Monsoon!
July 7, 2009
Rain stops play! …..
Studying Maharishi Jaimini
July 7, 2009
This is Year 3 of the Jaimini Scholar Program with our Guruji Sanjay Rath, and we are currently studying the 3rd chapter of Maharishi Jaimini’s Upadesha Sutras. The day begins very early with meditation and mantras before breakfast, and then classes start at 8 am and run right through to about 6 pm. In the evenings I usually have time for a brief visit to the Kasaar Devi Temple before supper, which leaves very little time for blogging!
Kasaar Jungle Resort
July 7, 2009
There are about 30 of us staying in the resort here, which is set right in the middle of the jungle, just below the Kasaar Devi Temple. Our instructions are not to go out alone, especially in the evenings … panthers roam around here at night and last year one of our group had a face-to-face stand-off with a young leopard. This year, a cobra has paid us a visit, and the monkeys are regular visitors, stealing fruit from the rooms!
Kasaar Devi Temple
July 7, 2009
This is my favourite place! After our Jyotish studies it is a delight to walk just 5 minutes up the hill above our hotel to the very ancient Kasaar Devi Temple, built in the 2nd Century, and close to Vivekananda’s cave. We are very close to the Tibetan border here in the Himalaya, and the mountain views are spectacular. Sadly, it is monsoon season now and we are lucky to catch a glimpse of the surrounding Himalaya ….
Vivekananda’s Cave, Almora
June 28, 2009
Vivekananda's Cave
Swami Vivekananda made 3 visits to Almora. After the passing away of his Guru, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekenanda travelled throughout India teaching Vedanta, and in 1890 he walked from Nainital to Almora. It is said that he spent several days meditating in a cave on a hill close to the Kasaar Devi temple, which is just a few minutes walk from our resort here at Kasaar Devi. Walking up here in the evening to watch the sun set and meditating in the Devi Temple is bliss!
Delhi Ramakrishna Mission
June 25, 2009
Temple in Ramakrishna Mission
Bajaj Hotel Delhi
Year 3 of The Jaimini course is being held for 5 weeks in Almora in the Himalaya, the abode of the Rishis, and the place where Swami Vivekananda meditated and had his vision of the Devi. En route to Almora I stayed at the very friendly and welcoming Bajaj Indian Home Stay in the heart of Karol Bagh, which has a wonderful traditional feel. Karol Bagh is a suberb of New Delhi quite close to the city centre, and very close to the Ramakrishna Mission – just two stops on the Metro! I visited the Mission twice during my stay in Delhi and meditated in Sri Ramakrishna’s temple, met some wonderful people and students, and visited the library of The Ramakrishna University where the students were revising for their exams! Sri Ramakrishna (1836 – 1886) was a very influential saint who lived a life of God-realisation and taught “the unity of diversity” – that there are many paths to God, but the goal remains the same. He was totally devoted to Mother Kali, which can be clearly seen in his Vedic horoscope. His favourite disciple was Swami Vivekananda (1863 – 1902) who revived the Vedic culture of India and was the first sage to bring Vedic wisdom to the West. In 1890 Swami visited Almora on his travels through the Himalaya as a wandering monk. In Almora he lived and meditated in a cave which is just above our resort here at Kasaar Devi, and this is where he had his vision of the Devi. In the next post I will show you his cave and the Devi temple that was built on this ancient site that has been home to the Devi for millenia.
Leaving soon for 2009 Jaimini Scholar Program
June 3, 2009
On June 19th I will be returning to Almora in the foothills of the Indian Himalaya to continue our advanced Jaimini Jyotish studies with our Jyotish Guru Pandit Sanjay Rath. This is Year 3 of the Jaimini Scholar Program where 26 Vedic Astrologers from all over the world will be studying Chapter 3 of Maharishi Jaimini’s Upadesha Sutras for 5 weeks under the guidance of Guruji Sanjay. The last two years have been devoted to the study of Chapters 1 and 2, one year for each chapter. I will be posting regularly on this Blog, so please keep checking out this site for some wonderful gems of information, and of course great photos of temples and the culture of India! The above group photo was taken in the Summer of 2007 at The Kasaar Jungle Resort in Almora where we shall be staying again for the third year running, in jungle country with roaming leopards and beautiful views of the Himalaya! The group of 26 astrologers come from UK, India, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Italy, Denmark, Serbia, Lebanon and Zambia. After my 4 weeks Jyotish studies in Almora I will be joining my wife, Fiona, to travel to Agra and Vrindavan (Krishna’s birthplace), and then to Varanasi to meet up with the Puja.net Vedic Pandits who arrange the pujas and yagyas for my clients and then finally to Kerala and Amma’s ashram for one week before returning home. Next update coming soon!