Normally, I would shy away from visiting temples as I find most of them unbearably crowded, noisy and full of money-grabbing vendors. But hearing of Ganeshpuri, I decided to make an exception and made a trip to the place. To be honest I had only heard of the natural hot springs at Ganeshpuri justly famed for their curative properties and of course Bhagwan Nityanand. I had no idea what a renowned ashram it really was and the vast number of people who came to visit everyday.

The abode of peace

The surprise I felt at the vastness of the place was nothing compared to the surprise I felt when I learnt what a widespread organisation the Gurudev Siddha Peeth really was. The ashram is beautiful - so tranquil and serene. As soon as you enter the portals you feel the world slipping away and calm and serenity descending on you. The blessed peace of silence is tangible here. No voices are raised and people speak only when necessary. Inside the hall where the aartis are held complete silence is mandatory and only the chanting can be heard. A golden statue of Baba Nityananda, which seems to confer the blessings of a mind at peace with itself on everyone who enters, dominates the hall. An island of tranquillity amidst a sea of turmoil. As soon as you step outside to make your way to Baba Nityananda's samadhi the world greets you in the shape of shops, cars, people hurrying by and the sound of voices talking of everyday affairs. But some atmosphere of peace still clings to the place and the world doesn't seem to encroach upon your space. The way to the samadhi is through the village of Ganeshpuri, which is like any other small village in India except for one thing - the presence of a large number of eating places and small lodges. The temple dedicated to Bhagwan is situated close to the place where he breathed his last. The interior of the temple is very simple with hardly any ornamentation, which is unusual in a Hindu place of worship. Here again there is only the statue of Baba Nityananda presiding over the vast prayer hall filled to the brim with devotees. Just outside the temple the ubiquitous vendors are present, but mercifully in small numbers. I noticed that most of the devotees after attending the performance of the aarti were making a beeline for the hot springs and I followed. I admit to a great feeling of curiosity for I had never seen a hot spring before.

A natural wonder

A curious spectacle indeed. Imagine water welling up from the ground continuously without any apparent reason. Nature is really wonderful. The trustees of the temple have constructed a large pipe through which the water rises and then flows into two large tanks constructed on either side of the pipe. The source of the hot spring is protected by a kind of cement cage to prevent vandalism. I knew that the water would be hot, but that did not stop me from putting a foot into the tank to sample the curiosity. Amazing! And this spring has the power to cure people of skin diseases and even cases of paralysis. In spite of the heat inside and outside, I found many people taking a dip in the tank, from old grandfathers to babes in arms. All in all the experience was a great eye-opener, a worthwhile experience, and one I would have been a loser had I missed it.

- Sujata S

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