¸¸.•*`*•☆Baba Shripadji☆•*`*•.¸¸

  
      From the first day I met him, my life became a series of incredible events  The initial glimpse was classic; beneath a huge ancient tree that had been revered with a circular platform built up around it's base sat a lone man wrapped casually in hand loomed cloth, dread locks spread over his shoulders and he was surrounded by an air of deep contentment and peace.

      Shripad Babaji was a sadhu of the old school.  Once I had asked him what he had gotten from his Guru.  Without missing a beat he answered, "Vairag" ( total relinquishment).  This I found to be true.

      Until the day he left his mortal body, Babaji was true to himself and the sadhu tradition. He actually cared far too little for his own bodily existence.  He was full of care and also careless.  His own burning desire was to make anyone around him increase their love and complete attachment to God and nothing else.  Absolutely nothing else.  None were spared that came near.  It was not always easy, not ever initially easy to understand at the time, but his teachings by actual example and situation would unfold and their meaning would be revealed sometimes even several years later.  

      Babaji called it " the wholey man's workshop", (double meaning pun intended), the living teaching as handed down from preceptor to pupil for generations. Babaji's memorable teachings live on in his beloved's hearts.      

        Shantananda Bharti

        Dharamkot, Dharamsala
           June 3,2013

                                                        ☆¸.•°*♥ हरी ॐ *ღ☆¸.•°*

Bhagsu Naag Temple Darshan *ღ☆¸.•°*♥ हरी ॐ Holy Waterfall ~ Dharamkot ~

 

Just 2 km from McLeod Ganj, the lovely Headquarters
of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, is the ancient Bhagsunag Temple dedicated to 
Lord Shiva. There is a natural stream that continually fills the pools of this lovely 
mountain Temple!

      Bhagsu Nag Mandir is an ancient temple believed to be built in Treta Yug
(around 9,100 years ago) bu King Bhagsu of Rajasthan.  Once during his reign
there was a severe drought in his capital, Ajmer.  His subjects, represented by 
their local chiefs, threatened to abandon the kingdom if the situation persisted. 
Concerned for his people the king set out in pursuit of water.  Three days of his
quest lead him to the holy Naagdal Lake, situated at a height of approx. 18,000
ft.  This area was inhabited by the rulers of the Naag Dynasty.  The Naags are
powerful religio-mythical snakes of the King Cobra species that are considered
demi-gods and are companions, also adornments, of Lord Shiva. The lake is 
thought by the locals to be sacred and to have medicinal properties.  Being a 
wizard and adept in magic, King Bhagsu put all the water of Naag Dal Lake into
his kamandalu ( magic pot).  He then started a journey back to his province in
Rajasthan.  But it was late in the evening so he decided to stay for the night at 
the place where the Bhagsu Naag Temple is now situated.
       Meanwhile, the local King Naag Shankar and other locals were shocked
to see the lake empty within less than a few hours.  They followed his footprints
and reached the place where King Bhagsu was staying. There and then a battle
ensued between King Naag Shankar and King Bhagsu.  During the fight the
vessel containing the lake's water fell to the ground and turned into natural
streams and waterfalls.  Being a devotee and manifestation of Lord Shiva,
king Naag Shankar was a divine being and virtually invincible.  King Bhagsu
realized this after he was defeated.  he asked for forgiveness, grace, and
blessings from King Naag Shankar.  He also prayed that his kingdom be
granted water resources.  Naag Shankar gave him a boon that from henseforth
the place would be known and referred to by King Bhagsu's name first, and
subsequently by his name, Naag Shankar.  Thus, this place came to be called
Bhagsu Naag.
        In the beginning of Kali Yuga, approx. 5,100 years ago, King Dharam
Chand was directed in a dream by Lord Shiva to build a temple here to bring
prosperity to the region.  Both Dharamshala and Dharamkot have been named
after this king Dharam Chand.

A short distance from the Temple one reaches this entrance spot...and sees
that the Waterfall is at quite a distance!  It's actually this long but lovely walk
around this Himalayan mountain! Down below one can see people, among
them monks, having a holy bath in the flowing stream!!

                         Here, closer to the waterfall, are also these blue-covered huts.

When I told Swami Jnananandaji that I was 

staying this Summer at Dharamkot, just above 

McLeod Ganj, Swamiji said that he had been living

 here for some time very long ago, in his youth. 

He then told me that there was a holy waterfall 

where he used to bath and that many Tibetan monks

also used to come there for a holy bath.

  (`*•.¸(`*•.¸,♥,¸.•*´)¸.•*´) 

 ♥«•OM MANI PADME HUM•»♥
 (¸.•*´(¸.•*’´♥`’*•.¸)`*•.¸)