Vedic Study Members Enter Above
Kula Circle
A Monthly Disciple Gathering Guided by Lineage Themes
Kula Circle is a monthly Zoom gathering for disciples of the lineage.
Themes are offered by Acharya Shunya and explored together through guided discussion led by a Sadasya Devi Priya, under the overall support of the Sadhvis.
​
These circles are contemplative, relational, and rooted in the Parampara. They are meant to support integration, clarity, and connection among students, rather than formal instruction.
​
​The Guru teaches in many ways. Sometimes through words, and sometimes through the circle that holds them.
Let us gather on the third Sunday, at 5 PM, PT: Starts February 15, 2026
Meeting ID: 821 9948 9282
Passcode: 215909
Guru Purnima:
A Moment of Remembrance
An online gathering for gratitude and remembrance
On Wednesday, July 29, Guru Purnima Day, disciples across time zones will gather on Zoom for Guru Purnima: A Moment of Remembrance. In every Vedic lineage, this is the one day set aside to turn toward the Guru and the living current of guidance, the Guru Tattva, with gratitude and quiet devotion.
For one hour, we will come together as a dispersed family, held not by proximity but by relationship. Acharya Shunya will appear briefly to anchor the observance, after which senior Sadhvis will offer recitations and remembrance.
New Sadhyas will be recognized, and spiritual names may be bestowed where appropriate. Though we are separated by distance, we meet in the shared space of reverence, remembering the lineage that has shaped us and continues to carry us forward.
Let us come together on nn July 29, 2026, at 7:00 AM, PT
Meeting ID: 835 8147 1774
Passcode: 984504
Disciple Scripture Study
Guru Stotram By Adi Shankaracharya
Beginning September 3rd
All disciples are invited into an ongoing scripture study devoted to the Guru Stotram, beginning September 3rd, meeting every Thursday at 6 p.m. PT, guided by Sadhvi Ishani, who brings sixteen years of dedicated training, study, and lived practice within the lineage to this offering.
This study unfolds slowly and steadily over 20 to 22 weeks, allowing time for understanding to ripen rather than rush.
​
The primary text for this study will be Wisdom Lotus, Acharya Shunya’s comprehensive commentary on the Guru Stotram. If the book has not yet been formally published at the time of the study, an advanced version will be made available exclusively to enrolled disciples. Because this is a deep and cumulative inquiry, registration is required. This is not a drop-in series. The first class will be open to all, but after that, a committed cohort will continue together.
​
Week by week, disciples will dwell in the fourteen verses, entering the quiet joy of understanding what the Guru truly represents, not only as a personal guide, but as the living Guru Tattva that dissolves ignorance and reveals Brahman. Through consistent return to the text and to one another, devotion matures into discernment, and praise becomes knowledge. This is a study for those ready to stay, listen, and be shaped by truth.
​
A Note on Dakshina
In the Vedic tradition, scripture study is a reciprocal practice. What is received is also returned. Dakshina supports the teachers, the platform, and the living continuity of the parampara. The suggested dakshina has been kept intentionally modest for this 20–22 week study.
• Starts Sep 3, 2026: All disciples are encouraged to attend
• Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. PT
• Registration required for continuity of the study.
• Recordings provided for missed sessions
• A modest Dakshina is offered as a gesture of commitment.
Guru Purnima Retreat
Abiding Near the Guru
The Sadhvis of the Sarayu Parampara, together with Team Acharya Shunya, invite the disciples of the Sarayu Parampara to gather in person for Guru Purnima in the forests of Grass Valley, California.​
​
July 31 to August 3, 2026.
This is a residential observance offered to those who already walk in a relationship with the Guru and the lineage. Once a year, Guru Purnima calls disciples to step out of ordinary rhythms and come near, not to seek new teachings, but to honor what has already been received through presence, guidance, and steady transmission.
​
For a few days, we will live simply. We will share meals, silence, prayer, and remembrance. Guru Purnima will be marked not as an event, but as an observance held with restraint and reverence, rooted in proximity rather than instruction.
​
Those who feel called to be here will recognize the invitation without persuasion.
The Forest Setting
The retreat will be held in a mountain chalet-style home nestled in the quiet forests of Grass Valley, California. This region of the Sierra Nevada foothills is known for its tall pines, open skies, and a natural stillness that supports inward listening. Days here unfold slowly. Evenings carry the hush of trees and cooling air.
​
Grass Valley is approximately:
3 hours by car from the San Francisco Bay Area
1.5 hours from Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
​
Participants traveling by air typically fly into Sacramento (SMF), with carpooling options coordinated closer to the date. Oakland (OAK) and San Francisco (SFO) airports are also possible, with a longer drive.
​
​
About Staying Together
This is a residential spiritual gathering. The first 20 participants who register will be accommodated onsite, with beds provided. Sleeping arrangements will be simple and shared, reflecting the spirit of the retreat rather than private comfort.
​
Beds may include shared beds, bunk beds, or sofa beds. Rooms will not be assigned in advance, and personal privacy preferences cannot be accommodated. This is intentional. Coming together in shared space is part of the observance itself, inviting humility, adaptability, and ease with one another.
​
Those who feel called to this gathering are asked to receive what is offered with grace.
Arrival & Departure
Check-in: Friday, July 31, beginning at 3:00 pm
Please plan to arrive between 3:00 and early evening, allowing time to settle before our informal gathering that night.
​
Check-out: Monday, August 3, by 11:00 am
​
This is a three-night residential gathering: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. We ask that participants honor these times so the arrival and departure rhythm remains smooth and unhurried for everyone.
Friday Evening Rhthym
On Friday, July 31, we arrive without haste. The first evening is held gently, as one would receive a sacred guest. Nothing is forced. The field is prepared.
3:00 PM onwards
Arrival and settling in. Time to arrive, breathe, and let the outer journey fall away.
6:00 to 7:00 PM
Dinner. We come together simply, sharing food and presence.
7:00 to 8:00 PM
Unstructured time. Rest, walk, or sit quietly as the body and mind begin to soften.
8:00 to 9:30 PM
Evening Chanting and Satsang. We gather for shared chanting, followed by a short satsang offered by Acharya Shunya, to orient the heart and intellect toward what is to unfold.
9:30 to 10:00 PM
Meditation and Night Practice. A closing meditation and gentle night chanting allow the day to settle fully into stillness.
Silence to Retire
The night closes quietly. Silence is observed, and rest is encouraged by 10:00 PM, allowing the nervous system and awareness to descend naturally into repose.
Saturday – Guru Purnima Observance
The day begins before the mind gathers its usual momentum, in quiet rhythm with the rising sun.
6:00 to 6:45 AM
Morning Ritual led by our Guru. We gather outdoors, weather permitting, to offer water to the rising sun. Gayatri Mantra and selected morning mantras are chanted together under the guidance of Acharya Shunya. The practice concludes with a short period of seated meditation, allowing light and stillness to enter together.
6:45 to 8:00 AM
Personal hygiene and quiet time. After the morning ritual, time is given for personal care, journaling, or silent reflection as the inner atmosphere continues to settle.
8:00 to 10:00 AM
Breakfast. A simple, nourishing breakfast is shared unhurriedly, supporting both body and clarity of mind.
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Morning Gathering. We reconvene for orientation and gentle settling into the day, followed by Guru Purnima rituals and satsang. This includes traditional acts of reverence and blessing, held in a devotional and contemplative spirit. This time is not instructional. It is an honoring of the Guru principle and the living lineage.
12:00 to 1:00 PM
Lunch. Lunch is shared together following the observance.
1:00 to 3:00 PM
Free time. Rest, walk, or remain inwardly quiet as needed.
3:00 to 5:00 PM
Disciple Learning. A late afternoon teaching session on vinaya and reverence toward the Guru, offered by Sadhvi Ishani and Sadhvi Aparna. Tea is shared during this time, allowing learning to unfold in a relaxed and reflective atmosphere.
6:00 to 7:00 PM
Dinner. We come together again for the evening meal.
7:00 to 8:00 PM
Unstructured time. Space to rest, walk, or remain quietly with oneself.
8:00 to 9:30 PM
Evening Chanting and Satsang. Shared chanting followed by a short satsang with Acharya Shunya, drawing the day inward and upward.
9:30 to 10:00 PM
Meditation and Night Practice. A closing meditation and gentle night chanting allow the day to settle fully into stillness.
Silence to Retire
The night closes quietly. Silence is observed, and rest is encouraged by 10:00 PM, supporting deep restoration and inner integration.
Sunday - Integration and Deepeing
The day again begins early, aligned with the quiet intelligence of the rising sun.
6:00 to 6:45 AM
Morning Ritual led by our Guru. We gather outdoors, weather permitting, to offer water to the rising sun. This is followed by the chanting of the Gayatri Mantra and selected morning mantras, led by Acharya Shunya. A short period of seated meditation completes the practice, allowing awareness to anchor before the day unfolds.
6:45 to 8:00 AM
Personal hygiene and quiet time. Space is given for personal care, journaling, or silent reflection, supporting a gentle transition from practice into daily rhythm.
8:00 to 10:00 AM
Breakfast. A simple, nourishing breakfast is shared unhurriedly, sustaining both body and steadiness of mind.
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Morning Gathering. After orientation and settling into the day, Acharya Shunya offers instruction in the “I Am Here” meditation along with foundational prana practices. This session is oriented toward deepening daily sadhana, helping disciples stabilize presence, attention, and breath within ordinary life.
12:00 to 1:00 PM
Lunch. Lunch is shared together following the morning practices.
1:00 to 3:00 PM
Free time. Time to rest, walk, integrate, or remain inwardly quiet.
3:00 to 5:00 PM
Disciple Learning. A circle with the Sadhvis in the first hour, accompanied by tea, followed by an Ayurvedic cooking demonstration offered by Chef Sanjai, bringing the teachings into lived, practical expression.
6:00 to 7:00 PM
Dinner. We come together again for the evening meal.
7:00 to 8:00 PM
Unstructured time. Space for rest, reflection, or quiet companionship.
8:00 to 9:30 PM
Evening Chanting and Satsang. Shared chanting followed by a short satsang with Acharya Shunya, drawing the day gently toward stillness.
9:30 to 10:00 PM
Meditation and Night Practice. A closing meditation and soft night chanting allow the day to settle fully.
Silence to Retire
The night closes quietly. Silence is observed, and rest is encouraged by 10:00 PM, supporting integration and deep restoration.
Monday- Departure Day
6:00 to 6:45 AM
Morning Ritual led by our Guru. On the final morning, we gather one last time for shared practice. Water is offered to the rising sun, followed by the chanting of the Gayatri Mantra and selected morning mantras, and a short period of seated meditation. The retreat completes itself not through words, but through return.
6:45 to 8:00 AM
Personal hygiene and quiet time. Time is given for personal care, packing belongings, and assisting with general clean up, allowing departure to arise without rush.
8:00 to 9:00 AM
Breakfast. A simple, nourishing breakfast is shared together.
9:00 to 10:00 AM
Last Words, Pranam, and Leave-Taking. Before departure, disciples gather to hear our Guru's final words and to offer pranam to Acharya Shunya in a ceremonial farewell. This is not a farewell to the lineage, which continues, but a conscious closing of physical proximity.
10:00 to 11:00 AM
Departure. The retreat concludes quietly, with departures completed by 11:00 AM.
Is This Retreat Right for You?
This gathering may be a good fit if you feel at ease with:
• Shared accommodations and a spirit of simple living
• Participating in daily seva, including light support with cooking, dishes, and shared upkeep
• A quiet rhythm that includes early mornings and gentle evenings
• Receiving guidance through presence, practice, and lived example rather than continual instruction
​
This gathering may not be the best fit if you are currently seeking:
• Private rooms or a high degree of personal space
• A retreat experience without shared responsibilities
• Extensive teaching or individualized attention
• A casual, drop-in, or purely recreational retreat
​
We invite you to read these notes with care and kindness toward yourself, and to apply only if the rhythm and expectations of this gathering feel supportive to your current season of practice.
​
In the end, if this does not feel like the right fit, you may find that a future retreat aligns more naturally with where you are in your journey.
Shared Living and Seva
This gathering is held in the spirit of shared living, as disciples have lived together in a traditional gurukulam.
​
In the Gurukulam, disciples did not arrive as guests. They arrived as family members. They chopped the food, cooked the meals, cleaned the space, tended the animals, and cared for the daily life that made study and practice possible.
​
In the same spirit, each participant will take part in simple seva, contributing to the retreat's smooth functioning. This may include helping with cooking, such as chopping vegetables, helping with kitchen clean-up post meals, loading the dishwasher, or setting up shared spaces, and other practical tasks. Seva will be coordinated during the gathering, with care taken to match tasks to capacity.
​
This shared responsibility is not an add-on. It is the practice itself. It is how the retreat remains grounded, accessible, and free from service hierarchies.
​
Those who join are asked to arrive with a willingness to contribute and adapt. This is how disciples live and learn together.
Meals and Dietary Notes
Meals during the gathering will be freshly cooked, simple, and nourishing, prepared collectively and guided by Ayurvedic principles.
​
The retreat kitchen will use traditional vegetarian ingredients, including wheat, peanuts, dairy products, ghee, onions, ginger, garlic, and tomatoes. Ghee and dairy are regularly used in this style of cooking.
​
We honor that each body has its own needs. At the same time, because meals are prepared in a shared kitchen, we are not able to accommodate individual dietary restrictions. If any of the listed ingredients are not suitable for you, we invite you to consider gently whether this retreat feels supportive for you at this time, or whether making your own arrangements by eating outside the retreat would serve you better.
​
We offer this clarity with care, so that each participant can arrive at ease and without strain.
Your Contribution
This gathering is offered as a shared observance, not a commercial retreat. Our lineage does not sit on institutional wealth, endowments, or retreat centers with permanent staff. What we hold is carried by people, households, and steady participation.
​
The contribution for this retreat supports the essentials required for an in-person gathering: the retreat home, food and basic supplies, and travel support for lineage holders. It also allows the retreat to be held without placing financial strain on those hosting it. The time and presence of Acharya Shunya, the senior Sadhvis, and the practical support of Chef Sanjai are offered freely as part of seva to the lineage. Sadhvi Ishani is traveling from India specifically for this gathering, and Chef Sanjai will prepare and guide the cooking of all meals for the group. If these contributions were accounted for at market rates, the retreat's cost would be several times higher. No portion of the contribution is for teaching time, presence, or transmission. Those are not for sale.
​
We have set the contribution as carefully and modestly as possible, while still honoring the real costs involved.
​
Contribution Levels
​
-
$900 — Base Contribution
-
$1,200 — Sustaining Contribution
-
$1,500 — Dakshina-Forward Contribution
-
Custom Contribution — Any amount above the listed levels, offered in support of the continuity of the lineage.
All contribution levels receive the same retreat experience.
Higher levels help carry the real costs of gathering and support the continuity of the lineage.
In keeping with the spirit of Guru Purnima, this retreat is offered at a more subsidized rate than other in-person offerings with Acharya Shunya.
The base contribution covers the retreat’s shared costs. Sustaining and dakshina-forward contributions help carry the broader needs of the lineage and make gatherings like this possible, now and in the future.
If you can offer more through the custom contribution option, your generosity directly supports the continuity of the work. If you offer the base amount, you do so with full dignity. What matters is not comparison, but conscious participation.
Financial contribution and seva together make this retreat possible.
Confirm Your Participation
Space is limited. On-site beds are available for the first 20 confirmed participants. Your space is reserved once your contribution is received.
-
Beds are allocated on a shared basis as registrations are confirmed.
-
Private rooms or private beds cannot be guaranteed.
You’ll be redirected to the Disciple Retreat payment page to complete your registration.
Scholarships
Two seva-based scholarships are available for this retreat.
​
These are for disciples who can offer consistent, hands-on support with kitchen work, cleaning, and daily operations, which may require missing some sessions. Scholarships are offered based on capacity, not solely on need.
​
Scholarship participants offer a $250 contribution and soecifiied seva. Sleeping arrangements are simple: a bed may be available; otherwise, a sleeping bag is required.
Scholarships will be confirmed in the first week of June.
Tell us about yourself and how you would participate in and support this gathering.