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Spiritual Journey to India June 2015 (Haridwar, Badrinath, Madurai & Rameshwaram)

Every year for the past 5 years Guruji, GuruMa and devotees of Shree Maharishi Bhrigu Ashram of Irvine California, plan a trip to India to visit Shree BrahmaJyoti GuruMa (Babaji) at the Bhrigu ashram in Haridwar. Babaji is Guruji and GuruMa’s Guru.

Haridwar
This year was no different. 9 families a total of 35 people oldest being 75 years of age and the youngest a mere 8 month old baby set off for the trip in late June of 2015. The destinations to visit were planned according to the aadesh given by Bhriguji during Bhrigu divine readings throughout the past year.

There was much excitement in the whole Bhrigu family as the time approached for our travel.

Per the planned date Bhrigu family of 35 people arrived in Haridwar at Babaji’s Ashram. We all assembled in a small room at the ashram where Babaji spends much of her time. Babaji is 93 years of age. She is a God realized soul. She has a constant smile on her face and always ready to help anyone that expresses any problem or discomfort. Even with her age and health issues, it is amazing to see how Babaji is in complete control of the day to day dealings and personnel management of the whole Bhrigu ashram at Haridwar. She has a very calm and cool demeanor with a very soft spoken voice. She has no trace of anger in her - all the qualities of a God realized person.

I cannot put into words the magical feeling of bliss, excitement and anxiety all rolled into one at first sight of Babaji when I entered her room, tears of joy trickling down my face. I can still see her glowing kind smiling face with her beautiful eyes slowly moving around the room acknowledging each and every one present.

The Ashram residents were hustling and bustling with excitement upon our arrival. There were young boys training to become priests currently attending school for their Bachelor and Master degrees in Hindu Vedic religious studies. The simple vegetarian meals made by the Ashram cooks without onions and garlic were simply delicious.

Gau Daan
After a day’s rest, the first of our many planned activities was underway.
Bhrigu Ashram owns and runs a Gau Shaala (cow nursery). All the dairy products for Bhrigu Ashram come from the Gau Shaala cows. Guruji and GuruMa have explained to us the importance of Gau Daan (donation of a cow) in one’s lifetime as narrated in Shreemad Bhagvatam. This year all 9 families took part in Gau Daan. The 2 young priests led the Gau Daan ceremony. The families assembled in the area where the cows are kept and each family was assigned a cow with its calf. My cow’s name was Bharti. A beautiful Gau Daan ceremony took place thereafter. I am lost for words as to the feeling I experienced during the process of Gau Daan.

Badrinath
Next up was the Badrinath trip. During the time of the year we planned the trip it is rainy season in India. The road trip to Badrinath is treacherous with or without the rains. It was all over the local area news that due to the heavy rains and mud slides road to Badrinath may be closed. We were given an aadesh by Bhriguji that we will be making this trip during this time of the year and that the trip will be successful. I had complete faith in Bhriguji’s aadesh that no harm was going to come to anyone of us in the group in making this trip. We all assembled at the decided meeting point at 3.00 am in the morning of our trip to Badrinath. After prayers led by Guruji and GuruMa an entourage of 8 minivans set off on a spiritual journey to Badrinath. Guruji and GuruMa were in touch with each minivan at all times by the use of walkie talkies.

There came a point some 10 kilometers away from Badrinath where the roads were closed due to mud slides. We were told by our minivan drivers to take our luggage and make the rest of our journey by foot. It was pouring down with rain, the conditions were truly treacherous, we had no idea how we would carry our luggage by foot the rest of the way, yet none of this fazed me because I had complete faith in Bhriguji’s words that this journey was going to be successful. We were in the most beautiful Place on earth. We were surrounded by snow covered mountains, with rivers running all over the place, clouds dancing on the mountains all around us. I thought to myself this has to be heaven on earth. We quickly hired a local young man to carry our luggage for the walk and after a couple of treacherous patches of muddy roads, which included a river walk and a very fast run through an area with falling stones, a bus ride and a taxi ride we ALL reached our destination completely unharmed. This is truly GURU KRIPA.

Badrinathji Darshan
Guruji and Guruma picked out beautiful garments for the Badrinath temple deities the day before the Abhishek ceremony that the Bhrigu family would be a part of. The day of the Abhishek was more divine than I could have ever imagined. We were at the temple by 4.00 am in the morning and after sprinkling ourselves with the water from the Tapt Kund (Natural hot springs) we all assembled in the Badrinath temple to participate in the Abhishek ceremony carried out by the temple pujari Shree Ravalji. The Abhishek ceremony was artistically performed and the deities were decorated beautifully with the garments presented by the Bhrigu family. We were also fortunate to have a private meeting and get special blessings from the temple pujari –Shree Ravalji.

In the following days we visited the village of Mana where we visited the Bhrigu gufa (Cave) where Bhrigu Rhishi meditated for hundreds of years. When in the Bhrigu cave there felt a real presence of Bhriguji showering his blessings upon all present. It seemed very peaceful and surreal. We visited the Ved Vyas cave where Shreemad Bhagwat was written by Ved Vyas and Ganesh cave where Lord Ved Vyas narrated the Shreemad Bhagwat to Ganeshji. We also visited Bhim sheela as well as the source of river Saraswati. We also collected water sourced from Manasarovar.

Four days later roads to and from Badrinath were still closed. Guruji and GuruMa decided to get in touch with the US embassy to help our group. The results were fruitful. We were provided with a helicopter service to drop us at the point where our minivan drivers were waiting for us. Each and every member of the Bhrigu family was thrilled especially the children at the prospect of a helicopter ride. The helicopter ride was through the most picturesque scenery I have ever seen. We flew over snow capped mountains with river Alakhnanda running in the valley. The views were breathtaking.

Madurai- Meenakshi Temple
After 2 days rest as per Bhriguji’s aadesh we continued our journey to Madurai (Meenakshi temple) and Rameshwaram.

Meenakshi Devi’s darshan at Meenakshi temple was at a very personal level. The pujari took groups of 7 people and performed arti and special puja for each member in the group. While the arti was performed we were asked to look out for a beautiful sparkle on Meenakshi Devi’s nose. Some of us saw this beautiful sparkle. There after the pujari gave us garlands made out of roses and bilipatra as prashad to each couple. This truly was a heartwarming and blissful experience.

Rameshwaram
Rameshwaram was 4 hours drive from our hotel. We set off at 7.30 am in the morning. The temple closes darshan at 12.30 pm daily. We were not going to make it for the darshan as we were still on the road. We reached there a little shy of 12.30 pm. The temple pujari kept the darshan open for a half hour longer. This can only be Bhrigu Kripa. The pujari took groups of 7 people and performed Abhishek, arti and special puja for each member in the group. There after gave us garlands made out of roses and bilipatra as prashad. While at Rameshwaram we visited the floating stones temple. These were the stones used to build a bridge for Shree Ram to cross the ocean. We visited Panchmukh Hanuman temple and a temple with Shree Ram’s feet. With this we ended our spiritual journey to India 2015.

Conclusion
There was much to learn and take away from this trip. Ordinary families travelling together usually have some family politics or drama when they are stuck together for so many days. There were 35 of us. All of us having different personalities and from different walks of life, young and old. Tensions could run high due to being in an unfamiliar place, adverse weather conditions, dietary changes, constantly travelling and lack of sleep or plain personality clashes. Not once during the 19 days did I sense tension or uneasiness between anyone. Devotees helped each other by sharing medications, helping out when someone was under the weather or anything anyone may need for that matter. We all looked out for each other.

In my understanding the above was true because we all have one thing in common, our Guruji and GuruMa. We all belong to one family- the Bhrigu family. Guruji’s and GuruMa’s daily message to us all is: Live and let live by belonging to Vasudev kutumb (family of the mankind).

Another reason for our conduct is because most of the Bhrigu Ashram devotees have been initiated in Geet Divya Kriya Yoga and meditate daily in the morning.

A practicing devotee is:
• Level headed
• Calm in adverse conditions
• Full of energy
• Focused on the task at hand
• Has less or no anxiety
• Is less moody, mostly cheerful and often fearless.

A practicing devotee will make good choices and live for today rather than dwell on yesterday or be anxious about tomorrow.

Every day during our trip Guruji had morning and evening arti followed by beautiful satsangs and his daily message was:
• Take away I, Me AND Mine in every action we perform.
• Be kind and compassionate to everyone.
• Get rid of your EGO.
• Be forgiving.
• Meditate DAILY with love and devotion to God and your Guru.

While with Guruji and GuruMa we “Eat, Pray and Play”. One is never hungry in their company that is nourishment for your body. There are spiritual lectures mornings, afternoons and evenings that is nourishment for your soul. Guruji says one has been dealt with the cards to live this life per one’s karmas and that “Life is nothing but a divine play” and Guruji and GuruMa are nourishment for the Divine Play.

Guruji and GuruMa I am “forever at your lotus feet”. Thank you for coming into my life and making me realize the true meaning of this human birth.

*** Om tat sat Om ***

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