Spiritual Symbolism of the Lotus Flower: Transformation
As a spiritual symbol, the lotus flower possesses relevance and meaning for transformation and rejuvenation. Lotuses are perhaps the most spectacular plants in aquatic environments. The sacred East Indian lotus or Nelumbo nucifera is a species of water lilies. It is native to South Asia and grows at altitudes of up to 1,600 meters. The […]
Living under the Bilva Tree
Arrival at the Guesthouse It was 4:00 am in the morning and dark. The rickshaw driver took me down a small road. It was a new area I had not explored before. He called the guesthouse manager who suddenly appeared from nowhere it seemed. Being tired from an overnight bus ride I was about ready […]
Arunachala Hridaya: The Heart of Arunachala
This is an account of an affair of the Heart but not in the usual sense. My very first connection with Arunachala was when I was fifteen years of age and I borrowed a book from the library on the subject. To this day I have no idea what caused me to pick up that […]
Arunachala Grants the Bliss of Glorious Final Liberation
“In the Dravidian region of South India, there is the greatest place called Arunachala, dearest to Chandrasekara (Shiva as moon-crested). It is the abode of Shiva and yogis. Arunachala is to this world what the heart is to the whole body. It is everything for Shiva. For the benefit of the world, Shiva took the […]
Your Ultimate Packing List for South India
I compiled a packing list for South India based on my own experience. I usually travel with a medium-size backpack as carry-on and an old and weathered Samsonite light-weight travel bag for check-in to stay relatively light while traveling. I wear the heavy clothing like jeans, tennis shoes, and a not too heavy jacket during […]
17 Easy Tips to Plan Your Travel to South India
17 Easy Travel Planning Tips Going to South India To go on a journey all starts with the decision where to go. Questions like when and how to finance your trip are part of the process. Decide on your dream travel destination in India. Where do you want to go, what do you want to […]
21 Tips to Help You Ease Into the Indian Culture
Your first journey to India is the big unknown: what to expect? The Indian culture is different compared to the culture in the USA or any other place for that matter. With a little bit of preparation and understanding, you will have a journey of a lifetime. Here are 21 tips to help you ease […]
5 Steps To Reinvent Your Life By Traveling
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller Whenever I want to make a change in my life, I choose to travel. I’ve tried self-help books, Internet videos, and local programs – but nothing seems to work so effectively as the open road.When I engaged in meaningful […]
First Home Visit
I got a bit lost. I had taken a walk and ended up who knows where. To my rescue who came walking there? It was the father of a family I had befriended. He always called me ‘Amma’ and told everyone about me having rented from his son, and who knows what else in his […]
Tamil Family Life
A few years ago I stayed five days with a family in the South and experienced first hand Tamil family life. It was a couple whose youngest son, a 20 year old student, still lived with them. In the morning the lady of the house was doing puja, deity worship with incense, light, food offering […]