November 3 - 12 | Tamil Nadu, IndiaSouth India Rounding Immersion
A 10-day immersion for Vedic meditators ready to deepen practice, soften into devotion, and experience India in the company of sincere community. Daily Vedic rounding, sacred temple life, pũja with Sri Shakti Amma, sevā, rest, and the luminous celebrations of Diwali.
When practice comes alive.
There are some places where the Vedic tradition isn't simply studied- it comes alive and transforms you from the inside out.
India has a way of drawing you out of the familiar and into something older, richer and deeply alive. The scent of incense drifting through the morning air. Temple bells echoing at sunrise and sunset. Ancient ceremony woven effortlessly into everyday life. Colour, devotion and beauty around every corner. It's difficult to explain until you've experienced it for yourself.
For ten days, we'll immerse ourselves in the living rhythm of Sri Narayani Peedam in South India, where meditation, devotion, service and community naturally unfold together. Our days will be shaped by daily Vedic rounding, sacred ceremony, sevā, quiet moments of integration, and the rare privilege of celebrating Deepavali, a most auspicious time to be in India.
This is more than a journey to India. It's an opportunity to immerse yourself in a living Vedic tradition- to place yourself inside a field of sustained practice where meditation, devotion and service work together in ways that can be quietly profound, deeply humbling, and genuinely transformative.
What awaits you in India.
This immersion isn't defined by a single experience, but by the rhythm created when these practices come together. Day by day, the accumulated momentum of meditation, devotion, sevā and community creates a field in which profound shifts can quietly unfold.
Each day centres around an extended Vedic rounding practice, creating the conditions for deep rest, refinement of the nervous system, and the accumulated momentum that only comes through sustained practice.
✺ Deep daily practiceImmerse yourself in the daily rhythm of Sri Narayani Peedam through pūja, sacred ceremony, sevā, and time in the presence of Sri Shakti Amma. This is Vedic tradition not as history, but as a living way of life.
✺ Living Vedic TraditionDeepavali is one of the most auspicious times in the Vedic calendar - a celebration of light, abundance and the triumph of dharma. We'll be immersed in the sacred observances of Peedam, joining pūja, yajña and community celebration as this powerful time unfolds.
✺ Deepavali in IndiaJourney alongside fellow Vedic meditators who share a sincere commitment to practice. There is something uniquely supportive about deepening together, learning from one another and sharing the experience.
✺ Shared Journey
Deepavali at Peedam - we will help create the Shri Chakra Yantra, made up of 10,008 ghee lamps.
The Golden Temple at the heart of Sri Puram to remind us of the golden heart of everyone. "A temple as the place that will collect energy from nature and from chanting. This energy brings peace and wisdom. It creates strength and energy. A place that can do all this is a known as a temple."
Sri Shakti Amma
On retreatThe Daily Rhythm
No two days at Sri Narayani Peedam are ever quite the same. While we'll hold a steady rhythm of practice throughout the retreat, we'll also allow space to respond to the natural flow of life at Peedam, where celebrations, pūjās and opportunities often arise spontaneously.
Each day will be woven from the following elements...
Vedic Rounding.
The heart of our immersion is daily Vedic rounding. Through multiple rounds of āsana, prāṇāyāma, meditation and rest, we'll create the conditions for profound physiological rest, refinement of the nervous system, and the accumulated momentum that only sustained practice can offer. It’s deep, healing and immensely powerful
Pūjā & Yajña.
We'll participate in the daily devotional life of Sri Narayani Peedam, attending pūjās and yajñas, and walking the temple grounds. This includes attending daily pūjā with Sri Shakti Amma. These sacred ceremonies are not performances to observe, but living expressions of the Vedic tradition that have been carried forward for generations.
Deepāvalī.
Our immersion coincides with Deepāvalī, one of the most auspicious times in the Vedic calendar. Practising during this sacred period, while Peedam comes alive with celebration (including the lighting of 10,008 ghee lamps in the shape of a shri chakra yantra!), is a rare opportunity to experience the living tradition in all its vibrancy.
Sevā.
Service is an integral part of life at Peedam. We'll have the opportunity to visit some of Amma's humanitarian projects and participate in sevā, experiencing firsthand how meditation naturally expresses itself through compassionate action.
Knowledge & Integration.
Beyond meditation, we'll explore the timeless principles of the Veda through informal knowledge sessions woven throughout the retreat. These conversations help make sense of our experiences in practice and offer practical wisdom to carry home into daily life.
Practices to Take Home.
This retreat isn't just about the ten days we're together. Alongside our daily practice, you'll learn simple Vedic mantras and a home pūjā that you can continue long after returning home, allowing the retreat to become the beginning of a deeper relationship with your own daily practice.
Practice with depth. Is this immersion for you?
This immersion has been created for Vedic meditators who feel called to deepen their practice through sustained immersion in a living Vedic tradition.
Whether you've been meditating for a few months or many years, what matters most is a sincere desire to practise, to learn, and to experience India with openness and humility.
You’ll know this is for you if:
Have an established Vedic meditation practice.
Feel drawn to deepen through daily rounding and consistent sādhana.
Long to experience India beyond the usual tourist path.
Are curious about the more devotional aspects of the Vedic tradition.
Value community and enjoy practising alongside like-minded meditators.
Feel ready to immerse yourself in ten days of practice, knowledge and devotion.
What you can expectIncluded in Your Immersion
Retreat Preparation
• One live online group welcome call before departure.
• A retreat guide to help you prepare for travelling to India including acking list, limited visa guidance and travel information.
• A private WhatsApp group to connect with fellow participants before, during and after the retreat.
Accommodation & Meals
• 9 nights' accommodation at the Holistic Centre, Sri Narayani Peedam.
• Private or twin share accommodation with private bathroom. Room type subject to availability.
• Three vegetarian meals each day.
• Filtered drinking water throughout your stay.
Practice & Knowledge
• Daily Vedic Rounding using the updated Rounding sequence.
• Daily Vedic knowledge sessions with Sarah.
• Breathwork and kriyā sessions with Kathleen O'Brien
• Simple Vedic mantras and a home pūjā to support your ongoing sādhana.
Temple Life
• Participation in daily pūjās and yajñas.
• Opportunities for darśana with Sri Shakti Amma (subject to Amma's schedule).
• Participation in Deepāvalī celebrations
• Guided visits to Amma's humanitarian projects and opportunities for sevā.
Holistic Treatments
• Two traditional Ayurvedic massage treatments at the Holistic Centre.
• Access to additional consultations and treatments (available at your own expense).
Transport
• Airport transfers between Chennai & Bangalore International Airport and Sri Narayani Peedam on the designated arrival and departure days. Travel outside of these days will be at your own expense.
• All retreat-related transport during the immersion.
Integration
• One live online group integration call following the retreat.
• Ongoing access to the private WhatsApp group for connection and support after returning home.
Not Included - please read carefully.
• International airfares.
• Indian visa.
• Comprehensive travel insurance (mandatory).
• Additional Ayurvedic consultations and treatments.
• Laundry and personal expenses.
• Snacks, beverages and meals outside the retreat itinerary.
• Airport transfers outside the designated group transfer times.
• Any additional accommodation before or after the retreat.
Your hosts.
Sarah O’Brien
Sarah O’Brien is a Vedic meditation teacher and doula. India has been Sarah's second home for more than a decade. Through countless visits, years of practice, and leading retreats, it has become a place she returns to again and again with deep love and reverence. She is passionate about creating thoughtful, well-held experiences that allow others to encounter the beauty of India, the depth of the Vedic tradition, and the warmth of life at Sri Narayani Peedam.
Lead facilitator
Kathleen O'Brien is a Vedic Meditation teacher, naturopath, and experienced retreat facilitator who has spent many years travelling through India and leading immersive retreats. She joins this journey in a support role, bringing a warm, grounded presence and helping to create a deeply held experience for every participant. Kathleen will also offer breathwork and kriyā sessions to support the integration of our daily practice.
Supporting facilitatorKathleen O’Brien
All the details. Dates - 3–12 November 2026
Location
Sri Narayani Peedam
Vellore, Tamil Nadu,
India
Closest international airports
Chennai or Bengaluru International Airport. You can choose to fly into either.
Prerequisite
This immersion is open to Vedic meditators with an established meditation practice.
Before You Book.
This retreat requires a minimum number of participants to proceed.
Please do not book international flights until you receive written confirmation from us that the retreat has been confirmed. We'll notify all participants as soon as minimum numbers have been reached, allowing plenty of time to book flights.
To help create a supportive group experience, participants will:
• Have an established Vedic meditation practice (weeks, months or years is fine!)
• Be physically able to participate in daily rounding practices.
• Hold appropriate travel insurance.
• Travel with a spirit of openness, flexibility and respect for the customs and rhythms of Peedam.
Investment.
Twin Share
Early bird (available until 31 August 2026)
$2,990 AUD
Standard Investment
$3,200 AUD
Private Room
Early bird (available until 31 August 2026)
$3,500 AUD
Standard Investment
$3,700 AUD
A $500 non-refundable deposit secures your place, while the remaining balance can be made in instalments or in full as per the T&C's.
Terms & Conditions apply.
Secure your spot.
T&C's apply
Need to ask a question?
FAQ's.
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Yes, you will need to book and pay for your own flights to get to India. Depending on where you life you can fly into either Chennai or Bengaluru. I can recommend hotels to say at on arrival and transport to Peedam will be arranged.
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To ensure the retreat reaches minimum numbers, we ask everyone to wait until you've received our official Retreat Confirmation before booking international flights. We'll confirm the retreat as early as possible and provide recommended flights to make travelling together easy.
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Absolutely. This immersion has been designed to support all levels of experience in India. In our pre-retreat calls you’ll connect with others on retreat and can organise to arrive and stay at the same places so you’ll have company! Sarah will meet you at Peedam, but all transport there will be organised.
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Absolutely. This retreat is designed to support practitioners wherever they are in their journey. Whether you're looking to reconnect with your practice or deepen an already established routine, you'll be warmly supported throughout the immersion.
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No, you don’t need to know how. to round before you come on the retreat, though I would highly recommend attending a workshop before you come so that you’re familiar with the sequence and experience of rounding. That will provide greater ease. and depth when in India.
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Absolutely. Many participants attend retreats on their own. From our first online welcome call through to travelling together and sharing the experience at Peedam, you'll be warmly welcomed into the group.
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All meals will be vegetarian, no meat is to be served or eaten at Peedam. Vegan meals will not always be possible as a lot of food may be cooked in ghee. We will also do our best to accomodate allergies, but we are in rural India and some limitations may apply.
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Yes! you are welcome to arrive whenever you like. I do recommend everyone arrive in India at least 1 day before the retreat starts as jetlag and fatigue can be quite high, and we will hit the ground running on retreat. There are plenty of great airport hotels you can stay at overnight in Chennai or Bengaluru.
If you decide to come earlier or stay later this will be done and organised at your own expense and time. -
We will help you out! Once you sign up to the retreat you’ll be provided with a comprehensive packing guide and a list of recommended items to bring.
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Yes. Payment plans are available. Please get in touch to discuss an option that works for you.