The ecstasy of the Unseen in the visible world is the splendour of the Divine in the form of the River Gangaji at Rishikesh, at the base of the Himalayas!

"Wanting what is outside is a bait that will trap you.
Step out onto sky through the round threshold.
Be alone in your search for absolute aloneness.

Be a bowl thrown out on the ocean,
not a bowl held out for more going from kitchen to kitchen.
Time is bright, then dark, warm and cold by turns.
Live at the springhead where the flowing begins."*

Om! Om! Om!

*Rumi  ~The Big Red Book~ Coleman Barks

~*A Heaven on Earth*~ Just above the Dalai Lama's Headquarters,Upper Dharamkot, McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala ~*~

                                                                             
                                                                           

                                                                       ~*~ OM ~*~

Dharamkot, Dharamsala ...poster

In Himalayas, Dharamkot, Dharamsala this Summer up to the Monsoons. Magical!

Be Like Graceful Ganga!!

Be like Graceful Ganga,
Accepting whatever offered,
Still flowing, uncomplaining,
Spirit sparkling clear!

    ~*~ AUM ~*~

 

Choose a path! ~*~

Pick a way, the one most appealing to you!
Then keep on the path moving forward!
Om! You will reach your goal! ~*~

Saw the Himalayan Range! Ah! It silenced my mind & proclaimed Divinity, "I am Love come down to Earth!"

The Magnificent Dauladhar Mountain Range of Himalayas from Kangra Distt.

Haridwar Kumbha Mela ☀*1974☼ Baba Sripadji, Sri Anandamayi Ma, Sadhus and Friends

                                 

                                          .¸¸.•*`*•.✽(¯`••´¯)
                                                           .*•.¸.•*★•.¸¸.•*`*• ☆
                                                   Haridwar Khumbh Mela 1974
                

                                           Maji at Kumbha Mela Haridwar 1974

 

Baba Sripadji

                                                           Babaji with Sant Dasji

L to R:  Sri Vishnu Dasji, 'Russi Radha' (Prof. Natalya Sazanova), Sri Bhanu Bhai,
Sri Radha Mohan and Sri Asim Krishna Dasji beside the Ganga at the Kumbha Mela  1974

                                                                   

                                             Swami Vishnu Dasji of Maharashtra

                                            Baba Sripadji with That mystical smile!
                                                     
                                              ☀*Haridwar Kumbha Mela 1974☼

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•»♥
 (¸.•*´(¸.•*’´♥`’*•.¸)`*•.¸)

Graceful Gangaji at Kaudiyala ~*~ The Tent Retreat ~*~

 

Sri Suneet Joshiji

                                            See the Divine Being in the Fire!! Shaktanand!!

...Just a ten min. walk down the mountain to this quiet beach by the Ganga.
Om!

Vashishtha Gufa Along the Ganges *ღ*¸.•°*♥ हरीॐ♥*°•.¸*ღ*

            Swami Purushottamanandaji Maharaj, the renowned grand disciple
of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and disciple of Swami Brahmanandaji
arrived at this Vashishtha Gufa in 1928. Since then he had been performing
'tapas' (austerities) occupying this cave for more than 25 yrs. 'til a small
Kutia was made for him near the cave's entrance.  Still he is the amazing
inspired Gurudevji to several brilliant yogis like Swami Bhumananda Puri,
and Swami Nirvedananda Puri. It was in 1955 that Swami Jnanananda Giri
came to this ashram at Vashishtha Gufa and was to spend much time there
among other young swamis receiving the discourses of Maharajji from the
"Yoga Vashishtha Maha Puran" and many blessings. These stories one has
heard and discussed again and again with Swamiji over the years.
          When Swami Purushottamanandji Maharaj first arrived at the Gufa
it was actually all surrounded with tall trees and jungle! And even now
there are wonderful huge trees at the Gufa's entrance.
         For over 30 years he occupied this cave up to his Mahasamadhi on
Feb.13, 1961~ It was Maha Shivratri.

       In the earliest years when Maharajji started staying in the Gufa, it is said
that a lion used to come daily at sunset from across the river and sleep at the
entrance of the cave while Maharajji used to stay inside at the  farthest end
of the cave.  This went on for about a year and then the lion stopped coming.
    

                                                    The majestic beauty of Gangaji

         In the words of Swami Jnananandaji, "The charm of this forest retreat
was due to it's natural setting.  Living there was in itself an austerity.  One
slept on the river sand that cushioned the floor of the large cave.  Cooking
was done on a wood fire, in the open, with only a sheet of canvas overhead
to give shelter from the rain and wind.  Every sadhu knows only too well
that the fires of divine aspiration burn brightest when life is simple,
independent, and in touch with nature..."

                                                                   Vashishtha Gufa

         Maharishi Vashishtha is one of the Saptrishis ( 7 great sages ) a Brahm
Rishi and manasputra of Lord Brahma, the Sadguru of his time possessing
20 kala's,(divine arts) with perfect knowledge of the full cosmos and of God!
         After the death of his 100 sons he, along with his wife Arundhati, came
down  from his Gurukul at the banks of the river Beas to journey South and
passed this way by the Ganga banks to perform tapas ( austerities) for a few
hundred years.
          The Gufa itself is situated over 20 kms. North of Rishikesh and 10 kms.
South of Byasi on the main road to Devprayag.  The cave itself is said to have
been sealed only in the last few years, that it went on for several kms. and that
Siddhas (divine beings) have been coming here to do tapas in their subtle
bodies since thousands of years. It is one of my favorite places in the India,
there is such beauty and a wondrous powerful energy here!!

                                     "Those who have the eyes to see, let them see!"

            One has only to follow the small light at the end of this long dark cave,
and sit silently before the great Shivlingam and white image of  Vashishthaji,
and in moments one is swept up and away in the ecstatic vibrations and most
mystical experience of That Inner Depth which is beyond words!! It is a Pure
Grace that lifts one out of oneself and into the soul presence of the Divine.
And even if once this has happened,  it is never forgotten and the way here
has been mapped-out in the heart forever!
                                        This is the Grace of a Realized Saint.

                                                The Spirit of Maharishi Vashishthaji ~
                                                        Swami Purushottamanandji Maharaj.
                                                                                               

            Just North of Vashishtha Gufa was this amazing sight
                                                 of great light flooding Heavenly Grace!

                                                   *ღ*¸.•°*♥ हरीॐ♥*°•.¸*ღ*

            *ღ*'.¸.•°*♥ हरीॐ♥*°•.¸.'*☆*

Sri Radhashtami ~*Sept 23,2012*~ Sri Barsana Dham

"Radha Rani ki Jai! Maha Rani ki Jai!

Shri Barsane Wali ki Jai! Jai! Jai!"

Sri Radhaji's birthday is tomorrow, 8th day of the waxing moon.

It is celebrated ecstatically every year in her birthplace of Shriji

Mandir in Barsana. In the wee hours before the break of day the

devotees and lovers of Sri Radha and Krsna begin coming into 

the village from all directions and even far far away places. They

first start the barefoot walk on the 'parikrama marg', on a sacred 

footpath that circumambulates  the entire area of the village of

Barsana including it's surrounding forest, hills, and holy bathing tanks,

Sankhari Khor, the Radha kund at Gahvarvan, Moor Kuti, Maan

Mandir, the Shri Vallabhacharya Batak, the Jaipur Mandir, and finally 

over these hills to the most amazing temple of Shriji Mandir itself. 

This special day becomes filled with Bhaktas, Saints, Sadhus, 

Vaishnavas, and joyful Vrijvasis all singing, dancing, and worshiping 

the glory that is Shri Radha and Shri Krsna!

                          " Vrajeshwari, Vrajadhipe, Shri Radhike Namastute!"

Badrinath ~ Dattatreya Rama Rao Parvatikarji Maharaj

 

  Swami Parvatikarji Maharaj  in Badrinath

Vina Maharajji

Vina Maharajji  Badrinath Dham

                      Swami Parvatikarji Maharaj and Baba Sripadji Sri Badrinathji c. 1975

    Swami Dattatreya Rama Rao Parvatikarji (1916-1990), is seen here
playing his 'Brahma Veena', as he called it, at the Badrinath Temple.
    He said it was the only one left in existence and that he had to help in the
making of it himself, getting several strings added to the lower side (like a
harp).  It had a truly mystical sound.  Swamiji would be here during the entire
season that the presiding deity resided in Badri Nath Dham. Because of an
 introduction letter from Babaji, I was able to stay as a guest with a family
of Swamiji's dear desciples, who succeeded in persuading me to stay on
one month instead of three days! He would daily sit in the temple compound
and would teach me the swaras, and when others would come we would all
sing kirtana lead by him. "Sriman Narayan, Narayan". Interesting was his
morning practice of first having bath in Tapt Kund, a natural hot mineral
spring, and then immediately having an ice cold bath in the grace-filled
river of Alakananda.  And after this he would do yogasanas in the sunshine
beside the river, ending them with Shishasana, headstand, and that alone for at
least 15 mins.
          
   Although Swamiji spent all his Spring and Summer days in Sri Badrinath
Dham, we were surprised to see that his own 'Ishtadev', form of worship
was Sri Narsinghji Bhagavan! That amazing image could be held in one
hand, and he was seated on a throne with the child Prahladji on one knee
and Sri Laxmi Devi on the other.
   Whenever I set with Swamiji in inside the temple area we would sing
and he would tell us amazing stories of the grace of Sri Badri Narayana,
and His devotees.  Only once did I see him in Sri Vrindavan, when there
was the special music festival there in Niddhi Van of Swami Hari Dasji
Samaro.
         Several times He has been on TV, the 'Door Darshan featured
 him playing his unique 'Brahma Veena' and singing beautiful bhajans.
          He is one of the very beautiful saints of India whose grace and
blessings I will always treasure.
                 
                                                          

                                                                Baba Sripadji in Badrinath
                                                                 

                                                                     Swami Vimalanandaji

                                                                               

                                                                               

                                                                             

Swami Vimalanandaji and Baba Sripadji at Badrinathji 

just before Deevali!!   

     

                                               
                                                                 
                                                        ~*~ Jai Jai Badri Vishal! ~*~