Swedish woman arrives in Kundapur in search of Sanatana heritage roots
Coastal Talk News | Kundapur
A foreign national originally from Sweden and currently residing in Spain, has travelled all the way to Kundapur in search of the roots of Indian culture and Sanatana Dharma. Indian Sanatana heritage and the core values of Hindu culture continue to captivate people across the globe. A living testament to this is ‘Gauri’, a foreign national from Sweden.
Drawn to Hindu philosophy and traditions for several years, Gauri has dedicated her lifestyle to the love of nature, cow protection, and the practice of yoga and meditation -values deeply intertwined with Indian culture. Whenever time permits, she visits India and makes it a tradition to stay at the Chithrakoota Ayurveda Chikitsalaya in Aloor, Kundapur taluk. Immersing herself in yoga and meditation amidst the lush green surroundings and spending quality time with indigenous cows at the goshala has become her cherished routine.
Out of profound devotion to Hindu Dharma, she embraced the name ‘Gauri’. Her original name is Vilhelmina Sara Asa Petersson. Speaking about her journey, she said “Captivated by Hindu dharma and Sanatana culture, I adopted the name ‘Gauri’ under the guidance and blessings of my guru, Swami Ishananda Saraswati. Currently, I am studying Advaita Vedanta. I deeply admire the peaceful atmosphere of Chitrakoota, the warmth of the staff, and this serene rural setting. This is my third visit here. Being around cows brings me immense mental peace, and the centre provides personalized Ayurvedic care tailored to each individual. Following her stay in Kundapura, she revealed plans to visit the renowned Ramana Maharshi Ashram in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu.
Commenting on Gauri’s dedication, Dr. Rajesh Bayari, Chief Physician and head of Chithrakoota Ayurveda Chikitsalaya, said “Gauri holds a pure and steadfast reverence for Indian Sanatana culture. While staying here, she is constantly chanting the Shiva Panchakshari mantra, ‘Om Namah Shivaya’. Her spiritual dedication and devotion are truly inspiring and delightful to witness.” At a time when many locals are gravitating toward Western lifestyles and drifting away from native traditions, it is a matter of immense pride to witness a foreigner profoundly embracing the culture of India.
