Devī Māhātmya image: National Museum, Delhi, India

“From Tradition to Modern Embodiment"

Join preeminent Śākta scholar-practitioner Madhu Khanna of the Tantra Foundation in India and Stephanie Renee dos Santos of Ashram of Arts to explore one-of-the-most important Śākta texts, the Devī Māhātmya and sacred art inspired by it.

This sixth century text has been an inspirational source for an instructive artistic body of work and sādhana from ancient times to the present day. It is the earliest example of a written manuscript which attributes and describes the power and reverence and worship of the Divine as feminine.

We'll study and practice daily with the text and images inspired by it, as both are portals to a more refined understanding of ourselves and existence and a gateway to Unity Consciousness. Both welcoming us to deeply inquire within and assisting us to release and transform limitation, opening us more-and-more to our innate wholeness. 

This immersive retreat will assist you in gaining more self-understanding and provide practices to decode and unravel your inner world while in India, and to continue to do so when back home. 

You'll receive a manual outlining different ways to work with the text and teachings. Key passages will be highlighted to work with everyday life situations such as physical illness, protection, grief, anger, and feelings of too much and too little, and other common day-to-day challenges we all encounter.

There is a natural synergy between sacred art and ancient texts. They compliment and support each other. Throughout history they've endlessly inspired and influenced the other, ultimately they are One.

During our time together at the Tantra Foundation we'll explore different aspects of Devī Śāktī (goddess energy/power) through sacred art, yantra (geometric diagram for meditation) and mantra (sacred sounds), guided meditation, pranayama (breathwork), mudra (hand seals), mythology, symbolism, bhakti (devotion), along with asana inspired by the goddesses within the text.

Join us in the outskirts Dehli amongst farm estates at the Tantra Foundation in India. Where throughout the days we'll visit ancient temples and art collections and contemporary art galleries and practice and study daily. 

In addition, we'll experience live local dance and commune with Bhakta poetry recitations of famous female Bhakti poets. To experience firsthand the "bhava", the  “ecstasy" or “emotion" of these revelatory art forms.

You'll learn :

- Introduction and orientation to Devī, the Supreme Goddess and Her forms 

- What is the text the Devī Māhātmya (DM) and what it has to teach and open us up to 

- How the textual wisdom can be utilized for everyday practical life situations

- The plants associated with this text and their use and meaning 

- Different ways to practice with the text at home and during Navarātri

- Iconography of the DM and the meaning and use to our everyday life 

- The 9 rasas of Indian art in relation to color and emotion within the DM - Instructive slokas (passages)and dhyanas (meditations) and mantra of the DM 

- Transformative mudras and yantra 

- Four key foundational nondual Tantric meditations to work with transforming what the studies of this text churns up and culls forth from the inner landscape

- Asanas to assist in moving energy and integrate all practices

These studies and practices can: 

- Heal disparity parts of Self, transform and activate inner power 

- Foster clarity  

- Balance and awaken inner energy 

- Distill deep understanding of the working of Pure Consciousness 

- Reveal pathways to the Heart of Reality 

- Shift feelings of physical and mental limitation to the feeling of energy, balance, expansion and equanimity  

- Develop and cultivate self-worth, self-confidence and empowerment in various areas of life

- Provide tools to meet everyday challenges with more ease and grace

The Devī Māhātmya is also one of the main texts of Navarātri, the largest and longest ongoing festival to Devī (Goddess), which occurs four times a year, the spring and fall being the most celebrated. 

This retreat will prepare you for Navarātri. You will have time to familiarize yourself deeply in this text to prepare for spring Navarātri. You'll learn how to practice and partake in this celebration. 

Participating in this 10-day immersion will equip you to get the most out of Navarātri, a time of focused and dedicated sādhanā, defined as "the means for realizing".  These practices and studies will enrich, empower and inform your experience of Navarātri. 

Madhu Khanna is the Founder of the Tantra Foundation in India. She is a world-renowned scholar of Tantric Studies, curator of Tantra Art and author of ten books. She has written luminous and well-known titles Yantra, Tantric Symbols of Cosmic Unity, The Tantric Way which has been translated into five languages and 20 published editions. Recent publications include, Tantra on the Edge: Inspirations & Experiment in Twentieth Century Indian Art, Studies on Tantra in Bengal and Eastern India, and the Saktapramodah: Of Deva Nandan Singh.

She's an expert on Tantra Art, contemporary and ancient. As the Tangor National Fellow at the National Museum in Delhi, she's been a part of and helped curate an exhibit for the British Museum, "Tantra: Enlightenment to Revolution", and  "Tantra on the Edge" in India. 

She's the founder of the CIASA educational program in collaboration with the government of India, called the Center of Indic and Agamic Studies in Asia. Also, she heads up philanthropic projects "Shri Kunja," a rural children library program and a rural center for eco-heritage and green consciousness in Bengal. www.shrikunja.org 

In addition, she's founder of The Tantra Foundation Library, located on the outskirts of Delhi in India, hosting yearly, an in person "Distinguished Lecture." www.tantralibrary.com 

Stephanie Renee dos Santos guides people on the inner path through nondual Tantric Shaivism. She assists practitioners to unravel the inner world and discover for themselves the Heart of Reality. She’s known as an inspiring, loving, creative and compassionate teacher with the Hindu goddess Bhuvaneshwari-like quality to create sacred healing, creative-expressive and meditative spaces. She's been given permission to share these teachings by meditation master, the late Sally Kempton rooted in the lineage of Siddha Gurus. She holds a B.A in Studio Arts from Whitman College and is an active artist and writer. Painting meditation visions for educational and meditative support. 

She's contributed spiritual writing to literary journal Lalitamba and Yoga Magazine. She's co-author of the forthcoming spiritual memoir When She Wakes: Women's Stories of Kundalini Awakening. Women's firsthand accounts of this divine grace. 

Stephanie guides meditation, backpacking pilgrimages throughout the mountains of the world and is the creative of Ashram of Arts. www.mountainshakti.com

- It's recommended that you have some sort of yoga and/or meditation basic foundation to attend this immersion. Because we will be going deep into this text and committed sādhanā  and some sort of yoga/meditation base is helpful. 

- A deposit of $500 is required to sign up.  $300 of this is non-refundable, if for whatever reason you are unable to attend at any point. 

- Payment in full must be made by September 10, 2024. There are no refunds 60 days prior to the start date of the retreat. Alternatively, you can option for a "Raincheck" for the same retreat when it's offered again. 

- The only exception to refunds is if India closes its borders due to COVID. If this happens 30 days before the retreat, you can receive a 70% refund or a full "Raincheck" to participate the next time it's offered. After the 30 days, no refunds will be made, even if your country changes its Covid restrictions, so please obtain the appropriate travel insurance coverage. 

- It is strongly encouraged that you obtain travel and health insurance for this retreat. 

- The Waiver of Liability must be signed prior to arrival in India. 

* By signing up, you are agreeing to all of these terms.  

Seasonal information

November temperatures on average are in the 70's to low 80's.

Weather information

Everywhere we are going in general is on the dry side.

Responsible travel

Patience and lightheartedness are two excellent qualities for visiting India. This is a deep journey of listening to the heart and one of compassion, offering a smile and kind words is always welcome to whomever you meet. 

Electricity and outlets

220 volts we recommend to bring adapters (one or two)

*despite that where we are staying your room will have outlets that accommodates your devices

How to get there (flights, airport transfers, buses, trains)

All travel information will be sent to you once you've registered for the retreat. But please feel free to contact us with questions prior to departure or while in travel should you need clarification or assistance.

Visa stuff

You will need an E-Visa for India. Details on how to get this will be sent to you once you've registered. 

What to bring

All list of recommended items to bring on this journey will be sent to you upon registration. 

Vaccinations requirements

Please check your country of origin to see what vaccinations are required for your nationality before arriving in India. 

Travel insurance 

Travel insurance is encouraged for this journey. It can be purchased along with your plane ticket, or another provider or here at WeTravel. 

What will our daily schedule be like? There will be morning asana with breathwork and meditation at the hotel we are staying at, followed by breakfast then a 10-minute walk to the Tantra Foundation center where Madhu Khanna will give talks and lead meditation practices derived from the text. 

In the afternoons, there will be a break and then practices and excursions throughout the greater Delhi area where we'll visit and engage with art collections and sacred sites relevant to our studies and practice. There will be time at the end of the day to join together as a group for exchange and daily integration. 

Where will we be staying? Everyone will stay at accommodations within a 10-minute walk from the Tantra Foundation. It is a location with a nice green area to stretch out, breath and reflect when we are not at the Tantra Foundation or other sacred sites.