Case Study

INTENT:  After all, a lot of travellers today are seeking spiritual experiences—a place of peace and rest that rejuvenates mind and body. And yoga and meditation retreats are at the top of this list.

LOCATION: The Velliangiri Mountains - Kailash of the South", these mountains are held and revered on par with spiritually most powerful place on the planet - Mount Kailash, the legendary abode of Lord Shiva. On the top of the Velliangiri Mountains, Shiva is worshipped as Swayambhu, one who is self-created and in this form, he graces the devotees.

GEOGRAPHY: The Velliangiri hills form a major range in the Western Ghats in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The seven hills with altitudes ranging from 520 m – 1840 m are

SURROUNDINGS: bordered by the plains of Coimbatore district to the east, the Palghat district of Kerala on the western boundary, the Nilgiri mountains to the north, and the Siruvani hills on the southern boundary. Many seasonal rivers such as the Neelivaikal, Mayar or Andisunai traverse the hilly landscape.  

Besides, the Shiva Temple of Velliangiri, the presence of the Dhyanalinga is another reason why people throng to the Velliangiri Hills.

TEMPERATURE:

Max 40°C, Min 27°C (summer) Max 29°C, Min 20°C (winter)

The annual rainfall is quite variable in the hills (500 mm – 7000 mm) with temperatures ranging from 0 °C during winter to 41 °C in the summer.

VEGETATION: Vegetation is predominantly dry deciduous forests of foot hills, second and third mount have evergreen forest and last four belt up shola forest types.

ACCESSIBILITY: The Transport Corporation ply buses between Coimbatore (Gandhi Puram) and Poondi every day. Special bus services are available during festive occasions like Maha Shivrathri. Coimbatore is on the international circuit with flights connecting it to Singapore and Sharjah. On the domestic front it is well connected to Kozhikode, Chennai, Kochi, Bangalore, Mumbai, and Delhi by both rail and road.

CONNECTIVITY: Coimbatore: Bus services are also available from Gandhipuram Town Bus stand to the ashram. You need to catch bus no. 14D. The Isha Yoga Center is the last stop on this route and the fare is INR 14. The bus timings for the route 14D from Gandhipuram Bus stand to Isha Yoga Center and back are given in the table below. The exact timings may vary by ten to fifteen minutes, but even if you miss one bus, the next bus will generally be ready to depart within the next hour.

Bus timings for route 14D
From Gandhipuram	05:30 AM	07:10 AM	08:50 AM	10:30 AM	12:10 AM	02:00 PM	03:50 PM	05:30 PM	07:00 PM	09:15 PM
From Isha	05:30 AM	07:10 AM	08:50 AM	10:30 AM	12:10 AM	02:00 PM	03:50 PM	05:30 PM	07:00 PM	08:50 PM

 CULTURE: These peaks have absorbed from the innumerable sages and seers including the Adiyogi himself, who walked these hills. Making it extremely sacred.

The major attraction for the first-time visitor is the Dhyanalinga Yogic Temple Complex. The Temple Complex is a fusion of various elements, each of which is worth a visit. This is a temple complex and walking barefoot is the norm.

The first place to visit is the Nandi - a large metal sculpture of a bull, reclining in a posture that is simultaneously relaxed and alert. This in a way represents the qualities needed to enjoy meditation.

The Outer Parikrama of the Temple Complex. This is a circular path which runs around the main temple - the Dhyanalinga Yogic Temple. The Outer Parikrama incorporates several mystical and aesthetic elements. The monolithic Trimurthi Panel located behind the Dhyanalinga dome depicts the three fundamental qualities essential for a human being's inner growth: Rudra, Hara and Sadashiva. Rudra is an intense state of mind, Hara is the quality of childlike meditativeness and Sadashiva is an ever blissful state.

Theethakund

This was not only for physical cleansing and freshening, but also to activate and sensitize the energy body of the visitors, to prepare them to fully receive the energies of the space. There are two theerthakunds at the Isha Yoga Center – the Chandrakund for women and Suryakund for men. 

Embedded 30 feet below the ground, and approached by a descent of thirty-two massive steps, the Chandrakund is framed by gigantic granite stones and vaulted by a colorful mural depicting the Mahakumbha Mela. Measuring 55 x 15 ft., this exquisite artwork follows the traditional Kerala style of painting dating back to the 15th century, using only natural colors and vegetable dyes.

The Suryakund is larger and measures 130 by 40 feet, and is embedded 22 feet in the earth. It is surrounded on three sides by a wall of 200 massive, 50-ton granite blocks. One major feature of the Suryakund that nobody can miss is the Sun sculpture of brass and copper which hangs from the ceiling  20 feet across . 

 DHYANALINGA MEDITATION TEMPLE

monolith - the Sarvadharma Sthamba. Symbols of major religions inscribed on three sides of thissthamba represent the multi-religiousness of the temple. Its back bears the schematic depiction of the seven chakras of the human body in the form of lotuses representing different levels of consciousness.

1. The rising stone sun crowning the sthamba symbolizes a new dawn, while the pattern of fallen leaves beneath the sun signifies death of the past

Beyond the Sthamba lies the stone gateway that follows the principles of traditional Indian temple architecture. To reach the open pathway or the parikrama which eventually leads to the sanctum sanctorum, one crosses 2.three entrance steps signifying the tamas, rajas and satwa gunas, the basic qualities of the mind. The unusual height of the steps forces the visitors to press their feet firmly on its pebbled surface, thus activating the nerve centres in the body - a preparation to be more receptive to the energies of the Dhyanalinga. The parikrama is flanked by aisles covered by six artistically sculpted granite panels illustrating the stories of six south Indian sages. To the left stands the 11-foot-tall statue of Patanjali, the author of yogasutra. Deliberately placed in a sunken shrine to establish an immediate kinship with the visitor, this black granite sculpture combining the forms of snake and man, depicts the duality of human nature. Facing Patanjali and placed at an elevation is the Vanashree shrine, a green granite sculptural relief of a Pee pal tree. Between them, the linga, Patanjali and Vanashree form a IS-degree triangle. Explaining the significance of this geometric form, Sadhguru says, “As a linga has no orientation of direction, you need something to draw the people if they are to experience the linga The The parikrama ends at a vaulted tunnel that leads into the dome. Carved on the threshold of the entrance are 3.two snakes with a single raised hood, indicating the non-dual nature of the Dhyanalinga. 4.Over the vault is a seven-hooded monolithic snake, symbolizing the seven dimensions of life. The dome that encloses Dhyanalinga is a section of an ellipse - representing a section of the globe. The Dhyanalinga temple layout may be a simple fusion of geometric shapes, but it is a profound space for meditation. On the periphery are congregations of modulated spaces that subtly prepare the visitors for meditation. Raised 33 feet from the ground, the dome weighs around 800 tonnes and has a diameter of 76 feet at the base. It rests on a six-foot-high circular stone wall including a ring of two foot-tall stone lintels. The entire structure is built upon a foundation that is 10 feet wide and 10 feet deep. Nearly 2,50,000 bricks have been used to create about 250 layers, starting at a vertical angle of 13 degrees and ending at 82 degrees to the horizontal. The 20-inch-thick base of the dome tapers to 8 inches (a single brick) at the top. “All bricks were soaked in water for 24 hours to ʻmeltʼ the unburnt ones.

28 ventilators are placed atop the lintel beams with stone slabs in the shape of a triangle for natural light and ventilation. Covered by a gold-plated linga-shaped copper dome to block direct light, the central opening acts as ventilator and thus keeps the space cool. Below the lintel beam 28 energy cubicles called the aura cells, are embedded in the inner wall. Each aura cell is about 4ʼ X 4ʼ and provides an intimate space for a person to sit and meditate facing the Dhyanalinga

Traditional materials like burnt brick and mud mortar stabilized with lime, sand, alum and herbal additives were used along with huge blocks of granite. “Natural materials used here are as old as the earth and will live as long as she does,” smiles the spiritual leader. “If you go to any archeological site, the first thing you find alive is pottery

The simple technology of this dome is that all the bricks are trying to fall down together but they canʼt. Itʼs like ten people wanting to get into a bus at the same time and nobody gets in.”

The resonating sound of water that drips onto the linga from the hemispheric gold-plated copper dome suspended overhead, the shimmering reflection of the oil lamps on the golden dome and the pervasive silence makes the experience ethereal. The natural draught or air and the choice of natural materials make it a cool and soothing space, which breathes through every pore.

The Dhyanalinga Yogic Temple is a meditative space and is said to be the first of its kind to be completed in over 2000 years. It was consecrated in 1999 by Sadhguru and it does not ascribe to any particular faith and is open to all irrespective of their religion or nationality. It is open everyday, irrespective of national or cultural holidays from 6am to 8pm. Uniquely among Indian temples, it remains open even during eclipses. Entrance is free. Measuring 13 feet 9 inches, the Dhyanalinga is the largest mercury-based linga in the world.

·         The Inner Parikrama is the intricate pathway leading to the Dhyanalinga Temple. On the left is the statue of Patanjali, regarded as the father of yogic sciences. On the right is the Vanashree shrine, the feminine deity of the Dhyanalinga temple. Six artistically sculptured granite panels cover the aisles, illustrating the stories of six South Indian sages who attained enlightenment. Each panel captures a moment in these extraordinary lives. The Parikrama ends at a vaulted tunnel that leads to the dome of the Dhyanalinga. The earthy colors, the natural granite, the attention to details and the shapes that form the Dhyanalinga temple create a warm and esoteric ambiance.

·         The elliptical Dhyanalinga dome that houses the linga itself is 76 feet in diameter and 33 feet high. It is a pillarless 250,000 brick structure and was built with brick and mud mortar stabilized with lime, sand, alum and herbal additives without the use of any steel, cement, or concrete. The technology used is this - all the bricks are trying to fall down at the same time but the way they are aligned and balanced ensures they can never fall. This design is similar to that of Roman arch bridges where the keystone ensures the stability of the bridge. The nature of this design ensures a lifespan of at least 5000 years for the dome. The natural draught of air and the choice of natural materials make the dome a cool and soothing space.

·         The meditative and spiritual nature of the inside is further amplified by, Nada Aradhana, an offering of sound to the Dhyanalinga with an ethereal blend of vocals, singing bowls, drums and various other instruments. The offering takes place twice during the day from 11:50 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. and from 5:50 p.m. to 6:10 p.m. These are the only times of the day when the usual silence within the temple is broken.

SERVICES: Water:The Noyyal river originating from Velliangiri hills is one of the major tributaries of the Cauvery, which irrigates about 100,000 of hectares of agricultural land in the plains. The Velliangiri hills watershed feeds into the Siruvani dam, which is the main drinking water supply for 1,500,000 people in the urban centre of Coimbatore and isha has 2 OHTs of capacity 300 cubic meters sufficing the needs of about 20-30k people .

HT towers : uninterrupted HT power supply to Isha Foundation from the 22-KV Siruvani Water Works Feeder are located 35 km (22 mi) west of Coimbatore in the Western Ghats