Our time in Gujarat was very wonderful. This year, our Sri Baba, Swami Kedarnath was unable to attend the Samyam Saptah in Ma's Bhimpura Ashram due to health reasons, but Baba sent me to be there. As always, it was wonderful being in the beautiful, peaceful and well-kept ashram, so full of Ma's presence. The week-long retreat was a blessing, and meeting so many of Ma's devotees every year is an inspiration.
After the retreat I accompanied our dear friends and sponsors from UK, Harshad and Shobhna Parek on a pilgrimage through Gujarat. We stopped at the birthplace or Swami Narayan, the home of Jalaram Bapa, and then visited the Jyoti Lingam at Somnath Mahadev. This is the most powerful and holy temple I have seen in India. Set right next to the sea, it is surrounded by beautiful gardens and the temple architecture is stunning. The ancient Shiva radiates a powerful and uplifting blessing simply from seeing it!
We then visited Ma's small ashram in Ranavav where many of Her holy ascetics are performing their sadhana. Next we stopped in Dwarka, where Lord Krishna reigned as Maharaj in ancient times. The temple there is beautiful and full of holy blessings. Lastly we stopped at Nageshwar Mahadev, another of the twelve Jyoti Lingams that give light to India and the entire world.
The 20th of February was the night of Shivaratri, and Omkareshwar, the Island of Shiva, is perhaps the best place to celebrate this powerful festival. In the ashram we had bhajans, puja and meditation throughout the night. After the midnight Shiva arati, all the ashramites and many children from our school walk the parikrama of the island, carrying instruments and chanting "Om Namah Shivaya!".
In February we had a blessed, ten-day visit from the great south Indian Saint Thuli Baba. Thuli Baba is a realized Jnani. Simple, deep and holy, we reveled in daily satsang between him and our Baba Kedarnath. Their meeting was sweet and profound. He came with many of his sadhu disciples. From Omkareshwar, he went to Ma's Ashram in Bhimpura, Gujarat. Being in the company of Saints is the greatest blessing of life.
Thuli Baba:
