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The Mahānārāyaṇa Upaniṣad, embedded in the Taittirīya Āraṇyaka of the Yajur Veda, is among the most comprehensive and illuminating texts of the Vedic tradition. It gathers mantras, prayers, and contemplations that trace the unfolding of Vedic thought—from hymns to cosmic powers to subtle reflections on the Self and the supreme reality, Nārāyaṇa.

This excerpt from the Mahānārāyaṇa Upaniṣad celebrates the harmony that pervades all creation when life moves in alignment with ṛta — the cosmic order. Madhu means more than sweetness; it is the essence of grace, nourishment, and delight flowing through the universe. Each verse invokes a world filled with blessing — where every element of nature partakes in a shared benevolence.

May the winds move in harmony,

upholding the rhythm of truth.

May the rivers flow with gentle grace,

and the healing herbs offer their quiet blessing.

May night and dawn awaken in beauty,

and the earth’s vast realm rest in peace.

May the radiant heavens, home of our ancestors,

shine their guiding light upon us.

May the trees stand abundant in blessing,

and the sun shine with nourishing brilliance.

May knowledge — pure, luminous, and sustaining —

spread its sweetness through our minds

YOUR INVITATION

Dear students,

I am delighted to invite you to join me for an immersive chanting experience in Lugano Mahānārāyaṇa Upaniṣad end of October 2026. 

Now calling this Southern Swiss city my home, I still remember the awe I felt when I first discovered Lugano in early 2025. Nestled at the foot of the Swiss pre-Alps and only twenty minutes from the Italian border, the city is embraced by steep, green mountains that frame its natural beauty. Set on a sparkling arm of the lake that shares its name, Lugano offers a breathtakingly long lakeside promenade and a charming historic town center — the perfect backdrop for slowing down, reconnecting, and finding inspiration.

During this retreat, we will immerse ourselves in chanting important excerpts of the Mahānārāyaṇa Upaniṣad. Studied for its synthesis of devotion, meditation, and knowledge, this Upaniṣad continues to guide seekers toward inner refinement and a deeper understanding of the sacred unity that underlies all life. Comprising eighty sections, the Mahānārāyaṇa Upaniṣad of the Taittirīya Āraṇyaka presents a vast collection of contemplative practices (including the Gāyatrī), prayers to Agni, mantra-s in praise of tapas, the greatness of divine names, and the invocation of the ten deified Ṛgvedic rivers. It includes important sūktam-s such as the Medhā, Durgā, Nārāyaṇa, and Hiraṇyagarbha Sūktas, along with contemplations on the Vyāhṛti-s, the Gāyatrī, and the Gāyatrī Śiras used in prāṇāyāma. The text also highlights fasting and sense control as forms of tapas, and describes the five Mahāgnis, the specially consecrated Fires.

I hope you feel inspired to join us for this in-person study experience.   

With gratitude,

Shantala Sriramaiah

The Teaching

This retreat offers a structured exploration of this vast text through selected excerpts that directly influence one’s state of mind. We will study the Gāyatrī-s and the Madhu Mantra-s, whose prayerful vision of universal sweetness affirms that harmony and benevolence pervade all of creation, as well as key sūktam-s including the Nārāyaṇa, Hiraṇyagarbha, Durgā, and Medhā Sūktas amongst others. Through guided study, precise chanting, and contemplative practice, participants will discover how the Mahānārāyaṇa Upaniṣad integrates devotion, reflection, and knowledge into a unified vision of clarity and peace.   

What you will experience during this this retreat:

► A clear overview of the Mahānārāyaṇa Upaniṣad - its structure, context within the Taittirīya Āraṇyaka, and its significance in the evolution of Vedic and Upaniṣadic thought.

► Study of selected excerpts that shape and stabilise one’s state of mind, offering practical insight into how Vedic mantras cultivate composure, clarity, and awareness.

► Chanting and reflection on essential mantra-s such as the madhu mantra-s, mahāvyāhṛtihoma mantra-s, haṃsa mantra, the glory of the Sun, mantra-s for consecration of śivaliṅga and other rudra mantra-s. 

► Recitation of the Rudram and other texts studied by our community offering participants an immersive experience of collective chanting beyond the Mahānārāyaṇa Upaniṣad. 

TENTATIVE PROGRAM

The official program starts on Wednesday 28 October at 9.30 am and ends after lunch on Sunday 1 November (around 1.30 pm). Therefore, it is advisable to arrive in (or stay close to) Lugano already the day before. Shantala wants to focus on her teachings during all retreat dates, so if you want to get to know Lugano, Ticino, Switzerland or (Northern) Italy, you should plan your leisure / tourist activities before or after the retreat. Veda Studies organizes an optional leisure program on Tuesday afternoon (27 October) and on Sunday afternoon (1 November). More information follows, but it will likely include a boat tour, a short hike to Gandria, or the funicular up to Monte Bré. All lunches are included in the retreat fee, as well as the welcome dinner on Wednesday and the farewell dinner on Saturday. 

  Tuesday 27 October 

    - Suggested arrival day

    - Optional excursion (info follows)

    - Optional dinner (info follows)

  Wednesday 28 October 

    - Morning: registration, chanting session 1, break, chanting session 2

    - Afternoon: lunch at Hotel Pestalozzi, session 3

    - Evening: offical welcome dinner (incl)

  Thursday 29 October 

    - Morning: chanting session 1, break, chanting session 2

    - Afternoon: lunch at Hotel Pestalozzi, session 3

    - Evening: dinner on your own

  Friday 30 October 

    - Morning: chanting session 1, break, chanting session 2

    - Afternoon: lunch at Hotel Pestalozzi, session 3

    - Evening: dinner on your own

  Saturday 31 October

    - Morning: chanting session 1, break, chanting session 2

    - Afternoon: lunch at Hotel Pestalozzi, session 3

    - Evening: farewell dinner (incl)

  Sunday 1 November

    - Morning: chanting session 1, break, chanting session 2

    - Afternoon: lunch at Hotel Pestalozzi, leisure program (optional)   

    - Evening: optional dinner (info follows)

* A detailed program will be sent to registered participants a few weeks before the retreat.

About Lugano

Nestled on the northern shores of Lake Lugano and surrounded by the breathtaking  Alps of Southern Switzerland, Lugano is a city that seamlessly blends Mediterranean charm with Swiss precision. Located in Ticino, the Italian-speaking canton of Switzerland, Lugano offers a unique cultural fusion that makes it a standout destination for business and leisure alike. With a history dating back to Roman times and flourishing as a hub of trade and culture in the Middle Ages, today it is renowned for its vibrant financial sector, world-class conference facilities, and lifestyle that balances elegance with natural beauty. Its mild climate, palm-lined lakeside promenades, and proximity to Milan and Zurich make Lugano an exceptional choice for hosting the next Veda Studies retreat. 

Where is the retreat?

The teaching sessions of our retreat take place in Hotel Pestallozzi*** in the centre of town and at just a stone's throw from the lake and the beautiful Parco Ciani. The hotel has a nice, bright, large meeting room that is perfect for welcoming the many participants we expect from all around the world. It also serves good healthy vegetarian food for lunch and dinners, and if you want you can book your accommodation here too.

Where can I stay?

The retreat registration is separate from the accommodation this time. You decide where you would like to stay. Of course, you are more than welcome to book a room at the Pestalozzi hotel. They offer a variety of rooms at affordable rates, from basic single rooms with shared facilities to premium rooms with a large king bed. However, if you would like to stay elsewhere, whether that is a more basic or a more luxurious hotel, or maybe in one of the many bed & breakfasts, the choice is yours (see below).

The Pestalozzi Hotel

If you would like to stay in the retreat hotel, we advise you to book it as early as possible. You may get a discount, but we will send you a possible discount code later. These are the rooms you can choose from, but more information can be found on the hotel's website. Please note that Veda Studies cannot make a booking for you. 

Can I stay elsewhere?

For Veda Studies it doesn't matter where you are staying. If you would like to stay in a different hotel or bed & breakfast, make sure it's at walking distance from the Pestalozzi hotel. You can check websites such as Airbnb.com and Booking.com, but certainly also look up the offers on the hotels' websites. You may want to look for a room that you can still cancel, e.g. up to a few days in advance. Here are a few example hotels with the walking distance in minutes.

 - Hotel Splendide Royal***** (15 min)

 - Villa Castagnola***** (15 min)

 - Hotel Lugano Dante**** (5 min)

 - Best Western Bellevue**** (15 min)

 - Hotel Lido Seegarten**** (15 min)

 - Hotel De La Paix**** (20 min)

 - Hotel Zurigo Downtown*** (2 min)

 - Hotel Ceresio*** (3 min)

 - Acquarello Hotel*** (5 min)

 - Hotel Walter Au Lac*** (10 min) 

 - Hotel International Au Lac*** (10 min)

Room sharing & traveling with family or friend

If you come alone and want to avoid paying for a single room, you can maybe share a room with another participant. Once you are registered for the retreat itself, you will be added to a special course environment on our website where you can interact with other participants and see if someone else wants to share. If you already know someone to share a room with, go ahead and make a booking for two. If you want to bring one or more friends or family members who do not want to join the Vedic chanting sessions, they are more than welcome for the rest of the program (meals, outings). Note that the Pestallozi hotel has several cheap single rooms available with shared facilities.

PARTICIPATION FEE

The participation fee this retreat is as follows:

➔ Until 31 December 2025, super-early bird: € 1.247

➔ Until 31 March 2026, early-bird: €1.347

➔ Until 31 August 2026, regular: €1.447

You can pre-register for the event from 20 October. If you do so by 1 January 2026, you will have the chance to secure your spot for the super-early bird fee. Upon acceptance of your registration, we will send a confirmation the first week of January and invite you to confirm your booking with a payment within 5 days. Our decision is primarily based on whether you have finished or will finish the Foundation Course before the retreat starts. There are new Foundation Courses starting in January, April and September. If you would like to pay in instalments, that's also possible (more information follows in the confirmation).

Instalment plan

We will send  more information about the instalment plan with the confirmation email that follows in the second half of December.

What is included?

  ✓ 5x vegetarian lunches

  ✓ welcome dinner & farewell dinner

  ✓ gāyatrī upāsana practices

  ✓ Vedic chanting lessons by Shantala 

  ✓ practice materials, workbook & online recordings

What is not included?

  ✗ accommodation

  ✗ breakfasts

  ✗ 3 dinners

  ✗ international airfare, visa fees

  ✗ airport transfer to/from Lugano

  ✗ travel & medical insurance (recommended)

  ✗ cancellation insurance (recommended)

  ✗ personal purchases / expenses

FOR WHO IS THIS RETREAT?

It is essential that you are familiar with Shantala’s teaching style and the Vedic chanting tradition from her lineage. These are the minimum requirements for joining the retreat:

  ✓ Successfully completed Foundation Course before the retreat

  ✓ Knowledge of Veda chanting rules as taught in our lineage

  ✓ No smoking or drinking alcohol during the retreat

  ✓ Only vegetarian food will be served

  ✓ Dress appropriately for traditional Indian teachings 

The retreat is not for:

   ✗ Those who did not yet finish the Foundation Course before the retreat

   ✗ Those completely new to chanting & Sanskrit

   ✗ Those who do not intend to follow the live sessions at the retreat

   ✗ Those who just want to have an holiday-style retreat in Italy

   ✗ Those who have not studied previously with Shantala

YOUR TEACHER

The retreat is developed and taught by Shantala Sriramaiah. Born and raised in Bangalore, India, she studied Sanskrit and chanting from an early age, as part of her family tradition as well as in school. Much of her inspiration comes from her mother Saroja, who taught chanting classes in their family home for over 30 years. She continues studies with various Vedic scholars and pundits, including Guruji M.S. Sreenivasan from the Challakere Brothers, and brings all their teachings to these courses. Shantala is the founder of Veda Studies and has taughter Vedic chanting to thousands of students from around the world.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW

If you would like to join, pre-register now so we know you are seriously interested in coming to Switzerland. You can immediately book a hotel in Lugano, but we highly recommend to book a room that can still be cancelled. Through the Pestalozzi hotel, rooms can be cancelled. Note that many hotels will only open up their reservation systems for October 2026 by the end of 2025 or even later. So, you may not see all availability yet. You can also look for flights, but we recommend the same. The event is in principle confirmed but we give a final confirmation only early January, and payments also follow from 2026.

How long until we meet at Lugano?

HOW TO GET TO LUGANO?

Lugano is easy to reach by road, rails and air. By car, it’s a little over 200 km (125 miles) from Zurich, taking around 2h30 depending on traffic (note: you must cross the Gotthard tunnel or pass, or the San Bernardino pass). From Milan the distance is roughly 80 km (50 miles), with a drive time of about 1h15. Milan Malpensa (MXP) is the closest airport and has a direct rail connection of approximately 1h45. From Milan Linate (LIN), allow for a transfer into Milan’s metro and rail network, with a total travel time of around 2 hours. And from Zurich Airport (ZRH), you can take a train with a connection in Zurich HB and reach Lugano in about 2h30. The hotel is just a 15 minutes walk through the town centre.

By plane

The nearest airport is Milano Malpensa International Airport (MXP), which is just a 0h55 drive from/to Lugano. You can also fly to Milano Linate or Milano Bergamo Orio al Serio but they are a bit further away by car (1h20 and 1h40, respectively). They are well connected by public transport, but it just takes you longer. If you get a good international connection to either airport, you may consider them.

By car

Lugano is easily reachable by car, at about 0h55 from Milan's ring road (1h15 from downtown). If you come from Northern Switzerland, such as Zurich, bear in mind that you must pass through the Saint Gotthard (Gottardo) or San Bernardino tunnels. Especially the first 17.5km long tunnel may have long waiting times! There are some mountain passes leading into the canton of Ticino, but at the end of October, they may be (temporarily) closed due to snow fall. Always check your route beforehand.

By train & bus

Lugano has its own train station, with direct connections to Milano, Milano Malpensa Airport, Luzern and Zurich. There are also various long distance bus services that connect Lugano, including www.flixbus.com.

Car rental

It may make sense to rent a car at the airport, especially if you arrive at Milano Bergamo Orio-al-Serio, Milano Linate, or airports farther (e.g. Pisa or Geneva). If you have a few extra days, you may want to explore the other beautiful lakes (Maggiore, Como, Garda), or one or more cities, the stunning coastline, the high Alps, or one of the many cultural sites. You can always contact Edgar for some suggestions.

LEISURE TIME

Why not extend the Veda Studies retreat with a few extra days in the Lugano region, Switzerland or Northern Italy? Even if you arrive just a few days early or stay just a few days longer, you will find plenty of opportunities to explore this amazing part of Europe. The lakes, the mountains, the old villages, and several big cities to choose from, there is enough to keep yourself busy. It is also the best way to make your (intercontinental) travel a bit less stressful. The retreat days are 100% focused on teaching. There will be some time to relax, to go into the city centre, or to go for a short walk, but there will no time reserved for touristical outings. Therefore, we advise you to create your own travel plan.

Veda Studies will organise an informal leisure program on the day before the retreat, Tuesday 27 October, and maybe also the day after the retreat. We are not yet sure what, but it could be a boat tour on the lake, have lunch or dinner in a nice place, go for a hike to the lovely village of Gandria, or ascent to Monte Bré by funicular. It would be lovely if you spend some more time with us. More information follows.

If you want to explore Switzerland, you can opt for train and car.  Visit incredible places like Zermatt, Luzern, Interlaken and Zurich, or drive over mountain passes such as San Gottardo or Furka. You simply can't go wrong, it's beautiful everywhere. For Northern Italy we recommend hiring a car. From Lugano, you can easily get to Lago di Como, Lago d’Iseo, and Lago di Garda, as well as towns like Como, Bellagio, Bergamo, Brescia, and Verona, and of course Milano. If you would like to discover even more of Italy, cities like Turin, Genova, Pisa, Lucca, Venice, Cremona, Bologna, and Florence, are all easy to reach within 2.5 to 5 hours. All these places are more than worth it. For places further away, we recommend taking a flight, e.g. to Rome, Naples, or Palermo. If you book on time, there will be plenty of affordable tickets available.

Wherever you choose to go before or after the retreat, in this part of the world you simply cannot go wrong. Everything is beautiful, everything is fascinating, and the food is fantastic in every place.  

© Veda Studies Sagl - 2025