The Name "Paradise" itself has unique type of invisible joy which can be felt while experiencing the process of going on a journey .This is also a Down memory lane of a paradise unknown. The word paradise is synonymous with places like Ladakh, Himachal, Kedarnath , Manali. This is one of them "Sidhabari" in Himachal Pradesh. A state which is known for it's snow covered peaks, greenish mountains and flowing streams and the lovely country side . These are excerpts from a diary which i wrote way back in 1993. I actively being a part of the CHYK or Chinmaya Yuva Kendra had news that there would be a camp held by Swami Chinmayananda in Sidhabari from May 25th to 31st . A Geetha Lecture by Swamiji anywhere in the world would have been a pleasure to hear and informative .The Preparation for the camp had started, collecting applications, booking tickets , organising people .Once Done everybody was in the joy of visiting this paradise which had been heard from different devotees.
Just a few days before the camp a tragedy struck our household and there were doubts of me going for the camp but with the blessings of gurudev my father's mind changed and i was allowed to go. I landed in banaglore on 21st morning and went to the railway station to catch the karnataka express.I was the first one and then people started to trickle in with thier luggages and home made food packets. Every body wishing each other for safe and a pleasant spiritual journey.Everybody's parents was around except mine but i could undertsand the situation . I love them and thank them for making me possible to attend the camp.I could hear somebody say Happy journey . I knew it was amma and appa . From illusion i came back to reality to see people discussing around, there were around 52 people including people from tumkur.After usual goodbye's and group photographs we left on a journey to the paradise. We were also joined a Couple Mr. and Mrs Mallya( not Vijay Mallya of UBgroup) from mangalore who was a good friend of gurudev and follower of Osho.His conversation in the train was inspiring .
I had been on many train journeys but this was one was different experience . They collected Rs 300/- as common fund at the start of the journey . Hema took care of accounts , Sai, Tarun and narendra took care of other things . We had night shift to monitor luggages . I had a patrolling duty between 2am to 4am in the morning.I read books , heard music, sang bhajans and above all had a good sleep . The food each day was delicious.The shrikand at sholapur was a mouth watering experience . On 23rd we reached Nizamuddin around 2pm . We had to catch a train the same to pathankot at 8.30pm. Nizammudin had the poshest area close the station with houses having wonderful architecture.The train was full . We didnt want to board up the train in Delhi thinking it would be a mad rush but were wrong as lots of people were to get down at Delhi and we could only board S5 coach and had to take all luggages and go to S2 which was tiring in the delhi summer.
We were all tired and hit the beds ... as we reached pathkot the misson had organised a bus from pathankot to Sidhabari our last leg of the journey .We had some tastefull lassi and started the Bus journey . It was mind blowing as we had to cross 78 mountains and nature at it's best we reached Dharmasala around 1pm on 24th .From Dharmasala it was around 4 kms .As we were coming near to the Ashram we could see a Shiv ling at the top of the building , our hearts was inquisitive to see the place so the voices of bhajans grew louder as the driver turned towards the ashram we could see beautiful mountains along the rod with occasional houses. , plain fields with lots of grass, a stream flowing behind the ashram. As the bus stopped we took our luggages and registered our names and remitted the camp fees .We were alloted the nursing quarters nearby which was half a km away .We were all tired so we walked put our luggages had lunch and slept off for sometime .After around a hour we were asked to shift inside the ashram campus which was blessing in disguise.We took some rest and went around the place .
It was indeed heaven or paradise .The place surrounding was with snow peaked montains , clean air , solitude environment .Peace just was in the air all around .you could feel the kind of positive energy.We from bangalore were given kitchen duty and we are all very happy that we could see gurudev from close quarters.
25th May the camp started we were all dressed in white and were given a saffron robe on that with a tulsi mala . this attire was compulsory when were moving around the Ashram.We all assembled in the morning and Camp organisers explained the rules and regulations .We were also briefed by purushothammandaji and Sudhamshuji. The camp would started in the evening with a lecture by Gurudev on Gita Chapter 9.There were talks that Gurudev might not even come due to his illhealth and left us all in very sober mood . But Hope is life so we went ahead and started our Karmic activities assigned . We also had a chance to know the Tapovan Ashram.
Ashram: On the entrance of the ashram there are 2 huge pillars with a gate attached, further from there is a beautiful hanuman huge statue.in front of that is gurudev's kutia .It's a beautiful place .Gurudev's kutia is a very unique struture. The Kutia has a Shiv ling on the top which can be seen from long distances.to the back of his kutia is a ganesha idol which is adjacent to gurudev's office or reading room .One can see gurudev very ealry in the morning at around 3am to 4am sit there and write letters to his devotees. Just beside the room is huge door .Once you open the door the door directly gives u the sight of the himalayas.Ohh what can i say about this picturesque place .The great Himalayas which has guarded our country for so long.The serenity , solitude and the breeze emanates a freshness to your mind and tries to contemplate on everything u see . Beside his Kutia is the "komala Hall" where the discourses will be conducted .there is a satsung hall inside which has the idol of Rama, Lakshamana and Sita . The Meditation classes would held there .
The ashram has no television, no newspaper. We didnt know how a week passed , there was not a moment which was dull . The environment was vibrant with people , serene with nature .The place was like Mt.Kailash .It was place where one could control his agitating mind and have inner peace. It was indeed we felt like we had done a journey from the earth to the heaven .That was Tapovan Ashram, Sidhabari.
It was a the Sadhana Sapthaha for all of us.We were doing our kitchen work when the news arrived that indeed gurudev had arrived from Mumbai and went to his kutia for rest.After the meal we went for a nap, had evening tea and were ready for the evening classes. My heart pounded with joy to see swamiji.Every body finished the Arati at the Ram temple and sat 15 minutes before for the classes .There were advance booking for front seats, chairs . At the stroke of 6.30pm we could see swamiji enter on a wheel chair which was holded by Swami Subhodhanandji.He got up from his wheel chair , left his padukas, made pranams to his guru Tapovan Maharaj then to adi shankaracharyaand then to all of us saying HARI OM!! . He sat on his chair and beagn to give the introduction to Gita and briefly explain the 8 chapters before coming to the 9th chapter.All our attention , thoughts were focussed towards him and his words .The magnetic force was compelling and joyous. After the discourse we dispersed .The second day started with meditation from 5.30am to 6.00am then 6.00am to 6.15am we used to have tea , 6.15am onwards for an hour we used to have kenoupanishad classes , ground discussions, breakfast , workshops by various people, lunch with swamiji, some rest , walk in the ashram by 4.30pm and the discourse at 6.30pm .After the discourse everyday we used to have cultural activities held by CHYK's from each states on each day . Swamiji used to be present on all days . He was unwell internally but used to enjoy the programmes with the devotees.
We from Bangalore enjoyed our Anna seva at the kitchen . It is one occassion i will never forget as i got a chance to see Gurudev so close .He used to kept a large silver plate and silver bowls with various dishes. Gurudev used to eat very less . he used to taste some dishes not disappoint the devotees.One day there was shortage food and we rendered bhajans so that evrbody forgot they were waiting for lunch . The love and affection the chyk's showed while doing seva won everybody's heart in the camp.
Each day Gurudev unfolded the importance of Gita in our lives .It was vibrant, electrifying, amazing and chilling thinking that this was the person who was in ICU in mumbai Jaslok Hospital some days back and was here addressing 800 Chyk's and devotess from all over India . His electrfying presence had made the arrangements in the Ashram go without any hitch.He had said nobody will go from the camp for the want of space . He wa right as everybody was accomodated . Around 1000 people the ashram was beehiving with activity and energy . Everybody came forward to do any seva. It was indeed a memorable one . The Saptaha was a life enriching experience .
Apart from the lectures and spiritual discussions the cultural activity each day will stuck in our minds for a long time particlualry the sanskrit drama by tumkur ,the national soul sandhya by blr and garba danceby mumbai .
On the last night of the Saptaha as the Garbha Dance began there was joy asual everywhere, all were quietly watching when gurudev turned and said c'mon everybody dance . The room was filled with excitement, everybody clapped chanting krishna. Gurudev also chanted krishna maybe saying Lord keep my children well and take care of them as i have only a few more days to go as this will be my last in India .
In the End there was India Map and al of us were asked to keep a light in our states . The Map looked wonderfull with lights . United we stand and proud to be Indians we said .
The next day the camp ended after breakfast .the campers left to thier destinations .Swamiji took a 3 to 4 days before leaving to US. Swamiji breathed his last in US in Aug after being in coma for a few days . Who knew but himself that this would be the last Gita discourse he would give in India . He came from ICU to give a discourse where somebody seeing him for the first time would not believe his health condition .Tears fill my eyes even now and then too when we had to part with Swamiji and the paradise in Sidhabari.
For us who came from bustling bangalore leaving behind all the materialistic comforts we found serenity in our minds, we had clarity in our thoughts yet i felt the paradise was unknown before we visited and is still unknown till date . The search within will be a continuous one and the teachings of Gurudev will always inspire me and others for generations to come .Wish i can visit the paradise someday once again .
