Piligriminės kelionės, – tai pagarbi duoklė neblėstančiam klasikinių Bhakti jogos šventraščiųpatrauklumui. Jų metu laikomės Swamio Vishnudevanandos nužymėtais piligriminių kelionių Indijoje takais. Mūsų mokytojas buvo labai atsidavęs Bhakti išminčiai. Paskutiniaisiais savo gyvenimo metais Swamis Vishnudevananda daugybę valandų ir dienų praleido klausydamasis šių šventų knygų skaitymų, vis panirdamas į gilią meditaciją, o jo akys dažnai prisipildydavo atsidavimo ašaromis.
The group of pilgrims from Europe and South America departed New Delhi by bus on February 29
The first stop was the Tiger Camp Hotel on the outskirts of the Corbett National Park, home to the Bengal tiger
An early morning safari into the park. Besides deer and working elephants, sightings included antelope, jackals, monkeys, wild elephants and lots of tiger prints!
The Bhagavata Saptaha began the day after arrival at the West View Hotel in Ranikhet, Himalayas (ca. 1,900 meters above sea level)
The Bhagavata Saptaha began everyday with a procession from the temple to the glass house where the event was held
With musicians leading the way, a statue of baby Krishna would be carried reverently to the glass house...
...and installed on an altar next to the stage where Bhakti Yoga Acharya Sri Venugopal Goswami read from the holy scripture Srimad Bhagavatam
Here, Mount Govardana (the mountain Lord Krishna lifted to protect the villagers from a flood of rainwaters) is symbolically honoured with a Puja
Holi, the festival of colors, was celebrated with flower petals and powder
A group picture with Sri Venuogopal Goswami on the last day of the Bhagavata Saptaha
Early morning Satsang with Swami Sivadasananda in the glass house
Asana class with Swami Atmaramananda
Picture of the Spanish-speaking group with Swami Premananada from the center in Buenos Aires
A visit to the nearby Durga temple
A homa or fire ceremony was performed for the pilgrims
An onlooker
A day excursion to the thousand-year-old Baijnath Temple complex
Yatris standing in front of the main shrine for Lord Siva
At the Baijnath Temple complex
On the day of departure from Ranikhet, the pilgrims visited the Haidakhan Babaji ashram
The ashram offered a splendid view of the Himalayas
For lunch the group stopped in Nainital, the so-called "Switzerland of India"
A day excursion to Haridvar
The main Ganges bathing ghat, Har Ki Pauri
Waiting for nightfall when the famous Ganga Arati begins
Ganga Arati
The pilgrims spent four nights in Rishikesh, home to Swami Sivananda's ashram, the Divine Life Society
Rishikesh
The pilgrims' luggage is transported by hand cart to the hotel
Asana class and Satsang with Swami Vasudevananda at the hotel
A visit to the Tapas Kutir in Rishikesh, where Swami Sivananda performed intense spiritual practice
A swami at the Tapas Kutir handed out issues of the Divine Life Society magazine to the pilgrims
Group picture at the Tapas Kutir
Relaxing on the banks of the Ganges
The highlights of the stay in Rishikesh were the visits to the Divine Life Society
Bhajan Hall
Siva puja at the Vishwanath Temple
Question and answer session with Swami Padmanabhananda, a senior swami at the ashram
Group picture with Swami Padmanabhananda
In the Mahasamadhi Shrine of Swami Sivananda
Kirtan chanting at the Swami Sivananda's Kutir (private residence)
