Isha Yoga Center

I know India is supposed to be the birthplace of yoga, but I think that might be North India, at least more than the South. Here, I haven't even practiced it once, to my severe disappointment. My host family suggested I visit this place about an hour away, called Isha Yoga Center. It is located in the Nilgiris foothills and is a place of meditation, yoga, and pureness of the soul. Before entering the meditation dome, or Dhyanalingam, you must first do some exercises to make your mind more receptive. The first was to see a statue, which I honestly didn't really understand. We brought a basket of offerings, which included a coconut, some sweet, some special leaves, and other sacred things, into the cave-like area. There was a weapon that belonged to Lord Shiva, with bands tied around the center of it. The bands were mustard yellow, and signified marriage. I think you were supposed to have a long and happy marriage if you tied them.

Our next stop began with me removing all my clothing and slipping into a dress provided by the center to dip in a sacred pool. It was a large underground vault with a sphere of solidified mercury which they referred to as "Shivalingam". It was partly submerged in water which was the temperature of the Punchbowl in springtime. There were only a handful of ladies (ladies and gents have seperate timings) which were there with me, so it was easy to concentrate while touching the Shivalingam and shivering. Above was a beautiful mural painted on the ceiling of the Tamil people's history.

The dome-shaped meditation hall was dark and cave-like, lit only by oil lamps brought as offerings to the Dhyanalingam. There were 15-minute intervals during which you were supposed to meditate and maintain pin-drop silence. I got to sit in one of the little pockets along the side of the wall, so I was surrounded closely by three walls, the purpose of which was to feel the vibrations more effectively. Visiting Isha was definitely an enlighening experience which will stick with me for the rest of my life, and I am thankful for it. I am looking into their long-term classes for learning yoga and/or meditation.