For more information email to:arjunajan@ilikajourneys.com (EU inquiries) and info@ilikajourneys.com (USA or Canada inquiries).

The Itinerary
Arrival in Delhi, transfer to the hotel by taxi. Shopping and sightseeing of Delhi by airconditioned coach.

Comfortable overnight train to Ujjain, arrival at Siddha Ashram.

Free morning to settle down, arrange the rooms and meet Swami Naradananda. A first walk in town to enjoy its peace and beauty. Evening time meditation and an introductory lecture on Hinduism.

Stay and study at Siddha Ashram

Example of a typical day during our stay in Siddha Ashram
6:00 Meditation and gayatri mantra
7:00 Hathayoga class
8:30 Breakfast
9:30 Recitation of shri suktam
10:30 Translation of shri suktam
11:00 Lecture on vedic scriptures
12:30 lunch
Rest
16:00 Lecture on tantric scriptures
17:30 Fire rituals
20:00 Dinner
This program is liable to slight changes. Many outings to temples and other places of interest will complement the workshop-setting into an overall experience of the original spiritual life in india.

Two week study tour ends. If you plan to go back to your own country at this point, you will take a train to Delhi and fly out from there, or if you have 3 weeks to explore India, you can join us on a journey to Varanasi!

Optional week leading to Varanasi

Arrive to Agra by evening train

Sunrise at the Taj and then sightsee surrounding beautiful Moghul architecture. Depart in the afternoon for medieval town of Orchha.

Spend the day relaxing and strolling in Orchha. Take a night train to Varanasi.

Arrive in and spend several days exploring the ancient city of Varanasi.

Afternoon, fly to Delhi

Finish up last minute exploring and shopping and head to your next destination.

About the places we will visit:

Ujjain
Ujjain is old, very old, it is one of the great centres of learning of the ancient world. According to tradition, Lord Krishna studied here 5000 years ago. The science of Tantra was developed here by great saints under the patronage of kings. Much of its wisdom and power is still hidden and preserved in underground cave-temples.
Ujjain is a very orthodox holy city where we can experience Indian life in a traditional way. We shall be staying in Siddha Ashram with Swami Naradananda, a master in Siddha-Shaktipath lineage. Swamiji has spent many years in the hidden temples around Ujjain so he is the perfect person to guide us through its sacred landscape.
The ashram is situated just outside of town on the banks of Kshipra river with an amazing view over the surroundings. Besides the main building and guesthouse it contains a temple and meditation hall, a school for girls and it provides training for young priests. It was built for the express purpose of facilitating yogis, practitioners and students such as us. The double bedrooms are basic but clean with attached bathroom and air conditioning. The home-cooked vegetarian food shall be prepared to meet our hygienic standards. This is a beautiful opportunity to spend time with a master in his ashram.
www. siddhaashram.org

Every other day we will go on excursions in and around town, each trip will be connected with the teachings. A visit to the sun-temple, for example, will serve as a perfect setting for explaining the significance of astrology not as a predictive means but as the Vedic science of light, and at the shrine of Matsyendranath we can discuss the origins of Hatha yoga and the Nath-tradition.

Varanasi
"That light which is the light of enlightenment is called Varanasi"
Varanasi is the oldest city on earth. It maintains a grand tradition of yoga, spiritual study, worship and locality for saints to reside. It is a great adventure full of exotic tastes and flavours. It is an complete immersion into the senses, an experience never to forget. The old city is a maze of overcrowded small streets and alleyways full of temples, priests and pilgrims.
Again, here the focus will be the inner experience rather than the tourist-trail. We will be staying in a guesthouse on the banks of the river Ganga. Practice and teaching will continue, but we shall have more leasure time to wander around town and enjoy the beauty of the river and its ghats. We will experience a classical music program one evening, boatrides on the river, attend a lecture from one or two of Varanasi's greatest teachers.

About the course of study

Indian philosophy is never just a system of thought, its scriptures always contains practical tools towards the realisation of its statements. While yoga and meditation have been very well received in the west, mantra is still somewhat of a mystery. In fact, in the East, mantra-recitation and ritual hold an equally prominent place in the many tools on the spiritual path.

In meditation we internalise consciousness fully, we look for the divine within and create a charged field through mantra. In ritual this field of energy and conscious awareness is externalised, all senses and bodily faculties are included for all is divine, not only the internal realities. Rituals teach us about divine materialism. It is the completion of inner and outer where spirit and matter are combined in the evolutionary process.

To begin this expantion of your existing knowlege we shall study the 51 letters of the Sanskrit alphabet and learn to locate (feel) them in the body and within the Cakras. Then we take up basic Vedic mantras for study and application.
Through the correct recitation of the ancient mantras we reconnect with the cosmic forces of creation. Consciousness, mind and body are expanded and we are transported to the plane of sound-creation.
The intelligent principles of creation are embodied by the gods. They exist on the level of vibration, they are one with the mantras. Our speech is the eternal Goddess and words are our creation. Through becoming conscious of this process of utterance we awaken the dormant kundalini.
We shall study Gayatri mantra as an introduction to Rg-Veda and Mrityunjaya mantra as an introduction to ritual, but the main ritualistic focus will be Tantric fire-rituals.
The daily program will contain two hours of theory a day, and 3 to 4 hours of practice.
In the morning there will be time for group or self-practice of asana.

Please join us on this mind and heart opening exploration of the deeper tools on the spiritual path.

Discover the wisdom of ancient India, enjoy her beauty, mantras, gods and rituals.
Join us for a 2 or 3 week journey through India

Explore the wonder of India off the beaten track in an unspoiled environment, witness village-life, traditional temples, and the richness of culture that makes India truly unique.

Overview
-Experience two weeks of intense mantra-sadhana, immerse yourself in its vibrations and get an understanding of its value on the path.
-Integrate the new material in your daily yoga-practice
-Get a general overview of Indian philosophy, both Vedic and Tantric,
-Experience both Veda and Tantra in practice.
-Define terms like mantra, tantra, gods, rituals, in theoretical and practical perspectives.

Backgound in mantra or philosophy is not needed, we start from the basics. A general acquaintance with yoga and meditation is required as we shall be doing intensive subtle body work.

The journey consists of two parts, two weeks in Ujjain and an extra optional week traveling to and staying in Varanasi. Those who opt for a two-week stay shall be accompanied back to Delhi, the others shall continue to Varanasi via Orccha, a fascinating medieval town in central-india.

Price

Two weeks 1250 Euro (1970 USD)

Three weeks 1800 Euro (2840 USD)

Price includes
All hotels and transport, breakfast and 1 main meal (either lunch or dinner)in Delhi, all activities plus lodging and full boarding in Ujjain, hotels and activities in Varanasi, workshops and teachings, breakfast and 1 main meal (either lunch or dinner) in Varanasi, all rituals, materials, entrance fees and donations to ashrams, temples and priests.

Price does not include
International flight to and from Delhi, tipping, 1 main meal a day in Delhi and Varanasi, extras and shopping.

Booking

Limited places! So book soon!
1) E-mail to: arjunajan@ilikajourneys.com (EU) or info@ilikajourneys.com (USA/Canada)to check availability
2) Send booking (participant agreement) form and deposit 500 Euro.
Upon reciept of deposit and participant agreement form, you will receive a confirmation of you booking.
3) Remaining balance due within 90 days of booking

Reaching India from Europe
From Germany it is best to take Lufthansa flight LH762 from Munchen, arriving in Delhi 07:30am on March 8th.
Flights can be booked easily through any travel agent in your home town.
You can contact arjunajan@ilikajourneys.com (EU) or info@ilikajourneys.com (USA/Canada)for assistance.

Cancellation:
up to 61+ days before departure 75% returned
up to 60 before departure 50% returned
up to 30 days before departure 25% returned
One month before departure and after tour begins, no amount will be refunded.

About your Host

Arjun (Jan)

Growing up in Belgium Arjun found himself always attracted to the mysterious and hidden sides of life and existence. Twelve years ago he embarked on a journey that lead him to spend much of his time living and studying in India.
It is in there that he found the ancient wisdom living through time honored rituals and long lineages with initiatiatory traditions. It is to these traditions that he has dedicated his life of study, practice and teaching.
On his exploration through the jungle of the ancient traditions of Veda and Tantrik Hinduism he has studied with some of the Sub-continent’s finest teachers. The sons and senior disciples of Master EK in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, trained him in Vedic and Tantrik ritual, mantra recitation and Jyotish (Vedic astrology). Additionally, Swami Naradananda of Ujjain initiated him into the Shaktipath tradition. At present he studies sanskrit with Pandit Vagisha Shastri, and Trika Tantra with Dr. Mark Dyczkowski. Arjun teachs mantra and performs rituals in India and Belgium.

For more information or communication on any aspect of this trip e-mail to arjunajan@hotmail.com (if you are coming from EU) and info@ilikajourneys.com (if you are coming from USA or Canada)

Misc. (complete suggested packing list is available here)
Temperatures will range from 20 C to 38 C, so light dress is needed but do bring a sweater for chilly mornings. As we shall be staying in a traditional ashram and visit off the beaten track places it is needed to dress respectfully. This means, especially for the ladies, no bare legs or shoulders. Indian dress is very comfortable, consisting of wide trousers and a loose shirt.
It is advisable to buy a few sets of indian clothes upon arrival in Delhi.
Sandals are much more comfortable than close toed shoes.
Don't forget notebook and pen
Mosquito repellant!!!!
Most doctors advise the following inoculations: tetanus, typhoid, hepatitis.
Contact your medical practitioner for more information on suggested vaccinations and preventive medicine.
Expert ayurvedic and Western doctors are available in case of need.

Note: You must have a travel insurance for the entire duration of the trip, this can be arranged with the travel agent where you book your flight, and confirmation is to be sent to arjunajan@ilikajourneys.com .
Visa must be obtained from the indian embassy in your own country