STILL LIFE: Another Day in Deva Bhoomi - Rishikesh

After many years of thinking, finally my cousins Ritesh and Ravi decided to join me on my latest trip to Rishikesh. Recently one of my friends asked me, which temple I visit to meditate and practice sadhana and I said, "You don't need a temple, just sit down any where on the banks of Holy River Ganges, you will find peace". And I believe it so... as many of the Rishi, Saints and Sadhu's have been doing Tapasya in and around this place for thousands of years and the Ganges has been the source of their energy...

This time, I was invited by Swami Omkarananda Ji to spend some time with him on this trip as well as work on the Yoga Center and it was a pleasure to be with him. The place where we stayed, curtsy Swami Ji, is the ashram where South Indian Star Rajnikanth stays regularly. It was interesting to hear from Swami Ji some of the stories about the simplicity of the Star, who could actually go out to have Ground nuts from the road side stall, without getting mobbed...

The following images from the journey to one of the most holiest places ... Hope you will enjoy them.

Although the journey started in Delhi, this is on the way to Rishikesh
from Dehradoon...

This time, there were two camera crazy guy, happily capturing the journey
while...

... Shilu kept on waiting on the side lines of our shooting spree..

As we reached ashram, the beautiful sky line welcomed, in its full
glory. The holy river Ganges was very inviting as it softly flowed by...

Soon, we were joined by our host, Swami Omkarananda... before we were
to leave for one of the most powerful temple of 'Neelkanth Mahadev"

Though the sun was not too hot, but some were looking for
opportunity to pose....

And the journey to Neelkanth Mahadev was on...

Neel Kanth Mahadev Temple, 30 KMs by road from Rishikesh, is
beautiful but then the trek of 16 KMs is far more exciting..

One of my favorite places 'Little Buddha Cafe - German Bakery',
The view of the river is beautiful from the place.. as we waited for...

Swami ji along with Satya and his wife to join us for dinner...
Those few hours together was very interesting as we discussed Yoga..

Sun rise is always beautiful in Rishikesh. After hours of meditation
along the banks of Holy Ganges, this view is powerful source of energy...

The ashram also hosts Super Star Rajnikanth, who visits regularly and stays
in this room. Interesting to hear about him from Swami Omkaranada.

As Superstar Rajnikanth loves to do, many of the devotees spend time,
deep in meditation... One of the devotees caged in her own thoughts...

One of my favorite places in Rishikesh, Muni Ke Reti - The Beach along
the river, soft sand white and serene invites you to sit down and think...

While some of the kids monkey around in the sand... they wanted me
to capture their backward flip... 

And some monkey, fooling around with Coca Cola.. yes finally he /she
opened it ...

And some (more?) ... having fun in the river Ganges at Triveni Ghat

And some are watching the life pass by...

Some are devoting themselves to a life of devotion....

Another day started with spiritual bath and the ritual breakfast of
Puri, Sabji and Jalebi... 

And the time to take our leave of Rishikesh and holy river Ganges..
It was interesting, at many levels, to be with my cousins on this trip.

Swami Omkarananda and his friend, joined us to see us off. It was good
learning as I spend some time with him... Looking forward to next time

And the sun sets on another journey to Deva Bhoomi Rishikesh...

Hope you have liked the walk with me on this journey of self exploration ...

__

Shashi

ॐ नमः शिवाय

Om Namah Shivaya

PREV                                HOME                              NEXT

Through the lens of Kaanvaria - Rishikesh

WANDERLUST: Neelkanth Mahadev Temple - Rishikesh

New Year usually brings me to the most spiritual place – Rishikesh on the foothills of Himalayas.

My stay at Sivananda Ashram, specially at Guru Nivas on the banks of Holy River Ganges, has always been a pleasure and spiritually uplifting. But in this post, I am sharing my journey to one of the most powerful temples of Shiva around Rishikesh - Neelkanth Mahadev Temple. The 4 hour trek passes through picturesque dense forest alongside serene rivers Pankaja and Madhumati. But before I take you on to a journey through my images captured on the way, I would like to share…

A brief note on Neelkanth Mahadev Temple...

Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is situated at a height of 1330 meters dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to Hindu mythology, the place where the Neelkanth Mahadev Temple currently stands is the sacred location where Lord Shiva consumed the poison Halahala that originated from the sea when Devas (Gods) and Asuras (Demons) churned the sea in order to obtain Amrita. The poison emanated during the Samudramanthan (churning of ocean) made his throat blue in color. Thus, Lord Shiva is also known as Neelkanth, literally meaning The Blue Throated One.

TEXT: Curtsy Wikipedia, click here to read more…

__________

Now come and walk with me… and hope that you will feel the energy, the serenity and the bliss I experience there.


The morning’s at the Guru Nivas are usually beautiful with the sunlight peaking around the surrounding hills and the soft flow of Ganges is very inviting for meditation sessions as well as few cups of hot tea brewed on the ghat, specially in the cold winter morning.

The Ghat near the Guru Nivas - Sivananda Ashram
The wall with blue color is the steps from Guru Nivas

On the day of my journey to Neelkanth Temple, I wanted to have a ritual bath in one of the most beautiful ghat in Rishikesh – Triveni Ghat.

The picturesque Triveni Ghat - Rishikesh

Well I was not the only one around with same idea.

A sadhu getting ready ... at Triveni Ghat Rishikesh

Some are all set to go...

And as you leave the banks of Ganges, you come across beautiful valleys of the river that takes you almost half the way to Neelkanth....

The beautiful valley and the river along side the trek... 

I was really surprised to see this small kid happily walking towards Neelkanth Mahadev Temple which was 12 KM's away... and in that winter chill without any shirt on.... Well that is how traditional Brahmins used to go to the temple... 

Some of the trekkers of all size...

A hidden cave... and a beautiful water fall - on the way to Neelkanth

This is one of my favorite places to take rest on the way... Actually there is a small cave behind the curtain of waterfall, where there is a small Shivalinga is placed and some one always comes and do traditional Puja... so you always find some flower on the stone Shivalinga there... This I have been seeing for almost a decade now...

Offerings to Lord Shiva - At Neelkanth Temple

It was around 2PM, when we reached the temple and it was a pleasure to be greeted with flowers, incense and sound of Om Namah Shivaya filling up the environment...

And the Neelkanth Mahadev, inside the sanctum

ॐ नमः शिवाय

OM NAMAH SHIVAYA

Its believed that one who prays here even for little time, gets manifold benefits. Many Tantriks, Sadhu's and Yogi's come in the forest around here and do their rituals and sadhanas ... to get siddhi's and other Tantrik powers. For me, I have always found it to be very serene and peaceful to spend some time, in Mantra Yoga and meditation... May you all feel the energy of the place, through these images...

The Sunset over the Holy River Ganges - At Sivananda Ashram

At the end of the journey, I reached to the Muni Ki Reti (Sand beach of Yogi's) and watched the sun go down on a very uplifting day. The soft murmur of river flowing along side brought many beautiful memories associated with this place and then to my favorite place Buddha's Cafe down the beach...
Hope you have enjoyed this journey with me and may you all have the blessings of supreme cosmic source of peace and happiness that you believe in... 

_______________

Shashi

ॐ नमः शिवाय

Om Namah Shivaya

PREV                                     HOME                                       NEXT

The long walk to Rishikesh - Kaanwarias