Class Descriptions
We offer a number of classes and workshops that are designed to help those new to Hinduism and Tantric philosophy, as well as to help those who are long-time or life-long practitioners and devotees deepen their knowledge.
This school is intended to provide religious education for young and old, and introductory classes require no previous knowledge or experience. More advanced training is available for those who wish to progress on the path toward deeper engagement with the Divine Mother.
Our classes and workshops are deeply experiential and open to all. We ask that you come with an open mind, an open heart, and a respectful attitude of learning. We welcome people from all life-affirming paths and religions to study and worship with us.
Please note that class size is limited, and also that classes may occasionally be rescheduled. All class and materials fees are donation-based, and support the maintenance and various projects of the Sri Kamakhya Mahavidya Mandir. We ask that you give generously if you can, but no one is turned away for lack of funds.
Course donations are nonrefundable, and when signing up for a series you will be expected to pay for all classes in advance, not just the ones you attend.
If you would like us to offer one of these classes at your yoga studio, school, temple, circle, or for your private group, let us know!
Early Bird pricing is for payment made in full at least 1 month in advance. Scholarships and work-trade may be available for some classes. Work-trade is to be completed before the start of the class.
Bring a friend and get an additional discount (varies depending on the class).
Sponsorship! If you would like to make a donation to sponsor classes, that helps us make these classes available to more people on a reduced fee and scholarship basis. Your sponsorship is fully tax-deductible.
Current Classes
Shakti Vidya Podcast
Suggested Donation: $5-10
The Sri Kamakhya Mahavidya Mandir’s Shakti Vidya podcast is an extension of our temple’s educational programs, which foster and promote spiritual and philosophical learning for all ages. The podcast is FREE. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider making a donation to our temple.
Listen to the podcast »
Subscribe in iTunes »
Tantra
Tantra Series I: Introduction to Tantra: History, Philosophy & Practice
Time: Saturday/Sunday weekend intensive, 5 hours/day
Class donation: $180
Materials donation: $20
Total suggested donation for class + materials: $200
Early Bird: $185
This weekend intensive course introduces participants to the world of Tantra in history, philosophy, and practice. We start at the beginning and explore the roots of Tantra philosophy throughout India, and will do some healthy myth-busting along the way. Participants will learn the history of Tantra in India, basic philosophies from different Shakta and Shaiva schools of thought, and will also learn basic practices that do not require initiation into a Tantra lineage to learn. No previous knowledge of Hinduism or Tantra is necessary, but may be helpful. All levels are welcome. We will enjoy a potluck lunch each day.
Tantra Series II: Intro to Tantric Deities
Time: Saturday/Sunday weekend intensive, 5 hours/day
Class donation: $180
Materials donation: $20
Total suggested donation for class + materials: $200
Early Bird: $185
What makes a deity “Tantric?” How is a Tantric form of Goddess different from a non-Tantric form? In this intensive course, we will explore the essence of Tantric wisdom through Ganesh, Shiva, and the ten Tantric wisdom Goddesses known as the Dasa Mahavidyas. No previous knowledge of Tantra or Hinduism necessary, but may be helpful. We will enjoy a potluck lunch each day.
Tantra Series III: Tantric Worship of the Divine Mother
Time: 3 hours/week for 8 weeks
Class donation: $225 for the series
Materials donation: $25
Suggested donation: $250
Early Bird: $235
This unique course will introduce worship of the Divine Mother as the Dasha Mahavidyas, the ten fierce wisdom Goddesses of the Tantric tradition. Learn worship that is unique to the Kamakhya tradition of Northeast India. Kamakhya is the most holy and revered seat of Goddess power in India, and it is very rare to have an opportunity to learn this worship directly. This teaching is not available anywhere else in the United States, and rarely available in India.
Each week we will explore two deities, and you will learn how to establish a simple but very powerful and transformative daily personal practice to bring you closer to your divine Self.
Week 1: Ganesha & Umananda (Shiva) – removing obstacles to worship, developing blissful relationship with and through sadhana
Week 2: Kali & Tara – facing personal fears and overcoming doubt, the power of sound to transform consciousness
Week 3: Kamakhya (Maha Tripurasundari) & Bhuvaneshwari – the true nature of desire, the wisdom of nature & the body
Week 4: Bhairavi & Chinnamasta – sacred warriorship, selfless service
Week 5: Dhumavati & Bagalamukhi – renunciation & authenticity
Week 6: Matangi (Sarasvati) & Kamala (Lakshmi) – overcoming duality, the power of music, recognizing & cultivating true wealth.
Class size is limited.
Tantra Series IV: Tantra and Sacred Relationship
Time: 2.5 hours/week for 4 weeks OR 1 weekend intensive (Sat/Sun)
Class donation: $150/person or $250/pair (friend or partner, doesn’t matter!)
Early Bird: $140/$235
There are lots of teachers out there promoting “Tantric sex” and “erotic Tantra,” but is this really Tantra? What is Tantra really about? In reality, Tantra is not about sex, it’s about relationship. At the core of Tantra is the divine dance and blissful union of Shakti and Shiva, but what does this mean in practical terms?
In this 3-week workshop we invite individuals and couples to join us in exploring the philosophy of union and sacred relationship in Tantra, and how it can strengthen and heal your relationship with yourself, and with others, including your spouse or partner but also co-workers, friends, and family. You will learn practical tools for living your life with confidence and love, and improving your relationship with self and partner through participatory meditation, partner interaction, and group discussion.
Bring a friend OR come with your partner, and you’ll get a significant discount! To qualify for Early Bird registration, you must register and pay in full at least 1 month in advance.
Tantra & Tea: Shakta Tantric Philosophy Discussion Group
Time: 2 hours, monthly
Class donation: Donation ($3-5 suggested)
This informal discussion group meets once a month to talk about various themes of Shakta Tantrism, the Goddess-focused, embodied, mystical approach to worship of Hindu deities. Topics may include cosmology, transformation, kundalini, the Hindu Goddess, Shiva & Shakti, women in Tantra, the Yoginis, the Mahavidyas, and more. Guest speakers will join the group from time to time, who will share their perspectives on these topics from both inside and outside their own Shakta Tantric traditions.
This series is held at our mandir in Alameda, and in private homes around the Bay Area. Tea and snacks are provided. Donations welcome.
Schedule: Resumes in 2012
Sanskrit
Sanskrit Basics
Time: 3 hours
Class donation: $25
Materials donation: $10
Total suggested donation for class + materials: $35
Early Bird: $30
Sanskrit is one of the oldest written languages in the world, and for over five thousand years has provided the structural and mystical foundation of Hindu and Tantric ritual. In this workshop, we cover the very basics of Sanskrit pronunciation, and discuss the history and importance of the Sanskrit language in the context of Hindu and Tantric ritual practice. You will learn a mantra for Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, and go home with materials for self-practice.
Sanskrit Pronunciation
Time: 3 weeks, 2 hours weekly
Class donation: $90
Materials donation: $10
Total suggested donation for all classes + materials: $100
Early Bird: $95
Prerequisite: Sanskrit Basics, or permission of instructor
Sanskrit is one of the oldest written languages in the world, and for over five thousand years has provided the structural and mystical foundation of Hindu and Tantric ritual. This four week class will provide a simple and meditative method for learning Sanskrit pronunciation through chanting. We will reinforce what we learn each week through learning a simple mantra. Accompanied by tanpura, Sanskrit chanting is a deeply moving and meditative process that can help connect you to the Divine in new and meaningful ways. During the class, you will receive materials for home practice.
Hindu Deity & Worship
Hindu Worship Series I: Introduction to Hindu Deities
Time: 3 hours
Class donation: $30
Materials donation: $5
Total suggested donation for class + materials: $35
Early Bird: $30
Do you feel drawn to Hindu deities such as Ganesha, Shiva, Kali, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Krishna, and Durga, but don’t know much about them or how to worship them? In this introductory class, part of our Hindu Worship Series, you will learn about these deities. You don’t have to be a Hindu to love these divine beings, and through this class you will learn about their mythology, favorite colors and offerings, and how to honor them in your daily life with mantra and song.
Hindu Worship Series II: Introduction to Hindu Worship
Time: 4 hours
Class donation: $50
Materials donation: $15
Total suggested donation for class + materials: $65
Early Bird: $60
Are you intimidated by Hindu worship? Well, look no further. Home worship is quite simple and straightforward, and all that is needed is know-how and confidence. Develop both in this introductory workshop to performing Hindu worship (puja) at home, which is also part of our Hindu Worship Series. You will learn how to create an altar, the philosophy behind worship, ritual etiquette, and specific methods and mantras for simple worship of any deity, based in the venerable Kamakhya tradition.
Kirtan: The Divine Vibration
Time: 3 hours
Class donation: Donation (suggested: $10)
Materials donation: Donation (suggested: $5)
Kirtan, or devotional call-and-response singing, is a deeply joyful act of union with the divine through song. The essence of song is vibration, which is the essence of the universe itself. Together we will learn about music as a spiritual practice, and learn a few traditional songs for the Divine Mother and Her Divine Family. This is a great opportunity to learn in-depth about some of the songs we sing at the mandir for monthly worship services!
Hindu Mythology & Worship for Kids
Time: 1 hour
Class donation: Donation ($10 suggested)
This morning weekend class teaches children of all ages and their parents stories and simple songs related to various Hindu deities. Through these classes, children learn the foundations of devotion, but through storytelling, art, interactive play, and song also learn life lessons about things such as courage, honesty, and friendship. Parents are encouraged to get involved with their kids during the class, in order to build family bonds while learning.
Next class: 2012
Online version coming soon!
Yoga Series
Yoga Series I: Pranayama: Tantric Breathwork for Beginners
Time: 3 hours
Class donation: $30
Materials donation: $5
Total suggested donation for class + materials: $35
Early Bird: $30
The foundation of all Tantric practice is the breath. Pranayama, or retention of the breath, is an essential practice for meditation, various forms of yoga, and puja, and can also enhance breathing for singers, dancers, and athletes. In this two-hour class, we will explore the philosophy and practical application of Tantric breath work, and learn how this practice affects energy, concentration, and other mystical and practical applications.
Yoga Series II: Introduction to Meditation
Level 1 Basics
Time: 3 weeks, 2 hours per week
Class Donation: $60
Early Bird: $55
or
Level 1 Intensive
Time: 2 weekends
Class donation: $300
Early Bird: $275
Meditation has been proven to reduce stress, aid in healing of the body and mind, and help in all areas of life from home to the workplace and beyond. Are you interested in meditation but just don’t know how to get started? Do you have a meditation practice but want to deepen it and understand the roots of it? Do you practice sporadically but just don’t know how to make your practice regular? This class explores all of these issues. Most people don’t understand what meditation really is, and don’t understand the steps to get there – but Tantra yoga has for centuries developed strategies for helping practitioners get started and continuously moving along the path. The approach to meditation that has been developed for millenia at Kamakhya has a simple but effective form that doesn’t require any initiation, and is simple and easy for beginners, is especially powerful with guidance in the yogic preparatory stages. Our approach is different from Buddhist approaches, but is just as simple and easy to begin. We will provide you with strategies for developing a regular practice, information on the history of meditation in India and the importance and benefits of meditation in daily life, and will lead you through traditional meditative practices to get you started. By the end of the course you will have the confidence to begin and/or continue your own daily meditation practice.
The weekend intensive course includes field trip(s) and practical teachings on lengthening and maintaining meditation in a variety of situations, including puja and homa (performed by Kulasundari Devi during the course).
Hatha Yoga
Time: 1.5 hours, ongoing
Class Donation: $10 seniors & students with ID; $15 adults
Hatha Yoga in the modern context is a physical practice that prepares the asana, or seat, for meditation. Kulasundari Devi is a sadhika, Tantra scholar, and long-time practitioner of Hatha and Tantra yoga, and has developed a system of yoga that integrates Tantra and Hatha yoga together into a new series of asanas and meditation based on the ancient Tantric wisdom traditions of Kamakhya in Assam. In this class you will learn a sequence of physical postures (asanas), breathing exercises, and meditations deeply rooted in Tantric philosophy. This sequence brings not only physical strength and flexibility, but mental strength and stability, and clears the way for spiritual insight, helping to unlock inner wisdom. The practice also builds physical endurance and increases circulation and comfort in longer meditation and puja practice.
Next class: November/December 2011 by invitation; regular classes begin in 2012.