Fw: And met a saint in a cave near Gangotri..
sangram...@gmail.com
The views expressed in this are personal
Om Sri Sairam
"Sri Sathya Sai Sampoorna Rathri Dhyan Sadhaks"
A group of Sai Devotees meditate overnight
alternate fridays in Chembur Mumbai.Since last two years+ .
And go to Himalayas every year.The third Himalayan trip
this year was to Gangotri- 16-24 June '12.
The neo rich of the country rush to the West through
package tours costing a bomb. And blow up a year's savings.
And drop tongue-twisting names during lunch hours
while describing their trips animatedly..
Exploring India incl the majestic Himalayas is a
lifetime adventure worth every penny.
Overnight Meditation team from Mumbai in Gangotri
Even if one is a serious seeker with little means,
all it takes is just 5k to reach even Gangotri/Yamunotri
via Uttar Kasi from Hardwar,in local transport.
And that includes to and fro transport,outside food and average shelter.
The divine vibes of the Himalayas are sure to
make a silent metaphysical change even in a non believer.
And the overnight meditators of Mumbai did it this year too.
Driven by a deep desire to meet a real saint in any cave,
to spend a night in a tented camp on the banks of Ganges
and to meditate in the Vashisht Gufa where
our dear Swami gave darshan to Swami Purushotamananda.
All targets achieved, the team returned to base camp on 23 Jun.
Team in Meditation over Ganges
We trekked along a tough terrain with two risky spots
on 21st Jun '12 and reached a cave
tucked away in a corner near Gangotri.
Team in search of a cave to find any living saint...near Gangotri
And met Swami Premananda who lives there in all seasons.
According to him, only 7 saints stay put in Gangotri
during the snowfall while the rest of the Janta climb down
and live in Uttarkasi and other lower regions .
How the seven saints in different caves,
live in the most trying climatic conditions
and how they manage their food is a mystery.
He gracefully enquired about all of us and allowed us
to co-meditate with him silently for sometime.
He worships Janaki Ma and keeps chanting Sita Ram.
For such realised souls, Chanting is the only fuel,
that keeps them going. Proof-of-Concept for Namasmarana.
Swami's quotes on that flash in the mind.
25 kms from Gangotri, we stayed overnight
in a hamlet called Harsil.
In tents, on the banks of Ganges.
Picturesque locales. Breathtaking views.
Ensconced by the eternally flowing Ganges.
Simple locals, meaning what they say,
without touch of 'metro manipulations' we are used to.
Tents on the banks of Ganges that is meandering through...
Then the team moved over to Vashishta Gufa near Rishikesh
and meditated in the cave which our Swami visited in 1957
and gave darshan to Swami Purushotamananda long ago.
The vivid description of the event on that day from the published material..
Sri Subbaramiah, President of the Divine Life Society, Venkatagiri, describes what he was able to see from outside the cave, thus:“Even now that picture is imprinted in my memory. I was standing near the entrance of the cave. I could see what was happening. Baba placed His Head on the lap of Swami Purushottamananda and, laid Himself down! Suddenly, His entire body was bathed in divine brilliance. His Head and Face appeared to me to have increased very much in size. Rays of splendour emanated from His face. I was overwhelmed with a strange inexplicable Joy. The time was about 10 p.m.”
When pressed later to divulge the vision, Baba informed us that it was a Vision of Jyothir-Padmanabha! (Lord Vishnu as the Flame of Love-Wisdom) What supreme Karuna! (compassion) What immeasurable Good Fortune!
Swami Purushottamananda passed away on Shivarathri Night, 1961, four years later, during the Lingodbhava Muhurtham – the time Baba manifested the Lingam that Shivaratri.”
Our team meditated in the spot
where Swami gave Jyotir Padmanaba darshan
to Sw. Purushotamananda .
before His divine visit to Delhi by someone
and got blessed by Him and kept in the Ashram.
On our insistance they showed this photo to us.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba with Sh.Purushotamananda in
Vashisht Gufa, near Rishikesh
A book on this entire trip with
awesome photos of the hills will soon be out.
And also blogged.
Sadhana and Seva are the only saviors.
Meditation is not a seperate action with a timeslot.
What we attempt is only preparedness for something bigger.
All actions done with total awareness
and a sense of surrender is the real Meditative state
we prepare ourselves for. Over many births that is..
Jai Sairam
r.chandrashekar
ChemburDust