Haven for the spiritually inclined

On the outskirts of Coimbatore, near the hills of Velliangiri, at the Isha Yoga Centre, is Dhyanalingam. T. K. GANAPATHY writes about the power and potential of the place.The Lingam... special in many ways.

AS HE wends his way along the Perur-Siruvani road stretch on a beauteous evening the curious traveller suddenly finds himself in a panoramic world of Mother Nature. The Kovai Kutralam springs at a distance are surrounded by silence. Now, the serpentine road ahead stretches far, flanked by lush green fields on either side.

Any one in such a serene and blessed atmosphere is filled with sublime thoughts, and for a moment forgets the heavy and weary weight of this unintelligible world. Reviving himself with pleasing thoughts of a saner life for future years, he continues his walk and finds himself at the foothills of Velliangiri. A road sign - Reserved Forest Area - Dhyanalingam 1.5 km., greets him. The route is now filled with protruding cobblestones that lead to Dhyanalingam.

Situated against the backdrop of Velliangiri mountain known as Dakshin Kailash, the Isha Yoga Centre founded by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev houses Dhyanalingam, on the outskirts of the cotton city of Coimbatore. It is a source of inspiration for the spiritually inclined seekers.

Many schools of yoga have emerged these days. Today there are many who believe in the therapeutic effect and value of yoga in all spheres of life. It is said that the Dhyanalingam is a reservoir of energies emanating from people who have gone into deep meditation. The shape of the lingam is said to be the distilled essence of yogic sciences. Once fully consecrated, it would radiate potential positive energies thus making even the uninitiated experience the sublime. The difference between the Dhynalingam and other lingams used in rituals and pujas is that while the othes are used for self-purification, the former, according to scriptures, can happen only through a grihastha yogi. An intense process of prana pratishta has gone into it. Earlier attempts to create Dhyanalingam did not materialise for want of the right situation to grow in meditation.

At the entrance to the huge form of Linga and Avudayar, is a Sarvadharmasthambha 14 ft. high, with the symbols of all religions inscribed on it to denote universal brotherhood. A blazing sun's face on its crest indicates the advent of a new dawn.

The entrance to the main mandapam has an artistically carved lotus indicating the flowering of consciousness in man.

In the open corridor, the shrine of Patanjali (author of Yogasutras), a three-dimensional 11 ft. tall deity seen in a combination of man and snake symbolising the transcendence of all duality, is an epitome of architectural excellence. The shrines of Kannappa Nayanar, Akka Mahadevi shedding her clothes and moving into bodilessness, Poosalar, Meiporul Nayanar carved as a staunch Saivite, Sadhyaguru Parabrahma bestowing grace on a sadhak (the birth of Isha) and the bodiless yogi, Sadashiva Brahmendra, cast a spell on the onlooker.

At the end of the corridor, is the entrance to a 14 ft. long tunnel with a seven hooded monolith structure at its top, symbolising the seven dimensions of life. A unique brick dome covering Dhyanalingam, 76 ft. in diameter and raised without concrete or steel for the first time, compels admiration.

The main shrine of Dhyanalingam, 13 ft. 9 inches tall, with the Avudayar facing the worshipper, is energised with the qualities of seven chakras.

The lingam has seven copper rings and the Avudayar is in the form of a snake coiled in seven rings. Both are made of granite, though the density of Avudayar is 30 per cent lesser than that of the lingam. Eternal vibration can be felt and experienced by the sadhak in the precincts surrounded by lush greenery.

A Jalaseema around the lingam serves as a coolant for the intense energy of Dhyanalingam. Twenty eight energy cubicles measuring 3' x 4' x 4' called Aura cells, help bring about spiritual evolution, health and well-being.

The visitor is awe-struck by the gigantic structure whose basic nature is its immense divine energy expressed through the seven chakras.

Visitors are allowed to sit in meditation at the shrine for any length of time and bask in spiritual warmth.

A unique feature of the shrine is that the sadhak does not bring any offerings here; he simply sits in meditation with extended palms to receive spiritual vibration.

The lingam, it is said, radiates different qualities on each of the seven days of the week, for the betterment of the aspirant.

The multi-religious temple complex is open to the public since September 3, 2001, when it celebrated the annual festival.

Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev, the brain behind the whole project is the proponent of sahaja sthithi yoga aimed at the improvement of the creative potential, efficiency, relationship and level of self- fulfilment of an individual. Pranayama and Shonya meditation exercises are imparted to enable one to become aware of the dimensions of human consciousness.

Townbusesply between Gandhipuram and Velliangiri hills. Alighting at Thanneerpandal bus stop near Semmedu, one has to walk through the Reserved Forest area for about a kilometre to reach Dhyanlingam. Private vehicles can reach up to the shrine.

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