Heaven in the Heat - Rajasthan Samarpan Ashram

 

GSD view from afar

Heaven in the Heat - Rajasthan Samarpan Ashram 

Visit to Rajasthan Samarpan Ashram 

Our visit to Rajasthan Samarpan Ashram had been in the offing for quite a long time. I had called Umeshji sometime in the middle of April and asked whether we could give Aradka a visit. He said he would be free after the 26^th and so we planned accordingly. Umesh Paiji and I had decided to give a surprise inspection visit to the Rajasthan Samarpan Ashram as per the guidance given by His Holiness Swamiji in May 2023 during his discourse at Mahudi. Accordingly, we had booked flight tickets, airport to Ajmer hotel transfers – both to and fro. Our visit was from April 28 and return was scheduled for May 1 – both Gujarat and Maharashtra Day!

On the 28^th we requested Swamiji’s office to inform the Rajasthan trustee and the Administrator of our impending visit and the purpose of the same. The office informed Dr Manoj Sharma and Mr. Sundeep Sharma about our visit just before our flight left for Jaipur from Mumbai, i.e. at around 10.30am on the 28^th.

This was our first visit after Guru-purnima 2019 during which we had felt a lot could have been done to make the experience great, but it had fallen short. So, like normal human beings we had gone with some past not-so-good impressions about the ashram and its administration. But, like Swamiji says, always stay in the present – so, this was like another lesson on that topic – no point carrying past impressions as situations change along with the circumstances and positive change does take place – specially when you are completely surrendered and dedicated at the lotus feet of Gurudev. This is what we both learnt when we were there.

As soon as we landed, we got a call from Sundeepji saying that there was lunch at the ashram (he had assumed we had landed at Kishangarh) – but we told him that would not be possible as it would take us three hours at least from Jaipur to the hotel. We had booked a room at Hotel Bravia in Panchsheel, we reached the hotel at around 4.30 pm, checked in and then took a cab to the ashram. We reached the ashram at around 6.15pm.

The first thing that hit me when we reached the ashram was the silence intermittently disturbed by the sounds of nature – the breeze gushing, birds chirping! The conscious energy was palpable and could be felt immediately. The atmosphere outside the ashram gates and inside is totally different. Immediately on arrival we went to the Shree Guru Shakti Dham, which was now enclosed and protected from the vagaries of the strong winds and dust and heat of Rajasthan, and the moment we entered, I felt the energy and saw that the ambience now was extremely conducive for going into a deep meditative state. The Shree Mangal Murti looked so joyous and happy and was giving the same vibes. As Swamiji has explained, the purer you keep the Mangal Murti, the greater will be its effect on the surroundings. This is clearly visible and one has to thank Dhaivatbhai who is the sevadhari in charge of the Shree Guru Shakti Dham. It reminded me of my first visit to the Gaadisthan and the deep meditative effect it had on me at that point in time. We sat for meditation for some time, I was lost for about twenty minutes and then we had to get out for our initial discussions, so we left, feeling completely elevated and filled with joy and energy.

GSD from the bushes

Sundeepji, Manojji and their team was waiting for us. As the sun was setting over the hills, we sat in the open in front of the office and had our discussions. The breeze was nice and cool even though it was hot, because of the breeze one could not feel the heat at all. Paiji explained the purpose and objective of our visit and we had a good exchange of thoughts on the subject. After discussions, we had bhojan prasad and were dropped off at the hotel by Sundeepji.

The next day, the 29^th, Supriya Khurana ji and her husband picked us up at 9 and took us to the ashram. Originally Manoj ji  was to pick us up at around 10 – 10.30 after his hospital rounds, but the previous day I had spoken with Supriyaji and told her that we were in her part of the world (Supriya ji and her husband had proof read and reviewed the Hindi version of the book Grace at Every Step – हर कदम पर कृपा for which I am eternally grateful to them and the others in the team) and she was so happy that she invited us over to her house, but we had to politely refuse. She said she would give me a call on the 29^th and we will then meet. She called me at 8.15am and asked if we were at the ashram, I said – no, we were at the hotel having breakfast. I had a thought just before breakfast that we should call Supriyaji and ask if she could take us to the ashram, as reaching there around 11 means half the morning lost! She probably caught the thought and called and offered to take us to the ashram, to which we gladly agreed. She picked us up at 8.45 and we reached the ashram at around 9.20am. We first went to the Shree Guru Shakti Dham for meditation, and after spending about half an hour in communion with the energies we started working on the agenda for which we had come here.

We spoke with Harishji (popularly known as Fauji kaka, because of his military service) and took all the reports of the day-to-day activities at the ashram which were necessary for our guru-karya. And as we progressed both Sundeepji and Manojji joined us at around 10.30 (we had informed him that Supriya ji was taking us to the ashram, and he could come as and when he became free of his hospital duties). We did our guru-karya and had fruitful discussions on how to make the operations of all ashrams standardised. Then we went for lunch – bhojan prasad.

Office Discussions - Fauji Kaka at extreme right

The dining hall and kitchen were spotlessly clean, air-conditioned (the only Samarpan ashram in India so far to have an air-conditioned dining hall). Sundeepji explained to us that they had utensils to feed a 1000 sadhaks at one shot without the need for washing the utensils. Everything was neat and proper and accounted for. The food was saatvik and delicious.

Post lunch we continued with our work and preparation of the report to be placed at Gurucharan. Later in the evening we went out to inspect the various facilities available in the ashram.  We visited the Mehmaan Gruha, Sadhak Nivas, washrooms, the gaushala, the store rooms and the Guruma Nagar where plots were to be allotted to the sadhaks. We also visited the green house where cucumber crops were being grown. The modern green houses and the technology utilised to have three crops in a year, with the aim of making the ashram self-sufficient is truly commendable. Lots of neem trees have been planted and grass is being grown as fodder for cows. Also trees whose sticks/leaves are used for creating thatched roofs is being grown abundantly, the entire ashram has turned green since I las visited during Guru-purnima in 2019. Such a silent revolution without any drama – the silence itself speaks volumes!

Driveway lined with Neem trees

At the Gaushala

At the Green House quarters

The Green House 1

The Green House 2

When I was in Mahudi during the anushthan in April, I had met some sadhikas who had told me that they had not received confirmation for the plots which they had taken. So, when we came here that was another karya which we had to complete. When the details of the two sadhaks were given, Sundeepji along with his team found it in their records and gave a written confirmation regarding their plots. I informed the respective sadhaks and sent them photos of the letters received and they were happy and grateful for the same.

Paiji completed typing the report based on our findings and later in the evening after sunset, we had our bhojan prasad and walked towards the gate. It was dark and the clear sky was lit up with twinkling stars, something that we city folk miss all the time. The ambience was beautiful, the night breeze pleasant and the energy pulsating, something that one should definitely experience! Manojji dropped us off at the hotel at around 8.45pm and then Paiji continued finalising the report. I told him I will go through it the next morning as I had to put eye drops for dry eye syndrome which was under treatment. I went through the report the next morning and offered my suggestions which were incorporated.

On the 30^th Manoj ji picked us up at around 10am and after our meditation at the Shree Guru Shakti Dham we started with our work. We completed our work and discussed the report with the Ashram management and the trustee and gave our suggestion wherever it was required. These were accepted gracefully.

Later in the evening after all our work had been completed Manojji took us first to see the Shree Guru Shakti Dham model in an enclosure behind the office. As soon as he opened the door and my eyes fell on the model, I sat down to get a close view and saw Gurudev’s photo inside – the moment I stepped into the room my Sahastrar went cold followed by my whole body – the energy was unbelievable. It is something that one has to experience to believe! 

Model of the Shree Guru Shakti Dham

After that we went on the ashram safari in a tractor which had a ‘jugaad’ platform which was amazing. The kind of engineering brains we have and the stuff they make is unbelievable (watch the video). This was a ride which was unforgettable. After that, Manojji took us to a massive banyan tree which was hundred of years old, and we sat there as the sun set listening to the music of nature. The variety of birds chirping was nature’s music, which actually ensured that we don’t speak much - we also saw a Bhardwaj bird whose sighting is supposed to indicate good luck. 

Setting out on the tractor safari

                                                               Tractor Safari Videos

Ancient Banyan tree on forest land

Ancient Banyan tree on forest land

We enjoyed that beautiful natural environment for more than half an hour and as we set out, I said, why don’t we climb this little hill and enjoy the view from the top. I set out, and when I looked back at was like that scene in the movie Sholay where the jailer (Asrani) says half of you go the left, the other half go right and the rest follow me. When I looked back after some time, there was no one, and Paiji and Manoj ji were waiting down as they did not have ‘trekking shoes’ – I was in chappals myself, but that did not deter me. In about ten minutes I reached the top and enjoyed the 360 degree view (photos). I came down in about five minutes and joined the team on the way back to the ashram. We returned and had bhojan prasad and then Manojji and Sundeepji dropped us off at the hotel.

Introversive moments at the Banyan tree

As I climbed up - the Sholay moment!

Reaching the top - zoom in

View from the Hill top

On May 1, we did not go to the ashram, we completed the report, finalised it and sent it to Swamiji’s office for placing at Gurucharan. Our flight was delayed by about 40 minutes and I prayed to Swamiji that we should not be kept waiting to land as sometimes the queue keeps us in the air for an hour or more. Swamiji heard my prayer (thank you Swamiji, though I know I should not do so for such trivial things, but in the end we are His children so…..) and we landed at 8.20pm instead of 8 – just a 20-minute delay in the end.

The purpose for writing this blog is to encourage sadhaks to go in small groups – the Mehmaan Gruha can accommodate only 10 sadhaks and 10 sadhikas as of now. If you want to seriously enjoy the consciousness in the ashram, go in small groups with prior intimation to the ashram management. Follow all the rules – revel in the ambience, enjoy the silence, even during day time – you will not feel like talking – believe me. This ashram will truly make you go introversive! The Shree Mangal Murti is filled with radiant joy and that gets transferred to you. So, do visit this ashram and enjoy your spiritual journey as you progress to achieve the state of moksha!

I sincerely thank the Guru-energies for having such wonderful management and sadhaks who have such atmiyata and feeling of selfless love and service amongst themselves that it rubs off on the entire atmosphere, giving it a feeling of joy and bliss!

PLEASE NOTE: THE REFERENCE TO HEAT IS BECAUSE OF THE SUMMER VISIT