In the Footsteps of Ma 2013 Jaya Kula Yatra

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Welcome Letter 2. Itinerary 3. Travel Recommendations 4. Tickets and Visas 5. Fees 6. Registration 7. Application

WELCOME LETTER FROM SHAMBHAVI July 2013 Precious Self, I invite you to apply to participate in a very special yatra (pilgrimage) to West Bengal and Varanasi, India. In the Footsteps of Anandamayi Ma takes you to the places where Anandamayi Ma—an extraordinary direct emanation of enlightened wisdom—lived, walked and taught. In West Bengal, we will visit active Tantrik temples, such as Tarapith, where Ma’s husband and disciples did intense sadhana and had direct visions of God. We will make dharma connections with the Anandamayee Ma sangha in Kolkata (Calcutta), and I’m sure we’ll hear many stories of Ma’s life there! We will also visit the Ramakrishna Kali Temple in Dakshineswar. From West Bengal, we will make our way inland to The City of Light - Lord Shiva's ancient city of Varanasi. In Varanasi, we will undertake the truly spectacular Antar Griha Yatra. This day-long walking pilgrimage circumambulates the heart of the city where we will discover beautiful and mysterious underground temples built around Shiva Lingams that were preserved by devotees from centuries-ago Muslim invasions. On the high balcony of the ashram where Ma used to give satsangs overlooking the Ganga, we will join with other Ma devotees to conduct an Anusthan, or long practice, consisting of 24-hours of continuous singing of the 108 names of Anandamayi Ma. In the Footsteps of Ma is not just a tour of spiritual sites. It is an authentic pilgrimage during which participants will engage in daily sadhana directed by Shambhavi, will walk ancient pilgrim routes, and will learn about Tantrik ritual and forms of devotional practice. The purpose of the yatra is to bring you closer to Self-realization. Yatra helps you to Self-realize by taking you to places where transmission and blessings from highly realized beings can be more easily received. Such are the places where Anandamayi Ma gave satsang, conducted fire rituals, manifested her great bhavas, and lived. Yatra is also a practice of tapas, or austerity. We will be doing quite a bit of sadhana. I’ll be leading daily practices, giving teachings and providing guidance to all participants throughout our yatra. For some people, immersion in Indian life without the buffers of fancy hotels, and while being held in the crucible of a dynamic group of Tantrik

practitioners, will also be tapas. Whatever we encounter, we will have a truly rare opportunity to deepen our practice and relax. The yatra is a time to immerse yourself in India, in Ma, and to let go of some of those limitations you’ve been lugging around, perhaps for lifetimes. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. In Ma’s love, Shambhavi

ITINERARY December 15: Convene at our hotel in Kolkata at 10am. December 16 -21: Visit Ma’s ashram in Kolkata and Tantrik sites in West Bengal

including Tarapith and the Ramakrishna Dakshineswar Kali temple. December 21-23 Bodh Gaya in Bihar. In Bodh Gaya we will do sadhana in the Sitavani

cremation grounds and at the site where Padmasambhava exhibited many siddhis and earned the name "Lion's Roar." We will pay our respects to the Bodhi Tree where the Sakyamuni Buddha became enlightened.

December 23: Travel to Varanasi. December 23-30: Travel, teachings and sadhana in Anandamayi Ma’s Varanasi. We

will walk the Antar Griha yatra accompanied by a pujari and Varanasi’s foremost expert on ancient pilgrimage routes. The 24-hour anusthan will be conducted at the Anandamayi Ma Ashram in Varanasi.

December 31: Rest, wandering, shopping January 1: Yatra new moon closing ceremony The last night of the retreat is January 1. After this, pilgrims can remain in India for a time at their own expense, or return home.

TRAVEL RECOMMENDATIONS Immunizations No immunizations are required for travel to India. The CDC does have vaccine recommendations. See: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/india Health The best health care is prevention. Here are some tips.

• Work on your health before you travel. Having healthy digestion and lungs going into the trip is the best form of health care for the trip.

• Under eat while traveling. This stokes the digestive fires and helps your system to overcome parasites.

• NEVER drink water that is not bottled or purified. Do not brush your teeth with tap water.

• Don’t eat raw vegetables or fruits that have not been washed in clean water. • If you see mosquitos, use repellant. Most hotels have mosquito nets. • We will be in areas with easy access to doctors and Ayurvedic clinicians. These

folks really know how to treat the runs. So don’t worry too muc. Just take simple, sane precautions, and you will survive.

Water Purification Bottled water is widely available in India, however there is a serious environmental problem with all of the plastic bottle waste. Jaya Kula recommends purchasing a small water filter bottle for use with local water. You can buy these on Amazon, or purchase them at a camping supply store. Documents and Money You should have a money/document pouch that ties around your waist or leg and can be hidden underneath your clothing. Do not carry more than a couple of hundred dollars in cash. You can buy rupees at the airport, or from any ATM. Take at least one credit card and your ATM card.

Rupees can by purchased readily using Traveller’s Checks, but Traveller’s Checks are often not accepted as currency by stores. Make a copy of the first two pages of your passport and copies of your visas. Keep these separate from your other documents. Leave copies with someone at home. If you have a smart phone or tablet, you can bring electronic copies and load copies into Google Drive or Dropbox. We will not always have Internet access, so paper copies, or local electronic copies are a must. Luggage In addition to your money/document pouch and a slightly larger shoulder bag, waist pouch or day pack for walking tours, you definitely won’t want to bring more than one larger piece of luggage. The best option is a mid-sized backpack, or mid-sized suitcase with wheels. You will need locks for your luggage and a cord with loops at each end to lock your larger backpack or suitcase to your bunk bed on trains. Clothing/Packing List Recommendations The temperatures will range from 55 to 85 degrees F. Remember that anything you find you need and didn’t bring can be purchased very inexpensively once in India. Clothing Shoes: One comfy pair with good treads. Keep in mind that you will be slipping your shoes off and on before entering and leaving homes, temples and hotel rooms. If you are worried about “losing” your $300 technical hiking boots when you leave them outside of the door of a temple, bring a cheaper pair of shoes. Socks: 1-2 pairs. You won’t need them much. Underwear: 4 pairs. Shirts: 3-4. Nothing offensive written on them. Pants: 2. Should be loose so you can sit for practice and do yoga in them. Jeans, even stretch jeans, are not a good choice as they take a long time to dry. Medium-heavy sweater or jacket: 1 Light outerwear: a vest or light sweater, 1

Skirts: 1-2. Loose, long and lightweight. Good for layering and modesty. Pajamas: 1. You will be sharing hotel rooms and train compartments. Scarf or shawl: Head scarf or shawl for women is indispensable. Can be purchased in India. A nylon, stuffable bag for laundry, etc. Hair ties, hair bands, hat or all three. Hygiene and Health Things such as aspirin, extra shampoo, etc. are available in country. You don’t need to pack as if you were going into the wilderness! Shampoo/conditioner Soap in a soap container, or liquid soap Toothpaste, tooth brush and floss Deodorant (This is a must, even for folks who like to be “natural.”) Shaving gear Small mirror, tweezers, nail clippers Sanitary products (tampons are hard to find) Hairbrush, comb Contact lens stuff Sanitizing hand wipes or sanitizing gel Tea tree oil for disinfecting, or Neosporin Vitamins Concentrated liquid laundry soap (From the camping store. Most laundry will be done for you, but it is nice to have some on hand for emergencies.) Other Necessities Meditation cushion – a smaller buckwheat hull cushion or inflatable cushion is best for traveling. If your hips are open enough, you can simply bring a blanket to roll up underneath you. Here are a couple of suggestions. Many more models can be found on the Internet. http://www.manduka.com/us/shop/categories/products/gear/travel-cushion/ http://www.sagemeditation.com/products/meditation-cushions/mobile-meditator-inflatable-meditation-cushion.html?gclid=CKDPl-a8yLcCFaN_QgodqWIAow

Mosquito repellant. Absolutely essential. Dengue fever is a possibility at any time of year. A sleep sack. This is a small, stuffable sheet that is shaped like a sleeping bag. You can by one at the camping store, either synthetic, silk or mixed. You need this for sleeping on trains, in ashrams and for protecting yourself when the bedding provided might not be up to your standards. You can also get travel pillow cases, or just bring one from home. A small flashlight or headlamp with fresh batteries. Other items you may wish to consider Journal and pens Camera or cell phone with camera An older style unlocked cell phone so you can buy a local SIM card Tablet computer Recharger adapters for Indian and Bangladeshi power sources A good book Sunglasses and sun block Extra batteries A multi-purpose pocket knife A similar tool with knife, spoon and fork A note about cell phones, tablets and Internet and phone access You are free to use electronic devices (at your own expense). However, you will be required to leave your phone completely off during any teachings and sadhana times. There is very little public wi-fi in hotel rooms, although many hotels in larger cities have wi-fi zones. We will be visiting some rural places in Bangladesh where there may be no Internet access. Most places we visit will have Internet cafes where you can plug in and also make international phone calls.

TICKETS AND VISAS Tickets We recommend that you search carefully for airline ticket bargains. Kayak.com and Makemytrip.com are good places to start your search. It takes more than a whole day to reach Kolkata from the US given the time change. So plan on leaving at the latest by the morning of December 13th. You will likely reach Kolkata on the evening of the 14th. The yatra begins at 10am the morning of the 15th. The airport code for Kolkata is CCU. Be sure that you understand the time changes so that you do not purchase a ticket for the wrong day. Depending on ticket prices and itineraries, it may be cheaper, shorter time, and/or more convenient to fly to Delhi and take a cheap, in-country flight to Kolkata. If you like, we can arrange airport transport for you from the airport in Kolkata to our hotel. We can also arrange an extra night (December 14th) or more nights at the hotel if you wish to arrive earlier. However, you will be responsible for these expenses. To arrange for extra hotel nights and/or airport transport, please contact Gangi Redman: gangi.redman@gmail.com. Visas You must have a valid passport and visas to enter India. Visa costs vary depending on the amount of time for which they are valid. In order to obtain an Indian visa, you must mail your valid passport to Travisa Outsourcing along with photos and proof of address. Travisa has offices in a few major U.S. cities if you wish to apply in person. Travisa: http://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/homepage The cheapest multiple entry Indian Tourist Visa for US nationals is for six months and costs $76 including fees.

FEES Jaya Kula’s fee for the yatra is $1250 USD per person We have deliberately kept our fee significantly lower than other comparable trips because airfare costs are quite high right now. We also are sensitive to the fact that some participants will struggle to save money for this trip. By not including meals in the yatra fee, we are allowing for more individualized money management. This year, we have a limited number of $500 – $1000 scholarships available. You can download the scholarship application at http://jayakula.org/classes-and-events/jaya-kula-yatra/. Scholarship applications are due by August 1, 2013. The Yatra fee includes:

• All teachings given by Shambhavi • Lodging from December 15th through January 1 • All in-country travel arrangements and train, bus and taxi fare for yatra-related

activities between 12/15/2013 and 1/1/2014 • All fees for tour guides, pujaris and rituals • Fees for special events and activities planned by Jaya Kula • Arrangements (but not costs) for extra hotel nights before the yatra begins and

airport transport at the start of the yatra The Yatra fee does not include:

• Airfare to and from India • Airfare within India should you decide to visit other destinations, or should you

decide to fly in and out of airports requiring secondary flights within India to join the yatra in Kolkata

• Airport transport • Incidental travel or other costs for personal activities such as shopping • Visa fees, insurance costs, tips to pujaris or guides, laundry fees, costs for Internet

or any costs relating to the use of personal electronic devices • Meals, bottled water or snacks • Any medical fees incurred by you while in India or as a result of your participation

in the yatra

REGISTRATION

In order to fully register for the yatra, you will need to do four things.

1. Fill out the Application and read and sign both the Compliance and Liability Waiver documents. Give these to Shambhavi or mail them to Jaya Kula, 4110 SE Hawthorne Blvd. #106, Portland, OR 97214, USA. Emailed applications cannot be accepted unless you have the ability to create legal, electronic signatures. APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY SEPTEMBER 1, 2013.

2. Once you are notified that your application has been approved, make a minimum deposit of $300 USD. ALL DEPOSITS ARE DUE BY SEPTEMBER 15, 2013. The deposit is fully refundable through October 15, 2013. After October 15, 2013, no deposits will be refunded.

3. With your deposit, send a photo of yourself and a copy of the first two pages of your

passport clearly showing your passport number. 4. By November 1, 2013, pay the remaining $950 of the yatra fee. Only checks and cash

are accepted from U.S. citizens. If you live in Canada, Mexico or overseas, you may pay via Paypal, but a 2.7% surcharge will be added. See the cancellation policy in the Application below.

APPLICATION FOR IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MA JAYA KULA YATRA 2013

Today’s date: Your full, legal name: Your spiritual name, if applicable: Your date of birth: Your age: Mobile phone: Work phone: Landline: Email: Snail Mail Address: Emergency contact name: Relationship to you: Emergency contact phone: Emergency contact email: How did you hear about the yatra: If Shambhavi is not currently guiding your practice, please describe your current spiritual practice. Include how often you do seated practice and who are your major teachers and/or traditions or lineages. Be as specific as possible.

Please check all that apply. I am interested in coming on the yatra because: __ I feel connected to Anandamayi Ma __ I want to deepen my spiritual practice __ I want to study with Shambhavi __ I am interested in, or am already a student of Kashmir Shaivism. __ I want to visit India __ Other, please describe: Please describe any injuries, chronic illnesses, allergies or physical limitations you have whether or not you think these will impact your participation in the yatra. Please list any medications you take regularly including psychoactive drugs and anti-depressants/anti-anxiety medication. What recreational drugs do you currently use? How much alcohol do you currently drink? Where will you be traveling from? What is your passport number, name on your passport, date of issue, place of issue and gender? We need this information in order to buy advance train tickets for you.

STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE WITH YATRA PRECEPTS I hereby agree to the following: I will not use any recreational drugs, including marijuana or alcohol, or become intoxicated through the use of any substance, including by the abuse of prescription medications, for the duration of the Jaya Kula yatra. I will not purchase any recreational drugs, or carry any recreational drugs on my person, or in my luggage for the duration of the Jaya Kula yatra. I will not purchase, or carry any prescription medications for which I do not have a prescription for the duration of the Jaya Kula yatra. I furthermore agree to abide by the yatra dress code:

1. No shorts or sleeveless shirts for anyone, male or female. 2. For women, no sleeveless dresses, bare bellies, or above-the-knee dresses or skirts. 3. At all times, I will dress and behave in a manner that is in keeping with that

reasonably to be expected of a respectful tourist visiting Hindu and Muslim cultures. I understand that if the yatra leader, Shambhavi Sarasvati, determines that I have failed to comply with these precepts, and at her sole discretion, I will be asked to leave the yatra, and I will forfeit any and all fees paid to Jaya Kula for the yatra. Signed: Date: PRINT YOUR FULL NAME:

AGREEMENT OF RELEASE, WAIVER OF LIABILITY, AND CANCELLATION POLICY I hereby agree to the following: I am aware that participation in the Jaya Kula yatra, and in activities undertaken during the course of the yatra such as yoga, walking tours in rural areas and driving on Indian roads, may result in accident or injury. I assume full responsibility for the risk connected with my participation in any and all aspects of this trip. I release Shambhavi Sarasvati and Jaya Kula from any and all claims related to injury, illness, damage, death or loss that may be sustained by me and/or to my belongings as a result of the following: any activities undertaken by me during the trip, or any events or actions experienced by me while traveling in, and during my stay in, India. I certify that I have had a consultation with a health care practitioner in the last year. I hearby state that I am in good health, and that I understand the risks associated with the physical activities I have committed to. Cancellation Policy I understand that my deposit of $300 is due by September 15, 2013 and is fully refundable through October 15, 2013. After that date, it is non-refundable. The remaining payment of $950 must be received by November 1, 2013. If I cancel my registration after November 1, 2013, I understand that I will forfeit the full fee, unless there are very special circumstances of severe illness (verified with a doctor’s certificate) or other unusual circumstance. Refunds after November 1, 2013 will be made at the sole discretion of Jaya Kula. In no case will more than 70% of the fee be refunded after November 1, 2013. In the unlikely case of the yatra being cancelled by Jaya Kula for any reason, all money paid to Jaya Kula for the yatra itself will be fully refunded. However, I release Shambhavi Sarasvati and Jaya Kula from any and all claims related to any other expenses incurred or committed to by me such as plane fares and other bookings or personal expenses related to my proposed participation in the yatra. Signed: Date: PRINT YOUR FULL NAME: