SOLD OUT - JOIN US FOR OUR
NEXT INDIA RETREAT IN 2025
Join us in India for a Once in a Lifetime Retreat on the Mahavidyas
The 10 Wisdom Goddesses - at Kamakhya Temple, Assam
△ Register by October 1st, 2023 △
When: February 22nd - March 3rd, 2024 (leave UK/USA February 21st - return March 4th)
Where: Meet in Delhi - travel to Kamakhya Temple, Assam and Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) and and return to Delhi together
What Makes this Retreat Special?
The Mahavidyas, or Great Wisdom Goddesses, are a sacred emanation of the Shiva/Shakti energy. Shakti is the divine feminine who, as legend has it, created ten forms of herself to prevent Shiva from escaping her passionate frenzy! These ten forms represent our totality, the many aspects of ourselves, and each has a purpose and an energy to unlock. When we work with them, we release the ten main obstacles each of us has that’s preventing us from living our truest expression of heaven on earth.
A powerful form of holistic healing, the Mahavidyas specifically address issues you might be having on the psycho-emotional/spiritual level. When healing happens at this subtle level you will see quantum shifts in your everyday world.
During this 10-day retreat we will:
Learn about the psychological and spiritual benefits imparted by each Mahavidya Goddess
Spend time in practice and silence at each Mahavidya Temple/Shrine
Study, color (and/or draw) the Ten Mahavidya Yantras
Learn to chant the Ten Mahavidya Mantras
Partake in fire ceremonies with the Mahavidya Mantras and offerings.
Go deep into the inquiry meditations of the Mahavidyas
Enjoy stories of the Mahavidyas and the Saints who worshiped them
Do Yoga and Meditation that is aligned with the Mahavidyas
△ Scroll down for the full itinerary and sample schedule △
Why the Kamakhya Temple, Assam?
Kamakhya herself is one of the Mahavidyas. She is Shodashi, also known as Tripura Sundari. It is said that during the frenzy mentioned above, one form of Shakti dissolved into 51 pieces, all landing in different locations around India. Her YONI, the sacred genital center and source of universal energy, landed at Kamakhya! And so we have it - the Yoni, the Shakti creative force, in its most powerful form, resides at Kamakhya in Assam. The hills of Kamakhya are Shiva and the many goddess forms within the Temple grounds are Shakti. The very holiest part of the Kamakhya Temple hosts Shodashi (Kamakhya), Matangi and Kamla, three of the Mahavidya Goddesses. The other seven Mahavidyas are located within a 2km radius of this spot.
After your Mahavidya Initiation you will spend three nights in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) to soak up some more Kali magic at her power centers here: Kalighat and Dakshineswar. The option to return to Delhi or venture on to spend more time in India from Kolkata is yours.
△ Register by October 1st, 2023 △
Single Occupancy = $6,700 - (6 available)
Double Occupancy △ 2 Beds Per Room = $4,800 (4 available) - SOLD OUT
Shared Room △ In Delhi and Calcutta △ Single Occupancy in Kamakhya = $5,500 (8 available)
△ All payments are non refundable after October 1, 2023 △
Payment Schedule
$500 deposit is due by May 1st to hold your spot
50% of the remaining total for the accommodation option you choose is due by August. 1 2023
The final balance is due by October 1st, 2023
If you register after August 1st, 2023 you will only be required to make one payment.
△ Please email sarah@sarahyantra.com if you have any questions. △
*A note from Sarah: A portion of your payment will go towards supporting the teachers in India. Rather than give to charities that I have no connection with, I have chosen to include and work with Seema Johari, the daughter of my teacher Harish Johari, and Venu Syama, the close student of Sri Amritananda, my Sri teacher. These women are a force! We are fortunate to have their darshan (presence and blessings) and I am happy to be able to give back to their families.
Registration: The retreat will host 12-16 participants from all over the globe so it will fill up fast. Upon registration you will be asked to complete a waiver as well as provide your passport information so that we can book domestic flights; your passport must be valid for six months past the date of this retreat. We will also request an I.C.E. of your close friends or relatives and proof of travel insurance for the duration of the retreat. You will also need an Indian Tourist Visa unless you are currently living in India.
What is included in your fee:
Course tuition
All accommodation (see selections below)
All travel within India during the retreat
All meals and (and yummy chai!)
Paper to draw on/and/or/Yantra Outlines To Color
Welcome package
What is not included:
Travel insurance (required)
Flight to India
Individual sessions with Amma (by donation)
Personal laundry at the hotels
All other treatments/massages, shopping, etc.
Pens and coloring materials
Yoga mat/Temple flower offerings
△ All payments are non refundable after October 1, 2023 △
Itinerary
Feb 21st: Leave USA/Europe/Wherever you are.
Feb. 22nd: Arrive in Delhi — We’ll spend one night in Delhi and one day to prepare for the retreat. Yoga, clothes shopping, and adapting to India will be on the agenda.
Feb. 23rd: Fly to Guwahati, Assam. Head to Kamakhya for six nights at the Sree Moyee Hotel.
Feb. 29th: Fly to Kolkata: Spend two full days exploring the Kali Temples and enjoy some last-minute shopping.
March 3rd: Fly to Delhi to fly back home or travel on to your next destination.
Sample Daily Schedule*
Sample Daily Schedule*
7am: chai/tea/coffee and fruits
8am: Morning yoga, teachings and Mantra
10am: Temple/shrine visits with Mantra* (this will differ in Kolkata)
12:30pm: Lunch
1:30pm: Personal time
3-5pm Yantra Coloring and Devadoodles™ for each of the Mahavidyas
6pm: Dinner
7:30pm: Inquiry meditations and group discussion
9pm: Sleep
*Please note* - the daily schedule will vary slightly in each location. And, it’s India where magical things can happen at any time so we kindly ask for your flexibility and patience in advance.
Additional Logistical Notes & Tips
The two main destinations of this retreat maintain ancient traditions and one of those is animal sacrifice. It will not be the focus of our attention but if you are sensitive to this subject, this retreat might not be for you.
Wonderful material to prepare you for this retreat is Tools For Tantra by Harish Johari.
There will be 1-2 Zoom sessions to meet as a group before the retreat and familiarize ourselves with some of the practices and mantras.
Our first night is in Delhi, you are welcome to meet up with the group at the hotel or we can arrange to meet you at the airport.
When Amma is visiting there will be additional fire ceremonies and rituals during the day.
You are welcome to complete your retreat in Kolkata and spend more days there or travel on in India. Seema can help you arrange further travel plans. You are also welcome to return to your home after Kamakhya if your schedule does not allow time to visit Kolkata.
About Your Teachers
Sarah Tomlinson
Author, artist, mother and yogini, is your course teacher. Sarah has been intimately involved with the Mahavidya Goddesses ever since her initiation into Yantra Painting with Harish Johari in the ‘90’s. See more about Sarah HERE. After spending time at Kamakhya Temple in Devipuram with Sri Amritananda and receiving the Mahavidya Bija Mantras, many years later, Sarah sought out the only other major Kamakhya Temple in India: in Assam. Here along with Amma Venu Syama she spent time in spiritual practice and tutelage and expanded the breadth of her Mahavidya Yantra and Mantra knowledge. This is such a unique experience; being in this location AND learning about the Mahavidyas, that Sarah felt compelled to bring you the teachings in the form of this course. Sarah and Seema have led countless Yantra and Yoga retreats all over India in the past two decades.
Amanda Ahern
(a.k.a. Daya Ma), author of “The Way Of The Goddess” and creator of the Deva Doodles™. Amanda is a longtime devotee, practitioner and teacher of yogic and tantric traditional healing arts. In October 2021 Sarah and Amanda traveled to India together to map out this retreat for you. Amanda has led many retreats with Seema Johari in India and worldwide.
Amma
Amma will be leading group healing sessions. Amma, Venu Syama is a pioneer in the work of Sri Vidya, following our teacher Sri Amritananda’s footsteps and making the teachings accessible to all. Amma will be with us for three whole days at Kamakhya leading fire ceremonies and Mahavidya Rituals. Amma will also teach us about and guide us through the Kalavahana (light healing ceremony - akin to a self-reiki session) each day.
Seema Johari
is our main host and guide. Seema is the eldest daughter of my teacher Sri Harish Johari. Infused with wisdom, kindness and great organizational skills. Seema seamlessly takes care of your every need while on retreat, allowing you to feel comfortable and tended to, from the extremely practical to the highly spiritual aspects of our time there. Seema will be with us throughout the journey
Sarah and/or Amanda will be teaching the Yoga, Yantra, Creative Expression and Meditation sections of the course.
△ Please email sarah@sarahyantra.com if you have any questions. △
Upon registration you will be asked to complete a waiver declaring your personal responsibility on this retreat. Your passport information so that we can book domestic flights; your passport must be valid for six months past the date of this retreat. We request an I.C.E. of your close friends or relatives and proof of travel insurance for the duration of the retreat. You will also require an Indian Tourist Visa unless you are living in India currently.