In continuation to my earlier ISHA BSP experience blog
Dhyanalingam - The only lingam right now in the world to help meditators experience deepest levels. As in SJV's words, the last attempt to consecrate such Dhyanalingam failed miserably. Though there were three fully consecrated lingams centuries back (Bihar), their physical forms have now been lost. After three plus years of rigorous consecration process, Dhyanalingam is now in its form at Isha - Coimbatore.
When I heard of this Dhyanalingam first, what I thought was nothing different from what many of us would think. We have Shiva lingams every nook and corner. What’s special in this one, except the size being some 12 feet? Even Tanjore lingam is as big and chubby as this. But after my friend (Sivaraman) referred me a chapter to read from SJV's "Mystics Musings" book, that gives a complete understanding of this lingam, starting from "why" to "how" part, it really changed my mind. Such a mammoth task has gone behind getting this job done for Sadhguru. He was trying three life times to get this lingam erected. Good that his Guru "Palani Swamigal" was from Tamilnadu. This additionally pushed SJV to build up his Ashram and consecrate the Dhyanalingam at Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, as a respect for his Guru, though he was born in Karnataka.
Illegal, but you can find a PDF copy of the "Mystics Musings" book here
Pls read from 251 to 302 to get a feel of what Dhyanalingam is all about.
After reading the book, I had a strong desire to visit Dhyanalingam atleast once in my life time. Good or bad, just visit. There is nothing for me to lose. Foreigners have been visiting this Ashram flying down thousands of miles, and me, just sitting few hundred kilometers away cannot make a visit, then that’s my fault. During our last Velliangiri mountain trek, we had a plan-B to cover Dhyanalingam after trekking down. But the 12hour non-stop trekking in heavy rain sucked out all our energies and literally left me dead. We had to call-off the Dhyanalingam plan and run back to Chennai life.
The lingam was not designed to exhibit a fierce-force. Its exhibits a very refined energy. If you put yourself subtle, you will experience it. If you are rigid, you may not feel anything, but still the energy will do its job. A seed is sown into you. SJV once when replying to a question on what is the difference between Shiva and this Dhyanalingam, said that Shiva can move, but Dhyanalingam cannot. In terms of energy both are same. All seven chakras initialized.
During our three and half days Bhava Spandana program, we were let out on the second day for one hour (out of the Spandhana hall) to visit Linga Bhairavi, Theerthakund and Dhyanalingam. This part of the the BSP schedule, I think they placed this in exact slot. After being dead-tired of practicing certain Kundalini exercises, this visit was really rejuvenating.
Theerthakund - Its an energetic swimming pool. With a 680Kg Mercury lingam consecrated inside the water, you need to step down some 20 feet to reach the water. Theerthakund water temperature is as low as 10 degree Celsius. Just think of how you will feel when you take the first dip. Bottom of the pool is completely fitted with copper plates to enhance/ground? the energies. Once you get inside the pool and leave your body to it you can feel the warmth of the water around you. Though its just 10 degree, you can still feel its warmth. You can also experience one more thing - the density of the water. It will feel like dipping in a diluted wax. Sadhguru once mentioned that the water inside Theerthakund is just normal, but the vibration of the mercury lingam is making it feel dense. You can really feel it dense. Inside the water, you can just float your body with a finger-tip support over the mercury lingam or the side-wall. When you get out of water, you will feel like your body weights a ton and it will take few seconds (till the water drips out of the towel) for you to feel the normal gravity. Being in this water for 5 to 7 minutes, will help you enhance the reception of Dhyanalingam energies. Though you can bypass this dip, its better you make the dip before visiting the ultimatum. Atleast you will be relieved of your body pain.
Linga Bhairavi - Its a highly expressive and exuberant feminine form of a linga. It represents the Divine in its feminine manifestation. As said by SJV, one can even escape from the subtle energies of the Dhyanalingam, but not from this lady. She is fierce and will slap you on your face. Such a type of energy consecration. I wasn’t staying there too long, but there is one thing I could say. She is a sheer beauty. There was a foreigner lady in red clad performing pooja for linga bhairavi. She was singing some song (some humming kind of), showing aarthi to the deity, caring it like her mother. I could clearly sense the bliss on her face. She was not doing the pooja just for the sake of doing it, like how it happens in other Amman temples. She is doing the pooja by her soul.
Dhyanalingam - What to say? He was magnificently sitting in middle of an excellently designed big hall without any pillars supporting this dome roof. Inside the hall, it’s very silent and volunteers ensure its even dead-silent. Even if you drop a small pin inside the hall, it will echo to everyone sitting in the hall. Even kids who scream outside will not spell a word inside. They just adapt themselves to this atmosphere. In this BSP break, I was inside the hall for 15-20 minutes. It was really shaking my spine, but my back pain was much more horrible than it. I forced myself to get out. But that’s not the end.
We (BSP participants - Me, pandian) have roped in a couple of our office folks to join us in this Coimbatore visit. After we come out of BSP hall by Saturday evening (Wednesday-Saturday), we will join the other two and stay in Ashram till Sunday afternoon. That was our simple plan for four of us to spend good time and enjoy the Dhyanalingam experience for one full-day. Atleast to stay in its energy circle for some elongated time.
Soon as the BSP was over, we came out to meet our friends. First disaster we heard was that general visitors cannot stay in Ashram overnight, unless you are a volunteer or have booked a cottage. We tried cottage, but it’s full. So we were forced to return back to Coimbatore. But that didn’t stop our Dhyanalingam plans.
Quickly making Plan-B arrangements for night stay at Coimbatore (Thanks Mr.KSK!) and booking a call taxi, we had a couple of hours gap before the cab reaches Velliangiri. Till time, we again went a dip into Theerthakund, second time After the holy-dip, we were in Dhyanalingam temple again. This time, I could feel better and was inside for 30minutes or something. In fact, it will feel like you are there for few minutes, but time will fast forward like anything.
We had our return journey booked by Sunday afternoon train. What to do in the morning? We already have visited Dhyanalingam, Linga Bhairavi twice and also had a super cool dip in Theerthakund. We thought we will go to Kovai Kutraalam or something similar to free-up ourselves before catching the 3'clock Duronto Express. After all brainstorming we shortlisted this plan - we will go to Ashram again, have a dip in Theerthakund and sit with Dhyanalingam. Anonymously supported and accepted by all, we headed back to Ashram again on Sunday morning. He is not ready to leave us :).
On the way, we made a visit to the Poondi Temple at the foot hills of Velliangiri. I could see those steps leading the way up the mountain staying calm. It really scared me. My nightmare. 4000 steps and 2 hours to climb to cross first 2 mountains. You will literally be dead by then :). After a quick Darshan in the temple and saying a bye to these steep steps, we headed back to Isha Ashram.
Again in Theerthakund, one more deeeep dip, till I felt its enough and back to Dhyanalingam temple. This time, my back pain was better and I sat few extra minutes. When I came out, I realized it was 45mins done. I really don’t want to come out from the lap of this temple. But, the cab was waiting outside to push us back to Chennai life. Most of us felt some difference in the energy space inside the Dhyanalingam temple. During Inner Engineering initiation, if you have felt some vibrations, you can feel something similar here. If you just sit relaxed without too much of questions in mind, you could even experience it more. Since I just then have completed BSP, and my spine was already manipulated!! like anything, I could clearly feel the difference. A chill down my spine.
Okay, Iam stopping here. I thought of visiting Dhyanalingam atleast once, but by Shiva's grace and supportive friends, it happened thrice. Hearty thanks to them. I hope the seed is sown deep into us. It might take days, months, years, decades or even life-times for it to nourish and grow. Let it take its own time to blossom. Till then, let me do my job... :)
PS - My places-to-visit list is getting close to completion. By god's grace, one or other is helping me to clear the list. Only two big items are in my list that I have to cover before I say – “Iam done”. First one is Benares/Kasi. Targeting it for February/2013 during Maha Khumbamela. Another is the ultimatum – my final destination - The Kailash. Let me wait and watch for what surprises life has it in for me.
