A South Indian Retreat like no other
October 31st - November 10th
Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
Ten rich & profoundly blissful days steeped in traditional South Indian culture & devotion at the feet of the Divine Mother.This exclusive retreat has been delicately curated to connect you with the traditional Goddess wisdom of India. Learn practices to support you to truly embody the Devi’s divine qualities, soak in the ancient wisdom of The Mother and bathe in the energy and influence of traditional Vedic ceremony.You will also be invited to the home of our Guru, Sri Shakti Amma who has created here in rural Tamil Nadu, one of the most incredible spiritual centres in the whole of India.The transformative effects of this immersion will enrich and uplift your life long after our retreat is over. You’ll be blessed with a backstage pass to a spiritual wonderland, where you’ll realise and experience the power of devotion and how sanctified temples and divine energy can positively affect human consciousness and the whole of creation.Expect to have every finer detail catered for, so you can let go into this unique and widely wonderful experience of India and the Devi.
WISDOM
BEAUTY
devotion
who is
Sri Shakti Amma
Sri Shakti Amma is an Avatara, an enlightened being and Siddha – she is the highest form of feminine energy incarnate in a human body.Amma (meaning Mother) embodies and exemplifies the three main aspects the divine feminine - knowledge & wisdom, prosperity & well-being and inner strength & courage.Through her work here at Sri Narayani Peedam, Amma supports all humans towards their innate divine nature as well as developing and implementing
many successful social welfare programs including schools, a state of the art hospital, waste management & reforestation programs and more.On retreat you will have the great good fortune of meeting Amma personally and receiving her blessings as well as being welcomed into her home to share in puja (devotional ceremony) daily.To meet with pure Divinty in the human form like this is an incredibly rare and wildly profound experience.
The festival of lights
Diwali
We will commence 10 days of deep spiritual practice on the day of Diwali, the annual Vedic celebration honouring the victory of light over darkness and the goddess Lakshmi in all her beauty and opulence. You’ll spend the afternoon in seva (selfless service) helping to fill and light 10008 ghee lamps in the formation of the Sri Yantra (a form of sacred geometry which houses the energy of the Divine Mother) before spending the evening bathing in the light of the lamps and chanting mantra in the presence of Sri Shakti Amma.
Sri Narayani Peedum
The Golden Temple
In 1992, at the age of 16, Sri Sakthi Amma left the family home in Vellore to settle in the nearby rural village of Thirumalaikodi in Tamil Nadu. There, at the foot of the Kailash Giri Hills, Sri Sakthi Amma established Sri Narayani Peedam and its mission.Peedam is now a thriving spiritual mecca, an inspiring place of transformation and progressive systems of change.Peedam is home to multiple temples all of which you will have the opportunity to experience. The star of the show is India’s largest golden Hindu temple, with layers of pure gold covering its surface, this opulent display of architecture is dedicated to Lakshmi the goddess of prosperity, love, beauty and abundance.Based on the wonder of Lakshmi's golden abode which was depicted in the Vedas. Each detail of the temple was hand sketched by Amma and then crafted by local artisans to the specifications of Vastu (sacred Vedic architecture). Vastu enables the flow and concentration of cosmic energy. A sight to behold unto itself.
Devotional yoga
Bhakti
Bhakti (devotional yoga) is the main aspect of Vedic practice performed at Sri Narayani Peedam. Bhakti comprises of many expressions, at Peedam the focuses of Bhakti are puja (Vedic ceremony) & mantra (primordial sounds).Both of these devotional practices work at the most subtle level of reality. Infused with specific frequencies, each mantra and process within the pujas activate certain aspects of consciousness, enlivening the Divine within you.The energy felt here at Peedam is nothing short of profound. With multiple pujas always underway, beginning at 4:30am and running through until 1am daily, Peedam has become an epicentre of palpable Divine frequency.
Traditional Ceremony
Pujas
Puja, a Sanskrit word meaning adoration, honour and worship refers to the many Vedic rituals based on nature that are traditionally performed in within Indian temples or homes.In the ritual of puja, offerings may be presented to a deity, the Vedas may be chanted, and blessings and an increase in energetic frequency are always received.During your time at Peedam you will have the opportunity to witness and partake in a variety of pujas of varying styles, the main focus of which is puja each evening performed by Amma to the goddess Narayani (Divine Mother, pictured).
Daily practice
EMBODY THE DEVI
From the perspective of the Vedas, you are so much more than your physical body. The Vedic perspective teaches us that we are each made up of many ‘koshas’ or bodies - each body becoming more subtle than the next, and each body interconnected and holding influence over all others bodies - These are the physical, mind, wisdom, energy & bliss bodies.When we view you in this complex, integrated manner - from the density of your physical body, all the way through to the subtlety of your energy body and beyond - it becomes apparent that in order to create progressive change within you, each of these layers of being must be tended to. Not just the mind, not just the physical.On retreat, an integrated approach to our daily practice will offer you just that.With the foundation of Meditation at the core of our practice, tending to the mind, nervous system & subtle bodies we will then introduce additional practices to deepen your experience and connect with each aspect of the Devi and her specific frequency using both kriya yoga (tending to the physical, energetic & bliss bodies) and mantra (influencing the energy body, mind & subtle bodies).Your wisdom body will be enlivened with daily knowledge sessions dedicated to each aspect of the Devi, helping you cultivate a deep intellectual understanding of the feminine frequencies you will be feeling so deeply throughout your practices and time at Peedam.Over the first 9 days of the retreat we will work with three main aspects of the Devi.Lakshmi on days 1-3 (abundance, beauty & love), Durga days 4-6 (strength & courage) & Saraswati, days 7, 8 & 9 (wisdom, creativity & self expression). Culminating on day 10 with an extended practice to connect with the Mother in her primordial form as Narayani.This experience is far more than simply knowledge and practice, this retreat is about true embodiment - waking up the Devi within you so you can re-enter daily life feeling wiser, more loving, abundant, courageous and strong. If it feels overwhelming to read all this but the pull is still there, don't worry it'll all make sense once you arrive.Please note - This retreat is suitable for everyone, from complete beginners to advanced practitioners and teachers alike. Our unique schedule will cater to all.
MEDITATION
MANTRA
KRIYA
AYURVEDIC FOOD
MEALS
At the Sri Narayani Holistic Centre, you will be fed an Ayurvedic vegetarian diet, three meals per day plus snacks and tea. We advise for the deep dive we’ll be doing on retreat to eat at the Holistic center only as the food is very carefully prepared to support digestion and energize you appropriately with locally grown organic produce.
Sri Narayani Holistic Centre
Accomodation
The Sri Narayani Holistic Center will be our landing place for accommodation, meals and treatments. This is not a luxury hotel, though it is a tranquil, humble, clean and spacious place to retreat to after days out in the excitement of Ashram life. Each room contains a king bed (or two singles) and ensuite, overlooking the divine forest.The centre is a swift two minute drive from The Golden Temple and Peedam central, private car services run back and forth non stop so all transport within your stay is taken care of at no additional expense.If you wish to stay on after retreat and do a panchakarma program or spend a few days resting, integrating and enjoying traditional treatments here you are very welcome to. Please let us know and we will connect with you the the staff at the centre.
AYURVEDIC Treatments
Abhyanga
Abhyanga, Ayurvedic oil massage, is the process of applying warm, herbally medicated
oils to the skin with long sweeping, nourishing strokes. Abhyanga is deeply pacifying for the nervous system, offers wonderful lymph
support, nourishes the tissues on all levels of the body, stimulates detoxification and soothes a tired body after travel.On retreat you will have two Abhyanga treatments included in your fee, if there is available time (not guaranteed) you're welcome to book additional treatments at your own cost.Receiving Abhyanga while undergoing this spiritual program will offer you space for grounding, rejuvenation and deep rest.
The Practicalities
Travel + Etiquette
Sri Narayani Peedum is 3-4 hours drive from Chennai airport or 4-5 hours drive from Bangalore (India traffic dependant!)International flights land at both airports daily. Private cars will be organised to collect you from a designated meeting point in either Chennai or Bangalore and drive you directly and safely to Peedam the morning the retreat begins.As we will be staying in a rural area and in an Ashram setting etiquette and dress code are very important. You will be supplied with clothing guidelines and suggestions for where to purchase upon booking.
supporting the heritage of Vedic culture
giving back
It is with the blessing of Sri Shakti Amma that we have the honour of facilitating this authentic cultural experience. Costings for our stay go directly into this community supporting the local economy & proving jobs. A portion of retreat profits will go towards donations providing free education, free health care, free food for over 10,000 people a day, micro and macro localised funding, directly contributing to Peedam’s charitable work. Our group will also be making donations of Gho Dhanam, the giving of a cow & calf to an underprivileged rural family as a means to create sustainable income. As westerners this is a wonderful opportunity to give directly back to the source of Yoga-Vedanta and a culture that shares so much with us!
colour
culture
ceremony
What IS
INCLUDED
- 10 x nights accommodation
- Transfer from Chennai or Bangalore to Peedam (must travel on specified dates)
- 3 x Ayurvedic meals a day, plus snacks and tea
- 2 x Abhyanga treatments
- Car rides between all areas of the center and your accommodation
- All tips, donations & ceremony sponsorships within temples
- Sri Narayani Peedam tours
- Take home practice tuition - meditation, mantra & kriya
- 2 x facilitators on call 24/7 to support you
- Daily pujas & blessings with Sri Shakti Amma
WHAT's NOT
INCLUDED
- Airfares
- Indian E-visas
- Travel insurance
- Additional treatments
- Consultation with Ayurvedic Drs & any medicine prescribed
- Local transfers and tips outside of organised group activities
- Additional food & tips outside of Holistic centre catering
- Clothes washing service
- Return transfer to Chennai or ongoing travel
- Extra flower offerings for pujas
- Traditional Indian clothing
ROOM OPTIONS +
INVESTMENT
PAY IN FULL
Private Room: King bed + ensuite $3500 AUD SOLD OUTTwin Share: Sharing room with one other, single bed each + ensuite $3100 AUD Only one spot left
payment plans
Private Room: King bed + ensuite $3500 AUD with a $500 deposit SOLD OUTTwin Share: Sharing room with one other, single bed each + ensuite - $3100 AUD with a $500 deposit required Only one spot leftOnce we recieve your deposit we'll be in touch to organise a payment plan to suit you. Your balance must be finalised by September 31st 2024.
BOOK NOW
Choose to pay in full or simply make a deposit to secure your spot
PAY IN FULL
PAYMENT PLANS
TERMS +
CONDITIONS
According to availability at our accommodation we have a very limited number of places for this immersive trip. Please take a moment to read the conditions, once a deposit is made you are bound by these terms.I understand:
- All fees paid including the deposit are non refundable regardless of circumstances.
- Comprehensive travel insurance is my responsibility in case my situation or plans change and retreat holders are not responsible for any changes to my plans.
- If I am no longer able to attend the retreat I am able to transfer my deposit to another person, however it is my responsibility to find a replacement guest, the retreat holders are not able to source a replacement guest on my behalf.
- Payment plans are available, if I choose this option a deposit of $500 must be paid upfront at time of booking with the balance to be paid in full by September 31st 2024.
- To receive the EARLY BIRD discount I understand I must pay in full or a make a $500 AUD deposit before day ending May 31st 2024.