Your Tour Guides

Travel and learn with Phil Goldberg, author of American Veda and The Life of Yogananda, and spiritual teacher Swami Brahmananda on this spectacular 22-day journey.

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Philip Goldberg

Phil has studied and taught India’s traditions for more than 40 years. He is author of American Veda: From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation, How Indian Spirituality Changed the West and The Life of Yogananda. Trained as a Transcendental Meditation teacher in 1970 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Phil has a broad knowledge of India's sacred texts, Vedanta philosophy, yoga and various meditation practices. He brings passion, deep knowledge and humor as he shares India's teachings.

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Swami Brahmananda

Swami Brahmananda (Brahms) brings a rich background in Indian tradition and practices. He began his spiritual odyssey in the 70s when he met his guru, Swami Muktananda. For the next eight years Brahms traveled the world with the renowned swami, receiving training in Vedic traditions and becoming a foremost expert in Kashmir Shaivism. He is a spiritual teacher, yoga instructor and a retreat leader, currently leading retreats in Assisi, Italy and Rishikesh, India.

Phil and Swami Brahmananda share their excitement about the coming
transformative journey to South India.

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Part 1

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Part 2

Your American Veda Tours team

Chennai, January 18 -20 

We convene in the coastal city of Chennai, the fourth largest in India and a convenient hub for international travel. As we always do, we will initiate the tour on a sacred note, with a Ganesha puja performed by pandits trained in Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s lineage. In our two days in Chennai (formerly Madras) we’ll visit: the Vivekananda Memorial and Museum (Vivekanandar Illam); a center in Paramahansa Yogananda’s lineage; the Krishnamurti Foundation; the Theosophical Society’s world headquarters; Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (Krishnamacharya was the guru of hatha yoga masters BKS Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois). Plus, we’ll go to the famed Kapaleeswarar Temple and sites associated with Apostle Thomas, who died in what is now Chennai. 

Pondicherry, January 21 - 23

We head down the coast of the Bay of Bengal, stopping at spectacular Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring 7th and 8th century temples, monuments, and caves. From here we proceed to the former French colony of Pondicherry with its unique seaside charms, colonial architecture, and fine restaurants. This is where the great sage Sri Aurobindo founded his ashram after being imprisoned by the British in Calcutta. We will visit the ashram, meet devotees, and meditate at Sri Aurobindo’s mahasamadhi shrine. Other stops in Pondicherry include historic temples and churches, and the International Centre for Yoga Education and Research.

We will also drive inland a bit to visit the famed Auroville. Created by Sri Aurobindo’s spiritual companion, who is known as The Mother, Auroville is a unique planned community based on spiritual principles with residents from around the world. We will meditate in the magnificent Matrimandir.

Tiruvannamalai, January 24 - 27

On the way to this prime pilgrimage site, we will stop at the spectacular Chidambaram temple complex. It is said that this is where the image of Shiva Nataraja, Lord Shiva as the Cosmic Dancer, originated. We’ll participate in a ritual conducted by temple pandits.

Tiruvannamalai is a renowned holy site thanks to the legendary Ramana Maharshi. We’ll go to the 7th century Arunachaleshwara Temple where Ramana practiced austerities; spend considerable time at the Ramanashrama, where the sage’s presence is still deeply felt; walk up the sacred Arunachala Hill and sit in the caves where Ramana lived and meditated. The hearty can walk all or part of the ritual circumnavigation of the hill (the rest will be driven). We’ll spend a few days here, soaking up the atmosphere, visiting other ashrams, and participating in various rituals and satsangs.

Coimbatore/Sadhguru Ashram, January 28 - 31

A special highlight: four nights at the Isha Yoga Center outside Coimbatore. This will be a precious time of rejuvenation and inner exploration. Founded by the world-renowned teacher Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev (known simply as Sadhguru) the ashram is serene and comfortable. It offers a full range of transformative practices and classes, and the grounds sparkle with consecrated spaces such as the Abode of Yoga with its gigantic statue of Adi Yogi (Lord Shiva, the first yogi). We hope our visit coincides with Sadhguru’s schedule, so we can benefit from his darshan, i.e., the living presence of a master yogi.

Bangalore, February 1 - 2

We now leave the state of Tamil Nadu and drive to Bengaluru (as Bangalore is now called) in Karnataka. Many important teachers and lineages have ashrams in and around this cosmopolitan city; which ones we visit depends on the availability of key people. We’ll make these two stops for sure: the Art of Living ashram of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (whose presence we hope to enjoy) and the S-VYASA Yoga University and Research Center. Time permitting, we’ll also enjoy some local culture, such as a traditional South Indian dance performance and the lovely Lalbagh Botanical Gardens.

Western Ghats and Ancient Temples, February 3 - 4

In a unique feature of the tour, we’ll ride through the mountain range known as the Western Ghats, soaking up the scenic grandeur and the fertile tea and coffee plantations. En route to our main destination, Sringeri, we’ll spend a night in Chikmagalur (aka “The Coffee House of India”), a popular vacation spot at 3,500 feet altitude, and visit magnificent 12th Century temples in the villages of Halebidu and Beluru.

Sringeri, February 5 - 6

Brimming with historic and spiritual significance, Sringeri is the home of Sringeri Math (pronounced Mutt). This is the first of the four monastic centers created by the legendary Shankara. The great 8th Century reformer and philosopher of Advaita Vedanta, who is known as Adi Shankaracharya (first Shankaracharya), established the four Maths (in South, North, West, and East India) to preserve and disseminate the teachings. Virtually every order of swamis, and therefore all major teachers who impacted the West (including Phil’s and Brahms’ major influences), trace their lineage back to Shankara. The custodians of that legacy in India are known as Shankaracharyas. We will meet with the present occupant of that revered seat if he is available; if not, we’ll meet with senior monks. Most of all, we will soak in the sacred atmosphere, and in our satsangs we’ll dive deeply into both the core ideas and direct experience embodied in Advaita Vedanta.

Udupi, February 7 - 8 

On the last leg of our journey, we’ll stop in the coastal city of Udupi, home of the 13th Century Krishna Matha, one of the holiest pilgrimage sites in South India and the birthplace of Sri Madhwacharya, founder of Dwaita (dualistic) Vedanta. We’ll enjoy other sites in the area and celebrate the end of our time together. On our last morning, we’ll make the short drive to the airport in Mangalore. Because Mangalore was the birthplace of Swami Muktananda, Brahms's guru, we will pay homage to him before flying to our respective airline connections. If past tours are a guide, we’ll say farewell, but we will always remain connected.

Post Tour Option: Kerala

Since the popular tourist destination of Kerala is easily accessible from where our tour ends, we will arrange an optional add-on for those who can extend their trip. Details to be announced in mid-March, 2019.