Last Updated on October 25, 2026 by Nanda Maa
Om Sang Saraswatyai Namah
Shree Maa had lovingly requested that I go to our Ghoti ashram to observe Ashwin Navaratri this year (2026). Originally, She and Swamiji had planned to be in India at Ghoti as well, but that was not to be, due to their fragile physical health. It was left to a few of us devotees to gather at the ashram and, inspired by our Gurus, weave our own magic of devotion over the coming 10 days.
I reached Nashik on the afternoon of 10th October, which was also Mahalaya Amavasya. Our resident host, Prashant Baba, had arranged transportation from the airport to the ashram. Being super-efficient, he had also arranged for us to pick up supplies and produce along the way, since everything has to come “from town” as the ashram is far removed from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
After cruising along the Samruddhi Highway from Nashik airport past Gondhe, we turned onto a smaller road that gradually narrowed into a partially paved, single-lane track through verdant paddy fields. Uniquely shaped hills dotted the landscape, with little streams gurgling gently along the way. I saw very few people and even fewer vehicles. Finally, the temple spire and its golden trishul came into view in the distance, with an orange flag and Maa’s yellow-and-red sari fluttering in the wind. We were almost at the ashram!
This was my first visit since the temple had been built. As soon as I entered through the sliding gates, I was greeted by a magnificent view. Straight ahead lay the approach to the goshala (cow shed) and Lake Waki, with the Sahyadri ranges beyond. To the left were the ashram gardens, with the soil prepared for flowering plants. To the right of the gate, a cobbled path wound gently down to the temple.
The temple has been built according to Vastu principles, with a combination of square, triangular and octagonal forms. Its main doors face north, east and south. The roof draws inspiration from the Kamakhya temple and the temple at the Napa ashram: a long dome spire (Kamakhya) rising above a pyramid (Napa).
The Shiva lingam (Ghoti Maheshwara) is at the centre of the temple, with an external Nandi altar to the east and an internal Nandi statue to the north. The cobblestone path goes all around the temple, allowing one to complete an entire parikrama. We did this every evening as part of Aarti, but more on that later!
The living quarters—including an open-air dining area, kitchen, rooms for Maa and Swamiji, guest rooms, and a small building for the caretaker—extend from the southeast to the southwest of the property, just behind the temple. Here’s a video walk-through of the premises.
Back to my visit! After getting out of the taxi, I looked for Prashant Baba to find out where the vegetables we had purchased should be taken and where I should leave my luggage. Just then, I heard voices chanting and walked towards them. I found Brahmani Maa and Prashant Baba performing the Mahalaya Amavasya Homa in a portable havan kund in the outdoor dining area.
I was shown to a room, and after freshening up, I joined them for the remainder of the homa. We offered pinda (balls of cooked rice) in remembrance of the deceased family members of our satsang and prayed for their peace and spiritual well-being. A full nine pages of names were read aloud, and each departed soul was remembered and honored.
After the puja, Prashant helped us settle into a guest room, simply furnished with the essentials—cots, bedsheets, and so on. My roommate was Brahmani Maa. She and I are old roomies from our days with Shree Maa and Swamiji at Kamakhya, so we happily settled in together.
Antarma and Shila joined the two of us the next day, on Day 1 of Navaratri, and Nayna Maa arrived on Day 2. We were the main pujaris, sharing the daily puja and homa duties throughout the nine days with Prashant stepping in as needed. He spent most of his time managing the logistics of running the ashram and kitchen.
Shree Maa had asked us to alternate our puja duties and gather for the evening Aarti at the temple. So that evening, Brahmani and I tentatively discussed that I would perform a Durga puja, as I was most familiar with that worship, while she would conduct the first homa on the first day of Navaratri. Little did I know then that Maa would call me later that evening and ask me to offer Cosmic Puja instead at the Devi altar.
We went up to the caretaker’s quarters, where we met Jija “Moushi” and her husband, “Mama”, who were invaluable in helping us find the samagri for our daily puja. Even with my broken Hindi, we had no trouble communicating, often with the help of hand gestures and smiles.
Prashant Baba, guided by Maa, had prepared a tasty, hot dinner—the first of many such meals! Afterwards, we retired to our rooms early, as we had to get up early for sadhana the next day.
(To be continued…)