11/24

We woke up very early Monday morning and took the train from Delhi to Haridwar. Swami Ram Kripaluji met us at the train station and whisked us off to his ashram in Rishikesh. We stayed at Ram Kripalu’s ashram located in Mayakund, Rishikesh on the bank of the Ganges. We all appreciated the beauty and quiet of the Ganges and the Himalayas which were within sights view!

Here is a view of the Ganges as seen from Ram Kripaluji’s ashram:

Maa, Swamiji, and Ram Kripaluji enjoy each other’s company:

11/25

In the morning we woke up very early and chanted the Chandi. By about mid morning, Swami Ram Kripaluji prepared his blow up boats to take us across the Ganges:

Swamiji and Swami Ram Kripaluji in the boat together crossing the Ganges:

Devotees in another boat cross the Ganges, too!

Once on the other side, Maa made a small Shiva lingam out of the sand. Swamiji chanted some mantras from the Shiva Puja book and we all prayed for world peace offering water, flowers and incense.

Shiva lingam made out of sand by Shree Maa:

Later in the afternoon, we took a brief walk across the Lakshman Jhulan bridge. It was a beautiful sight to see the Ganges:

A view from Laxman Jhulan bridge:

A monkey on the bridge gave us darshan.

Sri Sri Swami Prakashanandaji Maharaj visited Maa and Swamiji in Rishikesh. He is one of the oldest living yogis of the Himalayan region. He is around 117 years old and known for his knowledge of the HIndu scriptures. He visited Devi Mandir several years ago and blessed our Napeshwar Shiva LIngam as the 13th Jyotir lingam.

We all felt very fortunate to be blessed by Sri Sri Swami Prakashanandaji’ Maharaj’s Shiva like presence here in Rishikesh. To share in the pure devotion and wisdom of so many great souls at once was truly an inspirational and unforgettable experience!