Ganeshpuri

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The famed natural hot springs at Ganeshpuri attract hordes of visitors all through the year. Reputed to cure skin diseases, and even cases of paralysis, they are a natural wonder that draw people from all parts of the country. Add to this the fact that the Samadhi of Bhagwan Nityananda, the man who brought light and civilisation to this remote hamlet is situated here and it is easy to understand why Ganeshpuri is a place of pilgrimage to many. The Gurudev Sidha Peeth established by Bhagwan's disciple Baba Muktananda on his instructions, which sets you on the path of self-realisation is the primary reason for the large influx of foreigners to Ganeshpuri.

Legend has it that Sage Vashist did a yagna to propitiate Lord Ganesh here, hence the name. But it was only when Bhagwan Nityananda came to live and teach at Ganeshpuri that this village acquired international renown as a centre for the practice of Siddha Yoga. He transformed what was dense forestland inhabited by a few adivasis (tribals) into what it is today, a spiritual centre for all those seeking enlightenment.

 His teachings
His teachings were very simple. He said, "The heart is the hub of all sacred places; go there and roam." He preached that self-realisation was the goal of all men and it could be achieved only through searching your own heart and mind for God who dwells within each one of us. It is taught at the Siddha Peeth, "Honour yourself; Worship your self; Meditate on your self; God dwells within you as you." (Read more about Swami Nityananda in our Guru Section.)

If you wish to learn more about this practice there are many courses offered at the ashram, which cater to the needs of all individuals. The Siddha Yoga intensives are a one to two day retreats, which offer you a means of receiving shaktipat, spiritual awakening. If physical well being is your aim then you can enrol for the Hatha Yoga classes, which are held from early morning to evening in Ashirwad under the guidance of qualified teachers. For those interested in a longer initiation there is the Home Study Course that lasts for 12 years. It consists of two lessons every month and two years constitute one volume. There are six volumes of 48 lessons each in all. Payment for the course is USD 192 for two years, USD 108 for a year and USD 60 for a month. There is also an introductory offer of 3 months for USD 35.

A calendar of the upcoming events for the year is also available. Some of these events include the following
Autumn Love Retreat in honour of Baba Muktananda's Mahasamadhi: October 12 - 15, 2000.
The Believe in Love Intensive in honour of Baba Muktananda's Mahasamadhi: October 14 - 25, 2000.
The Winter Believe in Love Intensive: December 16th and 17th, 2000.
The Winter Love Retreat: December 27th, 2000 - 1st January 2001. The price for all retreats is inclusive of boarding and lodging.

For any further information you can contact Info@siddhayoga.org or you can search for information on the web-site www.siddhayoga.org.

To enrol for any of the courses all you need to do is contact any of the centres located in your city or town. The Siddha Peeth has centres across the globe, the most important ones being in India and the United States. In India the founder ashram is the Gurudev Siddha Peeth and you can contact the ashram on 91 2522 61221. Apart from this there are 300 centres in various parts of the country. The same goes for the US. You can contact the centre at Los Angeles on 310 207 9909, at New York City on 212 873 8030 or the Shree Muktananda Ashram in New York on 845 434 8030. To get the contact numbers of the other centres simply search the web-site www.siddhayoga.org.
Email: gsp-applications@gspa.org

Once you have gone through the procedure of enrolling for the retreats or courses, reaching the founder ashram at Ganeshpuri can be a bit of a task. The nearest city is Mumbai, which is easily accessible as it is well connected to the rest of the country and all parts of the world. From Mumbai one has to travel by road and it can take anything from a couple of hours to longer depending on the volume of traffic. The easiest way is to take a suburban train to Vasai, a suburb of Mumbai and then take the local state transport, which plies throughout the day. The drive is a lovely one through green countryside, something of a rarity in a city like Mumbai.

Postal Address:
Gurudev Siddha Peeth
P O Ganeshpuri,
District Thane - 401 206
Maharashtra
India
Tel: (91-2522)-61221, 61227. If you are calling from Mumbai dial 95-2522 followed by the number.
Fax: (91-2522)-61141

The best time of the year to visit Ganeshpuri is between November and March when the weather is not unbearably hot and humid. June to September, the monsoon months are the worst time to visit the ashram as the incessant rains makes it difficult to travel. However, if you can make it only during summer or the monsoons there is no lack of courses or guidance at the ashram. There are always certified teachers of the Siddha Yoga present to guide you at the ashram throughout the year.

Once you have reached Ganeshpuri, the Bimeshwar Ganeshpuri Samadhi shrine offers you accommodation at the ridiculously modest rates of between Rs 25 and Rs 50 for a night. The rooms are provided with two beds and extra beds can be had for Rs 5 each. Only families are allowed to stay in these rooms and single persons will have to make do with lodging houses like Hotel Samadhan. Meals are served at the Annapurna Canteen from 6 a m onwards. Breakfast costs Rs 5 and lunch and dinner Rs 10 each.

Day begins at 3:30 am with an aarti. This is followed by a period of meditation. There is another aarti at 12 noon followed by one at 5:30 pm and then at 8:45 pm when the ashram closes for the day. The chanting of the Guru Geeta is takes place at 10:00 am. Strict silence is enjoined in the hall of worship. Also the men and women are segregated throughout, even at mealtimes. You are advised to wear appropriate clothes if you are attending the retreats. Loose clothes, comfortable for meditating in, are the norm. Traditional Indian clothes are expected to be worn by all, including foreigners. As you can only enrol for the retreats through the certified centres all the formalities of travel are taken care of at the home city or town itself. This makes it very easy for people from all parts of the world to attend the retreats without undue trouble.