This pilgrimage was beyond my comprehension. Little did I know that, I along with my husband would get an opportunity to visit the cave of Great Rishi Vashita and his wife Arundhati who did penance for many years. Who is Sage Vashita? He is one of the Sapta Rishis and Arundati is his wife.  Vashita cave, is located in the foothills of Himalayas, where yogis have meditated for countless years.

Our journey began June 18^th, 2015. We among many devotees

participated in the Badrinath, (Ati Rudra Maha Yagnam) which is described as the highest form of worship to Lord Shiva for 11 days. This was done for the world peace. I will write another blog in detail regarding Badrinath pilgrimage and this particular blog will focus on the journey before Badrinath. This was our first time visiting Northern side of India. We have visited numerous times to the south. Therefore, I was little scared due to not knowing the language very well, but relied on God to support and help us.

We landed in New Delhi the night of June 20^th, 2015 and stayed in a nearby hotel near the Airport. We had to take a flight to Rishikesh because that was where we were to meet our entire group who were heading to Badrinath. On June 21^st, 2015 morning we took a flight to Rishikesh. The energy of the entire city felt like a utopian environment. You can see on the road many yogis clad in orange robes walking and singing the glory of Lord Bola Nath (Shiva).

I and Hubby stayed in a hotel near to Sathya Sai School in Rishikesh. The school was built just like Swami’s ashram. Later, that day two ladies from our group met us. We all decided to go see the Ganga Arati to the flowing Ganges. Hindus revere flowing Ganges as very sacred. It was a magnificent sight to see. Later, we also did Arati (waving of camphor) worship to the Ganges. After the Aarati,

we walked a cross to the Sivananda Ashram. My husband and I along with the two ladies went to the Ashram to meditate. It was very soothing when I walked inside the Ashram. Later, one of the lady who was with us said that, Sathya Sai Baba has visited Sivananda Ashram while on his journey to Badrinath back in 1964. When we walked outside, we saw people all waiting in line to receive a Swamiji. His name was told by all as Swami Chidananda. He was very old, clad in

Orange robe. He went around the ashram doing pradikshana (circling the venue). After the pradikshana he came towards all four of us and asked us to sit down. He asked us where we were heading? We said Swamiji we are going towards Badrinath for Ati Rudra Maha Yagnam for world peace.

He said, “Very good, you will not take anything with you when you shed this physical body. Focus all 11 days on the divine and that will be your highest sadhana in this life time.” Then we asked him about Sathya Sai Baba’s visit to Sivananda Ashram. He said he was a young lad and he was

indeed delighted to welcome Baba when he visited Rishikesh. Then, another Swamiji came with Prasad. He was coming from Kedharnath, Swami Chidananda, asked us to open our palm and placed the Prasad in our hands. We all ate the Prasad with great delight. Then he turned towards my husband, because he was the only young man sitting among the ladies and asked, “What is your name?” my husband replied, “Swamiji my name is Niranjen.” Then he laughed and said, “We have a Swami in our ashram named Niranjananda.” Then he said, “Name Niranjen is very pure.” My husband was floating in bliss when he heard that. Then he asked us to visit again and that he will give us books to read from Swami Sivananda and blessed all of us. We felt very happy in meeting the Swamiji and walked down the stairs in ecstatic mood.

Following day, before meeting our group we wanted to go and visit the Vashita cave. We rented a small taxi and asked the driver to take us to the cave. I was terrified at first because we had to go up the mountain and it was little drizzling and the roads were windy. After we reached the place where we had to go, the driver stopped the vehicle and told us, he cannot drive all the way and that we had to walk downhill towards the cave. We said, alright and started walking. Downhill walk was not a big problem to me, however coming up was the problem, we were quite up in elevation and the oxygen level was not that great.

People who were walking up the hill, told us there is a Swamiji from Kerala living there and that we must see him before we leave. I got very excited when I heard that. We walked very fast before it got dark. When we reached the cave, I was feeling very nostalgic. We walked slowly inside the cave bending our head. It was pitch dark, but we were able to see a light at the end of the tunnel. There was an oil lamp lit and a huge Shivalingam was inside. We sat quietly, and started to meditate. What I noticed was that, the cave was very warm like wrapped around a blanket. Slowly we did namaskaram to the Shivalingam and walked out the cave. Beside the cave was a small ashram, we peeped inside and the Swamiji asked us to come inside. He asked us where we were coming

from and we told him. Then, when I looked up I saw a photograph of Sathya Sai Baba with another Swami. My husband asked him, if that was Sathya Sai Baba? He said yes, that was Baba in his early 40’s, when he visited Rishikesh, he also came to the

Vashita Cave. We felt very thrilled. He then asked us, where we were going? We told him that we were heading to Badrinath for the Yagnam. Then he blessed all of us and asked us to go back into the cave and do bhajans before leaving and blessed us. We went inside the cave and sang bhajan. I had tears in my eyes when I sang, “Manasa Bhajare Guru Charanam” the first bhajan sung by Sathya Sai Baba. Truly I felt our dear Lord’s presence.

This was beyond my comprehension, as I mentioned above. In

this life, one must do all work as actors in a play, keeping our identity separate and not attached to our personality or the role designated by the Source.

As we look towards the light (Source), shadow of our burden will fall right behind us.

Yours Truly…