Last Updated on January 10, 2025 by Swami Satyananda Saraswati
On the auspicious first day of the Sanskrit New Year, the group traveled to a remote temple, high on top of a mountain, just outside the city of Nashik.
There, we visited a fascinating temple known as Sapta Shringi (also spelled Saptashrungi or Saptashringi).
The word “sapta” means seven and “shrung” means peaks, so the residing deity is the goddess Saptashrungi Nivasini – “She who dwells within the seven mountain peaks.” She is also defined as: She who dwells in the seven levels of consciousness, She who is at the summit of Consciousness, and She who manifests the ultimate Peace in your mind and in your heart.
It is a very ancient temple, and, just like our own Devi Mandir in the United States, it has a murti of Mahalakshmi with eighteen arms. She has a huge beautiful smiling face. Shree Maa commented that it was Siddhi Pitha, where the Divine Mother is awake. She said that it is very powerful and all of us were in agreement.
Swamiji and the group made the walk up the long flight of stairs, while Shree Maa was carried on palki, a chair supported by long poles which can be carried by four men.
We all took darshan of the radiant murti of the Goddess and Shree Maa offered the various articles of worship: a cloth, sweets, flowers, and dakshina.
Then, along with Shree Maa and Swamiji, we all sat nearby the havan kund, which was just outside of the area for darshan of Sapta Shringi. Led by Swamiji, we chanted the Lalita Trishati for the Goddess. Then, Shree Maa shared Her love by singing for the Divine Mother with such purity that everyone nearby was mesmerized.
Despite the temple being so high in the mountains and in such a remote place, Swamiji was able to broadcast live on the internet for the world to see. Venkat, a great devotee of Shree Maa, held the broadcasting laptop up high above the heads of other visitors, so devotees around the world could see Shree Maa, Swamiji, the temple and the Goddess Sapta Shringi.
Shree Maa was delighted to see some monkeys in the temple and chanted Hanuman mantras while looking at them.
Afterwards, we made a trip to a devotee’s new factory, where they manufacture capsules for medicines. Shree Maa and Swamiji greatly enjoyed the tour and gave their blessings.
After the factory tour, we went to the Kalaram temple, built in the Panchavati area of the city of Nashik. This ancient temple is dedicated to Lord Ram and, in fact, it is believed that Sri Ram, Lakshman and Sita Devi actually visited this temple.
The word “Kala” means black and so the temple’s murti of Sri Rama is black. Kalaram literally means black Rama.
The inner sanctum also has murti’s of Lakshman and Sita Devi.
Swamiji demonstrated, once again, his unselfish determination to share the joy and love of worshiping God by carrying his laptop up the hillside, fiddling with a weak connection over the cellphone networks, and trying his utmost to share Shree Maa’s and our group’s activities around the world.
Upon reflection, it became obvious that Swamiji’s every action is a pure reflection of love. He demonstrates this through his determination to include the global family in this divine tour of India through live streaming.
Thank you Swamiji for your pure example, inspiration, and determination!
Jai Maa! Jai Swamiji!