Weeks 3 and 4 in India

Greetings again from India from the Cincinnati gang here.  Last post was the first 2 1/2 weeks in India that I posted from Rishikesh.  We are now in Puri.

Arthi at Anada Moi Ma's Place

After Rishikesh, it was off to Haridwar, where we went to Ananda Moi Ma's temple for Arthi.  What a wonderful place and a very elaborate arthi.  All of our spirits were lifted high at this place. 

Place of Lahiri mahasaya's Ashes.

Then we visited Keshabananda's ashram who was our guru's Sanskrit teacher and a direct deciple of Lahiri Mahasaya.  Here a portion of Lahiri Mahasaya's ashes is buried and we meditated for a while at this site of the ashes as well as at the adjoining Keshabananda's place.  What an incredibly peaceful and serene place this is !!!

Then it was off to Mathura (Birthplace of Krishna) and Vrindavan.  Krishna's birthplace (no photographs allowed) is a relatively huge complex with an adjoining Mosque.  The Krishna Temple in Vrindavan is a fabulous place with all Marble entrace ways with intricate carvings.  Inside it is a fabulous temple where weparticipated in the arthi to Lord Krishna (picture below).  Lots of chanting, great devotion of the devotees, lots of dancing and prostrations to the lord. Of course, this place is ISKCON - the Hare Krishna Group. We had a very devotional and enjoyable evening.

Krishna's Temple

After this, it was off to Agra and then to Puri.  I am ahaving a lots of trouble with the computer here ans it is taking along time.  So, I will stop here for now and hopefully will refresh this page in the next few days.  Look out for the editing and adding of new material in the next few days.

Bye for now,

Jai Guru.

Ray V

First Three Weeks in INDIA

YSS - Dwarahat

Inside Babaji's Cave

    Babaji's cave

Sunrise at Badrinath

Badrinath Temple

Rishikesh

Delhi YSS

The group at Delhi Market

Greetings to all of you from INDIA.  Finally I am able to do a little blogging.  See attached pictures above (not in sequence)
It has been more than 2 weeks in INDIA now and we are now in Rishikesh, almost at the end of the mountain side of the trip.

We started in Delhi and stayed at YSS ashram.  What a peaceful place in an oasis of humanity!!! Then it was on to Dwarahat and stayed at YSS ashram there.  The visit to Babaji's cave in the Himalayas was memorable.  Most of us felt a deep sense of gratitude and love showered upon us by Babaji and our SRF gurus.  One of the ladies lost herself in Babaji's love and was probably shaken to the core - lots of sobs and tears from her.  It was quite an experience.  One of the residents (a lady) at YSS dwarahat - What melodiuos

Then it was on to Corbett Park.  We saw the Durga temple built right in the middle of Kosi river.  Also took elephant ride into the forset area.  What a peaceful surrounding. 

Then on to Badrinath at about 12,000 ft up the himalayan mountains.  What a trip and what wonderful sights.  Guruji saya that Badrinath is where Babaji now resides.  We also visited Vyasa's cave (Vyasa wrote the Mahabharatha epic) and Ganesh's cave.  Had a chance to meditate for a long time at both of these caves.  The pervading peace and love is something to behold during meditation in these hollowed grounds.  We also visited the Badrinath temple and participated in the darshan and some meditation on the temple grounds.  How satisfying that was.

Then it was onto camping on the Ganga river surrounded by the Himalayan mountains, where we did some rafting which was very exhilerating.

Then it was on to Rishikesh where we are now.  This is a place dedicated to finding GOD.  What a great place.  We attended the arti in the evening to Lord Shiva. It is quite a ritual and everybody seems get engrossed in the divine contemplation in the singing of the Lord's name over and over.

It has been a wonderful journey so far.  Immersing ourselves in divine contemplation.

So much for now.  I hope to blog again in a weeks time. 

I hope all of you are doing well.  Till then,

Jai Guru

In Divine Friendship,

Ray Vasudevan

I am still trying to see how to attach pictures to this post - Still on trial.  We start our India tour frm Oct 7th this year.  OK.  Here is a picture of Taj Mahal I took in the year 2005 Dec.  So, I expect to blog once a week when I am in India.  Keep tuned.  Looking forward to it.

Jai Guru.