Amazing Mahashivratri 2024 with Sudarshan in Kashi
- in eternal aum consciousness
- Mar 25, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 22, 2024
Capturing some amazing experiences in the kashi yatra conducting with maha shiv ratri. Sudarshan and myself synced together for this yatra and it just happened with the grace of baba vishwanath.
It's not a coincidence
I coincidentally checked with my dear friend sudarshan, about the next kashi trip . It was a perfectly synced up divine call!
He was going during the week of maha Shivratri, which is on Friday night 8th March. Mahashivratri in kashi, taking darshan of all the ancient lingams would be a different experience in itself.
During our conversation, doing Madhyanh snan at manikarnika. Chanting Om namah shivaya. Doing Jalarpana. Walking barefoot in kashi. Staying Near ganga river were the key points discussed and the following list was planned.
Is is amazing that the ones marked with * got done with baba vishwanaths blessings! There was no attachement. We just went with the flow... And did many more than this!
Activities near Scindia guest house:
*Atma Veereshwar Shiv ratri Puja
*Manikarnika Ghat kund.
*Kal Bhairav Mandir
Chandra Koop
*Various Lingam Darshan
*Smashan ghat
*Shayan arti.
*Bhut bhairav and 2 projects photos videos
East of guest house:
*Tailang Swami Ashram
*Bindu Madhav Mandir Bhajan seva.
Hathi Galli Brahma Ghat
(Our old house)
Extreme west:
OM Chanting at Assi ghat or guesthouse
Baba Keenaram Ashram
*Kedareshwar
*Omkareshwar.
Around vishwanth mandir:
Original vishweshwar mandir Razia mosque.
*Adi Vishweshwar Puja
*Vishalakshi Mandir Darshan
*Anna Purna Devi Mandir Darshan.
*Sapt Rishi Arti Vishweswhar
Events:
*Bath at the Ghats
*Boat Ride
*Ganga Arti
Shopping:
Shopping (Mrs Bharadwaj Shop)
X Get One large rudraksha for Puja. (bhadraksha)
Food
*Kashi Chat Bhandar
*Bhang Sevan at Mamajis Shop
*Satya Narayan Bhandar Sweets
Additional things to do in next trip
Kram kund. Baba kinaram. Devi mantra. Dhuni 400 years. Vijay chauraha. Explore Vishnu kashi side that is from manikarnika ghat to towards brahmaghat.
Kanhiyaji At the ghat.
Met kanhiyaji from vrindavan on the ghats. He asked for two packets of chana from the stall, where i was buying my things from. He does not carry any money, as he is a sanyasi... Stall fellow refused. I saw our guruji in him...don't know why...i told the shopkeeper to give him whatever he wants. Inspite of this, He still took only two packets of chana. Nothing else. He was kind enough to play the flute only on my request... Here is the recording. I asked him. Did you get what you were searching for? He replied. Yes. It's close to my heart, and I don't tell anyone. The expression on his face, the soft baby like talking, the gentleness, the acceptance, the non accumulation... Was all a give away... Of an enlightened person, carefree, walking the ghats, staying in kashi and Vrindavan...
Boat ride:
Evening boat ride in kashi was like traveling through time... Many millions of people have been in the ghats for tens of thousands of years.
Lahiri mahashayas home:
Darshan at Lahiri mahashayas house just happened as we stopped the boat at one of the ghats, where sudarshan was planning to go for months together. Evening Arti started when we went there. In the temple of babaji, the peaceful feeling was different. Here are some pictures.
Staying at Scindia guest house:
The tallest building is the guest house.
This time, we have booked the Scindia guest house. It's right in the centre for taking amazing darshans of lingams. There is an Ancient shivlingam in the guest house in its basement. The place has divine vibrations. A very homely place. It was fun to play with the baby from generation three of the owners! It's around 20 mins walk from the main road. They have a porter to carry bags...
Book rooms that have a private bathroom, is the suggestion from the owners...
Owners number is here.
+91 98392 23251
Shankhnaad at the ganga ghat:
In the morning, did Shankhnaad at the hotel, facing the holy ganga river. Bahya kumbhak duration increased. Here is the view from our hotel on the Ghat. To read more about shanknaad, click here. The rising Sun, it's reflection in the ganga river, directly coming towards me...was energizing!
Rudra abhishekam:
Rudra Abhishak at bhrispatishwar was arranged by sudarshan, followed by vishwanath darshan, which sudarshan had managed to get passes for, inspite of so much of rush.
Sudarshan mishra!
Jokingly i told sudarshan that he has become banarasi now and should change his name from sudarshan Suresh to sudarshan mishra! We had a good laugh...
Shiv ratri:
Shiv ratri Night at atma veereshwar lingam. This was a divine experience with full night puja, Abhishek, with in between chants of
1. namah parvati pate, har har mahadev.
2. Shiv shiv shambho. Shambho shambho shambho.
3. Hari Hara. Hari Hara.
The proximity to lord Shivas powerful atma veereshwar lingam... The rituals, the arti, the night time stillness, the offerings, the chanting, the people, the priests, all created a magical night.
Sweets:
One of the highlights of kashi is to have their sweets and namkeen. Having malaio, is the ultimate experience. The delicacy available in the winters, where morning dew settles and creates this amazing delicacy.
Smashaneshwar mahadev:
One of the Evenings, as we spent time in the smashan near manikarnika ghat, we got the arti at smashaneshwar mahadev. Standing next to the homa place. Breeze in the front and heat at the back...
The unique thing about arti of Shiva is that it is done without any words... It's only drums and other instruments.
The temple run:
The temple "run" experience with Pappu Shukla, Was an amazing experience in his bike! Going through the Galis of benaras, initiated by sudarshan! For hours, 20 temples!
the last minute (but well planned) rush in taking in the blessings of more ancient Shiva lingam as we move towards home, hoping and praying for many many more visits to sweetest Kashi.. here is a snap shot of some of of the temples, please ignore the spelling errors if any!
Pappuji can be reached on this number.
+91 89480 01000. He is an expert guide and knows all the local customs. A person you can trust!
Dandpani darshan:
Special mention to Kaal Bhairav along with Dandanpani /Paanidand Mandir required because :
it is always - Vishwesham, Madhavam, Dhundim, "Danadapaanim" Cha bhairavam. Vande Kashi,Guham Ganga, Bhavani, Manikarnika..
That's the mantra, old saying clearly highlighting that, Dandanpani comes before Kaal Bhairav ji in the order of worship and Darshan at Kashi.. Among many other yatra order of worship available in Kashi Khand..
Rudrabhishek:
Rudram at vriddha kaleshwar was done on the last day of the yatra. Sudarshan explained the specialty of rudrabhishek at the lingam right after Shiva ratri..
Then directly went to board the flight.
Teertha replication:
All the teerthas of bahart are replicated in kashi. Once in kashi, there is no need to go anywhere else. Everything is here. And it's been created by the lord himself.
Louder internal om:
As my study is based on om, om chanting, shanknaad, mandukya etc.. The internal naad was higher in volume, in kashi. The entire place is divine!
Ganga snan:
It is said that during Ganga snan, whatever you desire, the wish is fulfilled. I prayed on behalf of my gurus, my ancestors, all family and friends and everyone associated with me, everyone in all lokas...it was a great feeling as I took dip after dip.
Jeernodhar:
Visits to the jeernodhar sites was next. Sudarshan on his own has contributed to two jeernodhars earlier. This was an opportunity to extend the participation to people i knew. Many contributed.
Read more about it here.
Ashta Laxmi:
Ashta Laxmi darshan is in a hard to find place, located by sudarshan in his previous kashi yatra.
Reading more about kashi.
Link to kashi khanda. It has the descriptions of all the lingams and what they do, when worshipped properly.
Pls start with the order as it is or you could follow : chapter 6, 16,17, 22,27, 28, 29, 30, 31,32, 51, 52, 55,56, 57, 59 for bindu Madhav kshetra, 60, 61,63, 64, 68, 69, 73 to 81, 83 and 84, 90, 94 to 97
Is the recommendation by sudarshan!
There is additional information given in some research papers, which is quite interesting...
Suprise trip by anita, gb and Vidya!
My friend Anita, who lost her mother recently, just mentioned that she has a 3 day holiday for maha shivratri. I told her, why not come to kashi. Everything worked and she was there, with her friends gb and vidhya, right in kashi, with the blessings of ramnathi, her kuladaiwata in Goa! Indeed, one has to be called to kashi by baba vishwanath.
Blessing:
May you be blessed by baba vishwanath to get a darshan soon, stay in kashi and immerse yourself in the divine presence and vibrations. May you get the same benefits of kashi yatra by reading this blog. Hari om...
The first time, my excuse was a fractured leg. The second time has been the new store that we launched. This blog piece has whipped up an unsatiable desire to visit the holiest place on earth. Just as an arrow is strung tight on a recoiled string, I am awaiting the call to visit Kashi, the abode of both Vishnu and Shiva