Part 2: Badinath Himalayan Pilgrimage Trip- Jyotir Math Abode of the Spiritual Masters of the North

After our stay in Badrinath and completing yagyas for my clients, we packed up and traveled the next day 30 miles south to Jyotir Math. The several hour drive was happily uneventful!

Several thousands years ago Adi Shankaracharya established 4 seats of Spiritual Leadership in the north, south, east and west of India to keep the Vedic Knowledge alive for the eaons. 

The seat for the north is located in Jyotir Math. The tradition of the Transcendental Meditation Movement originated from this seat of learning when Maharishi Mahesh Yogi studied with the then Shankaracharya -Swami Brahmananda Saraswati. Our experience in Jyotir Math was educational as well as sublime.

Swami Brahmanada Saraswati enshrined in the main hall of the Shankaracharya in Jyotir Math

Swami Brahmanada Saraswati is much celebrated and beloved in this area because he revived and rebuilt this seat of learning which had been vacant for 165 years. His work started in 1941 and ended with his passing in 1953.

We first visited Kalpa Vriksha. Historically it is said that Adi Shankaracharya meditated under this tree. The tree did certainly look extremely ancient.

The tree was decorated with flags, the perimeter surrounded with bells and strips of red cloth tied by pilgrims to indicate their special intentions that they seek help for.

Under the temple and tree there is a cave that Adi Shankarcharya meditated in. There is a statue or murti of Adi Shankaracharya inside.

Our pundits performed a Guru Puja there. We were grateful to be visiting during the auspicious time of Guru Purnima-the Vedic Holiday that celebrates the grace of the divine master.

After the puja, we began the walk to the home of the Shankaracharya. The current Shankaracharya was out of the area for work but we were received by one of his assistants. He answered our questions and gave us some spiritual teachings.

Here I am basking in the divine feeling of the room where Swami Brahmananda Saraswati (Guru Dev) sat when receiving guests and working.  As a teacher of Transcendental Meditation since 1981, I was extremely fulfilled to visit this spot where this powerful technique of meditation originated. 

Please enjoy this video of the room of the Shankaracharya with his throne and photos of previous Shankaracharyas, etc

We stayed overnight in Jyotir Math and then started the journey back to the ashram the next morning- with more challenges and adventure than we could ever imagine in our dreams! 

See Part 3 and conclusion of the Himalayan Pilgrimage trip.