My Pilgrimage to India

By Jeff Claussen


(Jeff, a long-time devotee of Paramhansa Yogananda and a Kriyaban, is graciously sharing his India-trip, Photo, and Diary Notes.)


I arrived in Puri feeling very fortunate to absorb the transcendental Bliss left behind by the Sages of bygone ages. This tract of land was graced by the footsteps of such saints as Sri Chaitanya, Shankaracharya, Haridas Thakur (a contemporary of Sri Chaitanya) Sri Yukreswar and Paramhansa Yogananda.

After being in Puri for about twenty minutes, I went to a gift store. The shop owner said,``So, what do you think!?''as if to say, ``Don't you feel the Mercy yet?''

I decided to visit Haridas Thakur's Samadhi-pith first. He is reputed to have chanted Krsnas name 300,000 times daily. I asked the rickshaw driver to take me there since he reassured me he knew where it was. He dropped me off at the beach of the Bay of Bengal and directed me down a narrow alley way.

After a short walk, I looked up and noticed it was not Haridas Thakur's Samadhi-pith, but Sri Yukteswar's Ashrama, which also contains his Samadhi. It was a pleasant``coincidence'', I thought. I recalled how Sri Yukteswar had drawn Master to him in Benares decades ago, yet it seemed beyond Time in my present surroundings.

I sounded the buzzer and was soon greeted by a sannyasi who directed me to the Meditation Hall. In the stillness of this Holy Place, I absorbed all the sacred, sweet nectar that I could.., and then some.

I then went Sri Yukteswar's Samadhi-pith located next to the Meditation Hall. Down a short walkway, gardened with flowers of various hues and large shady trees, I arrived at a bluish building.

Exactly eight steps led to the entrance of the Samadhi Room paneled with bright red doors opening onto a marble floor of white/greyish overtones. A wooden tray containing the standard puja items, including blowing conch, bell, incense,three red flowers, and water lay on the floor.

In the middle of the tomb is a red marble lotus and Siva lingam, surrounded by red, white, pink and yellow flowers. Also on the floor is a statue of Nandis, Lord Siva's bull, laying down.

Then the Samadhi, containing Sri Yukteswar's earthly remains, surrounded by an attractive decoration of pink flowers.

There was a small statue of Sri Yukteswar along with pictures of Babaji, Lahiri Mahashay and Paramhansa Yogananda.

I consider it Divine Mother's Mercy to be in such a place... `` Where Ganges, woods, Himalayan caves, and men dream God- `` I am hallowed; my body touched that sod.''


Karar Ashram

Founder-Sri Yukteswarjee

Estd.1903







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