Sacred Sites of Central India

Assimilate and amplify your experience of Maha Sri Yaga in a traditional manner through pilgrimage to the legendary shrines of Ujjain, Omkareshwar and Maheshwar. These shrines are home to two jyotirlingas (embodiments of immortal light), Shakti peetha (seat of Divine Mother) and dozens of shrines associated with sages of the Himalayan tradition. This pilgrimage add-on is designed to further stoke the fire from Maha Sri Yaga and deepen your connection to the extensive lineage that has nurtured the seeds of practice at these sacred sites for thousands of years. There could be no better time to undertake a journey like this than on the heels of Maha Sri Yaga.

Ujjain

One of the oldest cities in India, Ujjain is best known for the shrine of Mahakaleshwar, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, and for being one of the 4 sites of Kumbha Mela. Across Ujjain you’ll find many other sacred sites, including: Kal Bhairav, mentioned in books and lectures by Panditji; Harisiddhi, a form of Sri Vidya and one of the 51 Shakti Peethas; the ashram of Krishna’s teacher, Sandipani; Bhartrihari caves, where masters of our tradition found solace for centuries; Matsyendranath Samadhi, associated with the famous teacher of Guru Gorakhnath, the founder of the hatha yoga tradition as we know it today. These are only a few of the sacred sites that we’ll visit during our stay in Ujjain.

Omkareshwar

Omkareshwar is an island situated in the middle of the Narmada River (renowned as a sacred river and the only source of authentic shiva lingam), and a short distance upstream from where Swami Rama was discovered meditating amongst crocodiles shortly before accepting the seat of Shankaracharya. Famous for being one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, it was also where Adi Shankaracharya met his Guru, Govindapada, and completed his final preparations before sharing his knowledge with the world. Along the 3 mile parikrama around Omkareshwar you’ll discover a simple life led by the locals and visiting practitioners at a number of small ashrams, ancient ruins from a rich history of sadhana, and a subtle connection to yogis past and present who came to this place to unfold a higher awareness.

Maheshwar

These days Maheshwar is most commonly known for its more recent geo-political historical significance and beautiful architecture associated with its revered 18th-century queen and ruler, Ahilya Bai Holkar. However, situated along the banks of the Narmada River, Maheshwar’s rich spiritual history dates back to the Mahabharata and its ruler, King Kartavirya Sahasrarjuna, whose stories are linked to the sages Ravana, Jamadagni, Renuka, and Parashurama. More recently, Maheshwar was the location of Adi Shankaracharya’s great debate with Mandan Misra, which solidified his unmatched knowledge and established his reputation as a great sage across India. Between these ancient times and today, Maheshwar has been home to many more stories associated with great sages of our tradition. Join us to learn more!

Ransom Hare