Randall
Fontes , Kersee Bulsara Bob
Swanson Ganeshpuri
about 60 miles North of Bombay. Randall and Bob traveled
to India on behalf of Sonoma State Universities "Field
Experience in India " program. They were preparing a multimedia documentary
journal, slide and audio production for public presentation highlighting
the culture, philosophy and the spirituality of India.
On
November 24 th Wednesday
they began about a week stay at Swami Muktananda's "Shree Gurudev Ashram"
which was later renamed "Gurudev Siddha Peeth". The Ashram is located in
the Tansa Valley of Maharashtra, India.
On
November 25 th 1971 Thursday
They visited Bhagawan Nityananda’s Samadhi Shrine and Ashram "Kalias Nivas"
which is about .7 miles up the road from "Shree Gurudev Ashram".
On
December 7 th 1971 Tuesday
after a sojourn in Bombay and concern about war between Pakistan and India
raging and having experienced an air raid in Bombay they made their way
back to Ganeshpuri. They selected Kothavala's Hot Springs Resort as their
home base in India. This was perfect as both Randall and Bob needed space
to work on their multimedia documentary project for Sonoma State University
as they were participating in the "Field Experience in India" program as
part of their double majors in Psychology and India Studies.
They were writing and preparing
for an automated photo journal slide show with narration and audio recordings
as part of their work for the university, to share in public presentations.
Ganeshpuri
in the Tansa Valley
It all starts with Bhagawan
Nityananda (November/December, 1897? – August 8, 1961)
coming
to settle in the Tansa Valley. The valley is over looked by Mandakini Mountain
which was formed by volcanic eruption and where the Tansa River flows and
natural hot springs (kunds) abound.
Bhagawan was a wondering
sadhu, sage, a great "Holy Man". He was called an "Avadhoot" and some of
his behaviors were not conventional. He is said to be one of those rare
beings who has surrendered to the divine and dwells in the total purity
of the serenity of the infinite depth of peace.
Not much is known about his
early life. He wondered India leaving a trail of healing, spiritual
upliftment and a pure love in the wake of his travels.
It is truly unfortunate that
in his travels not everyone recognized him as a great being. They
didn't understand him and perhaps perceived him as a derelict. Some threw
stones at him to drive him away and even attempted killing him. In the
mystical ways of karma those who attempted to do him harm ended up suffering
the fate themselves.
In 1936 the saint settled
in Ganeshpuri where a hut was build near the Shiva temple for him.
Eventually a comfortable ashram called "Kalias Nivas" was built.
The people of the valley
loved Bhagawan and he loved them.
His name means Eternal bliss
and that is the yoga that he imparted by the grace of Shaktipat or Gurukripa.
Shaktipat is the guru's direct transmission of spiritual energy to the
devotee to awaken their own divine nature.
Bhagawan Nityananda gave
land and a 3 room dwelling to his student Swami Muktananda and encouraged
him to bring Bhagawan's grace and teaching of yoga to the world.
Swami Muktananda did just
that. He traveled the world singing the praises of his great guru Sri Bhagawan
Nityananda.
Bhagawan's lifelong reputation
for service to God and humanity continues today and into the future though
the Seva (Selfless Community Service) of his loving
devotees.
Bhagawan
Nityananda’s Rare Video Narrated by Pratibha Trivedi (Amma)
and later became Swami Prajnananda
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