As an avid blogger, it sometimes happens that I have powerful experiences and I blog it out as a way to be able to grasp it. For example, when I got lost on a hike in the wild and had to be rescued.

However, this does not mean that all my powerful and impactful experiences have been blogged. Far from it. In fact, too many stories and insights on myriad matters remain unwritten and often unarticulated.

One of my most profound relationships in life is with the Dhyanalingam temple of Isha Yoga Center.

Sadhguru’s Lesser Known Counterpart

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev is very well known across the world and particularly in India and the US. Now, even if he is simply passing by in the ashram or even outside, people line up to watch, cheer and take blessings.

But there is another Guru, in the fullest sense of the word, in his ashram, who is often missed. It’s pretty crazy cause it has always been completely unmissable in my experience. This is the Dhyanalingam temple.

Dhyanalinga is like a living Guru. It is a live form. Only a physical body is absent, but as an energy body and in all other ways, it is like a living Guru.

The role of a Guru in a spiritual seeker’s life is not just about giving teachings and guidance. The most fundamental reason why a spiritual seeker seeks a Guru is because a Guru can ignite his energies into a different dimension. Otherwise, all spirituality will just be verbology. You go to a Guru not because you need teachings and guidance. All those things can be had from books. You go to a Guru because he can ignite you in a way that no book or no teaching can do. It is a live subjective process. That aspect of a Guru’s role is very well fulfilled by Dhyanalinga. Dhyanalinga can ignite one’s energies into a completely new dimension of vibrance and possibility. That is the most fundamental aspect of a spiritual dimension.

~ Sadhguru (source)

Today is the 21st consecration day anniversary of this temple. And despite being in Coimbatore I can’t even visit thanks to the COVID lockdown situation. Such is the Guru’s Grace. All good. All good. Flow of life. 😃

Silent temple. So silent.

Temples should naturally be silent, one would think, except for the times of offerings like aartis or poojas. But in India, they are hardly ever maintained so, especially if there are a lot of visitors.

Only when they are empty you may find the temple quiet and serene. Rest of the time – pandemonium.

Dhyanalingam is different. It is maintained SILENT. We can hear the soft pittar patter of each drop of water that falls on the lingam from the ceiling dome due to some natural condensation process.

And, of course, the temple is silent because a fairly large group of volunteers maintain the silence. There could easily be from 6 to 12 or so volunteers in the temple perpetually working in shifts. They keep urging people to sit in silence and experience the place. Minimum movements. Minimum sound.

Mobiles have to be deposited outside. Anklets, bangles and other elements which may cause a noise are taped or removed. Plus, the visitors are briefed about how to visit the temple – silently, sit, meditate for 15 minutes to imbibe the place.

I think it is the only such Silent Temple I have seen in India, so far, where large number of visitors come in daily. Maybe the ancient temples of Trimbakeshwar , Kedarnath Jyotirlinga compare to some extent.

There are other temples like the Auroville Golden temple that are super quiet and full of an ambiance. However, they have an elaborate process for the visitors. And a very limited number are allowed inside. So that’s a different matter.

Dhyanalingam on the other hand is a real charm.

This is a Meditation Space

In other temples where there are lot of visitors lined up, we hardly get a few minutes in the garbha griha. The caretakers will request, nudge, push us out in barely a few minutes. In Dhyanalingam it is the opposite.

Here the volunteers will request, nudge, push us to remain sitting and silent for at least 15 minutes to experience the temple. 😀 This is so even when there are lines outside.

This place is where my spiritual base has formed.

I often write about finding meditation spaces wherever I am travelling. And every visit to a temple, especially ancient / powerful temples must be accompanied with some meditation time. This is why.

Because, it is so deeply ingrained into me that temples are about meditation or devotion. Never about prayer or other foolish posturing in front of awesomeness. (long post on this here)

And the Dhyanalingam architecture is also made for meditation. There are little Buddhist style meditation alcoves in the temple dome surrounding the Lingam. Or we can simply sit on the floor of the temple.

And the walkway outside the inner sanctum has lovely meditation spots and little shrines and panels of South Indian yogis like Akka Mahadevi. (Akka Mahadevi the great yogi of the “Shiva let no food come towards me. If food does come into my hands, let it fall down in the mud before I put it into my mouth. If it falls in the mud, the fool that I am, before I pick it up, let a dog come and take it away” fame)

Outside the walkway, is the Nandi (one of the biggest in the world), amazing Linga Bhairavi devi temple, dipping kund, lotus pond and other conducive spots.

And a few kms away is the 112 ft tall Adiyogi – making this easily one of the most spectacular temple complexes in the world.

Dhyanalingam, Heart to Heart

There is much mention of “home” in the travel community. After travelling extensively and deeply, many of us can’t relate with our previous home towns (like Me & Mumbai). But the Dhyanalingam is a place where the meaning of “home” becomes meaningless.

It is because of what I consider as “me”.

With the Dhyanalingam, what I consider as “me” vanishes or transforms. So I am left wondering who I am?

So then thoughts of how am I, where’s my home and all such become secondary. Because all these questions make sense only when we have some clarity of ourself or “me”.

Me: This is “me”.

Dhyanalingam: Ooops, not anymore. 😂

Deciphering the experience as it is happening is probably not possible. That I am able to write this much in a fairly sensible manner is interesting.

Here’s the Dhyanalingam story which Isha Foundation put out recently,

More later.

Have you been to the Dhyanalingam? How was your experience?

And if you haven’t been, let me know if you are planning and need help visiting 🙂