Sacha Dham
Laxman Jhulla
P.O. Tapovan Sarai Pin-249192
Tehri Garhwal U.T. (India)
Ph: 91-135-2-433184 Fax: 91-135-2-432867
E-mail Contact in Luxman Jhula: Cyber
Travels: Om Prakash Dwivedi
Guide to Laxman Jhulla rooms Contact The Hotels Directly for Prices, here.
Sacha
Dham, Holy Place of Truth, is the ashram of Sri Hans Raj, Maharajji,
the Guru of ShantiMayi. Located in the tiny village of Laxman Jhulla,
near Rishikesh, India, it is surrounded on three sides by the rushing
waters of the sacred Ganga River. It is a very small and simple place,
providing a home for Maharajji, his Indian disciples and their
families. It's a very traditional Indian ashram.
WELCOME TO INDIA (Updated Sept. 2004)
Rishikesh | Sacha Dham | ShantiMayi's Program
| Travel Guide &
Costs | Contacts
The
year 2004 finds ShantiMayi spending her seventeenth Winter season at
Sacha Dham, the ashram of her beloved Guru, Shri Hansraj Swami,
Maharajji. From December tenth through mid April, hundreds of her
disciples and visitors from all over the globe flock to the tiny
village of Laxman Jhula near Rishikesh to be with her. Below are
mentioned ShantiMayi’s program of activities at Sacha Dham, helpful
information on traveling here, possible places to stay, and various
contact sources.
Rishikesh
ShantiMayi
was heard to say that the Rishikesh area is so holy because saints,
sages, mahatmas and spiritual Masters have been walking here since the
beginning of time. Nestled in the foothills of the majestic Himalayas,
this area is predominantly filled with sacred temples, ashrams devoted
to prayer, caves inhabited by yogis, and of course the holy River
Ganga. Nearby is the town of Haridwar, considered one of the holiest by
Indians. There is located the ashram and Mahasamadhi (final resting
place) of AnandamayiMa. She was one of the greatest, most mystical
saints to grace this planet. For over eighty years the eternal essence
permeating her presence radiated deep bliss and love to all who met
her. Each year ShantiMayi and her sangha visit this ashram where
AnandamayiMa’s fragrance still saturates the environment.
Sacha
Dham
Sacha
Dham is the home of Maharajji and his Indian disciples. It is a place
which supports deep spiritual transformation. It is also steeped in the
Hindu tradition. While Westerners are graciously welcomed as guests to
participate in ShantiMayi’s program, the local culture and customs are
respected and preserved. Some of the customs observed are: men and
women have no physical contact in public, and women must wear loose
fitting concealing clothing. Men must also wear clothing proper to
entering a sanctuary. The ashram is a place for meditation, gathering
with ShantiMayi and Seva- selfless service. Westerners are asked to
have social activities elsewhere (such as meetings with friends and so
on).
ShantiMayi’s Program of Activities
Four
days a week dawn is greeted with a 5:00 AM silent meditation with
ShantiMayi. The Gayatri Mantra, a universal prayer for the Awakening of
all beings, is chanted daily. Pujas, or sacred ceremonies, are also
offered daily in the form of the Arati- honoring the Sacha lineage of
Gurus and the Guru within, and twice daily to the playful elephant
headed- God, Ganesh, the remover of obstacles to spiritual growth.
About five days a week ShantiMayi offers Dharma Drum, an opportunity to
ask questions about spiritual matters and to drink in the wisdom of her
words and the silence between the words. Bhajans, devotional singing,
is a usual occurrence here, and a chance to dissolve the thinking mind
in the pure joy of singing heartfully, melting with others. The work of
the Sacha lineage is to aid in the transformation of consciousness of
all beings; that all may come to realize their true nature. On Sundays,
ShantiMayi offers a BodhiSacha meditation. Drawing on the Bodhisattva
tradition of Buddhism, ShantiMayi leads a guided visualization,
focusing on the heart’s ability to have compassion- for oneself, for
those we have difficulties with or who are in great suffering, and
ultimately encompassing the entire world of sentient beings. Love and
compassion are seen as the medicine to heal the world.
Where to
Stay
Laxman
Jhula
offers a growing number of accommodations for Westerners. There are
ashrams, guest houses and small hotels providing rooms. While standards
might be considered primitive or simple compared to the West, most
places offer hot water (mostly in buckets) and the basic necessities.
For higher prices quite nice living spaces with Ganga views might be
had.
Please visit our
NEW 2006 Laxman Jhula Travel &
Cost guide, here.
Also, have a look at the
website for the village of Laxman Jhula on the Internet.
Contacts
Sacha Dham Ashram
PO Tapovan Sarai Pin-249192
Tehri Garhwal UT
Laxman Jhula, Rishikesh, IndiaOM Telecom- Telephone:
91-135-2-433184
Fax: 91-135-2-432867
E-mail: omguru2001@yahoo.com
