ISHA YOGA
Relevance: Project with reference to scale. In reference with spatial planning in site level as well as within the building. Introduction: Isha Foundation, founded by Sadhguru, is a volunteer-run, international nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating human potential. The Foundation is a human service organization that recognizes the possibility of each person to empower another restoring global community through inspiration and individual transformation. Details: Set amidst the dense forests at the foothills of the Velliangiri Mountains, is the Dhyanalinga Yogic Temple, the first of its kind to be completed in over 2000 years. Created by a profound mystic and yogi, it embodies the distilled essence of yogic science. This powerful meditative space does not ascribe to any particular faith or belief system nor does it require any ritual, prayer, or worship. "Just sitting silently for a few minutes within the sphere of Dhyanalinga is enough to make even those unaware of meditation experience a state of deep meditativeness" - Sadhguru Isha Foundation, a vibrant spiritual moment also implements several large-scale human service projects to support individual growth, revitalize the human spirit, rebuild communities, and restore the environment. These include:
Action for Rural Rejuvenation Project Green Hands Isha Vidhya
Location: Velliangiri foothills, Semmedu (P.O.), Coimbatore - 641 114, India. Access Road: Poondi Main Road. Area: 25 acres Guests: 30% Foreigners Daily Basis capacity: 2500 people Focus: Concentration and human well-being. Maximum number of floors: G +3 floors (Home school – G +4 floors) Façade: Stone, Exposed brick work and plastered brick walls. Form:
The common areas are in the form of cubes and cuboids. Main block (office, conference hall and theerthakund) - rectangular base with barrel roof. Dhyana linga complex – spherical base with a dome.
Materials: Materials used are brick, stone, mud and granite. Iron is used for detailing. Stone and redox are mainly used for flooring. Statistics: Dhyana Linga complex – 400 people Spanda hall – 5000 people Volunteers on duty – 100 Dormitory capacity – 100 Visitor’s accommodation – 150 Open ground can hold 4 lakh people during festival Spatial planning: Planned according to the accessibility of the people. Zoned into private and public spaces. Public spaces include: Dhyana Linga complex, Linga Bhairavi Temple, Theerthakund, nandi, canteen and shops.
Private spaces include: Residential school, meditation halls, spa, library and resource centre. Rejuvenation centre is located near the in house residential block. Except the meditation halls the rest of the spaces are well landscaped. Dhyanalinga complex:
Before one enters the main area, one finds the Sarva Dharma Sthambha. Symbols of major religions of the world are inscribed on three sides of this Sthambha forming an appropriate sign of welcome for all, beyond religious divide.
There are these unusually large steps in the entrance which would be a trouble for older people but there is a specific purpose behind it as it is with all the things there. Even the smallest of thing there is the way it is because there is a purpose behind it. The unusual height of the steps forces the visitor to press the sole of his feet on the pebbled surface of these steps, which in turn activate certain nerve centres in the body - a preparation of the system to make it more receptive to the energies of the Dhyanalinga.
And as you go further, you will come across the monolithic Trimurthy Panel depicting the three fundamental states of human growth known as tamas, rajas, and satva, symbolized by three glorious aspects of Shiva: Hara, Rudra, and Sadashiva. It is basically 3 faces with some difference in all of Shiva.
The Theerthakund, with its powerfully consecrated Rasalinga (mercury linga), is yet another splendid preparatory tool that reactivates dormant life forces and directs them towards the Divine. This energy-soaked water body embedded 35 ft. in the earth, is framed by gigantic granite stones and vaulted by a colorful traditional mural depicting the Maha Kumbh Mela. A bath in its vibrant waters greatly enhances spiritual receptivity while having an uplifting effect on one's physical and mental well-being.
As one enters the parikrama, on the left is the statue of Pathanjali, the celebrated author of Yoga Sutras, regarded as the father of yogic sciences. The eleven-foot tall statue is deliberately placed in a sunken shrine, thus establishing an immediate relationship between the colossal identity of Pathanjali and the dwarfed viewer at the same level. The statue sculpted in black granite depicts a fusion of snake and man, symbolizing the dual nature of life. It also symbolizes the divine nature of man evolving from his earthbound nature. Hence, the sunken shrine depicts the snake below the earth and the man above it. The snake covering the head of the statue with its hood represents the raising of energies through the seven chakras, thus reflecting the objective of yoga.
On the right is the Vanashree shrine, the feminine deity of the Dhyanalinga temple and a counterpoint to the Pathanjali shrine. In contrast to Pathanjali's sunken base, the Vanashree shrine is placed at a higher level than the pathway. The Vanashree, made of green granite, is a sculptural relief of a peepal tree. A gold leaf at the center symbolizes warmth and prosperity. The energies of the deity are such that it is especially beneficial for women and children to meditate in the vicinity of the shrine. Six artistically sculptured granite panels cover the aisles, illustrating the stories of six South Indian sages who attained enlightenment. Each panel captures a moment in these extraordinary lives. On the threshold are six images of meditative postures each carved into a triangular form, which indicate the Siddhi State of six spiritual chakras.
The form of a yogi prostrating before the Dhyanalinga suggests the sense of surrender that is required to enter the Dhyanalinga space. The parikrama ends at a vaulted tunnel that leads to the dome of the Dhyanalinga. Carved on the threshold of the entrance are two snakes with a single raised hood, indicating the non-dual nature of the Dhyanalinga. Over the vault is a seven-hooded monolithic snake, symbolizing the seven dimensions of life reaching the peak of consciousness. The earth colors, the natural granite, irregular surfaces and the shapes that form the Dhyanalinga temple create a very earthy and ethereal ambience, blending with the surroundings and intensifying all elements of nature; a smooth prelusion to the warmth and womb-like feel of the Dhyanalinga Dome.
The Dhyana Linga has a capacity of 400 people. It has a dome of 76’ in diameter and 33’ high, area – 2268 sq. ft. it was made with brick and mud mortar sublimized with lime, sand, alum and herbal additives. It has 28 energy cubicles, called the aura cells. They ate embedded in the inner wall. Each aura cell is 4’ x 4’ and provides intimate space for a person to sit and meditate facing the Dhyana Linga. The elliptical dome that houses the Dhyanalinga is an engineering marvel of 76 feet in diameter and 33 feet high.
It was built without the use of any steel, cement, or concrete but with brick and mud mortar stabilized with lime, sand, alum and herbal additives. It's the only structure of its kind. The simple technology used is this -- all the bricks are trying to fall down at the same time. But, the way the bricks are aligned and balanced, they can never fall. The nature of this design ensures a lifespan of at least 5000 years for the dome.
It was Sadhguru's wish that all the visitors to the temple be allowed directly into the garbhagriha or the sanctum sanctorum. As a result, the garbhagriha had to have a very large free spanning structure. Conventional buildings built of cement, steel and concrete were ruled out, as the life span of such structures is not expected to be beyond a hundred years. Eventually, it was decided to build a dome using only traditional materials like burnt bricks, mud mortar stabilized with lime, sand, alum and some herbal additives. Huge blocks of granite were extensively used, eliminating steel and concrete.
The Dhyanalinga towers up to a height of 13 feet, 9 inches. It rises out of the seven-coiled receptacle, the avudaiyar. Surrounding the Linga is the jalaseema, a water body that has a cooling effect on the Linga and gives the impression that the Dhyanalinga is floating on water. The Dhyanalinga is made up of a single high-density black granite stone and the Avudaiyar is made of white granite whose density is 30% less than that of the Linga. Both the Linga and the avudaiyar are energized with the qualities of the seven chakras; hence the Linga has seven copper rings and the Avudaiyar is in the form of a seven-coiled snake. The Dhyanalinga is kept constantly wet to enable the meditator to easily receive the energies emanating from it. Water drips onto it from a hemispheric copper dome coated with gold, which is suspended above the Linga. The resonating sound of water dropping over the Linga, the shimmering reflections of the oil lamps on the golden dome, the subdued interiors, and the all-pervasive silence makes the entire structure ethereal.
Height: Dhyana Linga Complex - 33’ high dome Office block – 25’ to 30’ high barrel vault (G +1 floors) Interiors:
Massive volumes are used to attain more concentration in the meditation halls. Most of the spaces are lit artificially. There is very few furniture used. Most of the furniture used is wooden benches. Earthy colours are used to an ambience closer to nature. Spaces are not well designed with respect to acoustics. In case of sound there is echo within the space.
Features:
High ceilings Earthy materials. Enclosed spaces
Small openings Snakes are carved out in most of the spaces. Water dripping from the central opening of the dome.
Views: Velliangiri hills. Services:
Water supply is provided from ground water as well corporation water (siruvani). Full power back-up generator is available. Separate sewage treatment plant is provided.
Inference:
In spite of being located near a village, pedestrian access to the site is difficult due to wildlife crossing and terrible road conditions. No special design consideration for kids, elderly and physically challenged people. Acoustical properties are not well considered. Most of the spaces are lit with artificial lighting even during the day time. Very few openings are given and the daylight obtained is also not well utilised. Geographical location is an additional merit for a pleasing climate. Air conditioning is not used in any part of the building. Provides a disciplined atmosphere. Importance given to concentration is obtained by enclosed spaces.
