The last travelogue on Gangotri, which included over 70 pictures, sparked several questions in my mind about the sadhu way of life in India.
I found myself wanting to learn more and more. Through the days, my thoughts were constantly migrating back to questions on Gangotri – trying to gain a better perspective and appreciation of the sadhu lifestyle. I even became eager to better understand Swamiji’s objectives.
So I took a chance and wrote to Swamiji, requesting some of his time so I could interview him online. He agreed.
I hope this post satisfies some questions that perhaps you, too, were wondering. I hope it touches your heart as it did mine. I am most grateful to be able to share this with you.
Ideally, we want to identify potential synergies where, together, we can mutually support each other. Together, there may be opportunities to make a more significant impact.
You have heard me tell the story of when I was a young boy, I had a vision that humanity joined hands in one circle around the earth in peace. My journey to India reminds me a lot of that vision.
This yatra is important because it is the foundation on which I will build a broader long-term plan which expands our outreach. This is really exciting!
In addition to the joy of performing sadhana, we aim to show sadhus how spiritual teachings and ancient scriptures can be globally disseminated through modern day technology, such as internet broadcasting and the usage of Apps.
We wish for their collaboration to help us expand our teachings and to inspire more people to join in our sadhana. In turn, we would like to give them an opportunity to use our skills and technology to expand their outreach if they choose to.
So far we have been very well received and treated with the utmost of respect.
It is a win-win for all!
How do you know that you are having an impact in India?
In fact, this morning we chanted the Gita and Chandi sitting overlooking the Ganga, which was really a delight. (I hope you had a chance to enjoy the many photos to get an idea of what we were looking at and the surrounding environment we are experiencing.)
When we rose from our asana, I met Tapasya, a lovely devotee from the Czech Republic. She reminded me that we met about four years before in Rishikesh (she knew the exact date). She explained that she was so inspired that she has since purchased all of our books and Apps and has been staying in the area of Gangotri and Tapovan, performing various practices.
Now that is an impact! To me, there can be no greater accomplishment than changing someone’s life through sharing our inspiration and the knowledge inherent in our tradition.
I am encouraged that if we purposefully give more than we take, we will make an enormous difference. We will be one step closer to humanity holding hands around the world.
There are no fresh veggies in the bazaar as Gangotri is located at an altitude above 10,000 feet. Whatever there was had to have been at least a week old, dying and decrepit, so mostly we passed.
People here eat mostly rice, dhal, and some beans. We did the same. Using the small kitchen with a portable propane stove, we cooked most of our own meals. We ate simple meals like black and white chana (garbanzo bean), rajma (kidney beans), mixed with some peanuts. We also made daal and occasionally a simple vegetable.
The ashram also provided lunch and dinner free of charge, and we sometimes ate there, except I stuck with my strict diet. They usually had rice, roti, dal and a vegetable.
On one occasion, some sadhus served us papaya, which I humbly accepted. To think that these kind and generous men would cut up a papaya for their visitors, when it is a struggle to cook a potato for themselves, filled me with the awe of respect.
I assume you drink bottled water? How is the local drinking water?
Gangotri water is pure because it is far north with very few places upstream from it. In fact, Gangotri is the origin of the Ganges River. This is its significance. The water is very clean — very pure.
On the other side of the river, there are fewer people, it is not commercial, but rather it is where you find the ashrams. The Ishwasya Ashram is located after you cross the bridge from the busy side, and it is certainly one of the largest ashrams. Because it was constructed in the 1980s, it has a few more amenities than many other ashrams.
Further down the river (further away from the bridge) is the area where the sadhus have their ashrams. It is quiet there, with peaceful surroundings.
Note: Since the time of this interview, Swamiji has since checked out of the hotel. He wrote, “There are many kinds of ashrams with many different standards, but so far, unequivocally, every place we stayed they said to us, “We are an ashram, not a hotel, and we will not charge sadhus! If you would like to make a donation, you are welcome, but by no means is it necessary for you!”
I can see that, Swamiji. You look very happy in the pictures. I very much enjoyed all of the photos, but the ones that struck me were the huts that the sadhus lived in. I am interested to understand their living conditions. What is the temperature like in the summer? What about the winter? Do they live there all year long?
The living conditions are very rustic as you can see from the pictures. It is one step up from living in a cave. Each of the sadhus live in rooms the size a little bigger than the wooden cots upon which they slept. They keep all of their possessions underneath their cot.
They mostly bathe in the Ganges. I did not see electrical outlets in their rooms, but there was an electric outlet inside the temple.
I feel bad about their poor living conditions. What can we do about that?
Please don’t feel bad for them. Understand, the simplicity of their life style is their tapasya.
Their respectful language and loving welcome made me remember when Ram was wandering in the forest with Sita and Lakshman. They moved from ashram to ashram and received the blessings of all the great souls. It is so inspiring to be here.
I would estimate that there are only about 1,000 residents in Gangotri. Nobody lives here in the winter time. They all drop down to at least 1,000 feet in elevation, and they move the Ganga Maa murti to a village near Harsil (a town located between Uttarkashi and Gangotri).
All of the priestly families have two houses, one in Gangotri, where they live for almost six months, and another in the lower altitude village to where they move the murti.
The sadhus on the other hand, are unemployed and supported by free will donations from the pilgrims. You know, visitors, like us. This is why it is such an honor to get the privilege to offer them dakshina.
Also, many of the ashrams in India have become more like institutions, and many of these institutions support several sadhus.
One thing was common: so far, wherever we have gone to share our love and our sadhana, we have been treated with a remarkable respect, love, graciousness, which I can only call Divine Grace!
When we arrived at the ashram, there was a sadhu chanting in the Shiva Temple, and a few of them were in silent meditation. Also, some were reading from scriptures, like the Bhagavad Gita. One of the older sadhus was in mediation while he was awake. He never uttered a word.
They do perform arati together in the morning and evening and they have a resident pujari look after the small Shiva Temple.
But looking at the generosity of spirit, one can conclude that, for the most part, they are contributing. For example, when we went to the Main Gangotri Temple, where the murti of Ganga Maa resides, the Head Pujari came out from the office, and upon seeing us, he invited us inside. We were treated with such respect.
The other temple priests were also curious about the sadhana that we were performing.
When they opened the temple, there was a long line of people who had been waiting for darshan. The thoughtful priests took us in through the Exit door so that we would be first for blessings and darshan of Ganga Maa.
When we left, we made a donation to the temple, and to each of the sadhus individually.
By doing just what we are doing. Meaning, what we are doing here in Gangotri is doing just that!
By visiting them, chanting with them, inviting them, giving them some food, showing respect, and offering dakshina (financial support), I hope that has changed many peoples’ lives.
The Devi Mandir family can help me support this effort.
I sincerely thank you all for this opportunity to enjoy sadhana in the Himalayas. We are representing the family, all of you, and I believe we are making a difference in the lives of people we meet and greet.