Swami Arunachalananda
Sannyasa
(October 2021 - March 2022)
After returning from Tiru (i.e. Tiruvannamalai) in the second half of Septermber 2021, i discussed my formal sannyasa resolve with
family members and they gladly agreed. After removing all the essential items from Kavnai Kuti, in the last week of October the
'Power of Attorany' document was made with the help of Advocate Mrs Tambe (her reference was given by Ajay Khamkar); with the help of
this document, my father could make any financial transaction without my physical presense in Nashik. Next, funds in
Post-office 'MIS' scheme were withdrawn and invested in Mutual Funds with the help of Ajay. Regarding the funds stuck in ICICI Life
Insurance scheme since last 5 years, forms were filled in advance (w.r.t January 2022-end due date) and instructions given to ICICI
Insurance manager for depositing the funds in my CBI account on due date; thus my visit again to Nasik would not be needed. My Bajaj
Platina bike was initially requested by Nandu's father for his son, Pandharibhau; it was confirmed and they even paid pending
insurance for the bike and did PUC, but later they refused to purchase it due to some financial issues! Incidently the gentleman
(Mr Sopan) who did the insurance work in Ghoti ccame to know this development and he himself asked for the bike! He even managed,
through his agent contacts in RTO, to re-make the lost RC book of the vehicle along with the transfer papers. The RTO work was over
on 2nd December but he said he will collect the bike from Durganagar home on 4th - the date of my departure from Nashik to Delhi!
All was Grace of Thakur-Maa-Swamiji!!
I was invited for lunch at Kushal's home and Ajay's home; i handed over the Kavnai original documents file and POA to Ajay. On 4th
December 2021 i.e. the Narak-Chaturdashi day of Diwali i had Rajdhani train to Delhi in the evening; in the morning Kushal and his
mother visited home and Uday, Umesh, Anagha, Pallavi, Manoj talked on phone to say happy-journey and good-bye. In the afternoon Mr Sopan
came with his friend and took the bike; Prakash and his wife came briefly and gave Diwali Sweets-box. Later i went to Suman Tai's
home on her invitation; she did traditional padya-puja, tilak, garlanding etc. as it is done for a monk! In the evening Dada came till
Aurangabad Road carrying my luggage and then Kushal's father came with scooter. Kushal's father and I came to Nashik Road railway station
and waited, talked till the train arrived. It was around Laxmi-Pujan time (6.30pm) the train started and Kushal's father said good-bye.
That was my final Good-Bye to Kavnai and Nashik!
I stayed in Advaita Ashrama Mayavati from first week of November 2021 till mind-February 2022. Revered Sw Shuddhidanandaji Mj (Adhyaksha
of Advaita Ashrama) had written to Ramakrishna Ashrama Kankhal regarding my sannyasa from Sadhana Sadan Haridwar. Accordingly i moved
to RKM Kankhal during mind-Feb 2022. There were around 12-13 other candidates for sannyasa and 2-3 candidates for Brahmacharya deeksha
alongwith me assembled in Kankhal ashrama from other states of India (mostly from Bengal). Br Subrato, Br Gautma from Saradapitha, Belur and
Br Shubhro from Barisha were staying near my room and we got well acquinted; especially with Br Subrato, i had good spiritual discussions.
Br Sudhir from Belur Shelter too came with recommendation from Ramakrishna Ashrama Dehradun. Rev Nikhil Mj of Kankhal ashrama used to take
our evening sannyasa preparation satsang; the peaceful atmosphere of Kankhal ashrama and these inspiring satsangs were very useful.
We used to go almost daily to Sadhana Sadan to attend scriptural classes. On 27the Feb we all moved to Sadhana Sadan for couple of days.
From 28th morning 6 am till next day 8 am i.e. almost for 26 hours we were in sannyasa ceremony rituals; first the shraddha
ritual was conducted on the banks of Ganga, then Homa fire ceremony in the Yajna-Shala continued for some time. We were given decent quantity
of Upawasa i.e. religious fasting food during noon and at night time. We were not to go far away from the Yajna-Shala throughout that
day and night; if one had to go to bathroom nearby then after toilet one had to take Ganga-bath!
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After sannyasa, we took some much needed rest during the daytime and attended the Mahashivaratri night celebrations at Sadhana Sadan (1st March 2022). After these hectic and sleep-less couple of days and nights, we returned to Kankhal ashrama as new sannyasins! On 4th March we all participated in the Sri Ramakrishna Tithi Puja at Kankhal ashrama.
I spent a day in Ramakrishna Ashrama Dehradun on 5-6th March and on 7th March morning visited Divine Life Society Rishikesh where i had stayed in 2020; in the afternoon i went to Arvindaji Kothe's room and spent some time with him. He dropped me near the Ashrama in his vehicle around 6pm. After making pranams to Swamis at Kankhal ashrama and attending the evening Arati, i went to the railway station and boarded night train for Varanasi.
More Pics: Haridwar (13 Feb - 7 March 2022)
Videos of Shraddha On the Banks of Ganga (28 Feb 2022): Video1 and Video2 and Video3
Videos of Pre-Sannyasa Homa (28 Feb 2022): Video1 and Video2 and Video3
----------- Om Tat Sat -----------
