“It took two and a half years and dozens of design iterations to create Adiyogi’s face as he stands today”, say official sources. Once the face was designed, the herculean task of shaping it into a statue began. Guided by Sadhguru, a novel technique was used by Isha Foundation’s in-house fabrication team. They first worked on the task of creating two 21 ft Adiyogi statues. This allowed the team to understand the new technique and the steel material they were working with. One of these 21 ft Adiyogi statues was then shipped to the United States, where it was established at the Isha Institute of Inner Sciences, Tennessee.
The Yogeshwar Linga was consecrated along with the unveiling of this 21 ft Adiyogi statue on 23rd September, 2015. Roughly one and half years before the Coimbatore 112-ft Adiyogi was unveiled.
Here are a couple of tweets from Sadhguru about this consecration & unveiling of Adiyogi in the “Sundaramurthy” form.
“We thought, when he’s coming to America we’ll bring him in this form. This form is called Sundaramurthy – his beautiful form.” Sadhguru (source)
As you know, I have written in-depth blog posts on the Indian 112-ft Adiyogi,
Detailed Guide to Visit Coimbatore Adiyogi
Detailed Guide to Visit Bangalore Adiyogi
However, reading some of the content on this USA Adiyogi brought forth certain facts to me which I wasn’t aware of earlier. Maybe because this was the first Adiyogi shiva statue consecration, even before the Coimbatore one and so Sadhguru is explaining things from the beginning for the sadhakas.
For example, he says, “Due to lack of better words, I would say this Adiyogi is a downgraded version of the Dhyanalinga. Similar aspects are there, but not to the same extent – similar aspects in the sense that he embodies all aspects, whereas generally, when you make a linga, there is no feminine aspect at all. But he embodies the feminine in a certain way.” This is the first time I have heard Sadhguru himself put a comparative with Dhyanalinga! Quite surprising.
‘Adiyogi: Abode of Yoga’ Rituals at III Ashram, USA
A lot of Devi rituals like klesha nasha kriya (aura cleansing), bhuta shuddhi, vidyarambham to introduce learning to kids, namakarnam ceremony for naming babies and more are possible. Find out more here.
They also have a lot of daily activities like yoga, meditation, aarti, guru pooja and more. Longer Isha Yoga programs are also scheduled here, so it can be a place for you to go for a few days and learn some powerful techniques for inner well-being. Find the details here.
This is interesting for me, because volunteering at Yogeshwar linga in Bangalore was the first time I have become well-versed with the plethora of “Isha rituals” and that ambiance of traditional temple activities. This ambiance is completely missing in Dhyanalingam. So, I am still getting used to this face of Isha Yoga Center, a bustling hub of traditional (Hindu) rituals! Understanding the USA ashram helps me understand this phenomena a little better. There also, as with Bangalore Adiyogi center, all the consecrations are not yet done. The Devi will soon be consecrated in both these places and this ritual fanfare will only increase. Will be an interesting place to visit sometime!
Have you visited this Adiyogi Abode in the Tennessee Isha ashram? Let me know your experience of it in the comments. Would love to know.
Travel Planning Information
Stay at Isha Foundation, Tennessee
The accommodations available at the Tennessee Isha ashram look interesting. There are studio rooms, larger sized rooms and cabins. Cost ranges from $135 to $300 per night. You can check the availability on the website along with the exact cost. Here is the booking page.
Directions to go there
I have heard from a lot of Isha meditators that the route to III can be quite disorienting. Often powerful spiritual spaces also leave us disoriented. So, maybe, both the factors combine to cause visitors to get a bit lost on their way in or out of this ashram. The website mentions, “just a 1.5-hour drive from Nashville and only 45 minutes from Chattanooga, this 1,400-acre classical yoga and meditation center might feel a world away, but it’s close enough for a quick day trip.”
Food availability
There are no cafes or snack shops at the Isha Institute ashram. The ashram kitchen prepares daily meals which are available at certain times of the day. As the website mentions,
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM: Meals Available on Weekdays
11:30 AM – 3:00 PM: Meals Available on Weekends
Official links to help you plan your trip:
https://isha.sadhguru.org/us/en/center/consecrated-spaces/adiyogi-abode-of-yoga
https://isha.sadhguru.org/us/en/center/isha-institute-inner-sciences-usa
I’m reading the Maproute article on the 21-foot USA Adiyogi at the Isha Institute in Nashville, Tennessee, and I’m really intrigued. I’ve always been interested in yoga and meditation, and I’m curious to learn more about the Adiyogi.