BHAKTI PILGRIMAGE THROUGH INDIA WITH PETROS & VISVAMBHAR
Bhakti | Kirtan | Satsang | Yoga
We are thrilled to annouce the 2024 Bhakti Pilgrimage to India with Visvambhar Sheth and Petros Haffenrichter this upcoming January to Hampi and Goa.
14 days of immersing into the spiritual heart of Yoga, exploring the places these ancient practices originated from. Join Vish and Petros and discover India with those, who have lived in and travelled the country many years – ready to share their personal practices through music, story telling and yoga as much as taking us to experience Indian bhakti tradition to make this trip a truly special one.
Hampi: Jan 12th – 18th
Goa: Jan 18th – 24th
The external places that we visit may be sacred hills, rivers and temples, while the internal journeys are inspired through personal practice and meeting with beings of great wisdom who recognize our internal mapping. These are locations where the divine is intuitively present and experienced. Every day, huge numbers of Yatris (pilgrims) visit these sacred places to have “Darshan” of their favourite gods or goddesses. Darshan derives from the Sanskrit verb ‘drs’: ‘to see’ or also ‘to be seen’. Not only do we seek to see the deity but also to be seen by the Divine. It brings us spiritual renewal.
The ancient ‘Puranas’ of India are large literal volumes containing stories of the makings of the universe as well as fascinating tales of innumerable gods and goddesses. The geography of the Puranas coincides with that of the entire Indian sub-continent. Countless places mentioned in these ancient texts are alive today and are important places of yatra.
Traveldates - January 12th until 24th 2024
Example for a day in India with Vish and Petros:
After we rested in beautiful and comfortable rooms there is time for tea or coffee before we dive into a short yoga session with Petros for all levels, followed by a superb breakfast / brunch.
Then we will head out to the local temples and sights by foot, rikshaw or bus – according to the distance.
After a day of pilgrimage with ongoing kirtan and satsang, exploring India and its bhakti yoga through the lense of Vish and Petros we head back to the Hotel for dinner.
HAMPI
Hampi isn’t just a dot on the map; it’s a testament to human devotion and the beauty of nature. Nestled around the Tungabhadra river, this place is a realm of awe-inspiring temples, each with a story to share. As we explore this sacred terrain, we encounter temples devoted to deities from different pantheons. Among these, Hanuman Ji, the beloved monkey god, holds a significant presence. It’s believed that Hampi is Hanuman Ji’s birthplace, and we will explore the meaning and practices devoted to Hanuman through mantra and myths.
Our journey to Hampi isn’t just about visiting historical sites; it’s a venture into the depths of philosophy and spirituality. Alongside Visvambhar and Petros, we engage in Satsang – a sacred gathering that invites us to partake in profound discussions about life, faith, and the cosmos and Kirtan – devotional chanting and singing, adding an enchanting layer to our journey.
PATNEM
The moderate climate and the serene landscapes of Patnem, South Goa create an environment ideal for introspection and self-discovery. Lush greenery and pristine beaches blend with a welcoming, warm climate to encourage contemplation and stillness. This atmosphere extends to the local community, known for its open, tolerant, and kind ways.
Goa will be the second part of our Yatra and here we will have time to relax at the beach and enjoy nature while making lots of time for daily Yoga, Kirtan and devotional practice. We will visit local temples and historical sites, relevant to the mythologies and ancient stories told here.
“Vish and Petros will guide along with local friends. We will immerse ourselves in stories of ancient deities that are relived in these mystical places, personal insights and of course ongoing Kirtan. This will be a special celebration and unique experience, connecting to the roots of Bhakti Yoga. We will dive deep into the essence of these mystical portals to the spiritual realm through discussion, singing and association with the saints that still walk amongst us in these holy lands. We also expect to have many bhakti teachers and musicians join us, as we ourselves also want the uplifting association.”
Petros Haffenrichter
Musician & Advanced Certified Jivamukti Teacher Petros Haffenrichter
Petros, musician, yogi, life-artist is senior jivamukti yoga teacher and globally one of the most renown teachers & musicians on the global yoga-train.
Petro’s honest, funny and challenging teaching inspires to be fully aware in the present moment. So experience comes through intuition and not from a place of personal preference or dislikes.
Returning to that place, where, independently from outer circumstance there always is peace: the pure light of the heart. There are many obstacles, yoga gives us the possibility to free ourselves from. So our true nature remains no longer hidden. We really are free, wild, full of love and joy – without conditioning, without fear.
He has great gratitude for all teachers, known and unknown, he had the honor to study with and is grateful to all circumstance that gives the chance to experience this feeling of unity, of non-separateness. To learn to accept the greatest of all teachers: life & nature.
Visvambhar Sheth
Visvambhar Sheth, starting at the age of 5, he has spent his life leading Kirtans in the ISKCON (Vaisnava) tradition.
He is a multi-instrumentalist, and a master of the Mridanga drum and performs in traditional as well as fusion styles. Vish started performing in the modern yoga studio culture 2009, and since then he has performed at countless studio gatherings and well known spiritual venues like BhaktiFest and Omega Institute. Today he is one of the best known Kirtan players worldwide.
Vish is the lead singer of the internationally acclaimed group ‘The Mayapuris’, a headlining Kirtan group that has rocked stages from India to Florida, Australia to South Africa. He also sings and plays percussion with ‚The Hanumen‘. Vish is currently based in Mayapur, India – a heartland of Kirtan and Bhakti Yoga – and shares his love and talents for Kirtan weekly.
In addition to being a master percussionist, Vish also sings, and plays harmonium and bansuri flute and has many more talents like sharing bhakti tradition through his exeptional and captivating story-telling. Vish has not only mastered his art but has a rare capacity to invoke the ‘rasa’ of the essence do the transcendental energies that define the Kirtan path.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Inspired by nature, Hampi’s Feathers Resort offers to you a vernacular dimension to comfort that is liberating and rejuvenating. The picturesque resort is surrounded by tranquil lakes to give you a wilderness experience like no other. Be it gourmet dining, soothing birdwatching sojourn, easy access to Hampi’s Historical Ruins or simply sitting back and basking in the wonder of it all, Hampi’s Feathers Resort allows you to lose yourself in its natural wonders.
The Bhakti Kutir In the heart of the Palolem region is the perfect starting point to explore Goa. Palolem Beach is very close by. You will appreciate the location of the accommodation. Live under palm of the two hectare coconut grove in one of many natural cabanas. No two cabins are alike. The cabanas are made of local materials such as rice straw and bamboo and are equipped with trees, leaves and starry skies. The living areas combine rural flair with surprising comfort.
TRAVEL COSTS
*In case there are not enough participants for a double/triple room, we have to change your booking to the next category for the regular price.
Date:
September 2, 2023
