H.H. Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji Maharaj (Muniji)
June 2006
   

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PARMARTH 
KAILASH- MANSAROVAR YATRA SPECIAL
 


From June 4 - 19 Pujya Swamiji led a group of 150 yatris from across the world on the sacred, divine journey to Lake Mansarovar and Mt. Kailash in Tibet. See www.parmarth.com/updates/june2006/booklet.pdf  to see the full brochure of the trip including Pujya Swamiji's message and the significance of Kailash and Mansarovar. 

However, this was not an ordinary yatra. It was a true Vishwa Shanti Yatra, 150 people traveling together in the name of bringing peace to all countries of the world. The yatra was led by the following revered saints:

H.H. Pujya Swami Divyanand Teerthji H.H. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji H.H. Pujya Acharya Balkrishanji H.H. Pujya Shri Rasayani Babaji H.H. Pujya Swami Vallabhdas Shastriji H.H. Pujya Swami Santoshanand Devji

 

Futher, this yatra was special because during the course of the yatra we inaugurated several historic achievements in the holy land, including the new halls at Parmarth's ashram in Mansarovar, as well as the new ashram in Paryang, as well as saw the progress of the new ashram under construction at Dirupuk (at an unparalleled height of 4909 meters, 16,106 feet) along the Kailash parikrama route.

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HISTORY OF THE PROJECTS

CONSTRUCTION OF ASHRAM AND MEDICAL CLINIC IN MANSAROVAR:
In June, 1998 when H.H. Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, H.H. Swami Gurusharananandji Maharaj and H.H. Sant Shri Rameshbhai Oza (Pujya Bhaishri) went on yatra to the sacred land of Mansarovar and Mt. Kailash, in Tibet, they saw the desperateness of the local situation. There were no medical facilities for hundreds of kilometers. People frequently suffered and even died from basic, treatable ailments, due to lack of medical attention. There was no indoor place to stay - all had to camp in tents.

 

Pujya Swamiji with Pujya Swami Gurusharananandji and Pujya Bhaishri in 1998 overlooking Mansarovar

Therefore, Pujya Swamiji vowed that -- by the grace of God � He would do something for the local people and for all the pilgrims who travel there.

Two and a half years were spent in discussions with the Chinese government, to get permission for the project. Finally, in November, 2000,  the permission was officially granted to build an ashram and a hospital in the sacred land. Further, this will be the spring board for other much-needed humanitarian projects in the area, including schools, vocational training programs, etc.  

 
 

 

The Governor of Tibet comes to Kathmandu for the official Contract Signing Ceremony

 

On December 14, 2000, Pujya Swamiji flew to Kathmandu, Nepal where a special banquet was thrown in His honor by the Ambassador from China to Nepal. All of the top, concerned Chinese/Tibetan government officials flew from Lhasa to Kathmandu for the final contract-signing ceremony.  On December 15, the official contract was signed, stating (in part), �Under the vision, inspiration and leadership of His Holiness Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati, India Heritage Research Foundation has agreed to provide the Bureau of Foreign Affairs and Tourism of Ngari Prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Region, Peoples Republic of China, with a clinic and Tourist Rest House (ashram) in the holy area of Lake Mansarovar and Mt. Kailash.�

   
 

 
  The Signing of the Official Contract in Kathmandu in December, 2000. 
The Governor of Tibet, Ambassador of China to Nepal and 
the Cultural Minister of Nepal were all present 		 

 

 

Construction began in the Spring of 2001, and the ashram and medical clinic were officially inaugurated in July 2003 by the hands of Pujya Swamiji with Pujya Swami Divyanand Teerthji, Pujya Acharya Kishore Vyasji, Pujya Rasayani Babaji, Pujya Roopchandra Muniji and over 200 pilgrims from across the globe.

 

The official inauguration was attended by all of the local school children, revered lamas, local authorities, and village people, who performed special local songs and dances for the occasion. The village women danced, the village men danced, the school children sang and danced, and the lamas performed a special sacred chant.  Then, the young rishikumars from Parmarth�s gurukul sang and danced along with the local Tibetan village children � the purity of love serving as their bridge across cultures, nationalities, languages and customs. 

Official ribbon is opened in 2003 by Pujya Swamiji with Pujya Swami Divyanand Teerthji,
Pujya Acharya Kishore Vyasji and Pujya Roopchandra Muniji along with
the Village Chief (right) who is also the ashram manager

 
   
 

 

 

 

Official Opening Ceremony of the Parmarth Mansarovar Ashram: (right) Nalini and Kamalini perform a special dance to Shiva. (below) Pujya Swamiji honors the local lamas. (below right): the official plaque is unveiled 

 
 

 

 


 

Parmarth Mansarovar ashram - 16 rooms (of 5-10 beds) + dining hall/kitchen
+ puja/satsang/meditation/katha hall (not shown)

 

Thanks to our devoted room sponsors from around the world:

  • Lily Bafandi, Switzerland
  • Mohanlal Mittal, UK
  • Kotecha Family, UK
  • Urvashiben & Sureshbhai Patel, USA
  • Satya & Krishan Kalra, USA
  • Niruben & Thakorbhai Desai, USA
  • Dineshbhai Bhana & Parivar, New Zealand
  • Soyin Tang, UK
  • Anil Khaitan, India
  • Chandru Kewalramani, UK
  • C.C. and Tarangini Patel, USA
  • Hinduja Foundation, India
  • Snehlata & Late Kanu Shukla, USA
  • Usha & Surender Singla, USA
  • Shyam Sunder Shah, India
  • Dr. Karam Vir and Sudarshan Kapur, UK
  • Madhvi & Viresh Doshi, USA
  • Seeta and J.P. Agarwal and family, India

 

Thanks to Shri Anilbhai & Shri Arunbhai Desai and family from South Africa for sponsoring the medical clinic rooms.
 

CONSTRUCTION OF HALL IN MANSAROVAR:
Since then we have also constructed a beautiful hall on the same premises, for satsang, meditation, puja and katha, and also which can be used as dormitory facilities whenever necessary. The hall has a beautiful view of Mt. Kailash and lies just on the banks of Lake Mansarovar. Thanks to Shri Rameshkumar and Smt. Asha Goenkaji of Dubai for generously sponsoring the hall.

 

The project is truly the grace of God and will continue to be a divine gift to the holy land, to all the Tibetans who live there, and to all the pious pilgrims who cross oceans and continents in order to have a glimpse of the abode of Lord Shiva.

CONSTRUCTION OF ASHRAM IN PARYANG:
During the yatra in July 2003, we had the ground breaking ceremony for a new ashram in Paryang. The land was officially given by the government and construction began in 2005. On June 9-10, 2006 we had the official opening of the Parmarth Kailash Mansarovar Ashram, Paryang, conceived, organized and sponsored by IHRF, the first ashram to be built in this Tibetan town through which all yatris must pass on their way to Mansarovar. It is the last stop before one reaches Mansarovar, and all pilgrims spend the night in this town before continuing on to Mansarovar.

   
   
 

Bhoomi puja for Paryang ashram is performed in July 2003

Now the Paryang ashram is complete!

The ashram has 25 rooms, some doubles, some triples and some larger rooms. All are beautifully furnished. There are also toilet and shower facilities, as well as 2 large halls -- one for puja, satsang, katha and meditation nd one for a dining room. 

   
 

Clockwise from right: official ribbon is opened by Pujya Swamiji with Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa and all yatris as well as Mr. Norbu, the Tibetan man in charge of the project; 
a single room in the ashram;
the beautiful satsang, puja and meditation hall

  
   

Local military and government officials, as well as the principal of the local school came to pay their respects to Pujya Swamiji on the opening of the ashram.

The ashram is already a boon for the town, as we hired local people for the construction and trained them in masonry, carpentry and painting. The ashram will be run and maintained also by local Tibetans. Further, proceeds from the ashram go back into the community, for education, health care and other projects.

Pujya Swamiji is especially committed to the local school where we also visited. He has pledged His support for the school, and has also pledged to build a computer center for the students.

Thanks to our first sponsors of room in Paryang  - - Kishan and Veena Khandelwal of Charlotte, NC, USA and Soyin Tang, UK


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CONSTRUCTION OF ASHRAM IN DIRAPUK (KAILASH):
Each year hundreds of pilgrims undertake the sacred 52 kilometer trek around Mt. Kailash. It is a 3 day, 2 night journey on foot which is believed to absolve one of lifetimes of sin and hence is undertaken by so many pious pilgrims. However, there is no place to stay en route; everyone must camp. Many people fall ill due to the extreme elements.

We are constructing ashrams in Dirapuk (4909meters) and Zuthulpuk (4700 meters) which are the 2 places where pilgrims spend the night. The ashram in Dirapuk is currently under construction and will be completed by September 2006.

Elevation sketch of what the completed Dirapuk ashram will look like,
with the best, clearest and closest darshan of Kailash from every spot!

Dirapuk is the place from where the darshan of Kailash is the clearest, closest and most spectacular. Now, when pilgrims perform the sacred parikrama, they will have safe, indoor facilities in which to stay rather than camping in tents in the wind, cold and high altitude.

Current state of construction at Dirapuk.
The early, heavy snow this year has slowed construction

Thanks to our sponsors for rooms in Dirapuk:

  • Hersha & Hasu Shah, Harrisburg, PA, USA

  • Jayshree and Dr. Rajan Amin, Louisville, KY USA,

  • KD Patel, Harrisburg, PA, USA

  • Drs. Naval & Nila Kant, Lewisburg, PA, USA
  • Manju and Ramesh Patel, Zambia
  • Dr. Narendra & Alka Shah, Chicago, USA
  • Snehlata & Late Kanu Shukla, USA
  

To find out how you, too, can sponsor a room at Dirapuk, on the parikrama route of Mt. Kailash, with divine darshan of Kailash, please contact Sadhvi Bhagwati at bhagwati@parmarth.com

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YATRA DAY TO DAY HIGHLIGHTS

June 4-5  -- Kathmandu
On 4th and 5th of June all yatris gathered together in Kathmandu where we stayed at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Days were filled with sightseeing of the local holy temple, Pashupatinath and Bodhnath. At Pashupatinath we took part in a sacred Shiv abhishek puja and also had satsang in the sacred temple. At Bodhnath temple, it was a truly sacred experience to walk the circumference of the temple, spinning the golden prayer wheels while chanting, "Om Mani Padme Om."

   
   
(left) welcoming yatris at the Hyatt Regency; (right) walking to Pashupatinath Mandir

 

Walking to Pashupatinath Mandir

 
   
  Pujya Swami Divyanand Teerthji, Pujya Swamiji and Pujya Swami Rasayani Babaji sitting outside of the mandir  
 

 

   
   
Bodhnath Mandir

 

Performing parikrama of Bodhnath Mandir

In the evenings we gathered together for dinner followed by programs in which we heard the inspiring, uplifting words of the revered saints and discussed logistic details for the upcoming yatra. Pujya Swamiji spoke on the Journey of life and how our whole lives are yatras. He emphasized that the journey to Mansarovar and Kailash was not just a physical journey, but more importantly a spiritual journey. He said that we must focus as much on our inner yatra as on the outer yatra. It is not about where we reach, but about how and who we are along the way. He advised that our mantra for the yatra should be �less chatting and more chanting.� He emphasized that this yatra was taking us to new, deeper places within ourselves and we must be open and ready for the experience. The yatra is not a sightseeing trip where we chat with friends. Rather, it must be seen as a true, deep pilgrimage to God.

   
   
(left): coming into the hall: (right) Sitting in the hall for prasad

 

The inaugural program on the 5th June was also attended by Shri R.S. Toliaji, the former Chief Secretary of the State of Uttranchal and the current Chief Information Commissioner of Uttranchal, as luckily he was in Katmandu for  official purposes.   

Prayers before the meal

Yatris from USA, Germany and Singapore enjoy dinner

   
 

clockwise from right:
Inaugural Lamp is lit before beginning the official welcome program;

Sadhvi Bhagwati gives an introduction;
Shri Sanjeev Chopraji (Industrial Sec'y Uttranchal) receives blessings from the Saints

  
   

 

   
  Lily Bafandi from Switzerland came all the way to Kathmandu to be with the yatris prior to our departure, even though she could not join for the full yatra. Here she receives blessings and prasad from the Saints  
 

 

   
  Yatris receive their jackets and sleeping bags at the station manned by our divine seva team  
 

 

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June 6  -- The Journey Begins
On early morning of June 6 we left from Kathmandu expecting to reach the Kodari Border (between Nepal and Tibet) by noon so that we could pass quickly though customs and continue on to Zhangmu by mid afternoon. However, the mantra and motto were "This is  yatra" and on yatra the Divine Plan is frequently different from the planned itinerary! At a narrow stretch of mountainous road there had been a large landslide, filling the road with rocks, gravel and debris. A truck coming down the mountain was already stuck and none of our buses could pass over the hill of rocks next to the truck.... while dozens of other Chinese, Nepalese and Indian travelers, drivers and locals stood by and watched, our dynamite team of youth from UK and USA immediately got to work personally clearing the rocks with their own hands and devised an engineering feat for how to allow the buses to pass. Thanks to Nishit, Jeetu, Neeraj, Nikhil, Tony, Antonio and Holly for clearing the way for us and for all the other travelers.

In the meantime, however, Pujya Shankaracharyaji, Pujya Rasayani Babaji, Sanjeev Chopraji and Gurushabd Khalsa had all decided to walk ahead. In the two hours we were stuck, they almost reached the China border on foot!

We had lunch at a beautiful location overlooking the Bhote Koshi river in the lush Nepali Himalayas and then continued on to the border.

The night was spent in Zhangmu at the Hotel Zhangmu, the nicest hotel in the city where, thankfully, the rooms had beds and attached bathrooms.

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June 7-8  -- Zhangmu - Saga
On June 7 morning while the agents and volunteers cleared customs for the yatris, we had a beautiful satsang in the lobby of Hotel Zhangmu, and then departed into the Tibetan mountains and plateaus.

   
   
(left): Satsang in the hotel Zhangmu  (right): filling up at a new gas station. Earlier, all gas had to be carried

 

After Nyalam we stopped at the sacred place of Milarapa's cave. Milarapa was one of the most famous and enlightened Tantric masters and he performed his meditations and sadhana here. We walked down several hundred meters into the cave which lies on the edge of a mountain. Inside the cave Pujya Swamiji spoke about Milarapa, his history and his message. Then, Sadhvi Bhagwati led a meditation, there in the spot where Milarapa himself had meditated. The energy and sacred vibrations were palpable.

   
 

Clockwise from top: meditation in Milarapa's cave;

Tibetan women living near the cave;
view of Milarapa's cave

  
   

 

We continued on from Milarapa's cave to the edge of Lake Pigosto, a huge beautiful sparkling lake that lies between Nyalam and Saga. On the 7th evening we camped at the lake and departed on the 8th morning for Saga.

 

Along the way each day we stopped for hot lunch in beautiful locations along rivers or streams. Weather permitting, we all sat outside, in the clear, crisp mountain sun.

   
   
Enjoying lunch on the river bank

On July 8 we reached to Saga, a small town lying on the Brahmaputra river. Pujya Swamiji, who is world famous for leading Divine Ganga Aarti each evening, and who has started Aarti in Badrinath, Rudra Prayag, Allahabad and Kanpur, decided that -- being so close to this sacred river, this river that is the Mother of so many of India's rivers -- we must perform Her aarti. Hence, we set up a full, beautiful aarti, complete with sound system, speakers, and aartis brought from Rishikesh. Led by Pujya Swamiji, Sadhvi Abha Saraswatiji, Rajubhai Joshi and our divine rishikumars, all yatris sang along to the Divine Aarti as well as Hanuman Chalisa and sankirtan.

After the aarti, Sadhvi Bhagwati led meditation and Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa one of the world's most famous Kundalini Yoga teachers spoke beautiful words on maintaining one's peace, joy, health and gratitude during the challenges of the yatra.

   
   
Aarti on the banks of the Brahmaputra river

 

 

 

   
 

Yatris pray and chant on the banks of the Brahmaputra river, at the aarti

  
   

 

   
   
Devotees pray and meditate while sankirtan is sung

 

   
 

As Pujya Swamiji sings on the banks of the Brahmaputra (right), all yatris pray, sing and are carried to divine realms.

 
   

 

   
   
Pujya Swamiji and the rishikumars show the Tibetans how to perform aarti

 

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June 9 -- Prayang
 
We left Saga in the morning of June 9, stopping at Brahmaputra river to offer our pranams and take achana. The drive which we had expected to take 7-8 hours was completed in only about 5 hours due to great improvement in the roads and the addition of bridges where previously one had had to drive through a river!

 

   
   
Neeraj Nathwani receives blessings and sweets on his birthday;  Michael O'Neil relaxes on the riverbank

 

 

When we reached Paryang, it was truly a homecoming. We were greeted by the sign of "Welcome to the Parmarth Kailash Mansarovar Ashram - Prayang, built by India Heritage Research Foundation" and a beautiful picture of Pujya Swamiji.

Norbu, the Tibetan who had built the ashram under Pujya Swamiji's guidance and leadership, received much praise and adulation for his great work. The rooms are beautiful with high quality sheets, linens and furniture. Everyone also enjoyed hot showers in nice, indoor shower stalls.

For the official inauguration program the local military and village leaders came (see above for details in section on Paryang ashram). 

Prayang Ashram is officially opened. Gurmukh and Nishit Kotecha untie the ribbon with Pujya Swamiji

Pujya Swamiji stands with rishikumars, sevaks and yatris outside at the ashram

   
  Local heads of government and military as well as the school principal came to offer their respects in the form of the traditional Tibetan white shawls with which they garlanded Pujya Swamiji and the other revered saints  
 

 

Shri Hasubhai Shah, President of IHRF in USA
addresses the gathering at the official Paryang opening ceremony
 

   
 

Pujya Swamiji distributed sweets and bindis to all the children. We learned on our last yatra that even more than chocolate the Tibetan children love bindis! They giggled sweetly and shyly as He blessed them all.

 
   

The line got longer and longer as all the village children came to know that there was a Divine Saint distributing blessings, sweets and bindis at the Parmarth ashram. Men, women and children all lined up to receive the gifts.

The next morning prior to departure for Mansarovar, we visited the local school where we brought  huge bag fulls of pens and notebooks as well as enough biscuits and sweets to keep the students smiling. Gurmukh and Gurushabd had brought hundreds and hundreds of pens all the way from Los Angeles to distribute to these children, and so many other yatris brought supplies and goodies.

Pujya Swamiji has pledged His support for the school. Many people also came forward to offer help. Michael O'Neill our divine photographer pledged to provide a full year's worth of medicine and medical aid to the children. 

 

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June 10-12 -- Mansarovar
We reached the holy land of Mansarovar on the evening of June 10, having departed from Paryang in the morning. After several days of driving through the never-ending plains and valleys of the Tibetan plateau, one begins to imagine that there is nothing else. All of one's reality, all of one's vision, all of one's expectations become simply valley after valley, mountain after mountain and dirt roads leading nowhere. The mountains lead into more mountains, the peaks lead into valleys and the valleys lead into peaks. But everywhere there is nothing but desolation and barren land; occasional scattered herds of sheep and yak sprinkle the landscape, and one may catch a glimpse of a Tibetan woman rounding up the herd or tending to other work, but always hiding her face shyly from one's view.

Finally, after days of visual thirst, the sand and tumbleweed landscape suddenly gives way to a a vision that -- at first glimpse -- appears to be a mirage. A huge, magnificent, sparkling emerald green and turquoise blue lake fills one's field of vision all the way out to the horizon, a vast pool of lush beauty in this arid land, a gift sent from God as we enter His abode. Framed by gentle snow capped mountains, the lake is Mansarovar. It is the aim of our journey, the goal of our pilgrimage. As one's eyes adjust to the magnificence, one feels a magnetic pull, drawing one to turn one's attention to the right side. There, standing in all its glory is Mt. Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva. Unclouded, unhidden, towering above the landscape.

The landcruisers all stop. There is no need to coordinate it, no need to pat the drivers on their shoulders and say "Stop, stop." It is as though the cars stop of their own volition, as though they, too, are frozen in awe at this divine vision. We all silently emerge from the cars, pulled by a strength and power to which we are helpless. Some immediately fall to the ground in pranam; others simply gaze into the divine sight; all are silent.

 Lake Mansarovar

 

Mt. Kailash

 

 

   
 

Clockwise from top: Pujya Swamiji with Jayshree and Dr. Rajan Amin and Smita and Anuj Patel;
Neeraj Nathwani and Sonal Kotecha spend quiet moments of prayer and meditation upon the first darshan of Kailash and Mansarovar.

 
   

For 2 full days we stayed at Parmarth's ashram in Mansarovar, enjoying divine un-obscured darshan of Kailash, bathing in the purifying waters of Mansarovar and having enlightening satsang, bhajan/kirtan as well as Satyanarayan Katha.

   
   
(left): Acharya Rajubhai leads puja; tents set up at the ashram.  

 

 

Yatris sit outside at the Parmarth Mansarovar Ashram for puja, satsang and yagna
 

   
 

Yatris sit in prayer and puja; together smiling  and enjoying the divine atmosphere; receiving Pujya Swamiji's blessings

  
   

 

We also witnessed the annual Saga Dawa Festival, the holiest festival of the Tibetan year in which thousands of Tibetans come to raise flags at the base of Kailash, at a holy placed called Ashtaput or Tarboche. This year we had planned the itinerary in such a way that we could come and take part in this special event, and we even brought our own flag to raise.

   
   
Thousands of Tibetans come for the sacred festival at the foot of Kailash

 

   
   
We wait for the final hoisting of the flags while the Tibetans exhibit their handicrafts 

 

 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Pujya Swamiji and Balkrishanji in front of Kailash

Pujya Swamiji with Sonal Mansinghji

 

The highlight of the day was definitely the Shiv dance performed by Padmavibhushan Smt. Sonal Mansinghji one of India's most famous dancers and one of our divine yatris. At the height of over 4500 meters, in the scorching mountain sun and wind, Sonaljli danced and danced and danced as her prayer and supplication to Lord Shiva.

   
   

It was a truly spectacular sight and one that all the Tibetans watched with awe and enjoyment. Even the revered Rimpoche who had come to give blessings to the Tibetans on the flag-hoisting day, came and watched the sacred performance. 

 
 

 

 

   
   
Pujya Swamiji and Balkrishanji with the Rimpocheji and young lamas

 

 

   
   

Pujya Swamiji immediately
developed a beautiful and loving
relationship with
the Rimpocheji,
who thankfully
spoke some Hindi
as well 

 
 

 

 
 

 

A young Lama


During our days in Mansarovar we also undertook the sacred parikrama of Lake Mansarovar by car. We stopped along the way, at a beautiful location from which one can have the darshan of Mansarovar and Kailash in one view. We had a beautiful, sacred bath in Lake Mansarovar to the divine sound of chanting from the rishikumars, as well as Pitra puja, shanti puja and a havan ceremony.

 Pujya Swamiji sits in meditation on the banks of Lake Mansarovar, gazing at Mt. Kailash from the location
of where we will build the next Parmarth Mansarovar Ashram
 

   
   
Shiv Abhishek puja on Lake Mansarovar; staying warm at the yagna fire

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June 13-14 -- Kailash
On 13th June we embarked on the divine Kailash Parikrama, a 52 km trek which typically takes 2 1/2 days and 2 nights and follows the circumference of the mountain, crossing a pass of nearly 20,000 feet. We started with a sacred Shiv puja at Ashtaput/Tarboche and then after a hot, filling lunch embarked by foot for Dirapuk, the place where -- at 4800 meters -- everyone spends the first night (and also the place where we are building the Parmarth ashram Dirapuk).

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Pujya Swamiji and Acharya Balkrishanji on Kailash Parikrama

 

 

It was a beautiful trek, filled with chanting, japa and contemplation of the divine.

Finally, just before sunset, we reached Dirapuk and beheld the great splendor of Kailash. Dirapuk is also the place which has the best, clearest and closest darshan of Kailash.

A group of yatris with Pujya Swamiji in front of darshan of Kailash at Dirapuk,
after completing the first full day of Kailash Parikrama


We spent the night in tents and in a nomads shelter, going to sleep early in order to rise the next day and undertake the most difficult day to Dolama pass and then down to Zuthulpuk. However, upon awakening the following day we found the ground covered in snow and a windy snowstorm underway. The pass was shrouded in dark storm clouds and the sherpas all said they would not undertake the journey in this weather.

Realizing also that many of the yatris were not fit enough to be able to complete the full parikrama, we thanked Lord Shiva for bringing us this far, giving us the most divine darshan of Kailash and then allowing us to return, easily, safely and without mishap.

Anith Maharaj of South Africa, Tony Lauro of USA, and Nishit Kotecha of UK in the snowstorm at Dirapuk

 

   
   
Yaks and tents in the snow at Dirapuk

 

   
   

 

Acharya balkrishan and yatris on the parikrama

  
 

After seeing the construction at the Dirapuk ashram, we departed from Dirapuk for the descent back to Ashtaput, full of gratitude to Lord Shiva for a safe, divine and beautiful parikrama experience.

We returned to Mansarovar where we had beautiful Mansarovar aarti, puja and  yagna.

The following morning, we had a beautiful "farewell" program with havan and puja and where the saints blessed all yatris as well as the sherpa staff and drivers.

   
 

 
 

(left): Pujya Swamiji blesses Bernadette and David, who completed the full Kailash parikrama;
(right) yatris dance in the Mansarovar ashram

  

 

 

The medical seva team performs purnahuti of the yagna with Pujya Swamiji

   
 

(clockwise from right) Final purnahuti of the yagna in Mansarovar; Pujya Swamiji gives prasad to the sherpas and drivers; the revered Saints give prasad and blessings to all yatris

  
   

 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

A local Tibetan woman comes with her children
to the Parmarth ashram

Sadhvi Bhagwati holds one of the Tibetan babies.

 

Pujya Swamiji with the Village Chief of Mansarovar, and the manager of the Parmarth Ashram

June 13-14 -- Kailash
On June 16 we departed from Mansarovar back to Kathmandu.

   
 

 
  Dr. Nalini Rao, Sonal Kotecha and Holly Lamar wait to board the helicopter from Hilsa back to Kathmandu; Yatris outside the helicopter prior to boarding  

 

 

By the grace of God the yatra was a great success and all yatris returned safe, healthy, uplifted and inspired.

 

Pujya Swamiji's Itinerary
July - October 2006
July September October
1-30 Rishikesh 1-3 Far East 1 Mumbai
31 Mussoorie 4-26 USA yatra 12-25 Rishikesh
    4-5 Los Angeles Area    
August 7-8 San Francisco Area    
1 Mussoorie 9-10 Chicago    
2-18 Rishikesh 11-12 Columbus, Ohio    
19 Delhi 12 Charlotte, NC    
21-22 Tsunami affected areas 15-17 Louisville, KY    
23-24 Singapore 17-18 Tampa, FL    
26-30 Kyoto, Japan 19-22 Pittsburgh, PA    
    23-24 Harrisburg, PA    
    26-29 New York, NY    
    30 Mumbai    
 

NOTE: Pujya Swamiji's schedule is always subject to change at the last minute. Please be sure to call or email prior to coming to Rishikesh, just to confirm that He is there.

 

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Contact Information

Phone: (0135) 2440077, 2440088, 2434301
Fax: (0135) 2440066

From abroad, dial: + (91-135) instead of (0135)

Email:   parmarth@parmarth.com

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