Kanhangad - 6th Visit

Note: This is one of our regular trip to Kanhangad. Not all personal experiences are shared here unless wished by the one who experience it. Those experiences or emotions or feelings shared in these posts are at reader's discretion.

Nityananda Samadhi Temple built above the 45 caves

After nother trip to the divine place of Kanhangad and few other places in Kerala and Karnataka back home to share it to all divine souls.

Kanhangad

As usual, the entire team met at Mangalore Central, 6 were already in the Bangalore train and the rest of 14 people met at Mangalore railway station and boarded the same train to reach Kanhangad.  After about 1 hour 15 minutes, we reached Kanhangad station and took 5 autos to the ashram.

We quickly spread into the ashram rooms and after a quick briefing about what the entire trip is going to be like, we freshened up and soon we all went into the 45 caves that is the major part of the ashram. Of these 45 enclosures, a few caves are in which Bade Baba himself meditated. We all sat by turn in that cave for few minutes before spreading out into the cave enclosures of one's choice.

After that, as the bells rang for the Nityananda Arati at the Samadhi temple, we left the caves and attended the arati followed by the arati at Swami Jananada Samadhi temple. 

Swami Janananda Samadhi Temple

Then, after lunch, we all left to Padiyar Swamiji's house. As all our trips, we made our visit to the round table built by Bade Baba, where he sat and spoke about future events to public that surprised everyone as it appeared in the next day's newspaper. From here is just a few steps to Padiyar Swami's Samadhi and house. All details of these places have been mentioned in the posts related to our earlier visits. (Click to read) After visiting the samadhi, everyone spread out into different rooms of Swamiji's house, wherever one felt connected to and meditated. After meditating, we all sat in the hall and talked for sometime, when Ganapathyji made us some tea.

Round Table built by Bade Baba at Kushal Nagar, Kanhangad

Padiyar Swamiji's bedroom

In a sitting room of Padiyar Swamiji's home

The paduka said to have been given by Bade Baba to Padiyar Swamiji, which was well-preserved by Swamiji in an enclosed casket, that still remains in the glass casket

We then walked back at 6:30 p.m back to the ashram, where we had decided to do a "chuttuvilakku" arati. This is an occasion where all the lamps in and around the Samadhi Temple is lit with lamps. This was the first time in our visits that we had this done and the entire night looked just beautiful. As the arati began, the sound of bells, drums and the arati lamps along with all the lit lamps made the evening look splendid. To top it all, exactly at the time of arati, electricity went of for a few minutes that made everything look so naturally divine. Only the lamps glowed all around and the Bade Baba's huge panchaloha idol shimmered in the glory of the night lamps. We sang a few songs here and then then left for the arati at Swami Janananda's temple. A

The glory of night arati with lamps lit

The glory of night arati with lamps lit

The glory of night arati with lamps lit

A magnificent view when electricity temporarily went off fora a few minutes during arati

The glory of night arati with lamps lit

The glory of night arati with lamps lit

After our first this visit, is the first time we had come to Kanhangad on a Friday and that has it's own significance because there is a powerful "Sati" Temple in the ashram, the darshan of whom can only be got on Fridays, since the arati is only done on Fridays. Soon after the ashram aratis we moved towards the Maa Sati temple and look part in the arati. The energy here is high and this could be felt even when the temple used to be closed. The temple has a huge compound space around it none are allowed to enter into it, but is allowed to have darshan only from out while the arati is going on. Even inside the temple, there are three doors within which is the idol of Maa (picture on the left) After being in the vicinity and taking the prasad and kumkum, we left towards our rooms to do the Sri Vidya Sadhana. The level 2 groups sat in one room while level 1 group did sadhana in the other room. It was almost midnight and we had to sleep early as we had to get up early next morning at 4 a.m. for the abhishekham. 

Temple of Maa Sati

The next morning we all were up at the Samadhi temple at 5 a.m. and all had a divine time with the rose water and milk abhishekham of Bade Baba. This is the only time one gets to enter the shrine and actually touch Bade Baba's idol. If one is connected at this moment of abhishekam one could experience his divine grace in any form. We also did abhishekham for Swami Janananda Swami's idol in the temple below. Since there was enough time between breakfast and havan, some moved into the caves to meditate. Then, after breakfast, we sat at the temple below and spent a few moments talking and then moved up for the Mruthunjaya and Ganapathy Homam. The homams lasted for about 2 hours and after this as scheduled, we left for Guruvan, the forest in which were Bade Baba's tapas caves.

The Mruthunjaya & Ganapathy Homan in the Kerala tradition

The Mruthunjaya & Ganapathy Homan in the Kerala tradition

After reaching Guruvan, everyone spread out doing different things - some were taking bath in Papanashini Ganga, some entered and explored the caves, some meditated at the temple, while some listened to Swami Vidyanand, who is living here since he was 9 years of age (now he is 42). All details of these places have been mentioned in the posts related to our earlier visits. (Click to read)

On the hill above Guruvan Caves

On the hill above Guruvan Caves

On the hill above Guruvan Caves

At Swami Vidyanand's living place at Guruvan

The ashtasiddhi lingas now with a shed constructed over it.

On the hill above Guruvan Caves with Swami Vidyananda

The Nityananda Temple at Guruvan

The idol in Nityananda Temple at Guruvan

Swami Vidyananda The Nityananda Temple at Guruvan

Back in the temple after being in the caves

Everyone explored the caves and had their own experiences to carry back. My experience this time in the cave was just like the same observation i had made in the last post. The cave did look more accommodating this time like it had happened last time. This time were able to crawl in more further into the wet spaces filled with mud, water, spiders, frogs and bats (no bats were visible this time). Interestingly, last time we had reached a space from where we had clicked bats hanging down and that space was not so accomodating last time, but this time many were able to get into that space and sit for a while. This time was able to shoot the video of this end of the cave with Shruti's help and me and Shruti spent some quality time meditating in here, while all others had left with Swami Vidyanand to explore the hill above. i was keen to capture this in video and this time a close look at the caves showed that more outlets that were not visible last time was visible this time. The mud from the rock seemed to have been giving away. i cannot emphasize more on this mysterious cave. The experiences are just splendid here.  More than visiting this physical cave, it is my strongest feeling that one has to enter this cave in total silence, reverence, respect, and total total total awareness to experience. This is an astral world in itself, another dimension existing here. The respect and reverence to this holy cave should be to such an extent that even every step one keeps on any structure here must be with reverence as it is holy. Any form of life one encounters here must be treated and respected divinely. Every drop of water that drips on to oneself must be felt as the nectar of the divine. With total humility, respect and love for the divine masters if one enters in here, they are bound to be blessed. Deepest gratitude and salutation to all holy siddhas and Bade Baba for providing us these opportunities to move in the vicinity of this divine place. Pawnesh while in the cave shared that he heard the OM sound in the cave, which he told me he was able to record it. This was heard by none other. Such ways, there are many mystical things that many have seen and experienced, which many wish to keep within themselves every time. i must add that without their blessings this is not possible for no one that we know has had the opportunity of going into these caves to such ends and having had the opportunity to meditate in these caves, as everybody is dreaded with the fear of it's pitch dark existence and the known fact of snakes all around in this forest hill.

After everyone cleaned themselves up, and after the arati there, Swami Vidyanand was so kind to make everyone black tea, which he offered all with so much of love. Two of the sadhaks from Mumbai had to leave from here as they had scheduled their visit only for two days. After offering our gratitude to him, we left the place. This time we had to wait and walk for sometime until we got autos as we moved back in different groups back to the ashram. We had dinner and then under the huge pipal tree in front of the ashram caves, we all gathered and sung our hearts out for an hour or so. Thus our second day came to an end. 

Me and Arjun had planned to leave on the third day to Mookambika in Kollur near Udupi, and three others, Shyam bhai, Pratap, and RamSingh from Goa had planned to leave to Quilandy and Thallasery to meet two avadhuts with Ganapathyji. Swami Vijayananda of Bevinkoppa had been giving leads to this visit for a long time. Now just after this sankirtan everything just changed and now it was decided that me and Arjun would also join them to meet the Avdhutas and then we could proceed from there to Mookambika. Moreover, the entire Goa team also wished to join us though they had their train booking the next day. They decided that they would catch the train from Quilandy itself rather than wasting time traveling back to Kanhangad. Immediately Ganapathyji called up for a cab and one was fixed to leave next morning at 5 a.m. Initially, i was confused a bit with the sudden and quick change. i had always wanted to visit to these places down South Kerala but just with the least crowd but then wished to just go with the flow as His wish. We quickly went to our rooms and did Sri Vidya sadhana and were off to bed. Next morning, waking up at 4 a.m. all were ready by 5:30 a.m. by which time the cab arrived. The rest of the team had their scheduled trains the next day evening and they could not join as the trip down to South would be late. So, they were to stay back at the ashram and continue with their visit to Anand Ashram in Kanhangad, another divine place of grace. However, the team who stayed back  preferred going back to Guruvan again the next day before they continued on their respective journeys back home.


We all thank Bade Baba and all holy Siddhas for everything. Gratitude.

Next post will be posting about:

• The interesting encounters with two living Avadhoots without body consciousness.
• Visiting the ashram and place where Bade Baba was found as an infant in a jungle and was brought up as a child by Shri Ishwar Iyer.
• Jeeva Samadhi of a Siddha - Surya Narayan Swami
• A visit to Mookambika temple situated in Kollur, one of the seven pilgrimages which were created by Parashurama and the place where Adi Shankaracharya had the ecstatic vision of the Mother and the place where he first wrote and sung the "Soundarya Lahiri". Nityanand Baba was here for three years before he moved towards Ganeshpuri. There is an ashram of Bade Baba here.

To read all Kanhangad experiences click here.

Punyatithi of Bhagwan Nityananda

click for high resolution image

It is the 50th anniversary of Bhagwan Nityananda who left the body on August 8, 1961

The best way to offer your love to Bade Baba and connect with him is in the way he taught - SILENCE..

All those who have been touched by Bhagwan may like to spend some time in contemplation and connecting to him on this day.

Download the chant 

OM NAMO BHAGWATHE NITYANANDAYA

Baba Nityananda Tapovan

The Kalikadevi Temple in the distance (from a nearby hill)

Sirsangi now, was something that Vijayanand Swami had never told us. When we visited this place, the person who was taking us around had donated an acre of land to Anand Ashram just above this temple area on the descent of the hill next to the temple.  This was donated for the making of an ashram for Baba Nityananda, which Swamiji named this place as "Tapovan". Swamiji wanted this person to take us to visit this place and it was only now that he revealed that we were going there by walk. The entire area of unpolluted nature had beautiful vibrations and i knew somewhere that there could not be an ideal place like this! When we reached the open land, we both chose a place to sit and when i looked around, i was pleasantly surprised to see everything there. There was cactus, there was bilva patra trees and there were the real tulsi plant. The leaves when chewed relished a very pure and strong taste of the original tusli leaves. If these holy trees and plants grew here, what more indication would one need of the presence of the Divine himself? We sat here for a long time while Shri. Annigeri, Mallikarjun and their worker went to different locations doing certain inspections. Frankly speaking, after sitting here, i was not feeling to get and leave from here. The sky was bright, yet the breeze was cool and everything looked green around and in the near distance could be seen the powerful temple of Kalikadevi. A divine place! Very fortunate to be here and i was only exclaiming again and again to him that this is a wonderful place. He said, Swamiji wanted to know this through us and thus he was waiting for our inputs. He looked very happy to have given this land for this noble and divine work. He also revealed that Swamiji had lived around in this place doing sadhana for two years. Then coming back to the cab, we left back to him home, where his family loving served us a rich satvik Karnataka meal. As we sat resting for a while, three cute little calves tied in a distance took our attention often. Finally, thanking him for everything we took leave of the entire family.

Site for Baba Nityanand Tapovan for seekers

On the way, as we passed through high stony hills, Mallikarjun pointed out to me the Bhaskaracharya Hill. This was the hill on which Bhaskaracharya, who was a Surya Tapasvi, did his sadhana. He was born in a village in Bijapur (around 160 kms from here). It is said that it was here that with his tapobal, Bhaskaracharyaji he had made the Sun stop for 9 hours. He was the first to discover gravity 500 years before Sir Isaac Newton (read more about him). Note: These are all verbal information and need more research

Now we were heading towards Sogal, around, 40 kms from here, travelling through the stony hills and green land. All the while i was noticing only one thing when i looked out, the Malaprabha reservoir. This water, also known as Renukasagar reservoir i was seeing from Anand Ashram itself which is very close to the Ashram and the place where Maharishi Sumedha did tapas and took samadhi. All these areas that we traveled, the reservoir was visible, which showed that all these holy lands were situated on it's banks.

Click for larger image

Lord Dattatreya had walked these divine places of North Karnataka before he was last seen at Ganagapura, North Karnataka, which is only 275 kms from here. Ganagapura. Even Baba Nityanand is well taken as the incarnation of Lord Dattatreya and these areas so much signify the presence of all incarnations mentioned in the song "Jai Jai Aarti Nityananda...." It contains the lines:

Prathama Datta Rupa Gheshi (First you took the form of Lord Dattatreya) 

Dwitiya Shripada Hoshi (secondly you incarnated as Shripad Vallabh)

Tritiya Narahari Hoshi (thirdly you incarnated as Narasimha Saraswati)

Ganagapuri Lilaa Daavishi (You did leelas  in Ganagapuri)

Even Swami Samarth was in Akkalkot, which is 75 km further up which is and Maanik Prabhu was 100 km further north in Bidar, North Karnataka. Further the aarti also narrates of:

Maanik Prabhu Tu Hoshi (You are Manik Prabhu)

Akkalkot Swami Hoshi (You are Akkalkot Swami)

Shiradi Sai Nath Hoshi (You are Shiradi's Sai Baba)

Kali Yugi Nityananda Banashi (In Kali yuga you became Nityananda)

On the way to Sogal, we were in for a little more surprise as Mallikarjun asked the car to be deviated to a small road to the left and halted at what looked like a small house. As we got out, he said that this was a Nityanand Ashram, known as Mullur Ashram and this was where Swami Vijayanand lived for more than two years doing his sadhana around here and in the rocky caves of Sogal. This house had just one big room and looked like a normal house, but the moment we entered we could sense the divinity of this place. 

A look at the large photo of Baba Nityananda only brought so much of peace and love; his presence was so strong all around in these areas and especially in this little hall. Along with padukas on the altar, there were pictures of many saints and siddhas who lived around. It also had a statue of Sogal ajja, who lived and did sadhana in caves in Sogal where he had taken samadhi. This is where we were heading to, and had now stopped to visit this little divine place. After meditating for sometime here, we got back into the cab to head further. i called up Mohan Swami's ashram to see if he was there and fortunately he was there. Then we went to Sogal Hill and met him and returned back to the ashram.

To read Kanhangad experiences click here.

Gurupoornima At Anand Ashram

This post contains a vivid journey of the exploration of North Karnataka - a welcoming land of Holy Siddhas. Our gratitude to all Siddha gurus and Bade Baba for their blessings and guidance to such divine places and people. .

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This time, just a few weeks before Guru Poornima, Swami Vijayananda from Anand Ashram, Bevinkoppa, called me up and invited me and a fellow seeker to come over to the ashram if free to attend a function and  for sadhana. We then decided to spend time here for this year's Gurupoornima and thus informed Swamiji  of our coming.

On reaching the place late evening on June 14, 2011, we were glad to meet the little boys who came running as we reaching the ashram, to pick up our bags and escort us to our room.

After freshening up we both met Swamiji, prostrated and took his blessings. He happily told us that next day of Guru Poornima there were some events and we could participate in it. The main function was to release a Kannada book on Baba Nityananda "Nityanandapradam" by Shri Harikrishna Rao. 

"Nityanandapradam" by Shri Harikrishna Rao

Along with this function, he had organized this time Bal Bhojan for the poor children and people of the village. 

Also, the ashram was to distribute free raincoats and school bags to the poor school children followed by bhajans of Bade Baba. We both then soon had the night meal there and spent some time visiting the areas in the ashram. Swamiji invited us the next morning to meditate with him from 6 am to 8 am which we very gladly accepted. The next morning we woke up at 5 am and freshening ourselves up, we went to Swamiji's meditating room where there were a few more devotees of Bade Baba, and meditated with Swamiji. Then, having breakfast, we moved to the Nityananda Dhyan Mandir where there was the morning puja, after which a whole team of musicians and singers sang very beautiful songs of Bade Baba in Kannada, Marathi and Hindi. The aura is the temple was just great with the melodious voices of the devotees accompanied by the tabla and harmonium. During the short break between the program, we meditated in the underground cave that was constructed by Swamji close to a samadhi of a Siddha. Then, on coming back we saw the function had not yet begun and thus we sat meditating in the "Kutir" the hut in the ashram where he earlier did sadhana and he said we could do sadhana anywhere we wished in the ashram. This place is a very nice place to do sadhana and the last time i came here i had wished to be here in the Kutir and this time we could spend good time here.

At noon the function began in the open space besides the temple and the function went well with 8 guests and felicitations of them all. Swamiji's speech, as usual, was full of important messages filled with humour. The book was released. 

It was a different experience having food sitting outside on a stone near the Kutir along with the villagers who had spread themselves out on the open land of the ashram. Then, taking some rest in our room, we spent some more time in the evening in the Kutir.

After this we were fortunate to find Swamiji giving us some time who sat with us on a chair outside in the night under the light of the lamp that lit the entrance of the dining hall. I knew he was tired but his smile and enthusiasm to spend time with us was still intact. 

In a brief conversation, he said few important things about the anahad naad. He also mentioned how to differentiate between the logic and inner voice. He mentioned that while decision making or seeking answers one must not delay on the answers that come. The first thing that comes to mind, must be grabbed. He compared it to selectively buying something in a shop. If an instant decision is not taken in choosing between two things, the mind gets confused. The more the delay the more the confusion. Hence, he said, the selection must be spontaneous and instant, and thus not to postpone decisions. He added that whatever you chose, if done with surrender, the Guru always guides and protects through that decision or choice. We then had dinner with Swamiji. After dinner, we rested for a while and at 11 p.m. did Sri Vidya sadhana in the Kutir till late after midnight.

The underground cave

Next morning we woke up at 4:30 a.m. and after freshening up, meditated in the caves. When we came out the day was out and we saw Swamiji sitting in his room. Taking his blessings, we went back to our room and for breakfast we were glad to have Swamiji with us again. This time he spoke on many incidents from scriptures - about Ram, Sita, Ravan, Ganesh, Krisha - what they signify and how all these are the qualities within us and how instead of catching these meanings, people have forgotten it all and are only behind glorifying them as Gods. He spoke for a long time and then we took leave of him stating that we wanted to visit the Mallikarjun temple that was established by Maharishi Sumedha by the banks of the Malaprabha river. This place is a 10-minute walk from the ashram. He happily asked us to go there. We both walked to the place and sat down at the very  ancient Shivalinga temple. Great energies and experiences here. Just outside this old temple is a huge neem tree with concrete around it to sit, which is considered to be the samadhi place of Maharishi Sumedha. We then walked back to the ashram.

When we reached back, we were happy to hear that Swamiji had arranged to take us to two samadhi sites of two siddhas in close by vicinity. Along with some more devotees from Mumbai and places around, we left in two cars where Swamiji eagerly wanted us to visit.

Photos of Siddha Shridharananda, Swami Shivanand Paramahamsa and Siddha Maatananda Swami

Siddha Parampujya Shridharananda Swamiji

First, Swamiji took us to the Samadhi Mandir of Siddha Parampujya Shridharananda Swamiji. There is an underground cave where the Siddha did his tapas and above his cave is the Samadhi Mandir. Just opposite to this temple is a Dhyana Mandir that is built as the replica of Dhyana Mandirs of Swami Shivanand Paramahamsa of Kerala. This dhyana mandir had photos of three siddhas - Siddha Shridharananda, Swami Shivanand Paramahamsa and Siddha Maatananda Swami (guru of Mohan Swami). Now, i could see some good connections :) Swami Shivanand Paramahamsa is spotted in the famous photograph where Baba Nityananda is seated on his lap. Siddha Maatananda's Jeeva Samadhi is in Sogal (30 kms from this place) where Swami Mohan lives in his ashram (read my previous visits to him)

Where Siddha Shridharananda left his body

The energies were very evident in this place. The Dhyana Mandir is powerful for meditation and so is the house where the Siddha lived. The Samadhi Mandir was very vibrant and we preferred to sit here, which is located above the underground caves that he had done his tapas in. Swamiji allowed us both to sit there and they went to the home of the Siddha, asking us to come there directly after we finished. The home, the samadhi and the dhyana temple are all in one compound. After sitting there for sometime, we then joined Swamiji and others who was sitting in the home of the Siddha. Puffed rice and tea was offered to us all and Swamiji was again stuck in a welcoming formality. I could see Swamiji trying to explain to them that we had to leave and all this was not required, but in vain. Swamiji was made to sit in the Samadhi temple and honored with flowers. As Swamiji stepped down I was giggling looking deliberately at him and Swamiji laughed and said that these things had to be adhered to even unwillingly (for the sentiments of the people). Laughing, we got into the vehicles and left for the next place.

Just a few minutes and we reached another divine place - the samadhi place of Shri Jagadguru Madiwaleshwar. As we moved around this huge place, we looked at paintings hung on the walls depicting the miracles he did. Everything was in Kannada, so it took me some time to read, but then Swamiji quickly narrated some of the Siddha's feats. The story of the Siddha who when an emergency struck when ghee got over during the making of puris in  a celebration and the disciples ran to the guru, who asked them to fetch water from the river. No sooner they brought the water and poured into the pan, what poured out was ghee. Next day, the guru asked the disciples if they had bought ghee from the market and given it back to the river, and when the disciples looked surprised, he asked them to do so that nothing comes for free. Returning home, i tried in vain to search about the Siddhas from these areas and unfortunately not a single information about them exists.

It was quite obvious by now how precious this geographical belt was. Swamiji also told me that this is a very divine belt extending from Kanhangad to these areas in North Karnataka. Swamiji humorously told us stories about how Siddhas or people on this path are troubled and sometimes literally harassed. He told us his own stories but every time he narrated one there sure was something humorous in it and i couldn't help tossing in there with uncontrollable laughter. He too laughed like a child with us.

We reached the ashram by 3:30 p.m. and had food. Since we had to leave back home the same evening, we took some rest. Swamiji said he would drop us till Bailhongal and he did so at 6 p.m. From there we took a bus back home.

Quite evidently, things were opening up. i never ever imagined that these places here are such divine places, connected with so much of mythology and a Siddha bhoomi. i am sure, i wanted to come back here to explore for more and also write more (as and when i am directed to with His wish). All i knew was that not just these two, there were hundreds of Samadhis in this area,  known and unknown, even if known i could see clearly that people could not relate to what they have amongst their daily lives.

After two days, we both came back and explore one full day more places under the guidance of Swamiji and those were real mines, which i will be putting up in the next post. 

Our heartfelt gratitude to Swami Vijayanandji, Bade Baba, and all holy Siddhas.

~ Namo Siddhanam ~

Kanhangad - July 2011

Offering these words and all our experiences at the feet of Bade Baba for His constant love, guidance, protection and support.

Here i am today, back after a mesmerizing, refreshing, and blessed trip from Bade Baba's abode in Kanhangad. Bade Baba is everywhere, then why Kanhangad? Sure he is, but this is the place where he himself spent quite number of years before he left to Ganeshpuri leaving it at the hands of Swami Janananda who later developed this place to close to what it is today. On my first visit, i never ever knew things would change spiritually so much and this is what pulled me here for the fifth time, every time having the divine company of more and more seekers. (Read previous visits) As all other visits, this visit also was for a divine purpose and i am sure all those who came here also have their own bunch of gifts now or in the coming time :) For me, this place has been a very powerful and divine source to connect with Bade Baba. This place has those high energies which when one gets into, it becomes easier to connect to any divine being.

This time after a few indications the dates were fixed for me to leave and it was put up on the blog. I wasn't expecting more than 5-6 people but we had 16 seekers this time, but the only difference was that even though the trip was fixed only a week before and many could not make urgent arrangements, still many of them atleast made it for a day after which they returned; which shows the spirit and call of this enchanting place. Only 8 people stayed back for all the three days, few left after one day and few after two days.

As usual, this trip from start till the end had only miracles and wonderful happenings. Tickets were easily booked at the nth hour, if someone dropped their plans coming at the last minute due to unavoidable circumstances, there was somebody else who popped in at the last minute. This time we had, from Bangalore - Malliga aunty, Ravi, Geetu, Puneet and a last moment entry of Pintu who just joined the last moment without a ticket and things got arranged in the train itself. Satyaprabha aunty who was almost disappointed at her last moment cancellation due to job work, found herself in the train to atleast make it for the Sunday. More surprisingly, two girls from Bangalore Geeta and Dipti left from Bangalore the last moment in a bus and reached Kanhangad on their own; though it was their first trip here. Ravikumar from Bangalore also came on his own one day earlier. Also two days earlier a couple Krupa and her hubby had reached who preferred coming early because of their schedules. Two long distance seekers also were there with us for 3 days - Shruti from Delhi and Ashutosh from Kolkatta who flew to Bangalore and boarded the train with others. i reached Mangalore early morning 5:30 and as usual went to uncle Vishwanath's house where he and Taqueela (his German Shepherd dog) waited. i have a great time with Taqueela always. Uncle said he would not be able to join us as someone in his home was ill and admitted and i can only offer my love as gratitude for the love and care he offers for our journey here everytime. Though noone else was at his home, he insistingly made tea and bread toast for breakfast. He and me, both bad cooks, made each other burnt toasts with ghee and had it without complaints with giggles and laughter. Uncle then came to drop me at Mangalore station on the morning of 19th June where Arjun also joined us. At 8:30 a.m.the train arrived in which all other seekers from Bangalore were there. i cannot described the feelings when one meet people of similar frequencies. Soon there were hugs and laughter on the platform as Ravi bought everyone idlis after which the train moved. Uncle Vishwanath bid us goodbye as he returned home with a face that showed how much he missed coming with us.

From here the journey began, the fun, the thrill, the connections. All said that they could feel the vibrations even as the train was closer to Kanhangad. The climate here was sunny and of the three days we stayed here, not a single day did it rain thus making it very easy for us to visit places and do sadhana in open places. We reached Kanhangad by 10:30 and took autos to the ashram. Ganapathyji was kind enough to arrange everything for us and had left the rooms open for us while he had gone to Guruvan with the couple who had come 2 days earlier. Soon, everyone freshened up and a quick plan was made how to work out things as people were staying for 1, 2, and 3 days. Geeta and Dipti said they had only one Sunday and could not adjust at any cost a single more day, but by the end of the day they made if for another day as they wanted to visit Guruvan the next day.

The places of visit and interests are already mentioned in previous posts, so i would not make a repeated mention of it here. (Read previous visits) What i wish to focus more on this time's visit is the awe of seeing so many seekers; moreover this was not an organized trip but was just a personal visit, but soon that turned into a happy group visit together. This time, 10 out of 16 seekers were first-time visitors here but what i noticed with all of them this time were that all were very dedicated in each and every activity that happened there.

The first day we went up the Samadhi temple for arati, then Janananda Swami's Samadhi temple for the arati and then a delicious meal at the Annapurneshwari Hall. The meal only contains of simple polished rice and sambaar with a spoonful of curry and a pickle, but that is all that one needs to have a fulfilling yet light meal. After that we all went into the caves and then we sat talking for sometime. Luckily there was the same team of satsang with musical instruments, whom we had encountered last time who sing only for 30 mins. When they said, we could sing something, we seized the opportunity by singing "Samba Sadashiva" and "Hari Hari bol". We ended the satsang with "Jai Jai Aarti Nityananda".  Quickly, we planned for the next day's move and it was going to be quite a busy day since we had too many things to do and places to cover. From the time we entered the ashram the vibes could be felt. Ravi, Geetu, Puneet and Satyaprabhaji left since they had only planned for a day.

Next day, we all woke up at 4 a.m. and reached the Nityananda Swami Samadhi temple situated above the caves by 5 a.m. Soon the priest came in and the Milk and tender coconut abhishekham of Baba Nityananda began, which was a blissful experience. This is the only time one gets to touch (bathe) the panchaloha statue of Bade Baba. After this was the milk abhishekham of Janananda Swami. Breakfast began after this which is as early as 8 in the morning. After breakfast we continued sitting in the same place talking of the stories and leelas of Bade Baba in and around Kanhangad and Mangalore. By then, it was time for the Gana homam and Mruthunjaya homam which was for an hour and this was blissfully divine being here doing the homam in the Kerala way. For homans, one has to make the necessary contributions and take vouchers the previous day. One person can do the homams for themselves or even extend it to their family members. This voucher is then presented to the priest who keeps it at the feet of Bade Baba and the next day performs homa with everyone around in the names of those in whose names the vouchers were. i have found this homa a very wonderful experience all the times i visited here.

After the homams and taking the prasad, we left towards Padiyar Swami's house guided by Ganapathyji. We paid homage to Swamiji's samadhi in the compound of his home, where Bade Baba had directed him to stay all his life doing seva. We walked into the house that seemed welcoming as ever with vibrations of peace and tranquility. After a walk through all the rooms, each settled down in the places they "felt" like sitting. After meditation, we gathered back in the hall and talked for a while and sung "Achyutham Keshavam..." and "Jai Jai Aarati Nityananda". It was 2:30 in the afternoon and we planned to now leave as we had to go to the ashram, have food and leave from Guruvan. On the way back we did not miss sitting at the conference table built by Bade Baba, where he sat and shared inputs of incidents that were yet to happen. We then reached the ashram, had lunch and left for Guruvan.

In Padiyar Swami's Bedroom

The experience to this time's visit to Guruvan was just splendid! This time it was even more wonderful because the new temple was built and the new idol was installed. (Read) This time the caves had something new than the last time. As we all went into the caves, i noticed that the caves had more water due to rains and also the sides of the caves looked wider, which i felt was probably due to the cleaning work done around here. This time we observed more space in there to go further and be able to stand for last time i remember we were all almost on knees. This time the girls had the lead with torches in their hands in the pitch-dark tunnel. 

Bats in the cave of Bade Baba

Shruti, Geeta and Dipti. i was awed to see these girls had almost reached where the bats where very close upside down and these were visible when the camera flash flashed onto their shining eyes staring at everyone. After we came out the second set of people went in and came out. Shruti then stated that she wanted to sit a while in the dark cave. Now, this had never struck to me ever during the previous visits here, so i joined her and we went to the end of the dark cave and sat in total pitch darkness offing our flashlights. Meditating sitting on the wet muddy rocks in total darkness in this divine cave was beyond words. After about 30 minutes we came out and meditated at the entrance of the cave while others were spread out in and around the temple meditating. Soon it was time for arati in new temple and we went down where Swami Vidyananda did the arati and offered everyone the teertha. i told him about the caves looking wider and more comfortable and asked about the cleaning process that could have been done. i was taken aback when he replied that noone touches the caves for any reason as they want it to be as it was since it was Bade Baba's place. The ones who had visited last time knew this could not be really true since all had noticed that the cave structure was looking different and was more accommodative. Swami Vidyananda just smiled and said "He" only knows what it is and insisted no work has been done in the caves. With a eye-widened look at each other, with curiosity and excitement but still not wanting to analyze anything we moved from the place.

The ashta siddhi lingas are now in having a constructed form around it as a shelter. i remember last time we did some meditation around these ashta lingas that were made by Bade Baba himself symbolizing the astha siddhis after his 6-year long tapas in the cave here. i used to always wonder why would Bade Baba want to show build something like this as where was the need for an Avadhoota like him to demonstrate his siddhis. None could answer my thought for a long time until i met Vijayanand Swami once (read experiences at his ashram) and while sitting with him in his ashram he just casually came up with the answer. He said, "Do you know what is the meaning of those eight ashta lingas symbolizing the 8 siddhis in Guruvan? The cave there is you. Going into the cave is going within. When you go in and do tapas you get the 8 siddhis and these siddhis are not to be held within but discarded out, meaning not to get entangled in it. That is what Bade Baba symbolized by constructing the 8 ashta siddhi lingas outside the cave." :)

We requested Swami Vidyananda that we wanted to see the old statue also of Bade Baba that was in the old temple and he was kind enough to show it in the room that was kept locked. Then since two of them had to leave this evening after a day's extension of their unplanned trip, we took leave of Swami Vidyananda and left the beautiful place. Ganapathyji had joined us here too and it was nice to have him with us as he made arrangements for our travel by calling up autos, etc. We reached the ashram and then resumed attending the aratis at both samadhi temples. This night few of us spent talking at Nityananda Baba's Samadhi temple while few were in their rooms. Here we decided that next day early morning 5:30 a.m. we would meditate in the caves as and when one wanted and then in the morning after breakfast we would visit Anand Ashram of Ramdas Swami, another divine place one must visit once if you are here in Kanhangad.

So, did it happen and after time in the caves the next morning, after breakfast, we left for Anand Ashram around 6 kms from here. Every time we come here, we have come in late evenings and this was the first time we came in broad daylight. This ashram was started by Swami Ramdas (also known as Pappa) who was an enlightened being and i have found him all the places i have been travelling which shows his strong connection - in Padiyar Swamiji's house, in Vijayanand Swami's ashram in Bevinkoppa and even when we were in Tiruvanamali Hills i was surprised to see that Pappaji even did tapas in one of the caves of Ramana Maharishi. I asked how to Swamiji how Pappaji had been in Tiruvanamalai Hills and he said that Pappaji went for tapas in caves after having a vision of Ramana Maharishi and it was here that Pappaji had his enlightenment. This was mentioned by Pappaji once that during the opening of this ashram which was almost at the same time Bade Baba was building the caves,  Bade Baba was invited for this opening and Baba at a time walked in and sat down with everyone around him. He sat silent. He was offered a tender coconut and he quietly drank it. After sitting there for about 10 minutes in absolute silence, Baba got up and left.

We had come before thrice here but never got an opportunity to meet the current Swamiji - Swami Muktananda, who looks after the ashram after the Samadhi of Ramdass Swami, Mataji, and Swami Satchidananda but never could meet him because he was either not there or busy. But this time, as we entered on speaking to a sevak at the gate in Malayalam for guidance in the ashram, he asked us to go to information center first. As we walked towards it, he came along with us and said that if we wished we could meet Swamiji after going to the information center and i immediately told him that we would meet Swamiji first and he immediately took us to the room where he was sitting.

We took blessings from him and sat as he enquired from which place we were from. On telling him that we were from different places in India, he laughed and asked us to sit. His messages then were very, very simple, universal and clear. As he spoke with great care and love he cited practical examples of overcoming certain situations in the spiritual life. His basic and most simple message was of loving anything and everything around and carrying the constant awareness of how alive everything is by offering gratitude to every little thing that we encounter in our life. He mentioned about carrying the gratitude because with that emotion one would acknowledge constantly the presence of divinity in that person or thing. He gave few examples of how to even own gratitude to the envelope that brought a letter safely in it to you, owning gratitude to the spoon and plate that serve us constantly, etc. He continued giving more practical examples of daily life - that if you go to any toilet and when you see no latch, you realize how importance that latch is, further if there is latch and no bucket or mug how important that bucket would be or if everything is there and there is no pipe for water. As he spoke this straight example one could deeply know the importance and relevance of every single thing there. i was getting aware of the floor, the light, the air, the clothes, and every little thing around me and the importance of it as he spoke. How true it is that all these things that are easily taken for granted. Swamiji said that by developing this awareness and feeling all the time one would gradually start seeing the divinity in everything. This ashram is where the Rama Nama chanting goes on incessantly, by which the mantra slowly seeps in, Swamiji said. He also said that when you chant any mantra constantly it seeps into your consciousness and brings the changes. He said there are three types of chants or rather stages of chanting - verbal (chant that can be heard), internal (chant that goes on in the mind with or without lip movement), silent (internal chanting). Swamiji only talked about universality and the wellbeing of every living thing, samastha loka sukhino bhavantu. The love that he spoke was, was quite evident in his speech and actions. After about an hour in here, Swamiji blessed us with biscuits and some reading material and invited us to come and stay for a day or two the next time we came here. He then guided us briefly on the places to visit in the ashram. Whole-heartedly thanking him, we left the room.

Short video clip of Anand Ashram, Kanhangad

Beautiful info about Swami Ramdas and Anand Ashram, Kanhangad

We then went to where all cow shelter and there were about 40-50 Jersey cows. All were so cute and all had individual name boards behind them. We then took out our biscuit packets and after eating from as prasad from Swamiji, offered the rest to all those cows who were just relishing it. Then we moved to the satsang hall, which is a very divine hall and you can sense it the moment you enter. Here we also got to get into the room in which Pappaji stayed and this room has very strong vibrations that is quite obvious. This room contained his bed, chairs and other daily use materials. After being for with the chanting and meditating, we then moved towards the three samadhis of Pappaji, Mataji and their disciple Swami Satchidananda, where chantings are constantly going on. We had time to sit for a good time in all three samadhi places. From there, we went to the library and then moved towards the mess, where coupons were given and we were soon sitting in the mess. We had a very satvik meal here, washed our plates and soon left back to the ashram. i am very grateful to Ganapathyji who never comes here but this time on our insistence joined us and took us around to all these places we had never visited before.

On reaching the ashram, everyone got busy packing their stuff since evening was everyone's train back to Bangalore and me and Arjun were also supposed to get in the same train till Mangalore from where i had my bus at night back home. These last few moments we spent time in Swami Janananda's room which is one of the best spots here to meditate and then meditated for sometime in the caves. Finally, at 4:30 p.m. my purpose of this time's visit seemed crystal clear and evident and we took leave of the ashram people and Ganapathyji. We then reached the station and boarded our trains back to our destinations. While in the train, the ever concerned and loving Vishwanath Uncle called up and said he would come to pick us up. He did and we were soon at his home, as usual, being stuffed by chapatis, curry, fruits, sweets and what not. No one can escape Uncle's forced love of food treat, not even Arjun who had perspiration gulping down the badam milk that uncle made him drink after he had stuffed about 4 chappatis. I could hear him squeakingly telling me that he has never had more than two for dinner. i promised uncle that next time i come i will take an oath from him before entering and his laughed confidently conveyed that there would be no escape, come what may.

Gratitude to all those who came with the zeal and did sadhana and sankirtan together and moved together to so many places with so much of devotion and faith. i am sure it has brought each all the blessing it had to, which would be quite evident in the days to come

Here is a video of brief clippings of the 3-day visit.