10 Sept 2015

Following the Master: Kumbh Mela 2015 – Day 1 (Journey to India Begins)






The Journey:



Gathering upon arrival at the hotel

After the large group's arrival, the adventure quickly began with a visit to the town of Shiridi, India.


Shirdi is best known as the home of Shirdi Sai Baba, and is located very close to Nashik where the Kumbh Mela is taking place this year. Swamiji felt Shirdi would be a nice place to visit for a few days before making our way to the Kumbh Mela camp site.


Shirdi Sai Baba

Shirdi Sai Baba was an Indian spiritual master regarded by his devotees as a saint. Revered by both Hindu and Muslim devotees, Sai Baba stressed the importance of surrender to the guidance of the true Satguru, who, having traveled the path to Divine consciousness himself, will lead the disciple through the jungle of spiritual training.

“When the Divine Names are always on your lips, there will be no time for you to think of negative things. Shirdi Sai was always telling his disciples to chant Om Namo Narayanaya.”
 – Sri Swami Vishwananda 

Sai Baba is worshipped by people around the world. He taught a moral code of love, forgiveness, helping others, charity, contentment, inner peace, and devotion to God and Guru.

“The four sadhanas and the six shastras are not necessary. Just have complete trust in your Guru: it is enough.” – Shiridi Sai Baba





Highlights:

Visited the dhuni (a sacred site represented as a cleft in the ground where a fire burns) of Sai Baba which never extinguishes.

  1. Swamiji said the site continuously helps to purify the world 
  2. Sai Baba used to give Prasad, water and vibhuti to the people at this site
  3. He went into a 3 day Samadhi (an immovable state of bliss) here

Visited the place of Mahalsapati Chimanji Nagare, who welcomed Shirdi Sai Baba and gave him the name “Sai” – he first rejected him though, when he found out that Shirdi was a Muslim; later when he realised the greatness of Shirdi Sai Baba, he repented and became one of his closest disciples.






Travel Log: “We embark under the shelter and protection of our beloved Guruji, as we follow in his footsteps, it is safe to say…a journey of epic proportions is upon us.” – Dimitiri, U.S.A

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