16 Days Celebration
With the last rites of the immersion ceremony, the mortal remains of worshipful Guru Maharaj Swami Chidanandaji were received into the arms of the ever loving Mother Ganga. The Sun God with its radiant splendour beyond the eastern hills unfolded a 16 day long celebration. The going back of a Great Master is the greatest event for spiritual aspirants’ world over. Scriptures glorify it as ‘Mahotsava’, a Great Celebration.
The gathered devotees entered into this atmosphere of Celebration though with a feeling of pain deep in their hearts as they have been deprived of their Master’s physical presence once for all. The atmosphere had been somber and subdued then, as all devotees and residents of the ashram had struggled to come to terms with their grief. In the days that followed, all had been kept busy with the various activities held to commemorate the Mahasamadhi Celebrations of Worshipful Guru Maharaj Swami Chidanandaji with heartfelt fervour..
Preparations started taking shape for feeding on a large scale. Swamiji Maharaj had instructed that the children of the Muni ki Reti School are fed a ‘sumptuous feast’. Swamiji’s compassion for all living beings was characteristic of his innate devotion to serve others. Apart from the service to people Swamiji Maharaj insisted that cows, monkeys, birds, dogs, ants and fish also be fed.
Daily the number of people coming to the ashram increased, as word spread around the adjoining areas that Worshipful Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj had attained mahasamadhi. All wanted to pay their last respects in this period of sixteen days, culminating with the shodashi ceremony on the last day.
The ashram was beginning to feel the strain of the huge numbers flocking there. Thousands to be fed every day. The telephone at reception ringing incessantly as people from all over the world called to make enquiries and request for accommodation. Pujas and programs to be organized. Flowers for decoration, souvenirs to mark the occasion, special commemorative literature to be printed in such a short time, arrangements for the mahatmas and sages from the various ashrams who would come on the sixteenth day to pay tribute to this great modern-day saint and sage. Volunteers were roped in to help with whatever task was at hand: keeping order and giving directions during the various programs, serving at the dining-hall, making banners, fetching and carrying, packing the souvenirs. Everything had to be done perfectly, because that was how Swamiji Maharaj always did everything.
The Ashram was decorated with lights and flowers, giving it a beautiful and festive feeling all around. The Samadhi Mandir and Vishwanath Mandir were also adorned with lights and flowers. There were carnations, blue and purple orchids and many more flowers. This festive mood was to celebrate the process of Guru Maharaj Swami Chidanandaji’s going back to the Omnipresent and Omnipotent source. Guru Maharaj Swami Chidanandaji’s teachings emphasize on the Divine Reality beyond the maya of the visible world. Swamiji always said “Be in the world, but not of the world.” This celebration is a tribute to his life, teachings and NOW, his blissful return to whence he came.
These are some of the activities that had become part of the daily routine. There has been a feeding at the at Guru Niwas everyday due to Swami Chidanandaji’s honorable instructions. Five thousand people came everyday to avail of this great and humble service at Guru Niwas. The Ashram served 3 meals everyday to anyone and everyone that entered into the Annapoorna Hall.
Every day would begin with daily mediation and the morning talks. The end of the talks would be the beginning of the Prabhat Pheri which would last from 6am to 7am. The Prabhat Pheri began at the Samadhi Mandir and went all over the ashram chanting and singing kirtans and then came down to Guru Niwas and Guru Kutir and across Ganga Mata to Tapashya Kutir at Swarg Ashram, and ended back at Samadhi Mandir.
There was Kirtan at Samadhi Mandir from 3pm- 4pm everyday. Sanyasins and Brahmacharis from the ashram and devotees gathered together at Guru Niwas by 4.30pm. Bhajans and kirtans were sung by all in devotional unison, followed by prasad. After this everyone walked toward the Vishwanath Ghat for the Ganga Arti which went from 6pm-7pm. There is pouring of the milk into Ganga Maiya that signifies the dissolving of the milk displaying the magnanimity of Mother Ganga. This pooja is concluded by Ganga arti and everyone present lights their diyas together. It is a beautiful sight as everyone offers their prayers and diyas to Ganga Maiya. The number of people present increased every evening. The day would end at 7.30pm Satsang at the Samadhi Mandir. Chanting of Akhandha MahaMantra went on from 3rd Sept till the 12th. Atirudri Yagna was performed from 2nd till the 13th.
The 7th Sept marked the conclusion of the Bhagwat Katha which began on the 1st Sept. The 8th Sept 08 was Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji’s Birthday celebration. It began with the daily morning meditation, followed by the Paduka pooja at 8.30 am. After the Paduka pooja, there was kirtan. Swami Vimalanandaji spoke about the life of Gurumaharaj which was continued by Swami Nirliptanandaji. This pooja and satsang was concluded by prayers. From 8th onwards, the morning and evening satsang took place at the Sivananda Auditorium. On both the 9th and 10th Sampoorna Tulsi Ramayan path and Sampoorna Gita yagna was performed.
On the 11th Sept, a Nagar Sankirtan, (grand procession) was organized through the town of rishikesh, starting at 1 pm from Vishwanath Mandir. That was something to see. This included all the ashram residents, sanyasins, brahmacharis and 1000’s of devotees from all over India and the world.
There were representatives in large numbers. Some of the people that participated were children from local schools, Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib, ashrams, from Rishikesh. There were 1000s of other devotees that had come in from different parts of the country and the world. There was singing of devotional kirtans, bhajans and dancing.
First came the school children and devotees on foot, carrying banners with Swamiji Maharaj’s smiling face on them, chanting and singing bhajans. Then the first vehicle, beautifully decorated to look like a giant swan, and huge pictures of Worshipful Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj and Worshipful Guru Maharaj Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj mounted on it.
After that Swamiji’s car which Swamiji Maharaj used, was decorated with flowers and a big picture of Swamiji was placed on the roof. Revered Swami Vimalanandaji Maharaj sat in the car throughout the procession. Guru Maharaj’s Padukas were placed on another vehicle so that The local rishikesh people could offer garlands and their respects. Finally, a long line of cars, with ashram Trustees and visiting dignitaries, devotees, some elderly devotees and those who were not able to walk.
The local people of Rishikesh gave a heartfelt reception to Guru Maharaj, and also to the devotees by offering them chilled buttermilk, sharbat and water on a hot day. Prasad was distributed by sevaks to everyone along the way. Literature depicting Guru Maharaj Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj’s life and teaching were distributed too.
The procession wound along the narrow streets of the town, circling around to reach back at the ashram by 5:00 p.m. The neighbouring ashram heads, local shop keepers and devotees awaited the Nagar Sankirtan at their gates. They offered special arti to Guru Maharaj Swami Chidanandaji’s Padukas to offer their respects to Guru Maharaj Swami Chidanandaji. Passerbys and local people also joined in. And all along the route, the reverence and love written on the faces of the common man, the sense of loss that they felt so evidently, was the greatest tribute to this divine being who had spent his life in the service of others.
There was a special arti at Guru Niwas and Gurudev Kutir. Everyone was exhausted. But no rest was in sight, because the arrangements for next day’s ceremonies still had to be completed. The exterior walls of the ashram had already been adorned with flowers and lights, as was the entrance to Guru Maharaj kutir, so that passers-by stopped to wonder what was the grand occasion. Guru Niwas also was bedecked with flowers, welcoming everybody to come inside and seek solace in the ever-pervading presence of beloved Guru Maharaj. Decoration of Viswanath and Samadhi Mandirs with flowers and lights was in full swing. And the new auditorium where the shodashi ceremony would be held: a riot of flowers, all colours, beautiful orchids, trailing vines, all placed to resemble a garden on the stage – with huge cutouts of Guru Maharaj and Swamiji seated there, smiling serenely, as though sharing some great secret. The stage was set against the backdrop of white clouds on a blue sky and green grass amongst which Swami Sivanandaji sits alongside Swami Chidanandaji in meditation. The auditorium was also decorated with radiant images of Guru Maharaj on both sides smiling upon us. The work continued into the late hours of the night, before everyone finally went to get a few hours of rest in anticipation of the big day ahead.
Finally the culmination of the past fortnight of preparation for the celebration arrived. The Shodashi. It began with meditation and the morning talk starting at 4.30am at the Sivananda Auditorium where everyone could be accommodated comfortably.
The puja was started punctually at 8:00 a.m., as it was necessary that all the formalities of the Shodashi ceremony should be completed on time. Just as on the night of the 28th, everything was done in a respectful and orderly fashion. On that night, the mood was serious. But unlike that night, the mood today was one of acceptance, of the realization and the awareness that His presence is everywhere, could still be felt in every corner of the ashram, now more than before. It was a mood almost of celebration.
The senior swamis of the ashram and the personal sevaks of Guru Maharaj sat on the stage and performed the Paduka Pooja on behalf of all. The auditorium was packed with people. The 2 screens inside the auditorium and the screens outside proved to make this ceremony much more intimate for all that were present. This pooja was completed by 9am.
The paduka puja over, the stage started filling up as Mahamandaleshwars, mahatmas and saints from the various ashrams all over the country –
Mahamandaleshwar Sri Swami Divyananda Saraswati Ji Maharaj of Kailash Ashram, Rishikesh, Mahamandaleshwar Sri Swami Asangananda Ji Maharaj of Paramartha Niketan, Rishikesh, Mahamandaleshwar Sri Swami Shyamasunder Shastri ji Maharaj of Garibdas Ashram, Haridwar, Mahamandaleshwar Sri Swami Viswatmananda Puri Ji Maharaj of Sadhana Sadan, Haridwar, Mahamandaleshwar Sri Swami Satyamitrananda Giri Ji Maharaj of Bharat Mata Mandir, Haridwar, H.H. Swami Niranjananda Ji Maharaj, President of Bihar School of Yoga, Munger, Bihar, H.H. Sri Chandraswami Ji Maharaj, Sadhana Kendra Ashram at Domet, Dehradun, H.H. Avadhoot Laxmandas Ji Maharaj of Laxman Kutir near Laxman Jhula, H.H. Swami Muktananda Ji Maharaj of Anandashram, Kanhangad, Kerala were present among other monk and speakers from various organisations including Chinmaya Mission, Sri Ananandamayee Maa Math, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Gita Bhavan, Kali Kamliwala, Swarga Ashram, to name a few.
They were welcomed and greeted by the senior Swamis of the ashram, Swami Vimalanandaji, Swami Yogaswaroopanandaji and Swami Nirliptanandaji. One by one they came, each bringing a huge basket of fruit or some other offering as their gift to Guru Maharaj. They talked for a short while to pay their tributes to Swami Chidanandaji by sharing their stories and personal experiences of Guru Maharaj, while they also talked about his Universal teachings and wisdom. Their divine and honorable words were touching as they all talked of Swamiji’s humility, unconditional love, compassion and divine teachings. Their memories of Swamiji, memories which brought forth tears here and there, a smile now and then, rapt attention as everyone listened with bated breath. They spoke of his humility, his love, his compassion, his strength, his understanding. Could there be anything more healing to our bruised hearts than to see and hear so many great saints gathered under one roof to extol the greatness and divinity of our beloved Swamiji?
From the top levels of the auditorium, the stage was a sea of saffron which held our attention. And yet, we could not help ourselves – time and again, our eyes would be drawn to the Big Photos of Swamiji on the walls – here smiling, there laughing, thoughtful sometimes, or contemplative. And always coming to rest on those figures of Guru Maharaj and Swamiji on the stage, overseeing all that was going on. Slowly a feeling of great peace and contentment stole over the entire assembly, a feeling that “Swamiji is in his place, and all is right with the world.”
By 11:45 a.m. the 16 mahatmas had to leave the stage to attend to the ceremonial feeding; Shodashi Bhandara. Everyone else remained in the auditorium, with some of the devotees now recounting their experiences with Swamiji. The shraddhanjali continued well into mid-afternoon, after which everyone proceeded to the bhandara. About 12,000 people, including 4000 sadhus were served a feast as people from the area continued pouring into the ashram, eager for the prasaad which they knew would be provided in plenty!
It was a splendid effort, and everyone concerned drew a breath of relief when it was over, grateful to Gurudev and Guru Maharaj that all had gone smoothly. The mahatmas had left, the visitors had left, now the inmates – sannyasins, brahmacharis, sevaks and devotees – could take a short break before the evening satsang.
From 2pm until 5pm was the distribution of gifts. These items were distributed to many; the sanyasins, devotees, local police force, auto rickshaw drivers, and local shop-keepers. As per Guru Maharaj’s instructions, the items that should be distributed must serve a long term use and purpose. Each bag contained items such as a T-shirt, clock, booklets, laminated photograph and a keychain. Two books newly published in honor of Guru Maharaj Swami Chidanandaji were also being distributed, ‘Come walk with Me’ and ‘At the feet of the Master’.
Ganga Arti on this day was one of the most spectacular sights. There were more than 2600 people present. The energy of the pooja ceremony was charged with emotion. People covered every inch of the Vishwanath Ghat or Sivananda Ghat. When the time came for Ganga Arti, everyone lit their diyas and did the arti together. This was a very powerful experience because of the synchronization of everyone’s thought, word and deed as everyone focused, sang and lowered their diya’s together. There were 1600 + 1008 diyas, some baskets and boats made out of banana leaves that were offered to Gangarani. It was spectacular and surreal as the diyas floated into the sunset. As it got darker the lights seemed brighter. It was as though the stars of the night sky had been brought down and were now sailing the current and immense love of Gangarani. The moon was shyly watching from behind the clouds. There was magic in the wind and Guru Maharaj’s Omnipresece was felt.
The evening satsang was understandably quiet and simple, after the pomp and splendor of the morning. Thanks were offered to everybody for their participation and help. Satsang was followed by poems, bhajans and sharing of experiences by devotees. After which there was a movie of Swamiji’s 90th Birthday at Shanti Niwas, Dehradun. This video had a message to everyone. Swamiji’s presence was felt by one and all. Then, a bonus, a slide-show by one of the devotees. Photographs of Swamiji were interleaved with his words, providing a poignant and moving experience that not only touched our hearts, but inspired us to rededicate ourselves to our sadhana:
“Looking at you, the world should understand the divinity of your guru . . . the Guru never dies, because he lives in the disciple . . . You are the being through whom the Guru lives. This is an honour. This is a privilege. This is a great good fortune. It is also a responsibility; it is a duty.”
Humbled and uplifted at the same time, everyone present concluded with evening prayers and then left the auditorium, better prepared now to face a new dawn. The cut-outs of Guru Maharaj and Guru Maharaj continued smiling serenely from their garden on the stage, as the lights blinked off in the auditorium.
On the 13th Sept - The Sampoorna Saptashati Chandi Yagna was performed. It was followed by Brahman bhojan. The finale of this 16 days’ programme was concluded by Boat Sankirtan. Three boats floated on the bosom of Mother Ganga with devotees loudly chanting and singing the names of the Lord, Sri Guru Maharaj and Sri Swamiji Maharaj from 4.00 to 6.00 p.m. on 13th September, 2008.
Many devotees of the locality and from far off places, even from abroad made their pilgrimage to the Ashram during these sixteen days to pay their homage to their Master and had their communion with the invisible presence of their Master and worshipful Gurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj.
The whole programme that opened up all of a sudden went on meticulously as if programmed by careful planning for a long time. The reason behind for the grand success is the grace of the Masters, coming together of one and all as a single entity and dedicated hard work. Every able-bodied member of the Ashram put their heart and soul in this. Many devotees also equally participated.
Swamiji stayed at Guru Niwas in Rishikesh from 1975 until 2002 and he then moved to Shanti Niwas in Dehradun until 2008. Guru Niwas and Shanti Niwas will now remain open for Darshan.
