IN WHISPERS

Sandeep Narayan: How a Himalayan Motorcycling Adventure Peaked into Spiritual Experience

Join Sandeep Narayan, a much sought-after Carnatic vocalist, on his journey through icy peaks as he pushes his boundaries and gets a taste of the spiritual in a Himalayan adventure with Sadhguru and other motorcyclists.

Interviewer: How was your first experience in the Himalayas on two wheels?

Pushing Boundaries

Sandeep: Wheels or no wheels, this was the first time I went into the Himalayan region. It was a completely new experience for me. The Himalayas were not the only thing that was new. I had gone for short rides on my own, mostly on the highways or in the city, but I had never ridden a motorcycle myself on such a long journey through such a different terrain.

During Cauvery Calling, I got the opportunity to ride pillion for many segments of the massive rally, and began enjoying being on a motorcycle. Throughout the rally, the motorcyclists kept telling me, “You should also learn to ride.” So, when the Cauvery Calling rally ended, I got a friend’s motorcycle and learned to ride within Chennai. Earlier this year, I upgraded to an adventure motorcycle.

Before that, I had asked Sadhguru, “If I join the Himalayan ride, will I be able to manage in such a terrain?” He assured me that I was riding well enough and that the Himalayan roads wouldn’t be too advanced. In any case, he asked me to practice a little bit more before the ride!

My first motorcycle was a Benelli Leoncino 500, which is a scrambler. It was a fantastic motorcycle for somebody who has never ridden before. I think Sadhguru called it a “bicycle with a motor!” It’s also very nimble and smooth, which helped me get comfortable early on.

Getting Ready for the Motorcycle Adventure

Sometime before the Himalayan ride, Sadhguru suggested I should get a motorcycle more suited for longer journeys, which could also handle the change in terrain a little better. So six months before the journey, we got a Triumph Tiger 850 Sport. That made a huge difference, as this motorcycle was much bigger, more powerful, and gave a smoother, more comfortable ride.

Within a span of two years, I went from never riding a motorcycle in my life to suddenly riding in the Himalayas with everyone. And during those two years, I hardly got a chance to ride because of the lockdown, but I still got there, and I think I did pretty well! It was definitely a lot of fun.

I wouldn’t say it was easy; there were some stretches which were difficult. I rode cautiously even if I couldn’t keep up with Sadhguru or the other riders in the front. I played it safe when I needed to, but most of the time, I was able to keep up with them. I took it as a challenge to get better at riding comfortably, without pushing it too much.

Approaching Kedarnath Through Music

Interviewer:  Tell me a little more about what happened in the Himalayas. We have heard people speak about the landslide. Besides that, is there anything that you’d like to share?

Sandeep: When we reached Kedarnath temple, a huge crowd had gathered. I couldn’t really experience the temple or the space in the way that I like to, whether it is an energized space or not. I don’t like crowded places and generally keep away. But, when we went back to the room, Sadhguru said we all should go back to the temple if we want. To me, he suggested that I should sing a song there.

So we went back to the temple, and though usually these experiential sorts of things don’t happen to me in temples, I felt something strong. As we sat there, I felt the desire to sing even more. I always enjoy singing in such spaces, where there are mountains and nature all around. The spiritual side, for me, always comes through my music. When I practice, perform at a concert, or when I’m really deep into my music, something changes inside me, and I feel different.

When Singing Turns Into a Spiritual Experience

When I sang there, I had a desire to just sit with my eyes closed for a long time. I’m generally not the type of a person who sits with his eyes closed for extended periods of time, whether it is in a temple or otherwise. But something felt different for me that day. I even ended up singing another song – it’s like it was trying to come out of me, and I needed to get it out of my system. First, I sang a song which speaks about the attributes of Shiva and references many temples around India devoted to him, including Kedarnath. The second song I sang was about Kashi Vishweshwara.

It was just a few of us around there, including a few of our meditators, and they said it was a really nice experience to sit there and hear me sing. There is definitely something in those mountains. Even while riding there, I could feel it. The air is so much clearer and the water is flowing – there is something about just being there. When I’m in Chennai, the whole body feels different.

This was my first visit to the Himalayas, and it got very overwhelming at times in a good way because of so many things. It was beautiful. While still in the middle of the trip, I was already planning the next one. There’s so much to take in; you can’t do it in one trip. When you’re there, you just get that sense that you’re just getting a small taste.

Himalayas Calling

Live concerts are just starting up now, after a gap of almost 2 years, owing to the pandemic. After getting back to the routine, we could do another trip to the Himalayas. I would also like to ride around other major places in India with some friends. But definitely, I will have to go to the Himalayas again. I don’t think it’s a “one-and-done” sort of place. I want to experience these mountains in different ways and at different times.