TARKESHWAR BABA'S PAINTING INSIDE TEMPLE.
&
PICTURES OF TARKESHWAR SURROUNDINGS.
SWAMI RAM & MY VISIT TO TARKESHWAR!
THIS IS MY JOURNEY TO TARKESHWAR.....!
I came across the
books of Swami Ram in October 2006 I am so thankful to God as Swami Ram's books really strengthened my roots in spirituality &enhanced my understanding towards God. His books are a must read for every spiritual aspirant.
I will not get into the details on how I got to know Swami Ram & his Books. It was through nobody but God or divine Providence that introduced me to Swami Ram & was quite an experience in itself that I shall always remember & cherish.
Tarkeshwar is the siddhapeeth in the beautiful Garhwal region Of Uttaranchal which is located at about a 6500-7000 feet, from where you can see the beautiful Himalayan Ranges.
I have therefore mentioned everything about Tarkeshwar before writing about my pilgrimage to this sacred n holy place of Bholebaba.
After I read the chapter PROTECTING ARMS in LIVING WITH THE HIMALAYAN MASTERS in 2006 I promised myself that one day I will definitely visit this blessed place. Bholenath has been so very kind to me (which is not new). He is indeed the most compassionate & can be pleased very easily even with little devotion.
I am deeply thankful to Bholebaba as he blessed me with an opportunity to visit His divine dham TARKESHWAR. I visited Tarkeshwar in March 2008 & however its still fresh in my memory. It's not possible to verbally describe the divine experiences that I embraced in Tarkeshwar .
Firstly, nobody in Haridwar was aware of Tarkeshwar, to my dismay. As we further inquired one travel agent informed us that it would take one day for us to visit Tarkeshwar and come back to Haridwar.
The information that this travel agent gave to father really did not make him happy, a place that was not much frequented by visitors and definitely was not a famous shrine like Chandi Devi Or Mansadevi. This meant we had to hire a private vehicle & quickly come back home before sundown as it would be dangerous to travel in the ghats of Lansdowne at night.
I felt terrible when father decided to cancel our visit to TARKESHWAR.
I tried to convince my father but still he was very firm in his decision. I finally gave up. I was in the depths of despair.My father immediately took the disapproving decision as we moved out of the travel agents office. That day was a Monday and I had to worship Shivji with Bel leaves n milk, so we were also looking for Shiva mandir/temple. We found it not much far from the travel agent's office and with a heavy heart I offered my prayers and pooja to a beautiful Shivalinga. Next to this Shiva Temple was a beautiful Radha Krishna Mandir too, the pujari was kind enough to let me click the deities pictures. The deties were extremely beautiful and there was hardly anybody in the temple.This gave me an opportunity to speak my heart to the divine consorts. I prayed deeply that my pilgrimage to Tarkeshwar could now be possible only if Sri Krishna could somehow change my father's decision.I left everything at His lotus feet & moved out of the temple.
The Radha Krishna Deities at the temple in Haridwar.
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My father suffered from Bronchital Asthma , & couldn't travel to places of high elevations. I had not known that Tarkeshwar was almost 7000feet high nor did the travel agent ,or else I would have refused to travel to such a high summit.But Bholebaba wanted to bless us & the next morning as soon as I woke up my father was in a very good mood & declared that he wanted to take me to Tarkeshwar .I was elated but also thought that he was joking. Nope, he was not as he took me to the travel agents office & made arrangements for the trip early next morning. All this while I was in a daze , really did not know how to react. My father made all the arrangements. The next morning arrived & our journey began sharp at 6:30 am. We passed through a jungle that was close to Rajaji National Park, it was as if I was in cloud number nine. Our driver was a very kind person n took us safely, this was his first visit to Tarkeshwar & even he was not aware that our destination was on such a high elevation.I thought it must be as high as the Chandi devi & Mansa Devi Temples. The drive through the jungle ended and our journey through the winding roads ,through the forests of the Garhwal mountains began.Round and round and round we were moving up on the narrow lanes of Lansdowne.One hour ,two hours but Tarkeshwar was yet out of reach. The localites told us "AUR OOPAR HAI...AUR OOPAR HAI"by this time the climate was really getting cold & we were on a very high summit. It was really scary to look out of the car, gazing down the deep cliffs. My father was hiding his anger but I could clearly read the expressions on his face , he reprimanded me due to my lack of information on Tarkeshwar. I prayed to Lord to protect us. We just couldn't find Tarkeshwar . Atlast , a kind Garhwali told us that we were much above, so now our car started descending.
This time we found the shrine! I was highly elated !!!
There was another car parked near ours,of a family , who had a three year old boy with them,also some couples etc, so there were many people who visited this divine shrine. I told my father about this as he was cooling down. I peacefully visited all the small shrines there , clicked snaps and took video recordings.
Unfortunately, His disciple Swami Hari was not there, he was ill & was hospitalised as he could not tolerate the thin air of the heights.My father slowly walked and bowed before the main shrine of Tarkeshwar baba and asked a glass of water to a young boy living there, but that kind boy was so hospitable he brought a hot refreshing cup of tea for father. Papa felt very good after having tea.
No words can describe the divinity of Tarkeshwar, where Swami Ram had been enlightened. The spiritual aura & the charged holy vibrations elevated my spirit to some mystical realms. I knew that Babaji was watching me secretly & it was He who safely brought us to Bholebaba & thus fulfilled His promise that everyone who comes to this holy place is protected.
The entire area is surrounded by huge , tall pine trees as if speaking to the Gods in their celestial homes.There was a melodious music of birds that enveloped the whole area. One day I will again visit this place n will definitely stay overnight. With this thought I bid farewell to Tarkeshwar , promising Babaji to come back again.
I have never left Tarkeshwar mentally, maybe physically I am back but I am always transported to that divine place, as soon as I close my eyes!! Just like I am transported to Krishna's Brajdhaam. My father's health was not at all afftected & he was fine.On our way back the clouds had gathered & it was slightly drizzling but it did not rain, a million thanks to Bhootnath Mahadev.
at thy lotus feet,
Radhika.eet, Radhika.
