Got up late and missed the 6 AM yoga class, so hit the fire puja at 8. It went till about 8:30 AM and is all sung around a little fire. Very intimate. The women of the YTTP knew all the melody and words. I sat and listened and watched ghee put into the fire, herbs etc. It is a cleansing spiritual ritual, very ancient . Ashram meals are simple, vegetarian, and nutritious but very bland ( not spicy) .
Then I moved rooms to a new one with balcony on the first floor. Room is ok, balcony is the warmest part. It took me a while to move upstairs and sort out everything, but I was very very cold. Having come from the winter heat and humidity of Pondy, I was not coping. This got worse and worse. I decided to go and have a hot cinnamon and ginger drink at the Ayurvedic restaurant. I made a huge mistake and had mung dal, which had honey and was delicious!!
The highlight of the day was the yoga class for an hour and three quarters!!!! Very calm voice, slow pace, and it worked well. Most yogis from Edmonton would have enjoyed it. After that I had supper, and more beans etc. I started to get colder and colder, and then all hell broke loose. Don't read on if you have had a hard day at the office! I have never been so cold in my life. We got unseasonably cold and rainy weather. I could not get warm in my bed. Problems with the hot water and shower meant no shower, so I had to pour water over my freezing body. The toilet seat came apart. As you sat on it, it moved. My stomach started to act up....diorrhea! The floors are cold marble, so you can't walk on them as this guest house is an icebox!! It was a terrible night, of being too cold, and then very very hot. I was up all night. I had run out of water which added to the dehydration.
Entrance to the Ashram
Below in reception, swastick with oms
Below, we sit on the floor to eat. Stainless steel everything. You wash it after. Only chapatti on my plate
Below, forgot to tell you there was a concert in the basement of the ashram. Sitar and tabla player
The guru on the right, below, and student on left. The standard of playing was high, and impressive.
Two or three sizes of tabla
Below, Buddha shiva oversaw the concert. Big ears are good for listening!!
Below, middle tabla has cover on. Tuning takes time. They played in a minor key, but there were times it got into major. Eastern scale.
Below, Indian flute....sounded great.
Zither below, or autoharp. He combined that with his flute playing, and the other guy played the tabla.
Below close up of the stops of the sitar
Below sitar, lower part
Then I moved rooms to a new one with balcony on the first floor. Room is ok, balcony is the warmest part. It took me a while to move upstairs and sort out everything, but I was very very cold. Having come from the winter heat and humidity of Pondy, I was not coping. This got worse and worse. I decided to go and have a hot cinnamon and ginger drink at the Ayurvedic restaurant. I made a huge mistake and had mung dal, which had honey and was delicious!!
The highlight of the day was the yoga class for an hour and three quarters!!!! Very calm voice, slow pace, and it worked well. Most yogis from Edmonton would have enjoyed it. After that I had supper, and more beans etc. I started to get colder and colder, and then all hell broke loose. Don't read on if you have had a hard day at the office! I have never been so cold in my life. We got unseasonably cold and rainy weather. I could not get warm in my bed. Problems with the hot water and shower meant no shower, so I had to pour water over my freezing body. The toilet seat came apart. As you sat on it, it moved. My stomach started to act up....diorrhea! The floors are cold marble, so you can't walk on them as this guest house is an icebox!! It was a terrible night, of being too cold, and then very very hot. I was up all night. I had run out of water which added to the dehydration.
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