We were sitting with two dear friends at a retreat house in the foothills of the Himalayas, where we take a yearly seclusion. One of them asked me if I felt a special power here and if my meditations were any deeper. I told her that for me personally, this is one of the two most sacred places on earth. The other is the Moksha Mandir at Ananda Village, where Swami Kriyananda’s body rests. Both are places wholly dedicated to prayer and meditation, with no other vibrations mixed in. As a result, each has a special purity, and great spiritual magnetism.
This is only a brief visit, two days squeezed out of an intensely busy schedule. We came to India to help with the formation of an Institute of Leadership and Service, based on the spiritual principles taught by Paramhansa Yogananda. Although our daily meetings with a small team of consultants have gone amazingly well, we still wanted to ask for the guidance and blessings of God, our gurus, and Swami Kriyananda.
Certain places, often pilgrimage spots, act as powerful spiritual amplifiers, and devotees go to great lengths to visit them and bask in their holy ambiance. It is especially helpful to visit such places when facing an important task or juncture in one’s life. A case in point is an episode Yogananda related in his Autobiography of a Yogi, in the chapter “The Heart of a Stone Image.” His eldest sister, Roma, had asked him to intercede with her materialistic husband. Master wrote: “An inspiration seized me. ‘Tomorrow,’ I said, ‘I am going to the Dakshineswar temple. Please come with me, and persuade your husband to accompany us. I feel that in the vibrations of that holy place, Divine Mother will touch his heart.’” And so She did.
The rainbow ring we saw around the sun.
We came on this retreat hoping that Divine Mother would touch our hearts also. The house where we’re staying is in an area where the Pandavas lived in ancient times; Babaji feels particularly close here. We weren’t really expecting any outward sign of blessing, but it is nice when it comes of itself. Many times on Swami Kriyananda’s birthday, a rainbow had appeared in a clear blue sky in what is called a “glory.” His Ananda friends have always associated that phenomenon with God’s blessing upon him. Yesterday, in the late afternoon, in a nearly clear sky, there appeared a rainbow ring around the sun. It was something none of us had ever seen before, and we felt as if Swamiji had somehow arranged it for us.
Nanda Devi peeking out for us in blessing.
Now, on this morning of our last day here, another sign of blessing was given us. The distant mountains seem to stand guard over the house. Especially beautiful is Nanda Devi, perhaps the most sacred of all the Himalayan peaks. Legend says that you cannot demand to see her, that she will only reveal herself to you if it be her wish. For the last two days she had not chosen to do so, but on this final morning she peeked out above the clouds. It felt like Divine Mother had heard our earnest prayers, and wanted to make sure we knew that we had Her blessings on this sacred project.
In joy,
Nayaswami Jyotish
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15 Comments
Pranam Ji
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful Experience . Feeling blessed and Happy.
With Gratitude
R Sundararajan
Dear Nayaswami Jyotish Ji,
Thank you for this wonderful experience.
Aum
Prem
….{Cont} Thank you for these lines, Jyotish Ji. Few of my delusions on these lines got cleared. “Certain places, often pilgrimage spots, act as powerful spiritual amplifiers, and devotees go to great lengths to visit them and bask in their holy ambiance. It is especially helpful to visit such places when facing an important task or juncture in one’s life”
Jai Guru
Prem
Thank you for sharing your joyful experiences and special blessings for your endeavors. The glory rainbow and mountain peak appearing. That is really neat. To be reminded how near is Swamiji and the sweet Lord.
Thank you for speaking about the sacredness of the Moksha Mandir at Ananda Village. It felt like time stood still there and Kriyananda’s presence was wondrous, plus the vista.
Joy and Love,
Paula
Thanks
last night I work up just in time to watch Jyotish’s and Devi’s presesntation and i work up this morning to find this Touch of Light on my desktop. I feel the inspiration from their trip to INdia has touched me in the US. Jai Guru
pat
Thank you for sharing these divine experiences.
It’s a great joy to read your letters.
Dearest Jyotishji, thank you so very much for sharing such a beautiful and uplifting experience with us. You inspired me to share my experience with you. The night before last, I sat outside and listened to Swamiji’s audio book for the very first time, The Land of Golden Sunshine, and as a devotee and Kriyaban of many years on this path, naturally this audio book touched my heart very deeply and inspired me further to continually deepen and strengthen my meditation/Kriya practice. Then, yesterday morning as I was outdoors under the morning sun doing my Energization Exercises, I looked up at the sky as I often do to reflect, and there it was – the glory rainbow ring around the sun. I have never seen one before! Strikingly beautiful and a most peaceful experience it was to behold. I wasn’t sure if I should stop Energization, but I did momentarily, and basked under the beauty of the ring while I chanted Aum Guru and then each of the Master’s names one-by-one, for I truly felt it as a special blessing from the divine. It felt so auspicious to see it, especially after listening to Swamiji’s book, I am still basking in the rays. Thank you once again, your blog touches my heart and I am grateful to read it each week. Thank you for all that you do. Master’s blessings to you and Devi, always.
Dear Jyotishji,
Thank you for sharing this blessing you received.
Aum,
Neela
Wow, very powerful. Thanks, Jyotish!
Feeling the loving energy. Thanks for sharing.
Maria W
Dear Jyotish and Devi,
Thank you for sharing these beautiful experiences with us. I had never even heard of a rainbow around the sun. How lovely and certainly a sign of blessing.
How nice that you had the opportunity for a couple of days of rest and seclusion in this special area.
Thank you for all you do for us and this beautiful work, I know Swamiji and Master must be very pleased.
Love and blessings,
Gloria
Thank you dear soul(s) for your Divine upliftment, guidance and ever present reminder that Divine Mother is always in charge. In Divine Joy and Friendship, steve and julie
A great blessing to read and view this experience. Thank you so much.
I feel your pure love and devotion.
Thank you for yet another inspiring blog. So glad you got to have this time, that the trip went so well, and that Swami and Master’s blessings continue to manifest through you both.
much love,
Omprakash