We (me and Shivam) started early from our room to our Guru’s Akhada. At 6am Mantra chanting was scheduled. We reached around 6:05. The vibrations from the Mantra chanting made the room alive brimming with life and soothes. As I write this, I’m making a mental note to record this tomorrow.
An official hour of guided refreshing light yoga with stretching. Meditation of 30 mins with Sri M followed by a nice healthy Saatvic breakfast.
After the breakfast I took sometime to look outside our Akhada. Thousands and thousands of devotees coming with their families to take a dip in Mother Ganga.
Next from 10-12 we had a Satsang session for learning/reviewing Kriya.
At 12, after our Satsang me, Sandyakka and Shivam went to Ganga had our dip in the Sangam. While we exactly didn’t know what the ritual was and which mantra to say, we took 3 dips in the water and then offered 3 handfuls of water by looking in the direction of Sun. The water wasn’t so cold. Sun was up there! We had a quick snan that lasted about 20 minutes. We walked back and had our lunch.
I was sleepy during the evening sessions but was brought to life with the cultural program and Dhuni.
Tomorrow is the big snan day – Mouni Amavasya. Our Guru is on Mauna Vrata (Silence the entire day). We the Satsangies were suggested to follow the silence protocol from 6am to 6pm. Mauna – is – Silence.
On this Shahi snan day (Special bath day) , a crowd of approx 6Crore is expected to have bath in Prayagraj.
Our Akhada is at a spot that I’m told is about 3-4 km away from the actual Triveni Sangam (The spot where is Ganga, Yamuna & the mystical river Saraswati meet). The part that amused me was the police announcements made outside our Akhada convincing the Yatris that having the snan in Ganga river flowing in front of our Akhada is Sangam snan. They don’t want more crowd going to “Triveni Sangam”. 😊 I’d say it is their duty to do that even though it isn’t accurate, this way all crowds don’t gather at a single place becoming a management disaster.
It still surprises me and couple of my friends here at our retreat, that how can people from the remotest corners of India come with their very young kids and older parents have such faith to come so far just for a dip in the Sangam. They have to endure harsh weather ms in the open with no guarantee of food or water on time.
Why so much in God? He does itupnishads
After dinner we explored few places outside – like the Ahimsa cafe.
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