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H.H. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
Tour route
II Jai Shri Mataji II
TOUR OPERATOR
Nirmal Sagar, 1st Floor, Near Sena Bhavan, Next to Aaswad Hotel, L. J. Road,
Shivaji Park, Dadar, Mumbai - 400 028. Tel : 2446 8080 Fax : 2446 9595.
Email : [email protected], www.sachintravels.in
For
Sahaja Yogis th thMarch 10 – 18 , 2008
20082008
Map not to Scale
Pune
Siddhatek
Mahur
Wardha
Ramtek
Panchmarhi & TamiaChhindwara
Yavatmal
Nagpur
Lunar
Aurangabad
?A Tour of 9 days to enjoy collectively, places of Spiritual interest and natural beauty in the Holy land of Maharashtra (“The Great Nation”).
?Registration : 160 yogis / yoginis would be accommodated in the tour on first come first serve basis. For registrations, please fill the attached form and send it on
.
?Start of the tour : The tour would start from Nirmal Nagari, Pune, on March 10, 2008 :
?Start Date and Time : 7.30 A.M., Monday, March 10, 2008
?Place : Nirmal Nagari, Bhukum, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
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Tour At A Glance:
Day Details Night Stay
Day 1:March 10
Nirmal Nagari, Pune to Siddhatek (100 kms) for Ashtavinayaka Darshan. Proceed to Aurangabad (205 kms).
Aurangabad
Day 2:March 11
Aurangabad to Lunar lake for site seeing (168 kms).
Lunar Lake
Day 3:March 12
Lunar lake to Mahur (210 kms) for Shri Mahasaraswati Shakti Peeth Darshan. Proceed to Yavatmal (70 kms).
Yavatmal
Day 4:March 13
Yavatmal to Wardha (70 kms). Proceed to Nagpur (77 kms).
Nagpur
Day 5:March 14
Nagpur to Ramtek (51 kms). Proceed to Pachmarhi (280 kms).
Pachmarhi
Day 6:March 15
Pachmarhi sight seeing. Pachmarhi
Day 7:March 16
Pachmarhi sight seeing. Pachmarhi
Day 8:March 17
Pachmarhi to Tamia for sight seeing (78 kms).
Pachmarhi
Day 9:March 18
Pachmarhi to Chhindwara (138 kms). Visit to the Chhindwara Shrine. The Tour ends at Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, on March 18, 2007 afternoon.
Tour details (March 10-18, 2008):
? In Hotels on 2/3/4 sharing basis, at Aurangabad, Nagpur and Panchmarhi. Halls / collective accommodation at Lunar lake and Yavatmal.
? By 40 seater 2 by 2 Air conditioned video coaches.
? Breakfast, lunch and dinner, Tea/Coffee thrice a day. Occasional non vegetarian food.
? The tour cost includes staying charges / food at the puja venue at Chhindwara on March 18th and 19th, after tour ends.
? Outsourced to Sachin Travels / Jakatdar Tour and Travels Pvt Ltd., Nirmal Sagar, 1st floor, Near Aaswad Hotel, L.J. Hotel, Shivaji Park, Mumbai 400028 , India.
?
Accommodation during Tour:
Transportation :
Food :
Accommodation / food after tour ends :
Tour arrangements :
Rules & Regulations: The tour cost includes Bus journey, stay, food and entry fees at all destinations. The tour cost does not include Telephone expenses, Laundry, Mineral water, and any misc. expenses. Aqua water would be served in hotels.
20082008
Sudershan SharmaFor Maharashtra Tour organising committee
“WELCOME to you all Sahaja Yogis to this great country of Yoga.
Last, I would say, you have come to this country to see the roots and not the shoots. Change your attitude of Western style. Telephones are no good, you cannot get any telephones done. Postage is horrible. Railways are worst, (I should not say because we are in RaiIway bunglow). But, the people are excellent. They know what is 'Dharma'. They are not being attacked somehow or the other as this being the KUNDALINI, Shri Ganesha is sitting here. How dare anybody attack this great Maharashtra, has got eight Ganeshas protecting them ? I don't know if Maharashtrians know this fact. And so many Marutis, so who can attack this country....
....so, you have come to this country not to enjoy the comforts of the West, but that comfort of the Spirit. So you change your attitude towards India.....
...when you arrive here you will see that the people are too innocent.”
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Shri Mataji’s advice Mahakali Puja,
Lonawala, 19th December, 1982
"India is the microscopic form of the whole earth,
Mother Earth. So, in the triangle of Maharashtra we
have got eight Ganeshas, which are manifesting
vibrations, and were recognized by great Saints of
Maharashtra. But, as you have seen, as a grace of
these great Saints, especially Maharashtra has
created human beings who have shraddha as the
highest expression of their emotion and mind. Because
of that lofty vision in the mind, whenever they see
something on this sublime nature, their thoughts go to
God. Thanks to the Saints of that State that people have
that sensitivity and that kind of a movement".
Shri Mataji's adviceShri Ganesha Puja,
Switzerland, 2nd Sept. 1984
Extract from H.H. Shri Mataji’s Speeches
“My mother-tongue is Marathi, and thank God, I have been born in Maharashtra. Because it is a country of saints. Thousands of saints live in that country. It is the tradition ; it is so spiritual. Spirituality is the tradition of the place where I was born. 'Maha' means great and 'rashtra' means nation. The tradition there is of spirituality and not of alcoholism, drugism or any other 'isms'. Spirituality is the tradition of that country....”
Shri Mataji's advice God's Work and Negativity
England, 31st. March 1983.
“To begin with Maharashtra is the country where I
would say the Ganesha principle is very strong, because
there are great Ganeshas which have come out of the
Mother Earth and all the three powers are represented
by Mother Earth also here; Mahakali, Mahalaxmi,
Mahasaraswati. So the whole place is very vibrated and
the Mother Earth is very much vibrated.
Moreover when you are going to a place you are carrying
vibrations everywhere, you are giving your vibrations,
and when the people who see you, especially the Indian
half - baked intellectuals, when they see you they start
thinking that we are still half - baked. How is it these
people have taken to Sahaja Yoga and we are still sitting
on our foolish ego thinking that we know much more
that anybody else. That has also a very good effect. The
way you sang Marathi songs the other day it really
created a great impress on people.”
Shri Mataji's adviceWhy do we come to India
Aurangabad, 1st Dec. 1988
20082008
Vinayak is another name for Shri Ganesh. Ganesh is the God who
is loved and worshiped by Hindus all over. Lord Ganesh is the
protector of his devotees. The word 'Ashta' means eight, the
eight important 'Ganapatis' are collectively termed the
'Ashtavinayaka'.
It is believed that the idols are self-appeared sculpted stone
statues which have been housed in old temples at eight different
places. The Ashta Vinayak temples are within the range of 20 to
110-km of each other. Out of these eight places, Ojhar, Theur,
Morgaon, Ranjangaon and Lenyadri are in Pune district. Pali and
Mahad are in Raigad district whereas Siddhatek falls under the
Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra. The tour would cover
Siddhatek. Other Ashtavinayakas were covered in previous two
Maharashtra Tours.
One of the "Ashtavinayakas" Shri Siddhi Vinayak at Siddhatek is
situated on the banks of Bhima River. Lord Brahma once created
a world with Ganpati's blessings and while this was going on,
Vishnu woke up and two fierce demons Madhu and Kaitaba
escaped from his ears. Vishnu fought with them for 5000 years,
then Lord Shiva pointed out that Vishnu had started without
worshipping Ganpati, so Vishnu invoked Ganpati on Siddhatek
hill and , destroyed the demons successfully and consecrated the
spot.
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Ashtavinayak - Siddhatek- Shri Siddhivinayak
Lonar crater is India's magnificent hyper-velocity meteorite-
impact crater. Lonar ranks amongst the world's five largest
craters and the third largest salt water lake in the world. Lonar
Crater is a huge bowl (roughly 7 kms in circumference and 1.6
kms in diameter) carved out. Investigations reveal it to be
around 50,000 years old. Within the depression lies a saline lake.
It was first discovered in 1823 by British officer, C J E Alexander.
Lonar Crater also finds mention in ancient scripts like the Skanda
Puran, Padma Puran & Aaina-e-Akbari. During the days of
emperor Akbar, Lonar also housed a salt factory.
The small Vishnu temple and most others in the vicinity are
constructed in the Hemadpanthi style i.e. without use of
cementing agents. Gomukh Temple, along the rim of the crater
with a perennial stream is another interesting site.
A fascinating sight is the presence of hundreds of peafowl's
which live inside the crater. The crater has potential as a bird
sanctuary and also one can sight langoors, snakes, monitor
lizards, mongoose, fox and deers. To promote tourism in this
area, M.T.D.C. has constructed Crater View Tourist Complex.
Lonar Crater
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Mahurgad or Mahur, as it is popularly known, is a famous pilgrim
center in Nanded District. It is renowned as the third Shaktipeeth
in Maharashtra. Mahur lies near the district's northern border,
which it shares with Yavatmal District.
The 800 year old Lord Renuka Devi Temple, perched on top of a
hillock, is thronged by devotees from all over the state and has a
special place in the Hindu pilgrimage A big fair is held here every
year on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami (Dassera).
Mahur (Mahurgad), is also well known as birth place of Lord
Dattatray, and is visited by thousands of devotees and pilgrims
throughout the year. The ancient Mahurgad Fort was constructed
in the 12th century.
Mahurgad - Renuka Devi
“We have got, as you know, Mahakali, Mahalaksmi, Mahasaraswati, three of them in Maharashtra. Mahakali is in Tuljapur, then Mahalaksmi is in Kolhapur and the third one is in Mahur. In Mahur there is one mountain where is Mahasaraswati…”
H.H. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi(Ashram of Vienna, 1988)
Mahatma Gandhi came to Wardha in the year 1934. On the
request by late Jamnalalji Bajaj, he selected the Shegaon village
for his Ashram or Kuti. Later this village was renamed as
Sewagram. Mahatma Gandhi continued his freedom movement
from this ashram. Various articles, needy things used by
Gandhiji are kept here as it is. The premises of the Ashram
having the Adi Niwas, Ba Kuti (Shelter of Kasturba Gandhi), Akhri
Niwas, Mahadeo Kuti, Kishor Kuti and other historical places
maintaining as its original status by the trustee of the Ashram.
Permanent Photo exhibition of the Gandhiji is there near the
Ashram.
Sewagram, Wardha (Mahatma Gandhi's Ashram)
Interviewer: Did you continue this idea of yours of trying to get this
message going through your work with Mahatma Gandhi?
Shri Mataji: No, that time it was very different. It was an emergency. In
a small way I contributed. He loved me very much. He used to call me
Nepali. It is our face you see ,because I have a broad face. He always
used to call me Nepali. But he was a man born for an emergency and
when India wanted to be politically independent. But there was this
thing.
And a political leader need not worry about Spirit and Religion, but he
considered our country to be a land of Yoga. He always based his
theories and philosophies and activities on the fibre of the people. We
are a very religious people and how to create an atmosphere of
satisfaction in the people. He had that within him. But he didn't talk of
Realisation and as a when I was a little child of 7 years I used to play
about with him and (he) was very fond of me so I would make some
orange juice for him and he would discuss with me small things and
remember once I told him, Why do you make everyone get up so early ?
If you want to get up you can, but why do you make everyone get up so
early ? It's all right for me, but why do you have to make everyone ? (He
said) everyone should be made to get up we are passing through a
H.H.Shri Mataji about Mahatma Gandhi
20082008
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crisis. We have to fight the British and get our independence and if
people are lethargic how are we going to do it. So we have to be
disciplined and we must have discipline and it will be all right. And then I
told him we need to have inner discipline and so he knew that I was a
wise person. And he used to love me and respect me in a very fatherly
manner. He would discuss things with me. He impressed me by many
things. He had a sense of integrity within himself. He was absolutely
honest to himself. That was something I appreciated. He never cheated
himself. This is the greatest thing about him. In money matters,
anything, he was so integrated. What he said he did, he criticised
himself.But for him Realisation was not the problem at that time. But
after independence we should have taken to Realisation. That was the
main problem. But after Independence we had problems of , say,
partition. And the diversion of the whole attention was on the wrong
things. We had to solve this problem and nobody thought of Realisation
at that time. It should be so.
Interviewer: How much do think Mahatma Gandhi influenced the way
your Sahaja Yoga developed, your way of thinking now, your technique
maybe ?
Shri Mataji: You see it was no question of influence because you see
this is another realm I am talking about. Sahaja Yoga takes you to
another realm where these problems do not exist. These problems work
out with Divine power, not with human powers. And Divine power is
there and they work it out eventually in such a smooth manner that
there is no need to use these human powers. But his main contribution, I
think, was to establish balance in people. Balance in people was the
main thing. And make them more Indian and to take out all the slavish
mentality that had trickled down into us, make us feel our own self-
neglect all these things were there. But the realm in which I was
different from his. So the question of influence doesn't come in. But, I
would say that, certain things were influenced my choice, say, of
different prayers. I told him according to the different centres within us.
I said you do this one, then this one, and he said, Alright, it's a good
idea, and he changed. It was so smooth and silently done that it was not
made obvious to anyone that we had any rapport on these things nor did
he ever ask me about Spirit nor did he ever meditate. He did not
meditate because he was not Realised. At that time he was not a
Realised Soul. His main attention was for this and he will be born again
and he will be Realised. He will be born Realised because he was very,
very great. He was a Great Soul, no doubt. He was extremely great as a
human being. But Realisation is very different. It's another realm into
which human beings go. His meditation was to ponder about things and
to guide oneself, but not the kind of meditation where we become
thoughtlessly aware. It's a different dimension in your awareness
Radio Interview with Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi Hong Kong 1992 (exerpt)
Interviewer: Can you describe the circumstances during your
childhood?
Shri Mataji: ….Then at the age of seven years, I happened to go
with my father to Mahatma Gandhi. He was about 70 miles living with
us. But the first time he took me down and Mahatma Gandhi, he liked
me very much. He said: "Leave this child here!” So I had not taken
clothes or anything to stay there and my father sent to me everything.
And he was very fond of me. But I was a little girl. But he understood
that there was something about me. He consulted me on very serious
problems sometimes, surprisingly. Like one day he wanted to make
me a prayer-book allright, so he asked me: "How should I put these
series and all that." So I told him, how to put the series and he put the
series in that way.
I used to go back for my school and again to go back to Ghanhiji.
Every year like that. And he called me Nepali. He gave me a name
"Nepali". Everybody used to call me Nepali that time. Then I grew up
with him very intimately, he was a very very kind person for children.
Otherwise an extremely strict man, with himself and with others, very
strict. A big disciplined man. And he would make everybody get up at
4 o`clock, have your baths everything be ready for your morning
prayers at 5 o`clock - you see - and he used to walk very fast. I also
learned walking fast with him. In his company I had to walk fast. And he
had been extremely loving and a very nice person. And he would listen
to me, because I was a child. Supposing I had forced him to eat more
or something then he would have laughed and accepted. Very kindly
person.
But with others, he was very strict and I used to tell him that: "Why are
you strict with them too much?" He said: "But you are a little girl, you
got up in the morning, why can`t they get up?" I said: "I am little,
that`s why I get up, they are big, so they can`t get up." Like that you
see a little child. Then my father went to jail and my mother also
went to jail five times. My father went to jail twice. Once for about two
and a half years and he was the only supporting memeber of the family.
By the way we came from a very old royal familiy, which is called as
Shalivahanas. They have a calender also in India…..
Interviewer: When you have been to that ashram with Gandhi.
What were your impression, you remember about Gandhi?
Shri Mataji: Oh, Gandhiji was a tremendous man and I used to learn a
lot from him. He was not at all hypocrite that`s one thing. And he
was not like politicians who say something do something wrong. He
was very outspoken and always he put himself on the testing point.
And he used to confess if he made mistakes immediately.
ORF-INTERVIEW "LEBENSBILDER", 9.7.1986,VIENNA
20082008
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20082008
That quality was created, I should say, by Mahatma Gandhi. He
made everybody so transformed into a new personality of
tremendous sacrifice. Tremendous! You cannot imagine how
people lived! All the money we had, everything, that we had, all
conveniences, conveyance, all houses, everything was given up,
not only by my father but so many of them. Otherwise we could
have not got our freedom, this country has sacrificed so much.
NOW, AFTER THAT, WE ARE HERE TO GET OUR FREEDOM, TO
GET THE FREEDOM OF OUR SPIRIT. TO MAKE OUR SPIRIT FREE
FROM GREED, LUST, FROM OUR ANGER, FROM OUR
CONDITIONINGS, FROM OUR TERRIBLE EGO, FROM THE BODY
BEING ENSLAVED BY COMFORTS.
I must say Gandhiji had a special charm. I do not know how he
managed. He was like
“Touch of Midas”, touched anybody, he became transformed, you
see. And he was an extremely strict man, very kind to me, the
children. But he was an extremely strict man. He would not
tolerate any nonsense at all!
THROUGHOUT, IF YOU STUDY IN THE WAY ALL THESE PEOPLE
WERE BROUGHT UP, NOT ONLY FOR FREEDOM OR
INDEPENDENCE, BUT EVEN BEFORE THAT, FOR SPIRITUAL LIFE,
ANYWHERE, THERE IS ONE THING VERY COMMON, IS
SACRIFICE. AND THE CONSCIOUSNESS THAT YOU ARE DOING
SOMETHING GREAT. CONSCIOUSNESS THAT YOU ARE PART
AND PARCEL OF THE WHOLE. SUCH A BIG THING, SUCH A BIG
WORK, IT'S A NOBLE CAUSE!!
AND THEN THERE WAS ONE THING VERY COMMON. VERY
COMMON AMONG ALL OF THEM: THAT THE NOBLE CAUSE MADE
THEM SACRIFICE IN SUCH A SAHAJ MANNER. MUCH MORE THAN
THE SAHAJ YOGI SOMETIMES, WHO HAS GOT SO MUCH IN
SAHAJ YOGA. THEY HAVE GOT THEIR JOY, THEY HAVE GOT
THEIR SPIRIT.
And moreover, what I know about mahatma Gandhi and other
people, what I have seen, how they were. Everybody was not
allowed to come in. and anybody who did slightest thing less
than- whether he was King's son or he was anybody's daughter
or anything, any little thing spoilt, 'anything', he was chucked
out. I have stayed in Gandhi's Ashram, so I know what it is, and
that's why you know I can go through rigorous life. It is his
training.
All the children above twelve years had to clean whole of that
Ashram area, which is I think in 50 acres of land, - every
morning. They had to clean their toilets. Also the toilets of their
guests, I have done it. And they were allowed only two dresses.
And nothing could be kept, even you cannot see 'even one' paper
anywhere, any litter anywhere. So clean, spick and span. And
the living places were so neat and tidy. It was all done with cow-
dung- completely with cow-dung. Everybody had to take a bath,
early in the morning at 4 O' clock, with cold water. Whether it was
Jawaharlal Nehru (first Prime minister of India), Abul Kalam
Azad, my father, of any age group, or a child. And 5 O'clock,
Mahatma Gandhi was there for his lecture.
And then, early in the morning at 4 O'clock, you will be surprised,
getting up- for me it was alright,- and then to walk in that 50
acres of land to centre of that hall- which was nothing but just an
open space surrounded by some sort of huts where Gandhiji was
living. To walk all the way after bath, after getting ready, all that.
And snakes used to crawl along. Nobody was bitten, of course. I
think the snakes understood that people were busy with great
job of freeing this great country!
And we would sit, just like this and the snakes would be crawling.
No lights were allowed. No lights of any kind. We only used
sunlight. And when gandhiji would come- I mean sunlight was
not there in the morning, at all- some lantern were brought to
put there. And we would see the snakes crawling up.
But I never heard anybody complaining, but like a war, drove
with such passion, everybody, competing as to, “what I can do,
how I can be alright” Nobody even thought of comfort! Of course
they were all about say 50 years, upto 50 years of age or
something like that, may be. In the Ashram mostly people were
upto 50 years of age, that time.
And I have seen by my own eyes the people who had huge cars in
the house and things like that, they sold off, they threw it away.
They used to come by train to Wardha station and walk down.
Gandhiji would not see anybody coming even in Tonga (horse-
cart). And they listened to him and obeyed him.
Sahaja Yogis Have To Ascend Sacrificing For The Greatest Cause
International Seminar-bordi(06-02-1985)
Translated from: Nirmala Yoga, Vol.5 No.27 May-Jun 1985
14 15
Ramtek is situated 42 km north-east of Nagpur.
On his way to Lanka, Shri Ramaa stayed on Ramgiri hill-side hav-
ing 500 steps. The place was named after him- in course of time
Ramgiri became Ramtek. It is also associated with the memory
of great poet Kalidas. It is said that scenic beauty of Ramtek
inspired him to compose Meghdootam. There are 27 Brahmanic-
al style temples atop the hill. Lakshman Temple of 1400 AD is one
of them. Ramsagar Lake is also charming.
Ramtek Pachmarhi
Pachmarhi, a serene hill resort in the central state of India,
Madhya Pradesh, stands at an altitude of 1067 metres. It is a
large plateau, ringed by the lofty hills of the Satpura range. The
landscape is characterised by rugged hills, forests and deep
ravines. Known as the verdant jewel of the hills, the all -
pervading greenery of the region is what strikes the observer.
Various hues of green greet the eye - tranquil emerald pools, the
green shades that embrace the hills, and the thick, impenetrable
forest cover that dominates the region. Pachmarhi derives its
name from the five Pandav caves it is home to.
Pachmarhi' s appeal is low key. Peace, seclusion and a quiet
unobtrusive beauty are its prime attractions.
PACHMARHI (History) : Captain Forsyth of Bengal Lancers
discovered the hill resort of Pachmarhi in 1857. The hill resort
had a colonial past. The churches and cemeteries of Pachmarhi
reveal the same. Besides being a hill resort Pachmarhi was a
military sanatorium of the British.
PACHMARHI (Trekker's Paradise) :Camping out in Pachmarhi's
forests is a rare joy. It is famous for its scouts training camps,
winter training camps and mountaineering camps. The Satpura
National Park, a lesser known wildlife sanctuary and reserve
forest, surrounds Pachmarhi.
PACHMARHI ( Some of the places to see) : Besides enjoying
natural beauty one can visit the several places of tourist interest
in Pachmarhi.
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Overlooking the Narmada valley, Tamia is a picturesque resort on
the Satpura ranges. From the Tamia rest house, the view of the
Dudhi plateau from 330 metres of sheer overhanging cliffs is one
of the most spectacular anywhere South of the Vindhyas. Tamia
is 78 km/50 mile from Pachmarhi.
Tamia
Priydarshini (Forsyth Point): This viewing point was the place
from where Captain Forsyth discovered Pachmarhi and the view
from here is breathtaking.
Jamuna Prapat: This spectecular fall is the source of drinking
water for the people of Pachmarhi. There are bathing pools
above the fall which are very popular, both with the locals as well
as the tourists.
Handi Khoh: This is
Pachmarhi 's most
impressive ravine with
a 300 feet h igh
precipice.
Apsara Vihar (Fairy
Pool): A beautiful
picnic spot which is
ideal for children, as the pool is shallow and deepens only
towards the base of the fall.
Mahadeo: Mahadeo hill has a shrine with an idol of Lord Shiva
and an impressive Shivalinga which has been considered holy
over many generations. On the east side is a cave shelter with
paintings.
Jatashankar: A sacred cave under loose boulders in which the
Jambu Dwip stream has its source. The formation of rocks here
resembles the matted locks of Lord Shiva, hence the name
Jatashankar i.e. Shiva.
Dhoopgarh: The highest point in the Satpura range, with a
beautiful view of the surrounding ranges, it is a very popular spot
for viewing the sunset.
Pandav Caves: As the name suggests, these caves are said to be
associated with the Pandava brothers. Now protected
monuments, these caves are excavated in a hill made of
sandstone rock. These ancient dwellings are famous for having
provided shelter to the Pandavas during their exile. Besides the
Pandavas even the Buddhists monks are believed to have taken
shelter here in the first century B.C. Now the caves are protected
monuments.
Christ Church: Regarded as the most beautiful small church in
Madhya Pradesh, it was built in 1875 by the British. The stained
glass panes on the walls and the rear of the alter were imported
from Europe. The bell of the church is as old as the church itself,
and can be heard from a long distance.
Satpura National Park: Set up in 1981, it covers an area of 524 sq
kms. It has a dense forest of evergreen, sal, teak and bamboo.
The park is home to the bison, tiger, leopard, bear, four-horned
deer, blue bull and a large variety of birds.
Cave Shelters: As said above, these cave shelters with their
paintings provide a glimpse into the lifestyle, religious and social
activities and beliefs. A must see for those with an inclination
towards history.
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On March 21st at 12 noon, year 1923, Shri Mataji was born in
Chhindwara (Madhya Pradesh), which is located on the longitude
of the Tropic of Cancer. Coincidentally the Holy city of Mecca is
also located on the Tropic of Cancer. More details available on
www.chhindwara.org
Chhindwara
"...You have come here(Chhindwara) to see this
birthplace of Mine. It was such, such vibrations that My
Sahasrara became completely jammed with vibrations: so
cool inside, and outside was so hot that I didn't know what
was happening. So I'm happy all of you could come and see
this place, and a very humble house it was, but in those days
it was the most, I mean, well-planned house as such, and
was very much appreciated by people."
H.H. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi (Chhindwara,
Madhya Pradesh, India, 18.12.1993)
Day 1: (14th Dec, 2007)
115 yogis from 24 countries (from USA, UK, Thailand, Australia, Israel, Slovenia, Canada, Hong Kong, Italy, France, South Africa, and Columbia, among others) participated in the Maharashtra Tour (14 - 23 December 2007). All the Sahajayogis were welcomed by Sudershan Sharma on behalf of Maharashtra State Sahajayoga coordination committee. After the three Mahamantras and meditation, Yogis were given caps of Maharashtra tour 2007, badges and information booklet (containing description of the places covered in the tour). The tour started from Andheri (East), Mumbai, in four AC 2*2 seater buses with video facilities. As all auspicious events start with Shri Ganesha, the tour covered Pali and Mahad, two of the eight (Ashta) Vinayakas on the first day itself.
After having breakfast at Pen, the tour reached Shri Ballaleshwara, Pali, (named after Shri Ganesha's boy-devotee Ballala) after traveling 110 Km from Mumbai. After darshan and lunch, the tour proceeded towards Mahad for Shri Varadavinayak Ganesha darshan. The place felt more vibrant after the Yogis recited Shree Ganesha Atharvasheersha and meditated at the place. Thereafter, we all moved to Pune for night stay at the hotels.
Day 2: (15th Dec, 2007)
Early morning, we reached Pratishthan - the residence (in Pune) of H. H. Shri Mataji and Sir C. P. Srivastava. After a very warm welcome by the Sahajayogi brothers & sisters of Pune at Pratisthan, it was the time to enjoy the morning meditation in the blissful, heavenly atmosphere of Pratishthan. Rajendra Pugalia, the Maharashtra State coordinator, welcomed all of us and very graciously allowed all of us to see the Hall in Pratishthan where numerous Pujas have been offered to our beloved Mother, H. H. Shri Mataji. All the yogis were wonderstruck at the beauty and majesty of Pratisthan. The Hall was full of delicate and artistic statues, vases, and photographs – everything heightening the feeling of blissfulness and thoughtless awareness. As expected, yogis narrated their experiences of Pratisthan as the most memorable moment of the tour later on. Thereafter, we all moved to Theur for Shri Chintamani Ganapati Darshan. After Lunch, we proceeded for the darshan of Shri Mayureshwar Ganapati at Morgaon. As it was a weekend, there were huge serpentine queues of devotees seeking Darshan of Lord Ganesha. Thereafter we all moved to Pune for night stay at hotels.
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Day 3: (16th Dec, 2007)
“Many people wrote many things by the grace Sharda Devi. Jnaneshawara wrote Jnaneshawari … In the beginning of Jnaneshwari he writes with the blessings of Sharda Devi that whatever I am writing is to please the Sharda Devi …”
H.H. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
(Jaipur, India 1994)
The day began with collective morning meditation. After breakfast, we traveled to Ranjangaon which is about 53 km from Pune. All yogis had a pleasant Darshan of Shree MahaGanapati. Thereafter, we proceed for Nevasa which is famous for Jnaneshwari, written by Shri Jnaneshwara. In Nevasa, Jnaneshwara completed writing Jnaneshwari, a wonderful commentary of the Holy Gita in 1212 AD. The book contains a detailed description of Kundalini in its 6th Chapter. One could see a Black stone pole and it is here that Shri Jnaneshwar wrote his treatise on the Holy Gita. Shri Jnaneshwara is an incarnation of Shree Kartikeya: needless to add that everyone enjoyed the tremendous flow of vibrations there. Thereafter, we proceeded for Aurangabad for night stay at the Gymkhana Club.
Day 4 : (17th Dec, 2007)
We reached Ellora which is 30 kms from the city of Aurangabad. Famous for its monumental caves, Ellora is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It represents the epitome of Indian rock-cut architecture. The 35 "caves" – actually structures excavated out of the vertical face of Charanandri hills – comprise of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain cave temples and monasteries. They were built between the 5th century and 10th century AD. Cave 16 called Kailasha is the unrivalled centerpiece of Ellora. Meditation in cave 16 was a very deep experience.
After lunch we visited Ghrishneshwar – One of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shri Shiva. Ajanta and Ellora caves are replete with Divine vibrations!
In the evening we went to Jayakwadi garden where we saw a Musical Fountain Show and the museum depicting the life of Saint Jnaneshwara. Then we returned to hotels for night stay at Aurangabad.
Day 5: (18th Dec, 2007)
“Like, we have seen, you might have also seen - some of you - Ajanta caves were built. In ten generations they built Ajanta caves - ten generations! And they built in a place where there was not even water available - to begin with. And day in and day out thousands of people, without getting any payment without getting anything, built it. No food, - no question ! They used to eat some fruits somewhere here, there. But their dedication gave them power to do it.”
H.H. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
(Surbiton Ashram, 21-8-1983)
On the 5th day we went to Ajanta Caves, rock-cut monuments dating from the 2nd century BC, containing paintings and sculpture considered to be masterpieces of both "Buddhist religious art" and the "universal pictorial art." Since 1983, the Ajanta Caves have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The caves are in a wooded and rugged horseshoe-shaped ravine about 3½ km from the village of Ajanta 106 kilometers away from the city of Aurangabad. Along the bottom of the ravine runs the river Waghur, a mountain stream. There are 29 caves as officially numbered by the Archaeological Survey of India. They vary from 35 to 110 ft. in elevation above the bed of the stream. The subject matter of the paintings deal with various Jatakas (stories related to the previous births of Shree Buddha). They also depict important events from the miracles performed by Shree Buddha. Yogis spent the rest of the evening shopping handmade articles and clothes in the City Mall.
Day 6: (19th Dec, 2007)
“And these ten sustenances are represented by great prophets. The principle is called as Adi Guru, in Sanskrit language, the Primordial Master. He has incarnated on this earth as Abraham, Moses, as Lao Tse, as Confucius, as Socrates, recently he has been as Sai Nath of Shirdi… All these great saints came on this earth to tell us how to keep in the centre, how to keep in the centre, how to keep our sustenance, how to be human beings. As carbon has got four valances, we too have got ten valances. We have to maintain those ten valances within us, that's what they came to tell us.”
H.H. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
(Sydney, Australia, 1981)
After traveling 155 km from Aurangabad, we reached Shirdi, famous for Sai Baba, the 10th and the last incarnation of Shri AdiGuru Dattatreya. Sai Baba preached that all religions are one & there is only one God. Sai Baba took Mahasamadhi on 15 October 1918 there and a temple was built later on.
After dinner all SahajaYogis sang Sahaja bhajans and danced to the bhajans led by Australian Sahajayogi brothers and sisters. Everyone felt ecstatic.
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Sudershan SharmaFor Maharashtra Tour organising committee
Day 7 : (20th Dec, 2007)
“On this mother principle, in India people are very sure that it is the mother who does everything and thus we have in India many, we should say, many Swayambhus, means things that are created of the mother earth. For example, you know in Maharashtra we have got Mahakali´s place, Mahasaraswati, Mahalaxmi and also we have got a place for the Adi Shakti. Some people who have been to Nasik must have seen Saptashringi. How many people have been to Saptashringi out of you? Its good. So this Saptashringi represents the Adi Shakti. Adi Shakti which is the fourth dimension of this power which gives you the ascent and ultimately through Mahalaxmi channel only you get your realization.”
H.H. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
(Cabella 21-6-1998)
Our next destination was the Swayambhu of Saptashringi, a manifestation of the principle of Shree Adi Shakti. It represents the last 'half' of the three and a half coils of the kundalini. The first part is MahaKali, the second is MahaSaraswati, the third is MahaLakshmi, and the last half-coil is the Adi Shakti. Shri Markandeya shot his arrow into this mountain and revealed the Swayambhu.
The Swayambhu looks like a sculpture, a carved sculpture of the Goddess with her many arms. It looks like it might have been carved by man, but it was created by the Mother Earth and emits the vibrations of the Adi Shakti. We all enjoyed the tremendous vibrations emanating from the swayambhu. The evening at Nasik was predictably made memorable by Dhananjay Dhumal and the marvellous musical performance by his music group. All Sahajayogis danced (and danced some more) to the heavenly music.
Day 8: (21st Dec, 2007)
After traveling 27 kms from Nashik, we reached Trimbakeshwar, an ancient town in the town of Trymbak. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India.
After lunch, we all moved to Nargol- the place where H. H. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi opened the Sahasrara of the Universe in 1970. Nargol is a small place located at the southernmost tip of Gujarat on the Arabian Sea, near the Maharashtra border.
The night was made enthralling by the musical performances of Chandrasekhar Vaze and his music team from Mumbai.
Day 9: (22nd Dec, 2007)
Day 9 started with morning meditation, followed by visit to the Nirmal Tree, collective foot soaking in the sea and shoe beating. It was a long restful afternoon.
In the evening, Sahaja Yogi brothers and sisters representing
many countries spontaneously formed a music group and rendered several melodious musical performances.
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