“Adiyogi (Part 1) by: Poonam

Ever since the day I saw Adiyogi Statue on the small screen, it instantly became a part of my fancy. I kept wondering how & when I would be able to witness this celestial image with my eyes. Shiva must have heard my mute desire & hence, one fine day, He blessed me & we planned a trip to Isha Yoga Centre, Coimbatore. Reaching the destination is the ultimate goal; however, the journey’s significance should not be overlooked. Therefore, I will start from the beginning.

Shiva was & is still the ultimate attraction, but as I researched about the Adiyogi statue, my curiosity extended towards Sadhguru. He is the force behind Adiyogi & Isha Yoga Centre. My longing to visit the place doubled as I wished not only to see the enormous Shiva bust but also to experience the yoga centre & meet Sadhguru. Pure intentions clubbed with appropriate actions make you a magnet of manifestation. This is what happened to me & all my wishes were to be fulfilled divinely.

The spiritual journey started a long ago, but here we will focus on the physical one. We landed at Coimbatore airport late in the evening on 1st October 2022. The weather was fantastic & the first thing I noticed was that the air was not dense. The whole atmosphere was light & clean. There was a sense of groundedness, no competition, and no agitation. Everyone was looking very relaxed. As if they were happy & contented to be where they were & there was no hurry to go anywhere. And this attitude was penetrating into our mindset also. Usually, we get this feeling whenever we go on a vacation, but here it was very intense & solid. It was not a fleeting emotion. It was there to stay. We checked in ‘The Vivanta’ hotel for the night because it takes an hour’s ride from the airport to the Yoga Centre, and the yoga centre’s gates close at 9:00 pm. After all, it is an ashram, not a resort; we have to keep this thing in mind. I knew this would not be a usual vacation where we rest, roam around, eat, enjoy etc. & I kept reminding this to my family so that they were mentally prepared for a different type of experience & do so with an open mind & an equally open heart. The welcome desk at the yoga centre opens at 6:00 am, so we got up early the next day. The morning was more beautiful than the night. The moment I pulled back the curtains of the window, the serene sky decked with the faint outline of Velliangiri Hills in the distance locked our vision & the only thing I uttered was, “We have to go there.”

Isha Yoga Centre is situated 30 km west of Coimbatore on the foothills of Velliangiri Hills. We sat in the cab & began to move closer to our desired destination. The cab driver took us through excellent routes where we witnessed the beauty of nature in its raw form. The scenery around ‘Valankulam Lake’ is incredible & is well-preserved by the Municipal Corporation. The love for the land was increasing with each passing moment. The vegetation thickened as we were nearing the ashram.

The ashram is built near the forest, but the boundaries of the forest are clearly marked & visitors are not permitted to go there. It was a 45-minute ride & the whole time, I was sure that something extraordinarily unique was about to happen in my life. It was like when something pulls you towards itself & you surrender willingly because you have faith, because you have waited for this miracle to manifest, because you are receptive towards divine will. It is in such moments Universe blesses you with the reward for your right doings, relieves you from all the struggles & heals the trauma inflicted upon you.

We crossed the threshold of the Yoga Centre & as we headed toward the Welcome Desk, we realised that we had actually entered a different dimension, where life was behaving more ecstatically. Everyone was smiling, not only to others but also to themselves. The atmosphere was utterly calm; you understand the literal meaning of calm when you go there. Now, about the booking procedure. It is better to book the cottage two-three months prior otherwise, you won’t get them on your desired dates. We had our bookings two months before, but we could not get the ‘Nalanda Deluxe Apartments’ because they were all occupied, so we accommodated the ‘Nadhi Cottages’, which were a little small. Somehow, I consider this exceptionally fortunate, as the Nadhi Cottage was perfect for this type of experience. It was close to all the spots & had an earthy & grounded aura that is essential for a spiritual phenomenon. The ashram doesn’t charge at the time of online booking, and you pay only when you are checking in the place. It took almost an hour for the process because only two people were attending the guests, as due to Navratri, most of the staff had gone for sadhana. Still, all the people were sitting & waiting for their turns without any hurry only because of the aura of the place. The greenery & cleanliness of the area makes it all the more appealing & picturesque.

Isha Yoga Center is totally different from any other religious or spiritual place you might have visited. Therefore the rules are also very much different from others. Some things to remember are no shouting or talking loudly—no talking on the phone while walking. Taking pictures or making videos is strictly prohibited inside ashram premises, including temples. I personally found this rule to be the best because it provided a good break from the cell phone for two days & everyone was present at the moment & soaking in the scenery with their sense organs rather than catching them in the camera. I didn’t even charge my phone for two days!

Another vital thing is that you have to remove your footwear not just before entering temples but also the eating point & shops. You have to wear a wristband given at the welcome desk during your stay as it acts as your ID. You cannot touch, hold hands or hug your family members in the open areas. Wearing tight & revealing dresses is not recommended; short sleeves, shorts & capris are not allowed. Golf cars are available for long routes still it is advisable to bring a comfortable pair of slippers coz you will have to walk a lot. You have to bring toiletries and towels with you, rest everything is provided; clean & well-furnished rooms with extra mattress (if required), an attached hygienic bathroom with hot water tap. There is an option for AC & non-AC apartments. I remember at that time of the year, the weather in North India was sweltering, but the rooms in the Ashram are built in a way that we didn’t require to switch on the AC.

Now let’s move forward to another level. The ashram provides two divine meals (breakfast & dinner) to all the guests & volunteers at ‘The Biksha Hall’. I call them sacred because the way the food is served & consumed is holy. You have to abide by the timings if you wish to eat there. Two rounds are done in the morning & two in the evening, and you can go as per your time. You have to make a line & sit on the floor (separate rows for males & females). You cannot talk inside the hall, take a steel plate & a tumbler & eat with your hands. You have to wait till everybody is served, then pray along with others & start your meal. Afterwards, you wash your utensils & keep them on the rack. The food is genuinely sumptuous & healthy. We could not identify with most of the items being served but savoured everything mindfully & with gratitude. The whole process is such that even the simple act of consuming a meal feels like praying. It is so enriching that it can’t be articulated in words; it is otherworldly.

Apart from Biksha Hall, food is also available at Peppervine eatery. Here you are offered a variety in the menu & you can sit on a chair & eat with a spoon. Tea & coffee are also served. The food is delicious & hygienic. But again, you have to adhere to the timings, it is open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Another eatery near the entrance for the locals is also there. The rates are very reasonable at both eateries.

This post is primarily dedicated to the physical aspect of the journey, we will continue with the more enriching & spiritual part in the concluding post. Stay tuned for more absorbing information! ~Poonam