Yoga Yagna, India

with Tara Mitra & Dr Vigneshwar Bhat

January 2-15, 2027

Mysore, Hampi, Gokarna, Rushikulam

From Sthūla to Sūkṣma: a thirteen-day pilgrimage into the heart of practice, study & embodiment

Yoga Yajña is a thirteen-day journey through practice, study, ritual and place, moving from the tangible and embodied towards the subtle.

Across Mysore, Hampi, Gokarna and Rushikulam, āsana, prāṇāyāma, chanting, philosophy and ritual come together as an interconnected field of study. Rather than experiencing these as separate aspects of yoga, we explore how each informs the other, and how, through sustained practice and study, they begin to become something lived.

This is an opportunity to step away from the pace of everyday life and immerse yourself in a deeper rhythm of learning, practice and reflection, alongside teachers whose lives have been devoted to the study and transmission of yoga.

We begin in Mysore, a place that has been part of Tara’s life and practice for more than two decades.

These first three days are grounded in the tangible: in the body, in sound, in ritual, in practice, and in the experience of being immersed in a city where yoga has been lived and taught across generations.

You will have the rare opportunity to practice with Sri Subha, the youngest daughter of Sri Krishnamacharya, in a special āsana class offered exclusively for our group.

There will be a Carnatic music session with Ranjini Kushik, an evening of sound healing with Akhil Lanka, and an intimate conversation with Saraswathi Jois, whose life and teaching have been deeply connected to the development of Ashtanga Yoga.

We will explore Mysore beyond the familiar yoga route: visiting temples, markets and places Tara has returned to over many years, sharing some of the restaurants, streets and quieter corners that have become part of her own relationship with the city.

These days are curated to allow each of you to experience Mysore fully: its sounds, rhythms, traditions, people and daily life, and allowing the place itself to become part of the study.

Experience Mysore through the eyes of someone who has called it a second home, while beginning our journey at the tangible, embodied heart of the practice.

10 Days in Rushikulam

Sūkṣma Śarīra; mantra, study & absorption

From Mysore, we move into the quieter surroundings of Rushikulam, set within the lush forests of Yellapur.

The pace changes here as the emphasis turns inward, towards mantra, study, ritual and the subtler dimensions of yoga.

Our time in Rushikulam is anchored by Dr. Vigneshwar Bhat, Vedic priest, scholar and teacher, whose life has been devoted to the study and transmission of these teachings.

Mornings begin with Sandhyā Vandanam, followed by āsana and prāṇāyāma with Tara. Throughout the days, we enter into Vedic, Tantric and Purāṇic chanting, with time for teaching, discussion, questions and reflection.

The Durgā Dīpa Namaskāra Pūjā offers an opportunity to experience ritual not simply as something to observe, but as something to participate in.

Our continued study of Tattva Bodha takes us further into the teachings of Vedānta and the enquiry into what is lasting and what is constantly changing.

There is also space between the formal teachings: for silence, conversation, walking, rest and simply allowing what we have studied to settle.

During these ten days, we will also make two excursions to the sacred sites of Hampi and Gokarna, giving us the opportunity to experience the landscape, history and spiritual traditions of these places before returning to the quieter rhythm of Rushikulam.

This part of the journey is about absorption. Allowing space to listen, reflecting and let the teachings to move from something we study into something we begin to experience for ourselves.

India Retreat
Banana Leaf Meal, Tara Mitra Yoga Yoga Yajna
Lush green forest with mountains and rocky peaks in the background, sunlight filtering through the trees.
Traditional Indian Diwali arrangement with colorful powder, flowers, oil lamp, and a container of milk.
Dr Vigneswar Bhat & Tara Mitra in Mysore, India
Tara Mitra teaching Pranayama in Texas, USA
Holi celebration with colorful flower petals and sweets on a wooden platter.
Two men in traditional attire performing a Hindu ritual or prayer on the floor with offerings and decor around them.
Tara Mitra leading a global workshop
A simple room with three beds with checkered and solid red bedding, a row of four black plastic chairs, and two windows on the wall.
Copper vessels on a surface decorated with flower petals and leaves, including pink, red, white, and yellow flowers and green leaves.
Tara chanting at KPJAYI

Yajña Details

      • Our Yoga Yajña is an opportunity to step out of the usual pace of life and give yourself time for something that is increasingly difficult to find: sustained practice and study.

        Over thirteen days, you will have the space to practice each morning, study with experienced teachers, listen to traditional teachings, experience ritual and chanting, and spend time in places where yoga and Indian spiritual traditions are still part of daily life.

        There is no expectation that you arrive knowing everything. You may be a long-time practitioner, a teacher, or simply someone who feels ready to explore yoga beyond the physical practice.

        What we hope to offer is not simply more knowledge, but the opportunity to go deeper into what you are already studying — to ask questions, revisit familiar teachings, refine your practice and begin to see the connections between body, breath, mind, philosophy, sound and ritual.

        There will be structure, but also space. Time to practise, time to study, time to be quiet, and time to share the experience with others.

        All levels or practitioners are welcome. You simply need a willingness to practice, study and participate.

    • Yoga Yajña is designed for yoga teachers, long-term practitioners, and serious students of yoga philosophy who are ready to study within an authentic lineage.

      • Practitioners ready to explore what it means to live yoga

      • Those who wish to understand the roots of yoga

      • Teachers seeking to keeping their personal practices and teachings

      • Those drawn to a small, sincere circle of yoga practioners

  • 13 nights Accommodation

    Meals:

    Mysore - Breakfast and Lunch

    Rushikulam - Daily home-cooked, sattvic vegetarian meals (breakfast, a light midday meal, and dinner)

    Daily Mysore-style āsana, prāṇāyāma and chanting practice with Tara

    • Afternoon teachings with Dr. Vigneshwar, including philosophy, ritual and study of Tattva Bodha

    • Participation in a traditional Vedic fire ritual (yajña)

    • Two guided pilgrimage day to sacred sites in the region (Hampi & Gokarna)

    • Optional South Indian cooking session

    • Pre-retreat online orientation

    • Ongoing guidance and support from the time of registration

    What’s Not Included:

    • International or domestic flights

    • Transport to and from Rushikulam (we will help coordinate)

    • Travel insurance (recommended)

    • Visa & Visa fees

All levels from beginner to advanced are welcome.

What is the Cost of the Yagna?

Pricing varies only by your room choice in Mysore (single, double, or shared). At Rushikulam, all accommodation is shared. Everything else is included and identical across all options.

Early Bird

Twin

Single Occupancy - £1450

Double Occupancy - £1300

Suite

Single Occupancy - £1550

Double Occupancy - £1400

Deluxe

Single Occupancy - £1600

Double Occupancy - £1450

Please note early bird pricing ends October 1st 2026

Regular Price

Twin

Single Occupancy - £1550

Double Occupancy - £1400

Suite

Single Occupancy - £1650

Double Occupancy - £1500

Deluxe

Single Occupancy - £1750

Double Occupancy - £1600

Reserve Your Place

WHO ARE WE?

  • Dr Vigneshwar Bhat, Vedic Scholar and Mentorship Teaching Team at Tara Mitra Yoga

    Dr Vigneshwar Bhat 

    Dr. Vigneshwar Bhat was born and raised in Karnataka. He holds a Ph.D. in Karma Meemamsa from Karnataka Sanskrit University. He earned gold medals for his M.A. degrees in Poorvameemamsa Vidwat Uttama and Sahitya Acharya from Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, Tirupati. His expertise extends to Śauta, Smārta, Tāntrik, and Paurāṇik rituals and he is a Vedic priest and professor.

    His research interests include Indian Philosophy, Yoga, Vedas, Sanskrit, and Indian Culture and Traditions. Dr. Bhat has authored numerous papers and books, shedding light on the profound wisdom of ancient scriptures.

  • Vedic Chanting in Mysore, India

    Tara Mitra

    with her unique blend of East Indian and Canadian heritage, has been practising yoga for over 20 years and has been exploring her mind since 1989. This rich cultural connection and her innate gift allow her to share pure knowledge from the East with the modern world of yoga in the West, creating a bridge of understanding and appreciation. 

    Under the guidance of renowned teachers Tim Miller, R. Sharath, and R. Saraswathi Jois, Tara immersed herself in Ashtanga Yoga. Her dedication was evident as she spent 4 years assisting in a busy shala in Mysore, India. (lvl 2) 

    She has been a student of Dr. Vigneshwar Bhats for almost a decade and continually studies the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and Vedic Chanting. 

    Tara is also a Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IYAT, T. Krishnamacharya lineage) who specializes in trauma, stress, and anxiety.

    Tara's unwavering belief in the path of continuous learning is the cornerstone of her teaching philosophy. Her commitment to expanding her knowledge, evident in her continuous studies of yoga sutras, Upanishads, Ayurveda, and Healing, inspires confidence in her students. This dedication, coupled with her traditional yet playful teaching style, which incorporates the teachings of her mentors, makes her a highly effective and respected yoga teacher. 

FAQ

  • No. What matters more than the complexity of your āsana practice is sincerity of inquiry and a willingness to be a genuine student. All of the teachers are open to sharing and answering all questions and the practices itself is accessible to a range of levels.

  • Yoga Yagna is a structured immersion in the heart of yoga abd lineage. Daily study of the Yoga texts, Vedic chanting, and prāṇāyāma, guided by teachers trained directly within that tradition.

  • Across thirteen days, you will study the asana, pranayama, a full text by Adi Shankaracharya, the Tattva Bodha, Vedic chanting, and the philosophical foundations of yoga as taught through the philosophical inheritance Dr Bhat has spent his life inside.

  • Yes, woven through both Mysore and Rushikulam, with dedicated excursions to Hampi and Gokarna.

  • Everyone is welcome. And many teachers arrive attend to root their own understanding before returning to teach from that ground.

  • Click “Reserve Your Place” above to secure your spot. You will be added to our group chat and join an online meeting session 2 months prior also.

Reserve Your Place
Tara Mitra and Dr Vigneswar Bhat in Mysore india, Vedic Chanting, Ritual, Ganesha, Homa, Study Indic texts

We hope you will join us for this rare opportunity to learn how these traditional practices can help you meet life’s difficulties and thrive. This is a chance to have close access to both Tara Mitra and Dr. Bhat, and to be welcomed into his family, asking questions about practice, philosophy, and life itself.

All levels, from beginner to advanced, are welcome.