Swami Arunachalananda
Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati
(From 2006 - 2021)
Stayed at Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati during 2006-2016, couple of days/months at a time, almost every year:
(1) To Mayavati: Nov 2006 - from Pune flight (Umesh's place in Viman nagar) to Delhi
(halt at Delhi Ramakrishna Ashrama) - (Anant Vihar Bus Depo) - Bus to Lohaghat (long 18 hr journey)
Duration - 3 Days
Sewa - No
Some Memories - Walk to Lohaghat point with Anurag Mj discussing many topics
Return from Mayavati: Brief visit to Shyamlataal and then to
Khatima (lunch at a devotee's house) - Bus to Delhi - flight back to Mumbai - Bus from Mumbai to Pune
Some Pics: Ashrama Building
Video: Rains at Advaita Ashrama Mayavati
(2) To Mayavati: Jun 2007 - Howrah to Lucknow train (with Jayawant Bhosale [bunty]) -
(brief visit to Lucknow Ramakrishna Math) train Lucknow City St to Tanakpur - by road to lohaghat
Duration - 5 Days (12-6-2007 to 17-6-2007)
Sewa - No
Some Memories - Bunty and me having discussions with Anurag Mj and Ananda Mj (later Mahayogananda)
Return from Mayavati: Car to Pilibhit - Train to Lucknow (Bunty left from Railway St)
- Train to Howrah
Some Pics: Prabuddha Bharata
(3) To Mayavati: Aug 2007 - Howrah to Delhi train - (stay at Delhi Ramakrishna Ashrama) -
bus Delhi to Lohaghat (carrying PC for PB!)
Duration - 2 months (15-8-2007 to 15-10-2007)
Sewa - some PB editing trials, PB Library digitization
Books Read - 1. Saint Sara by Pravrajika Prabuddhaprana
2. Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda Vol 7 (only Inspired Talks)
3. Gautama The Buddha by Smt Akshaya Kumari Devi
4. Cat Amoung Pigeons by Agatha Christi (only some portion)
Some Memories - Stay in PB building next to Ananda Mj (later Mahayogananda) room;
morning 10 am tea making in old kitchen; dining in devotee area
Return from Mayavati: By road to Tanakpur - Train to Lucknow
(Stay in Lucknow Ashrama as per Shyam Mj instructions) - Train to Howrah
Some Pics: Hills and Trails
Video: Stillness of Mayavati Woods
(4) To Mayavati: April 2008 - Howrah train to Varanasi-Allahabad-Agra-Delhi (stay at Delhi Ramakrishna Ashrama)
- train to Kathgodam from old Delhi railway station - taxi to Almora (stay in Ramakrishna Kutir, meeting Harshavardhan Mj) - bus to Lohaghat
via Ghat route
Duration - 1 month (April 2008)
Sewa - Library digitization (entry into software from manual register)
Books Read - 1. Pick Wick Papers by Charles Dickens (only some portion)
Some Memories - Mahayogananda and Madhurananda (Ramdas Mj), Australian photographer,
Sw Sarvabhutananda of Arsh Vidya, stay in old guesthouse, (wooden structure), Dr Addi
Return from Mayavati: To Tanakpur via road - Train to Lucknow - Train to Howrah
Some Pics: Guest House
(5) To Mayavati: March 2010 - Howrah train to Lucknow - Naimisharanya Parikrama with Sunil, Abhishek,
Dr Tulsidas - Train from Lucknow to Ayodhya (Ayodhya Darshan) - Train to Bareli (with Sunil, night on platform, Sunil to Almora) -
bus to Lohaghat
Duration - 2.5 months (4-3-2010 to 25-5-2010)
Sewa - Library digitization (Bengali section and then Sanskrit, Hindi Section), Mayavati Charitable
Hospital digitization requirement gathering
Books Read - 1. Eternal Values for a Changing Society II (6.3.10 - 4.5.10)
2. A Bridge of Dream by Sara Ann Levinsky (Biography of Sw Paramananda) (12.3.10 - 1.5.10)
3. A Monk without Frontiers (on Sw Ranganathanandaji Mj) (22.3.10 - 1.5.10)
4. Sw Akhandananda as We Saw Him (1.5.10 - 5.5.10)
5. Damsel in Distress by PG Wodehouse (1.4.10 - 10.4.10)
6. The Razor's Edge by Somerset Maugham (10.5.10 - 14.5.10)
Some Memories - Madhurananda & movies, stay in bigger stone room behind Kitchen, Dr Dnyaneshwar,
Homeopathic doctor from Gujarat, FM Bareli on mobile, Sw Brahmatmananda of Seattle center
Return from Mayavati: To Rudrapur by road - Train to Delhi - Train to Nashik
Some Pics: Himalaya View
Video: Nanda-devi peaks view from Mayavati
(6) To Mayavati: March 2011 - Howrah to Lucknow Train with Ramdas Mj and a kind old devotee couple
(stay at Lucknow Ashrama guest house) - Train to Tanakpur (with Ramdas Mj and Dilip mj) - cab to Mayavati
Duration - 2 months (12-3-2011 to 20-5-2011)
Sewa - Mayavati Charitable Hospital software development, Amalesh Mj
Books Read - 1. Swami Brahmananda as We Saw Him (18.4.11 - 02.05.11)
2. A Short History of the World by H G Wells (01.4.11 - 01.05.11)
Some Memories - Pradyot Mj, Rahul Kulkarni, stay in smaller stone room behind Kitchen, Dada,
Rahul Mujumdar, Parag Gayadhani visit to Mayavati, India winning 1 Day World Cup - whole ashrama watching the final at hospital
staff quarters, visit to Almora ashrama and Syahi Devi mountain with Rahul, meeting Prashant at Almora ashrama
Return from Mayavati: From Lohaghat to Tanakpur and from Tanakpur to Khatima by
Bus - reached at 4 pm and the night bus was at 9pm. Saradarji-owner of the Travels asked me to wait in the shadow of a big tree
inside the Gurudwara campus. I thought that instead of traveling for next 3 days by connecting trains to Nashik, especially
considering the heat which was already taking its toll on me, let me try flight ticket to Nashik from Delhi. So I booked a flight
ticket using internet cafe (for next day i.e 21st May morning 7am flight) and also cancelled my train tickets! The Night Bus was
supposed to reach Delhi by 6 am next morning.
The sleeper berth in the bus was slightly small and at mid-night we were caught in a storm & heavy rains; we had to wait on road;
the bus was shaking with the winds and a tree almost fell on the bus! This delayed our arrival by 1.5 hrs, and hence I called the
airlines and canceled my air ticket! So now I was in Delhi without any further ticket!! As a sort of self-punishment, I decided to
go to railway station and book a general compartment ticket so that in the heat of summer I would have to travel standing or sitting
in crowded general compartment for more than 24 hours! Carrying the heavy luggage, I lined up for the ticket but to my great surprise
and frustration, whichever line I stood, the counter for that line closed after some time and I had to shift to another queue!
This greatly annoyed me and I thought, 'God does not will this!!'
So decided instead to go to airport and try another flight; did the same (Delhi Metro is a great thing, absolutely 1st class,
traveling from one point in Delhi to other is easier and pleasant with Metro). At Airport I was able to get a ticket for Mumbai
flight, for a additional charge against my cancelled morning flight ticket; the flight was at 4pm (21st May). So now I had to wait
at Airport till 4pm. This was pleasant part as Delhi's new Airport beats any other international airport hands down; absolutely
fantastic (of course things are costly as they are at all airports) The flight was delayed for an hour and started at 5pm; reached
Mumbai at 7.15 pm; then from there by rickshaw to Vileparle station and from there by local train to Dadar station. At Dadar, I was
not sure which side the Nashik bus stand is, so had to move through heavy rush, carrying heavy luggage (and sweating profusely due
to humidity!) for the bus stand search. Finally reached Dadar bus stand and got immediate bus to Nashik at 8.30pm; reached Nashik
at 1.30am (22ndMay) and got a rickshaw to home (2am)!! (Details of journey courtesy: an email to Rahul K)
Some Pics: Charitable Hospital
(7) To Mayavati: March 2012 - Nashik to Pune by bus (stay at Umesh's home at Kumar Sophronia) -
flight from Pune to Delhi (Umesh, Anagha to airport) - night train to Rudrapur from Old Delhi Railway Station (delay in luggage arrival
at airport; had to rush to catch the train, Rudrapur arrival around 4am) - bus to Tanakpur- bus to Lohaghat
Duration - 2 weeks (19-3-2012 to 2-4-2012)
Sewa - Mayavati Charitable Hospital software year end operations, reports, data backup
Some Memories - on way to Lohaghat - visit to Shyamalataal Ashrama to meet Ramdas Mj; meeting Dr Ravi Mj and
Ganesh Mj; kitchen swami at noon Prasad.
Return from Mayavati: By road to Lohaghat - Train to Lucknow (before reaching
Lucknow City station, call from Amalesh Mj asking to rest in Lucknow ashrama before catching next train to Nagpur at 4pm from
Charbaug Junction Station; sleep and lunch in Lucknow ashrama) - Train to Nagpur - Train to Shegaon; meeting Dada and
Rahul Mujumdar at Shegaon - Samadhi Darshan and Ananda Sagar visit; stay at Sansthan and Anand Sagar; visit to Gangalgaon
for Ashrama inauguration (Sw Brahmasthananda & others)
Video: Stillness Speaks!
(8) To Mayavati: March 2013 - Howrah to Bareli train - meeting Balaji Mj (from South India) -
in bus with him to Lohaghat
Duration - 2 Months (19-03-2013 to 25-05-2013)
Sewa - Year-end Ops for MCH Software, PB Library (Archives Section digitization)
Books Read - 1. Swami Nirmalananda : The Unique Apostle of Sri Ramakrishna (20.03.13 - 05.04.13)
2. Brother Francis of Assisi by Ignacio Larranaga (06.04.13 - 21.04.13)
3. American Veda by Philips Goldberg (22.04.13 - 29.04.13)
4. Old Path White Clouds by Thich Nhan Hat (01.05.13 - 11.05.13)
5. The Last Mughal by William Dalrymple (Just few sections) (11.05.13 - 13.05.13)
6. Bhagavan Buddha and Our Heritage by Sw Ranganathananda (11.05.13 - 13.05.13)
7. Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita 1 (13.05.13 - 24.05.13)
8. The Saint of Gondawali (15.05.13 - 21.05.13)
Some Memories - Movies & Madhurananda
Return from Mayavati: Via Haldwani- Delhi Bus-severe phlegm in nose, head, lack
of sleep, heat, ulcers all over in mouth-last leg of return journey bus from Indore to Nashik-reaching early morning in Nashik.
Some Pics: Flowers in Ashrama Garden
(9) To Mayavati: March 2014 - Gujrat-Rajasthan trip-Vinod Mj's place in Alwar-to Delhi by
bus-Anant Vihar to Khatima private bus(long route)- bus to Tanakpur-bus to Lohaghat
Duration - 1.5 Months (25-03-2014 to 11-05-2014)
Sewa - Year-end Ops for MCH Software, PB Library
Books Read - 1. Swami Adbhutananda as We Saw Him (26.03.14 - 12.04.14)
2. Alasinga Perumal by Swami Sunirmalananda (26.03.14 - 19.04.14)
3. Mahendranath Gupta (M) by Sw Chetanananda (19.04.14 - 09.05.14)
Some Memories - Sw Madhurananda
Return from Mayavati: Lohaghat to Rudrapur Bus-Train to Delhi-Delhi to Nashik Train
Some Pics: Snow in Winter (Pics by Amalesh Mj) and
Mayavati through various views
(10) To Mayavati: May 2016 - With Swami Narasimhananda (Editor, PB) from Ramakrishna Kutir Almora
Duration - 3 Months (31-5-2016 to 8-9-2016)
Sewa - PB Library (English Section-Gol Kamra), PB Reviews
Books Read - 1. Fragrant Memories by Indira Devi (On Dilip Kumar Roy)(01.06.16 - 03.06.16)
2. Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master (Sri M aka Madhu aka Mumtaz Ali)(04.06.16 - 08.06.16)
3. Sw Yatishwarananda as We Knew Him Vol I (01.06.16 - 03.06.16)
4. Sri Ramakrishna and St Francis of Assisi by Sister Devmata (11.06.16 - 12.06.16)
5. Sri Ramakrishna Upanishad by Rajagopalachari (13.06.16 - 18.06.16)
6. Conscious Mind by Zoltan Torey (For PB Review) (13.06.16 - 18.06.16)
7. Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna M's Original Translation (Ed. Sw Abhedananda, NY) (18.06.16 - 22.06.16)
8. Sw Akhandananda and His Memoires of Sri Ramakrisha (by Sw. Jagadiswarananda) (18.06.16 - 18.06.16)
9. God's Planet by Owen Gingerich (For PB Review) (21.06.16 - 16.06.16)
10. Body of Truth by Harriet Brown (For PB Review) (26.06.16 - 01.07.16)
11. The Story of Vivekananda Rock Memorial by Eknathji Ranade (04.07.16 - 09.07.16)
12. Eternal Companion (07.07.16 - 01.08.16)
13. Ramakrishna Life & Msg in the Present Age & Reminiscences (Sw. Satprakashananda)(23.07.16 - 07.08.16)
14. Adventures in Religious Life by Swami Yatiswarananda (23.07.16 - 30.08.16)
15. Hermit in the Himalayas by Paul Brunton (Read Partly) (29.07.16 - 15.08.16)
16. Seeing God Everywhere by Sw Shraddhananda (15.08.16 - 04.09.16)
17. Sri Rudram and Purusha Suktam by Sw. Amritananda (10.08.16 - 27.08.16)
18. The Life Sketch & Quintessence of the Talks of Sadguru Upasani Baba Maharaj (21.08.16 - 25.08.16)
19. Spirit of Himalaya by Swami Amar Jyoti (25.08.16 - 27.08.16)
20. Retreat into Eternity - An Upanishad by Swami Amar Jyoti (29.08.16 - 02.09.16)
21. Swami Purushottamananda - The Last Phase by Sw. Nirvedananda (01.09.16)
22. Twenty Years in Britain by Swami Avyaktananda (01.09.16 - 03.09.16)
Some Memories - From Almora with Editor Mj, local breakfast at a Khetikhan, Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
with Sw Narasimhananda (Editor Mj), Dr. & Mrs. Dubey, Talks with Sw. Atmarupananda, Sw. Vraja Mohana, Sumit Mj
Return from Mayavati: Lohaghat to Rudrapur by bus-Shatabdi tain to
Delhi (excess food)-Train to Nashik
Some Pics: June-Aug 2016 stay
Video: Walk in Mayavati Woods after Rains
(11) To Mayavati: Nov 2021 - Back to Mayavati after gap of 5 years!! I left Nashik on 4th November 2021 and by Rajdhani train reached
Hazrat Nizamuddhin railway station on Delhi on 5th morning; from there by auto i reached Ramakrishna Math New Delhi and ther unexpectedly met Vijay
Mj (ex-student of balak sangha RKM Pune); we talked a lot and on 6th Nov early morning he came with me to New Delhi railway station. He came
inside the compartment (Shatabdi to Kathgodam) and after chatting foe few minutes, let just before starting of the train. Reaching Rudrapur
around 10.30 am, i found Jeevan (Advaita Ashrama driver) and Naveen (staff of Advaita Ashrama) waiting for me with Ashrama vehicle.
We started immediately and aroud noon time had our lunch at a road-side dhaba. Due to recent heavy and incessant rains the hill-road
was damaged at many points; we reached Mayavati around evening 5 pm. Initially i was allotted a small room near main Ashrama building
but the room being in a congested spot and away from direct sunlight, i was allotted another room next day.
Duration - 3 Months 8 Days (06-11-2021 to 14-2-2022)
Sewa - Library sewa, which i had done in the Ashrama many times during 2006-2016, was
reassignd to me. I started working immediately; Brijesh Mj - Asst. Editor PB - guided me. Within a month or so i completed the pending
entries of new books (around 800) into Library Software, stamping & labelling the books, and rearrangeing many book-racks in Library.
On December 11, Adhyaksha Mj and Sumit Mj arrived from Kolkata. Adhyaksha Mj (Rev Sudhir Mj) reviewed the Library sewa progress and assigned
sewa related to documenting and rearranging the Advaita Publications Reference Copies section in the Library. I thought it would require 2-3 months
for this sewa as around 4000 books needed to be physically gone through and recoding their edition, yr of edn/reprint etc. But I
could finish this within a month or so, and moved to proofreading 'Changdev Pasashthi' draft which Sumit Mj gave me; this too was completed
and Adhyaksha Mj gave me another text for proofreading/editing.
Books Read - 1. Swami Nirmalananda (Ebook)
2. Life of Sri Ramanuja by Swami Ramakrishnananda (new edn from Chennai Math)(22.11.21 - 12.01.22)
3. Sister Nivedita and Sri Aurobindo by Prema Nandakumar (11.01.2022 - 21.01.2022)
4. With Swamis in America and India (05.01.2022 - 04.02.2022)
5. Atman Alone Abides (read partly) (11.01.2022 - 08.02.2022)
6. Jab Prabhu Parameshwar Raksha Kare (02.02.2022 - 08.02.2022)
7. Atmaraam Ke Anubhav (read partly) (08.02.2022 - 12.02.2022)
Some Memories - The Ashrama had undergone some changes since my last visit (Aug 2016);
mainly the renovation work of Prabuddha Bharata building, construction of new PB building cum library,
main building renovation work including Swami Vivekananda's room cleanup etc. had been successfully completed. Br Aparesh Mj from Kanpur ashrama,
Amod Mj from Chennai Math, Atul Mj of Raipur ashrama were guests for some time. Swami Videhatmanandaji was staying in the ashrama for some days
and sometimes i had discussions with him on various topics; he had vast fund of knowledge. Sumit Mj and myself used to indulge in friendly banter regularly.
Rev Sudhir Mj came back in Dec for the pending work of Swami Vivekananda Meditation room and Mayavati Museum being developed in the old (monk's) dining hall.
This was completed in a month or so and the inauguration was fixed on 23rd Jan 2022 but due to heavy rains, election protocol in Uttarakhand during that period etc.
this has to be postponed. On 23rd January i discussed with Rev Sudhir Mj about my Sannyasa; he asked me to email him the details of
my past 15-17 years association with Ramakrishna Mission. He said he will discuss with GS Maharaj of the Ramakrishna Order regarding
re-accepting me in the Order and if the response is negative, he will write to Kankhal ashrama regarding Sannyasa from Sadhana Sadan.
Rev Sudhir Mj left for Kolkata on 25th January (Swami Vivekananda Tithi Puja day) and i was waiting for any response from him. Since i
did not get any communication from him till 31st January, i sent him a reminder message through WhatsApp. He replied that tomorrow
he will write to Kankhal Ashrama about sannyasa; from this i understood that Belur Math had negative reply. On 1st February, i recieve
an email from Adhyaksha Mj that i need to reach Kankhal Ashrama around 15th Feb.; and on 2nd Feb early morning, Sudhir Mj called
me and asked to get tickets confirmed from Sneh Mj. So the tickets to Haridwar (for 13th night from Rudrapur) were booked immediately.
The famous snowfall of Mayavati was missing in the months of Nov, Dec, and January but in the first week of Febraury, it snowed heavily
for couple of days and we had around 9-10 inches of snow everywhere. The whole ashrama was covered with white sheet, snow on nearby woods
was sparkling in the sunlight for couple of days.
Return from Mayavati: Sneh Mj acompanied me till Rudrapur railway station in
Ashrama vehicle and from Rudrapur i boarded train to Haridwar (after waiting around 8 hrs on the platform!). Reached Haridwar
on 15th Feb morning.
Some Pics: Mayavati Again
Himalayan Peaks Videos: 19 November 2021 (Guru Nanak Jayanti) and
30 November 2021 and
04 December 2021
Rain and Snowfall Videos: View from Main Building (20 January 2022) and
View from Atithi Niwas (20 January 2022)
Light Snowfall (3 February 2022) and
Snowfall Continues (3 February 2022) and
Post Afternoon (3 February 2022)
Morning at Prabuddha Bharata Building (4 February 2022) and
Ashrama under White Sheet (4 February 2022)
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Total Stay from 2006-2022:3D+5D+2M+1M+2.5M+2M+2W+2M+1.5M+3M+3M
= 1.5 Years (Approx)
The remote contact with Advaita Ashrama continued after Sannyasa (March 2022 onwards). Editor Mj of Prabuddha Bharata used to email be each month issue for proofreading
and i used to email back it after completing the sewa. I also proofread the 9 volumes of 'Eternal Values of Changing Society' of Most Rev. Swami Ranganathanandaji Mj
for Sanskrit words and verses. This considered this sewa as blessings from my Pujya Gurudev.
The Editors and Associate Editors of Prabuddha Bharata that i came in contact with and could be of some help to them were:
* Swami Satyaswarupananda (Anurag Mj) and Ananda Mj (Later Swami Mahayogananda)
* Swami Satyaswarupananda (Anurag Mj) and Swami Madhurananda (Ramdas Mj)
* Swami Satyamayananda (Ananda Mj) and Swami Madhurananda (Ramdas Mj)
* Swami Narsimhananda ( Mj) and Swami Divyakrupananda (Sumit Mj)
* Swami Vireshananda (Nagraj Mj) and Swami Shantachittananda (Brijesh Mj)
* Swami Gunottarananda (Alok Mj) and xxx
* Swami Divyakrupananda (Sumit Mj) and xxx
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Next : Gurudev Siddhapith
----------- Om Tat Sat -----------
