Sri Swamiji in Himalayas

PUJYA SRI SWAMIJI IN HIMALAYAS

Sri Swamiji in the Himalayas. The very sentence makes one feel very cool, happy and magical.
Sri Swamiji commenced the Himalayas tour very soon after the Navaratri, which had come very soon upon arrival from the grueling 108 days Nada Prasara tour.

Sri Swamiji left Mysore on the 10th morning, after the Friday Abhishekam to Lord Datta Venkateswara. Sri Swamiji passed through Bangalore en route to Delhi. In the evening, at 7.30 PM many devotees had assembled in the conference hall of the Ashoka Hotel where Sri Swamiji gave Darshan. Swami Manas spoke about the Nada Prasara tour, the Navaratri celebrations in Mysore Ashrama and the Himalayas tour.

On 11th Morning, Sri Swamiji flew from Delhi to Kullu in Himachal Pradesh state. The small hilly town has an altitude of about 6000 feet above mean sea level. Sri Swamiji immediately moved to Manali which is about 9000 feet above sea level. The journey up hill through smaller hills and mountains of the Himalayan range is indeed exhilarating. The air was chilly and the temperature drop from Delhi to Kullu was quite stark and feel able.

In the afternoon, Sri Swamiji visited the local shrine dedicated to Sage Jamadagni of Puranic times. The place is purportedly the place where the sage performed penance. Sri Swamiji said that the place is the gateway to Vaikuntha and that here souls wait to enter the Deva Loka. Later, Sri Chakra Puja was held in the conference hall in Kushboo hotel. About 60 persons who had come from several countries to bliss out Sri Swamiji's presence in the Himalayas, attended the program.

On 12th October 2003, Sri Swamiji performed Sri Chakra Puja in front of the residence where He was camping. Later Sri Swamiji trekked to Jogini (Yogini) falls. The water from the falls later contributes to Beas river (Vyas River). Just around was the place where the Pandavas from Maha Bharata had cooked their food.

In the evening, Sri Swamiji spoke and said that there are many great philosophical truths and lessons in all sacred texts of various religions and that narrow minded people gave attention only to the miracles and the like mentioned in those texts.

On 13th, Sri Swamiji made more acclimatization activity and moved up to Rohtang pass. This narrow pass situated in breathtaking lap of the great and giant Himalayan range is situated at an altitude of 13,080 feet above sea level. The stark and empty landscape bereft of any greenery as we were told that the altitude posed the problem for trees and shrubs to grow.

Sri Swamiji sat on a rock and then slept on it for a while and then sat again, had Bhiksha there and walked around. It was a photographer's day. Most of the 60 who had come had brought along cameras of all sizes, shapes and formats. Their gizmos incessantly whizzed at every move of Sri Swamiji.

After spending about 3 hours in that area, the reason for which had been to acclimatize the body, so that it can get used to the high altitude and the extreme lack of oxygen content in the air with lessening pressure as one ascends.

In the evening, after much discussion, it was felt that Sri Swamiji, who had been coughing, should discontinue the trip further unless a helicopter was made available. Efforts to get one seemed quite possible.

On 14th morning, most of those who had come on the tour had Sri Swamiji's Darshan and left for Chandra Tal at 8 AM. They had the faint hope that Sri Swamiji may still make the trip the next day on a helicopter.

In the evening, Sri Swamiji visited the Nicholai Roerich art museum and the Gowri Shankar Temple. The one hour drive was tiring and while sitting on the stone platform at the temple., Sri Swamiji took the decision to return to Mysore the next day. By then the news that traveling by helicopter to Chandra Tal was not permitted by Government of India in the absence of a proper helipad and the high altitude posed another problem.

The message was conveyed to the group already at the lake, about Sri Swamiji's decision to return to Mysore immediately. Those who had gone to the lake spent a freezing night which touched -18 degrees in the mid night.

On 15th morning, Sri Swamiji left Manali for Bangalore passing through Kullu, Buntar and Delhi.

On 16th morning, Sri Swamiji reached Mysore at 09.30 AM.

Sitting in front of the Datta temple in the Mysore Ashrama prayer hall, Sri Swamiji announced that he would be taking up a week of Mauna Vrat (Silence vow) from dawn to dusk. Devotees were invited to participate.

Jaya Guru Datta

Sri Swamiji walking around in the hilly terrain of the Himalayas. Just after the white house is the place where the Pandava princes cooked.
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