2010 South Indian Odyssey

Our 15-day spiritual adventure took the group through the heart of South India. Follow their adventures through the photo galleries, YouTube videos and blog postings below.

Photo Gallery of our entire journey

Day 1: Mamallapuram

Day 2: Mamallapuram

Day 3: Mamallapuram to Chidambaram

Day 4: Chidambaram to Swamimalai

Day 5: Swamimalai

Videos from our Spiritual Adventure

Off to India
Chennai & Mamallapuram
Heading off to Chennai, India a few days before the 2010 South Indian Odyssey begins with friend, Mike. Exploring Mamallapuram on foot and on a motorbike. Play

Visiting a Priests Home
Chidambaram
We visit Sri Kailasa Sankara Deekshithar's home for dinner and spend time with him and his lovely family. Deekshithar is one of the priests of the Chidambaram temple. In this video we enjoy a delicious meal prepared by his wife, meet their vegetarian dog and Deekshithar teaches Mike how to tie a veshti. Play

Clay Pot Making
Swamimalai
Clay pot making in Swamimalai, South India. Play

My Vedic Odyssey Experience
Swamimalai
Elaine from Scotland and Mike from Colorado share their experience of this spiritual adventure. Play

Scrubbing an Elephant
Periyar, Kerala
Some members of the group go on an elephant ride then proceed to give the elephant a bath. The elephant returns the favour by spraying everyone down with water from her trunk. Play

Casting a Metal Statue
Swamimalai
Suri Narayanan shares and demonstrates to the participants of the 2010 South Indian Odyssey about the traditional process of casting a metal statue. Suri lives in Swamimalai, South India and creates amazing metal statues for temples and homes. Play

Beautiful Swamimalai
Swamimalai
One of the days on Vedic Odyssey's 2010 South Indian Odyssey, we spent a beautiful morning in Swamimalai. First a bullock cart ride through a village, then followed by a coconut tree climbing and coco picking demo. We enjoyed drinking fresh coconut water as well! Then a deer at the beautiful Anandham Swamimalai Resort steals some bananas. Plus visiting a local sari weaver. Play

Exploring the Backwaters
Kumarakom, Kerala
During a couple of the days on Vedic Odyssey's 2010 South Indian Odyssey the group explored the backwaters of Kumarakom, Kerala, on houseboat and also on motor boat. The journey took us on Lake Vembanad and along the canals of the beautiful backwaters. Play

South Indian Spiritual Adventure
Tamil Nadu and Kerala
A video showing all the places we will visit on Vedic Odyssey's 2-week spiritual adventure through South India visiting ancient temples, monasteries, excursions and daily classes on Hinduism, yoga and meditation. Play

Blog Postings (by Dandapani and participants)

The End…and many new beginnings by Mike Gehard
24 February 2010
As I said earlier, I knew that this wasn’t going to be a typical “vacation” but little did I know that I’d end up laughing, crying, loving, being challenged, meditating, chanting... Read more

Swamimalai by Tatiana
28 January 2010
As we sat on the floor it was like looking back into time because the worship we witnessed was performed in the same manner as it has been for thousands of years... Read more

An Amazing Day in Swamimalai by Dandapani
28 January 2010
After this we attended a similar ceremony in the temple right next to it that was dedicated to Goddess Abhirami, the Supreme Being in the feminine aspect... Read more

Days 3 & 4 by Tatiana
26 January 2010
He led us into the sanctum and chanted some blessings on our behalf and the energy of the place was so strong that many of the people who were near the sanctum began to weep... Read more

Lessons from India by Mike Gehard
28 January 2010
This little experiment could be considered a form of tapas and while not as extreme as some forms of tapas it will still be a great undertaking for me.... Read more

Off to India by Dandapani
23 January 2010
India lives in the eternity of the moment and planning months ahead is not often part of the lifestyle. Things get done when.... Read more