelo. Every year in Kullu there is the great festival known as Dussehra which is along the lines of the Show but somewhat more magnificent, vibrant and huge! We cut a magnificent swathe through the crowds - Mataji in flowing cloth leading us - Helen Janette Diane, and me at the tail - down the aisles, into stalls, I just loved it - everything that was sterile or missing, Viv, from our visit to RAS this year, was alive and thumping at Dussehra.


The following week we went to Rohtang Pass which is at 15,000 ft and is the pass into Lahoul in one direction and Spiti in the other.

Towards Spiti




Looking towards Lahoul









Guruji & Mataji, Rohtang Pass











On the way back down we came across these magnificent snow eagles. Saw snow eagles again when I travelling towards Mandi on my way to Shimla.
They were on the opposite bank of the Beas River 'hopping' up the cliff.


In early December I walked up to Naggar with Dianne on some errands. Naggar is about 3 kms from the ashram and is the site of an older capital.

This Ganesh temple is just past Laran Kelo on the way up to Naggar.

After we hiked up to Naggar Castle for a cup of tea.


The Shiva temple is on the way back down via a shortcut through the upper village.

The most beautiful place was of course, OM Ashram. This is the view of the valley facing towards Putli Kuhl,

...and with Rebecca on the lentel in the foreground, looking to the other side of the valley.

View of Himalayas from OM Ashram, Laran Kelo, Kullu H.P.

After a blast of Himalayan chills and snow in Shimla last week, on my first peep at the world outside the ashram, I took off for Rishikesh asap, which I'm beginning to think I just may never leave!

My journey from Australia started out and I got as far as Darwin where we were grounded for 24 hrs!! Anyway finally got to OM ashram and my time there was so good. Although I had tried not to imagine, some expectations were there. They were surpassed. I feel so privileged to have spent that time learning from Mataji and Guruji. Will go again for sure.
So after a 26 hour journey with Indian Rail, Rishikesh is now easing me back into the world - can't imagine why I didn't ever come here before! Low season too which is my favourite anywhere in the world and after Kullu and Shimla, the climate is almost just right!
Daily yoga class with an excellent teacher. Really nice place to stay. This is the world from my balcony. Will definitely stay till after Christmas.