Yatras

Surat - The first leg of the Uttar Bhārat Yātrā

Uttar Bhārat Yātrā of H. H. Shrīmat Sadyojāt Shaṅkarāshram Swāmījī
March 5th to April 1st 2025
Sūrat Camp (5th – 8th March 2025)  

Inputs by Ameetā Shiroor

A journey by road is a trip but in the Divya Sānnidhya of our Guru it transforms into a fulfilling yātrā!

A few months ago, a group of dedicated sādhaka-s from Uttar Bhārat invited our revered H.H. Shrīmat Sadyojāt Shaṅkarāshram Swāmījī for a camp in their respective hometowns so that the sādhaka-s residing there could benefit from the Divine presence of H.H. Swāmījī and receive Pūjya Swāmījī’s Darshana, A̅shīrvāda and Anugraha. 

Pūjya Swāmījī, who is ever compassionate, readily agreed. With H.H. Swāmījī’s blessings the Uttar Bhārat Yātrā took shape. Along with H.H. Swāmījī, the retinue and a team of 29 sañchālaka-s embarked upon this yātrā. 

 

5th March 2025
Tri Mandir, Dādā Bhagwān Saṅkul, Kāmrej

 

The Uttar Bhārat Yātrā commenced when the Divine Feet of H.H. Swāmījī touched the soil of Sūrat at the Tri Mandir, Dādā Bhagwān Saṅkul, Kāmrej on 5th March 2025 at 5.10 p.m. 

The President of the South Gujarāt Local Sabhā, Shrī Uday Marbal̄l̄ī mām welcomed H.H. Swāmījī with Pādapraks͟hālana accompanied by joyous jayajayakāra-s by the sādhaka-s of the South Gujarāt Local Sabhā and the sañchālaka-s. 

 

5th March 2025
Pūrṇakumbha Swāgata

 

This was followed by a traditional Pūrṇakumbha Swāgata by the mātṛvarga. 

Dīpanamaskāra in the evening was followed by an informal interaction with H.H. Swāmījī where H.H. Swāmījī stressed upon the importance of Prāṇāyāma, Nināda and exercise. 

H.H. Swāmījī sang the bhajana “Sāmba Sadāshiva, Sāmba Sadāshiva..." and explained the attributes of Lord Shiva.

 

6th March 2025
Tri Mandir

 

The day dawned with Shrī Bhavānīshaṅkar Suprabhātam by the vaidika-s and sādhaka-s. 

H.H. Swāmījī arrived for Devadarshana at the Trimandir temple in the complex - a unique temple structure of the Saint, Dādā Bhagwān. This houses three main temples of the three major religions in India- Jainism, Shaivism and Vais͟hṇavism.

 After Devadarshana, H.H. Swāmījī conducted an hour-long session on meditation in which H.H. Swāmījī explained about the Dhyāna Prakriyā, Prāṇāyāma and Nināda before Japa. H.H. Swāmījī concluded with the bhajana, “Bhāsurā Shrī Bhavāni.…" and expressed the desire to conduct a Swādhyāya on the same.

 

6th March 2025
Swāgata Dharma Sabhā

Shrī Bhavānīshaṅkar arrived in all His splendour amidst Veda Ghos͟ha and was offered a seat on His Pīt͟ha. After the Mahāpūjā and A̅ratī by the vaidika-s, the hall reverberated with melodious bhajana-s rendered by sādhaka-s of the South Gujarāt Local Sabhā and the other devotees present.

Soon H.H. Swāmījī arrived for the Swāgata Dharma Sabhā. 

Shrī Uday Marbal̄l̄ī mām welcomed H.H. Swāmījī with the welcome address after which he requested H.H. Swāmījī to bless all sādhaka-s with an A̅shīrvachana. 

This was followed by Shrī Pādukā Pūjana by sādhaka-s. Sādhaka-s then queued up to receive Tīrtha at the Divine Hands of H.H. Swāmījī. 

 

6th March 2025
Devī Anus͟ht͟hāna and Sanskrit Sambhās͟haṇa

 

 

At around 4 p.m., Shrī Devī Anus͟ht͟hāna was conducted by Ameetā Shiroor pāchī followed by Sanskrit Sambhās͟haṇa conducted by Saṅgītā Pawār pāchī in which most sādhaka-s participated wholeheartedly and thoroughly enjoyed the ‘Sanskrit games’!

Later in the evening, the sādhaka-s visited the Trimandir.

 

7th March 2025

Sādhaka-s recited the Shrī Bhavānīshaṅkar Suprabhātam.

Earlier, H.H. Swāmījī had emphatically emphasised the need for simple stretching exercises, Prāṇāyāma - Kapālabhāti, Bhastrikā and Nināda before mantra japa to settle the mind. A morning session by Sharayū Hal̄dīpur pāchī on these preliminaries helped the sādhaka-s immensely.

At 7:30 a.m., H.H. Swāmījī conducted Swādhyāya on the bhajana, “Bhāsurā Shrī Bhavānī…” in which the sādhaka invokes the Divine Mother and pleads with Her to reveal Herself in his heart as the light of Pure Consciousness.

 

7th March 2025
Shrī Kālabhairavanātha Mahādeva Mandir

Sādhaka-s left for a visit to the Shrī Kālabhairavanātha Mahādeva Mandir situated on the banks of the Tāptī river waiting eagerly for H.H. Swāmījī’s arrival.

H.H. Swāmījī offered Abhis͟heka to the Shivaliṅga in this Mandir.

 

Swāmījī then blessed the priests of the temple and interacted with the locals who had assembled eagerly for Darshana of H.H. Swāmījī. H.H. Swāmījī sang the bhajana "Pāhi Shiva, Pāhi Shiva....". 

 

7th March 2025
Tāptī Nadī

H.H. Swāmījī proceeded to the Tāptī river for snāna. H.H. Swāmījī had this to say, “A̅mmī chikke sama abhis͟heka kellŏ…tummī proks͟haṇa kornu gheyyāti!”

A little later, sādhaka-s proceeded to the river and did Proks͟haṇa of the very water that was purified and sanctified by Pūjya Swāmījī's Sparsha!

An informal interaction with devotees and the locals ensued on the banks of Tāptī!

 

7th March 2025
Navarātri Nityapāt͟ha and Shrī Devī Anus͟ht͟hāna

 

In the evening, sañchālikā-s, Ameetā Shiroor pāchī, Gaurī Bhaṭ pāchī and Saṅgītā Pawār pāchī conducted the Navarātri Nityapāt͟ha, Shrī Devī Anus͟ht͟hāna and the Shrī Lalitā Sahasranāma Stotram respectively. 

Matṛvarga and purus͟havarga sādhaka-s participated with enthusiasm. 

The session concluded with chanting of the Shivamānasa Pūjā Stotram.

 

7th March 2025
Sanskrit Sambhās͟haṇa

 

Sanskrit Sambhās͟haṇa followed conducted by Saṅgītā Pawār pāchī and Shilpā Mudūr pāchī.

 

7th March 2025
Dīpanamaskāra, Shrī Devī Pūjana and Niropa Samāroha

Dīpanamaskāra was offered by sādhaka-s in the Divine presence of H.H. Swāmījī after which H.H. Swāmījī performed Shrī Devī Pūjana.

A large number of sādhaka-s were present and participated in the mantrocchāraṇa.

This was followed by the Niropa Samāroha (Dharma Sabhā). After A̅bhāra Pradarshana and Ks͟hamāyāchanā by Shrī Uday Marbal̄l̄ī mām, H.H. Swāmījī blessed the laity with an A̅shīrvachana. H.H. Swāmījī expressed His happiness and satisfaction over the Tridivasīya Shiviram at Sūrat.

H.H. Swāmījī acknowledged the Local Sabhā team for their painstaking efforts in organizing the Shiviram.
H.H. Swāmījī reiterated that the local sādhaka-s of Sūrat should visit Shrī Chitrāpur Mat͟h at Shirālī - the Pīt͟ha. Tīrtha vitaraṇa followed. 

 

8th March 2025
Prāṇāyāma and Nināda

 

Suprabhātam was followed by a session by Sharayū Hal̄dīpur pāchī on exercises, Prāṇāyāma and Nināda.

H.H. Swāmījī continued and concluded the previous day’s Swādhyāya conducted on the bhajana "Bhāsurā Shrī Bhavānī...."

 

8th March 2025
Coconut Farm

In the evening, the sādhaka-s were invited to a musical evening at ‘Coconut Farm’ where there was a Classical and Semi Classical Music program by Ustād Gulām Farīd Vorā accompanied on the tablā by Jasrāj Shāstrī, Milay Bhaiyā on the harmonium and able vocal support by his students, Pārth Paṭel and Prem Merchant.

As Pārth Paṭel rolled out vibrant Gujarāti devotional songs, sādhikā-s spontaneously performed a ‘Garbā’ since none could resist dancing to the energetic rhythm.

After H.H. Swāmījī arrived, Pūjya Swāmījī and the sādhaka-s sang bhajana-s on the lawns of ‘Coconut Farm’.

 

9th March 2025 
Prasthāna

With a sense of gratitude, the sādhaka-s of South Gujarāt Local Sabhā gathered to bid farewell to H.H. Swāmījī, the retinue and entourage who departed from Sūrat for Chittorgarh, the land of valour.