Swami Arunachalananda

Yatras From 2021 - 2025

  February-March 2021

Early February I went to Tiruvannamalai via Pune-Bengaluru by bus; private bus operator experience at Katraj in Pune was not good. After staying initially one night in the Laxmi Pink Guet house (02.02.2021), I rented a room for a month at Rs 3000 with the help of Kumar Mj; the room was in the colony located at the back side of Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashrama. Same day evening Kumar Mj and I went to purchase stainless-steel kamandalu for bheeksha collection from Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashrama (due to COVID pandemic the Sadhu bheeksha at the ashrama was being given in utensils and boxes and no bheeksha eating in ashrama was allowed); we took our dinner at Sarvesh restaurant in the evening. Next day (04.02.2021) was Swami Vivekananda Tithi Puja, so Sudhindra Mj and myself did Girivalam in the evening; on route we had darshan of Swami Ramanananda Mj (Swami Tatha) samadhi; he had passed away few weeks back. The Samadhi is built by Mr Vijayan and family - who were devoted to the swami and had served him many years. Mr Vijayan invited us for bheeksha on coming weekend. On 5th Feb, I went to Mr Vijayan's home with Sudhindra Mj for noon bheeksha; his small grand-daughter Yalini played with us joyfully. In March 2019 too, we had our bheeksha at Mr Vijayan's home (that time Bhaskar Mj of Almora was also with us). During Girivalm we also met Br Raghavendra and Br Shiva who were staying in Tiruvannamalai, near Sri Ramanashramam, and doing Sadhana. During this stay I came across these two brahmacharis occasionally, sometimes at the time of Sri Ramanashramam bheeksha, sometimes during Girivalm etc.
I used to go for Girivalam generally every Tuesday evening and Saturday morning. Daily morning bheeksha secured from Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashrama was sufficient for morning as well as evening. At evening time, I used to heat up the remaining 'bheeksha-mixture' of Sambhar-Rice-Russam with the help of a glass of hot water; the electric kettle given by Kumar Mj was very helpful. Sometimes I used to take morning bheeksha at Ramanashramam or Agastyar Annadanam and evening bheeksha at Ganapati Library (Mr Murugan).
After completing one month at the rented room, by the grace of Arunachala, I got accommodation in Sri Ramanashramam from 4th March till 16th March. On 16th I returned to Nashik via Kalyan by Chalukya Express. No pictures were taken during this stay as my mobile camera was not working properly.

  August-September 2021

During monsoon season i once went to nearby pilgrimage place Tryambakeshwar on a short few hours visit.

With the help of Br.Raghavendra of Tiruvannamalai, I had booked a room in Tiruvannamalai for a month starting from 15th August. I reached Tiruvannamalai on 15th morning (4.30 am) by Special Chalukya Express, which i had boarded from Kalyan on 13th night. On arrival i called Br. Raghavendra and taking auto reached near Sheshadri Ashrama. Br Raghavendra kindly came at that hour and showed me the room in Thamrai Nagar. I had not stayed in this area before, though the room was not far from Ramanashramam, it was in a bit of congested area and no immediate clear view of Arunachala was possible. I had thought of booking this room for a year if it was suitable, but dropped the idea after few days. On 15th itself i med Kumar Mj and Sudhindra Mj. As i had planned beforehand, during this one month stay i could complete three Girivalams per week by the grace of Arunachala; i used to go Tuesday, Saturday early mornings and Thursday evening. Couple of times Br. Raghavendra accompanied me during Thursday evening Girivalams; we had lots of spiritual discussions. I had divided weekly days for bheeksha; sometimes I used to take bheeksha at Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram (general and sadhu), sometimes at Sri Ramanashramam or Agastyar Annadanam. Sometimes the evening bheeksha used to be taken from Agastya Ganapati Library.
My friend Sudhir Akarte informed that he is coming to Tiruvannamalai for 8-10 days; by the grace of Arunachala, couple of days before his arrival, Naresh - the room agent - requested me to change the room to a larger one! This second room was spacious for two persons. So when Sudhir came on 31st August and stayed till 8th September, we had no problem adjusting in this room. We went to Girivalam couple of times together and once visited Rev. Sw. Ashutoshanandaji Mj (Raju Mj) at his room during Girivalam; had good chat with him. During one evening Girivalam we had dinner in a hotel in town. Once Sudhir, myself, Sudhindra Mj, and Kuamr Mj went to Sarvesh restaurant for dinner. Before his departure, one day Sudhir and myself went to the room where i had stayed in Feb-March 2021 (behind Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashrama) and asked for it's availability for a year. The owner, since knowing me from previous stay, quickly agreed for one year rental at Rs 2500/month. In couple of days i paid him rent of four months in advance. On 14th Sept. i moved to this room and on 15th night, after returning some stuff taken from Kumar Mj and informing the owners, i left Tiru. On 15th night the train was at 11.25 pm and i had asked an auto-driver to come near the room at 10 pm; it started raining heavily with lightennings around 9.30 pm! I called the driver and he said he is coming, i went out with umbrella to wait for him on the corner but he didn't turn up; called him many times but he didn't pick up. Due to heavy rains the streets were empty and despite umbrella i was getting drenched. Luckily an auto came soon but the driver said it has no petrol! He kindly called another auto-driver and after 10-12 minutes wait in rain, finally the auto came. I went to the railway station and due to the weather condition the driver charged Rs 500 instead of usual 200-250! Rains continued till the train arrived; after boarding i changed all wet clothes and put them in a polything bag. Reached Nashik on 17th Sept. morning via Kalyan-Nashik bus.
Some Pics: Tiruvannamalai (mid-August to Mid-Sept 2021)

  March 8-16, 2022

I stayed in Ramakrishna Ashrama Kankhal from 16th Feb - 7th March 2022; i had arrived there, from Advaita Ashrama Mayavati, for my sannyasa from Sadhana Sadan on Mahashivaratri day (1st March 2022). After my formal sannyasa on Mahashivaratri (for which i stayed for couple days in Sadhana Sadan with Br Sudhir Mj), i returned to Kankhal ashrama and attended Sri Ramakrishna Tithi Puja (4th March 2022) there. On 5th March i went to Ramakrishna Ashrama Dehradun with Br Sudhir Mj (Swami Dhiratmananda now!) and Rahul Mj (Br PrajnanaChaitanya); on the way we visited Sri Neelkantha Mahadev shrine on a hill near Rishikesh. At Dehradun ashrama we met Mamashree (Dr Tulsidas Mj), Br Vinayak, Madhav Mj (Swami Mayadheeshananda), and Adhyaksha Mj (Rev Sudarshan Mj); i was meeting Mamashree after a long time. We spent a day in joyous discussions; Mamashree was happy to see us in Gerua clothes. Madhav Mj took us to nearby Bavadi-Shiva temple where Swami Turiyanandaji had performed austerities and where even Swami Vivekananda had visited. Rev Sudarshan Mj tried, in vain, to make me join Dehradun ashrama for sewa! On 6th March afternoon Br Vinayak dropped me and Rahul Mj to Haridwar in Dehradun ashrama car.
I arrived in Kashi around 4 pm and went to Tikra Math near Ramakrishna Sewashrama where Ritesh Mj (Swami Ganeshatmananda) and Raindra Mj (of Omkareshwar) had made our staying arrangement. With Ritesh Mj had come two brahmacharis - Br Vijay and Br Vinit - from Narmada banks; all of us immediately went to Kashi Vishwanath darshan. Recently the Kashi Vishwanath Carridor project's first phase had completed and the premises of the ancient temple had been cleared and given new spacious look. When I had visited this place in 2008, the temple was lost in the maze of lanes, now the campus was wide, spacious, surrounded by huge compound wall structures and had stairs leading to Ganga. This renovation of the area was a work of historical importance as this was first major overhaul of the area in couple of centuries.
Later Nishchal Mj (Swami Vedatattwananda) joined us in Tekra Math room. Mamashree had also come to Kashi from Dehradun and he soon started visiting us regularly at Tekra Math; we all used to have long satsangs (which was mainly Nishchal Mj talking!). We also visited many famous temples, monasteries, ghats etc in Kashi. We had our Ganga-Snan once at 4 am and early morning Kashi Vishwanath Darshan (when one can touch the Shivalinga); we used to take lunch generally at Ma Annapurna Annakshetra; it was wonderful to have South Indian food in the heart of Varanasi. After 4-5 days we moved from Tekra Math to Guru Karshni Veda Vidyalaya for last 2-3 days stay in Kashi. Couple of times we had boat rides on Ganga during evening, night time; the view of Ghats, Ganga-Arati, temples, pilgrims etc from Ganga is excellent. On 14th March Nishchal Mj left for Belur and Br Vinit returned to Ujjain. Once myself and Br Vijay went to Ramakrishna Mission Sewashram and Mamashree showed us Swami Turiyanandaji Mj rrom, Swami Adbhutanandaji Mj room, Advaita Ashrama campus, Lakshmi-Niwas (nearby building where Holy Mother had stayed), and the old-dilapidated Bapuli-Bari (the place where Sri Ramakrishna had stayed). Once my friend Uttam Kumar from Sansaram came to Kashi and met us. On 16th March, myself, Ritesh Mj, and Br Vijay went to Prayagraj by bus. We kept our luggage at Swaminarayan Ashrama there and immediately went to Triveni sangam for Ganga-Snan; on Ganga banks we had our Mundan and went by boat till the Sangam point where one can take Ganga-Snan. Soon after that we dropped Ritesh Mj to the railway station as he had afternoon train to Indore. Myself and Br Vijay had late afternoon lunch at a posh restaurant nearby and then we rested in our room at Swaminarayan Ashrama. That night i boared train to Nagpur while Br Vijay left for Kashi next day. I reached Tiruvannamalai, via Bengaluru, on 19th March 2022 afternoon by bus.
Some Pics: Varanasi (8-16 March 2022)
Videos: Ganga-Arati on 10 March 2022   and  Ganga-Arati on 10 March 2022(2)   and  Ganga Boat ride 10 March 2022 Evening
Shiva's Holi in Varanasi Lanes     and    Ganga Boat ride 14 March 2022 Night     and    On Ganga at Prayagraj (16.03.2022)

  July 7-13, 2023

My monk friends from Narmada, Swami Ganeshatmananda (Ritesh Mj), Br Vijay, and Br Vinit alongwith two other monks, were coming to Tiru for two weeks stay in mid-July; they invited me to join them in the pilgrimage to SriSailam and Rameshwaram on the way to Tiru. So on 6th July morning i went to nearby Katpadi town by bus and then by train went to Tirupati. From Tirupati i boarded night bus to SriSailam.
Arriving there on 7th morning, i went to Allaru Seetharama Raju Satram (also called Kshatriya Satram) where our staying arrangements were made. After bath etc. i went to the main Shiva temple of SriSailam which was nearby; i did not go for darshan but just observed the temple complex and found out the Annadanam hall of the temple; took noon prasad there and returned to Satram. Swami Ganeshatmananda, Swami Ishatattwananda, Swami Satyakamananda, Br Vinit and Br Vijay arrived in the afternoon from Narmada banks. In the evening we went to nearby Shivaji Maharaj Spoorthy Center which had beautiful sculptures of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in various incidents from his life; the history of the great king's visit to SriSailam and his receiving divine sword from Supreme Goddess, Bhramaramba Devi, of the place, was shown in wall sculptures and statues. We had booked online entry tickets for Darshan of the main Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple and were given 9 pm time; an hour before this we saw the 'water fountains and laser show' within the temple complex depicting scriptural story of this pilgrimage place. After the main shrine 'sparsh-darshana', we also had darshana of Bhramaramba Devi within the temple complex.
On 8th morning we hired local jeep to take us to sites like Sakshi Ganapati Temple, Shikhar Darshan spot, Phaladhara-Panchadhara, and Hathakeswara Mahadev temple. In the evening we walked and climbed down the stairs to Pathala Ganaga spot from where SriSailam Dam and Krishna river view is beautiful; pilgrims were taking bath in Krishna river, we too sprinkled water on our heads. My Sadhaka-friend from Tiruvannamalai Dilip Singh was staying in his Guru's ashrama here, I met him in the evening and talked over cup of tea. 9th July being Sunday, the town was crowded and we did not go to Akkamahadevi caves (the boat ride there was also costly). In the afternoon we boarded bus to Markapur and in the evening boarded train from Markapur railway station to Tirupati.

Reaching Tirupati early morning we went to local Ramakrishna Ashrama by hiring a cab. The Tirupati Ramakrishna Math is a quiet little ashrama with a small but serene & beautiful temple. We refreshed ourselves, rested, had breakfast, interacted with resident monks, and departed to Railway station around 11 am in Ashrama vehicle with packed lunch-boxes given to us! Chelapandi Mj was very helpful in everything, Head of the ashrama Swami Sukrutanandaji Mj too interacted with us briefly. Swami Amritanandaji Mj, the old scholarly monk of the Ramakrishna Order who used to come to Pune Math during 2003-07 and used to take scripture classes for us Brahmacharis, was now here in Tirupati ashrama. Due to old age he was mostly bed-ridden and had difficulty hearning clearly, but we made pranams to him and told him that his scripture classes had helped us in our spiritual journey. We boarded the train to Mandapam around noon time.
On 11th July early morning we arrived at Mandapam and took a bus to Rameshwaram; Ramakrishna Matam, a branch-center of Ramakrishna Tapovanam (Trichi) is situated just next to main temple of Rameshwaram. We stayed in the Matam. The Matam was well constructed with beautiful shrine-hall, guest rooms, kitchen and dining hall, a school etc. Swami Gopalananda of Madurai had given the name of Vitthal Barve as the local priest who can guide us; on enquiry we came to know that he had passed away couple of years back and his children are also working in Bengaluru! We were told that there is no need of priest as guide, we can take sea bath and proceed to '22 Kunda-snana' by taking Rs 25 Govt. ticket. We did that and had darshan of the Rameshwaram Lingam by standing in free-darshan line. On 12th morning we hired auto to see tourist spots like Dhanushkodi, Vibhushan temple, Archala Munai etc. and in the noon had lunch-prasada in the main temple. In the evening we saw the Swami Vivekananda museum which is just behind the main temple. Swamiji had stayed here. On 13th morning we hired auto to see Pamban bridge, Banganga (Villondi teerth), and Abdul Kalam museum; we also saw the house in which Abdul Kalam was born, it is also a small museum cum gift shop. In the evening we boarded train to Tiru.
Some Pics: SriSailam and Rameshwaram (7-13 July 2023)
Videos: Shivaji Mj Spoorthy Kendra   and  PathalaGanga 8 July 2023 Evening
Arichal Munai 12 July 2023 Video1     and    Arichal Munai 12 July 2023 Video2     and    Ramzarokha

  June 3-9, 2024

On 3rd June 2024 night i travelled by train to Tenkasi with Swami Hrudayananda and Swami Vishnuvardhananadna; at Tenkasi Swami Sivaramananda was waiting for us in a lodge room near bus-stand. We visiteed the famous Kashi Vishwanath temple there and also Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Swami Vivekananda Ashrama and Sri Sarada Ashrama associated with Ramakrishna Tapovanam at Courtalam. We then went to Om Pranavashrama and there met its founder Mr Viswanathan; discussed with him the Perumbakkam Road land and saw his ashrama. All these ashramas are situated in very beautiful sourroundings full of thick forests and Western Ghat slopes. In the evening Swami Sivaramananda and Swami Hrudayananda left and at night i started with Swami Vishnuvardhanandan to Amritpuri by train.
We arrived at Kayankulam railway station in Kerala 5th June early morning around 6am. Taking an auto from the station we arrived at the Mata Amritanandamayi ashrama at Amritpuri around 7pm. Br Amrit, my friend from Tiru and Amma disciple was now an ashrama resident here; he had already booked our rooms and made all arrangements for comfortable stay and Amma Darshan, visit to various places in the ashrama, beach etc. He came at the reception counter and after the registration formalities took us to room. The rooms were on the first floor and ground floor had the dining hall for Sadhus and Brahmacharis. The building was adjacent to the Darshan Hall. In the mordning Br Amrit showed us the beach near the ashrama and some parts of the Ashrama; the beach is very beautiful and Amma grew here singing God's bhajans and going into deeper trances. That day evening itself we attended Amma Satsang which began around 4.30pm and continued till 8.30pm; after taking dinner Br Amrit took us on the stage where Amma was giving darshan in her trademark style (a loving hug with kind smile and words). We too had our darshan and being monks, we were given fruits, sweets, and a wrist JapaMala by Amma; as is her usual practice to ask monks to sit near her, we too were lovingly asked by her to sit next to her chair. It was a blessed hour and a half, sitting close to Amma and absorbing all the Peace, Love, Silence in the midst of crowd - a wonderful experience indeed! Around 11.30pm we returned back. Next day morning we went to the Kali Maa temple in the ashrama and Amma's childhood home. In the evening we attended the satsang and during darshan time sat on the stage observing Amma from a distance. I felt a pull back to Arunachala and decided to return early to Tiru! Booked tickets on train to Katpadi from Kayankulam starting on 8th June. On 7th moring we again went to the beach and enjoyed the atmosphere there for some time discussing spiritual topics; in the evening another darshan (departure darshan) of Amma could have been possible but Amma did not come out that evening due to knee-pain! I went to Kali temple and bowed down there. On 8th June i left for Tiru and reached Tiru on 9th morning via Katpadi.
Some Pics: Tenkasi and Amritpuri (3-9 June 2024)
Videos: On Parayakadavu Thanal Beach (5-6-2024)   and  On Parayakadavu Thanal Beach (7-6-2024)-1   and On Parayakadavu Thanal Beach (5-6-2024)-2

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