Banyan Education's Pilgrimage to Sacred India

David Harshada Wagner has been traveling, studying, and teaching in India since 1997. He has a vast amount of knowledge about the spiritual and mystical traditions of India and also enjoys a great social and professional network there. During this trip, Harshada will be taking participants to many of his favorite places and introducing them to the Sacred Heart of India.

Our trip will be in the state of Maharashtra in west-central India. Each day we will follow a retreat schedule with morning group meditation and yoga sessions and satsang (spiritual conversation) every night. Our days will be filled with exploration and enjoyment as we move through the sacred land of Maharashtra. In each location, the group will have local friends of Banyan helping us out and opening up the "secret doors" in the local scenes.

The group will be small- less than 10 people including Harshada and one or two Indian students. The small group allows us to "fly under the radar" and be very mobile. Before we go to India, participants will have in-depth cultural and health orientation sessions. The health session will provide us with the necessary information to stay healthy in India. The cultural session will help us to be ready to travel as meditation students in harmony with the local culture- rather than tourists.

Getting there

Many airlines now fly to Mumbai including Delta and Continental. Banyan usually uses Air India. Right now the least expensive direct flights about $1100-1300 from JFK. The flight from New York nonstop is 15-16 hrs. With a stopover, the trip can be over 20 hrs. During the health orientation, Harshada will provide some tools and tips to help get through the long flight.

Being there

The accommodations in India will vary dependent on our location. We will stay in local hotels, guest houses and retreat sites. They will be clean and comfortable but clearly not tourist hotels. The aim is to provide a very authentic safe experience. The food during the retreat will be Indian vegetarian food of the very highest quality. While in the retreat phase of the trip the food will be cooked on site. At other times we will dine in reputable hygienic restaurants. Past participants have commented that the delicious food was as significant for them as the meditation!

The Yatra

India has a great tradition of yatra or pilgrimage people travel great distances to visit holy shrines and "power spots" throughout India. We will be visiting and in some cases staying in these "power spots". Our yatra will combine exploration with deep practice, adventure with retreat.

Mumbai (Bombay)

Participants are picked up at the airport and taken to our hotel. We will spend a couple of days in Mumbai overcoming jetlag, getting into the "India vibe", shopping, eating, and visiting some amazing holy places in the city. In Mumbai we will visit Babulnath- a very old Shiva Temple atop a hill in the city -a very special place. Mumbai is an incredible city with just about every color, flavor and fragrance one can imagine.

Nasik

A four hour drive through the Indian countryside takes us to the ancient Holy City of Nasik. Nasik is situated on the Godavari River- a very sacred river to Hindus. It is here where the Hindu deities Rama and Sita are said to have spent time. We will stay in a nice hotel in Nasik with great food and explore some of the ancient sights there including a ancient system of caves carved by Buddhist monks known as Pandulena. The caves were built in the first century BCE and are still intact and accessable. Nasik is a jewel of sacred Indian culture.

Trymabakeshwar

Trymbakeshwar is the location of one of the most holy Shiva Temples in India and a sacred mountain known as Brahmagiri. Trymbakeshwar is also the site of the tomb of Nivrittinath- a powerful meditation master from the 13th century who is part of the lineage that Harshada is connected to. His tomb or Samadhi shrine is a very powerful place for meditation.

In Trymbakeshwar we will arrange for a team of Vedic Priests to perform a fire ceremony for the group to invoke blessings and express gratitude to the universe.

Madhuban

At the Madhuban Auyurvedic Plant Nursery we will spend some days in silent retreat. The nursery is in the countryside near Nasik and is absolutely beautiful. The accommodations are very simple but perfect for deep retreat.

Alandi

Alandi, a small village on the banks of the Indriyani river is the site of the tomb of another great master -Jnaneshwar. Jnaneshwar was the disciple and brother of Nirvritti and is regarded as one of the most powerful masters of all time. He was a prolific poet and Guru and his tomb is the pilgrimage place for millions of devout Hindus and a great center of meditation and devotional practice.

This may not look like much- but it is the underground meditation cave beneath Jnaneshwar's samadhi shrine- meditators say this is the most powerful place they have ever experienced. We will have extended meditation sessions in this cave when we go to Alandi.

The Retreat Fee is only

$1997

and includes all accommodation, food and local transportation. Participants are responsible for personal expenses such as shopping. Retreat fee does not include flight to India or other expenses such as travel insurance, etc.

Contact us today if you are interested in coming to this December's retreat. The spaces are very limited and we need to have the group number finalized by November 1st.

Alternatively, you can send us an email if you have any questions.