Arrive at Mantraalaya mid-morning and settle into your simple, serene cottage overlooking the temple gardens; take a slow walk along the jasmine-lined path to the meditation pavilion to ground yourself after travel. Meet the retreat host and resident acharya in the Sun Room for a gentle orientation — a short introduction to the schedule, house guidelines, and a guided breathwork session to ease into the retreat rhythm.
After a light vegetarian lunch in the dining hall featuring seasonal kitchari and herbal chai, explore the temple complex with a short guided tour that includes the chant library and the herb courtyard where the resident healer grows sacred plants. Participate in an introductory chanting workshop in the Learning Hall, where you will learn basic mantras, hand mudras, and simple call-and-response singing to carry into the next day.
As dusk falls, gather at the riverside ghat for a reflective tea and quiet walking meditation along the water, watching lamps being lit on nearby boats. Conclude your first day with the communal evening aarti in the main prayer hall — an intimate, candlelit ceremony led by the acharya, followed by a brief sharing circle and a calming cup of warm spiced milk before retiring.
Rise with the sun for a gentle guided dhyana in the lotus-scented Meditation Pavilion overlooking the temple pond, deepening the breathwork introduced on arrival and opening the body with soft asana on woven mats. After a silent tea on the pavilion terrace, join the acharya in the Chanting Hall for an extended mantra practice — call-and-response kirtan and melodic tuning that builds on yesterday’s workshop and helps integrate the morning’s stillness.
Share a simple, nourishing vegetarian lunch in the Sun Room, then visit the chant library for a short, intimate study of mantra meanings and the history of each hymn you’ve learned, with time to practice harmonies in small groups in the Learning Hall. Before departure, receive a brief one-on-one blessing or practical guidance from the resident healer in the herb courtyard, where you can collect a small sachet of calming herbs to take home.
Conclude the retreat back at the riverside ghat for a final short walking meditation and offering of gratitude as lamps drift on the water, followed by a closing circle in the main prayer hall where participants share reflections and the acharya offers parting chants. Depart after a warm cup of spiced milk and light refreshments, carrying a printed practice guide and a seed mantra to continue your practice beyond Mantraalaya.