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[After the Poornashram Yatra (September 10–19, 2025), Ma wrote two articles sharing her reminiscences of the sacred Teerthayatra. This is the second of the two articles.]

Every day, in the morning, I used to go upstairs to Baba’s Shrine. What a silence prevailed in the room, as if the whole world converged into the heart within! Standing in front of Baba, I always felt a radiance within, which also spreads everywhere, surrounding everything. Eyes close unawares, thoughts cease, a divine quietude dawns within and without alike.

Teerthayatra to Poornashram – 1

Pāda-pooja for the Guru

We reached Poornashram on Sep. 10th night. On 12th morning, was Pāda-pooja. About 250 devotees were expected to attend the holy function and all were invited to take Bhakti-bhoj. After the inauguration of Poornashram in Feb 2025, this was the first major programme held there. Also, this was the first actual Pāda-pooja of Poojya Swamiji in Poornashram. Earlier, Pāda-pooja had been done at Swamiji’s portrait synchronizing with the livestreaming of the same from Ashram.

Under the guidance of the brahmacharinis and experienced devotees who had travelled with us, all the decorations and arrangements were done beautifully by local devotees. A temporary white and orange pandal was put up in the courtyard to save people from getting wet if it would rain. The whole Poornashram was vibrant with divine joy.

Many, mostly women, attended the Pāda-pooja and listened to Swamiji’s message in Bengali. All were eager to do praṇāms while Swamiji handed over prasada to each, acknowledging their presence with a fond smile, nod or a few words. Everybody left after partaking Bhakti-bhoj.

Difference from other poojas

What was their joy about, I wondered! People in villages are used to congregate in Temples during poojas or festivals. In Dakshinkhanda, an ancient Kali temple (Mother Kali is fondly addressed as ‘Būri-Mā’ i.e., ‘Old Mother’) is situated just a few yards away from Poornashram. Here, devotees assemble every evening during Sandhya-ārati apart from all special days. During the annual Durgā-poojā and Kālī-poojā, all assemble here with festive devotional fervour. Other congregations take place during social functions like weddings, upanayanams, śrāddhas, etc.

All these congregations are very different from people gathering in Poornashram. In every other gathering, there will be the usual discussions as well as criticisms about family, job, society, nation, etc. And there will also be societal discriminations. But when they come to Poornashram, they feel a belonging; everyone is welcomed equally. Above all, there is somebody to talk to fondly and enlighten them with knowledge, bestowing divine joy and peace to their minds.

Inauguration of reconstructed Poornashram was on 26th February 2025. Ever since, Poojya Swamiji, Nutan Swamiji and I, along with brahmacharinis and other devotees, started staying there. Annakshetra was in full swing. Two ladies from the village were appointed as cooks. From the very next day, we began Pushpa-samarpaṇam at Poojya Swamiji’s holy feet as we do in the Ashram and our other Centres. In the evenings, Swamiji had been speaking to them on Śrīmad Bhāgavatam.

We felt very happy when some of the women devotees wished to continue Pushpa-samarpaṇam even when Swamiji returned to Kerala Ashram. It needs sufficient commitment. To this day, a few of them assemble there every morning for Pushpa-samarpaṇam. For the last few months, they were offering flowers at Poojya Swamiji’s portrait.

After Swamiji’s arrival now, their joy knew no bounds as they were able to offer flowers at Swamiji’s holy feet every day. Some of the ladies told me joyfully with a feeling of fulfilment, “Ma, at other times, we are able to come only in the evenings, as in the morning there will be many household chores. But, Swamiji and you have come. Now we want to be here both morning and evening every day. It is taking a good deal of effort, but we are hurriedly finishing all our household work and simply running to come here.” How bright and delighted their faces looked!

The Divine Silence

Our days in Poornashram started in a very simple and relaxed manner. Subhasini, Rahul-Dorina and Anitha-Hari left after a few days. Bala and Gayathri from Chennai as well as Somenath and Jaya from Jamshedpur joined our group.

Every day, in the morning, I used to go upstairs to Baba’s Shrine. What a silence prevailed in the room, as if the whole world converged into the heart within! Standing in front of Baba, I always felt a radiance within, which also spreads everywhere, surrounding everything. Eyes close unawares, thoughts cease, a divine quietude dawns within and without alike. This used to happen to us when ‘we used to come to Baba earlier’. In fact, as soon as we would get down from the train and start walking from the railway station, there used to be a divine fragrance which grew stronger as we trekked towards Poornashram.

But, how was the room so silent even now, I thought at times. There was no dearth of sound in the surroundings. The room is overlooking the road outside, where autos and two-wheelers ply every now and then. People talk to each other loudly while walking on the road; hawkers with hand-carts announce their presence. Not to speak of the sound made by birds chirping and dogs barking, while fighting with each other. Then how is this room so quiet, so calm, so peaceful and full with a divine radiance?

No wonder that it is so! Will it not be? In this room did Baba live, day in and day out in silence, embracing his own Self. One could feel the power of Baba’s austerity and spiritual realization, manifest in this place even now!

Dāna Yajña in Poornashram

As our routines and programmes started we found more people coming and attending Satsangs. Some needy people came asking for help, mostly medical. There is an orphanage, ‘Sānanda Dham’ in a nearby area, Sonarundi. We were informed that this orphanage needed 34 mosquito nets. I requested Swamiji to additionally give new dresses to the children living there. Durgā Poojā was round the corner. It is a tradition in Bengal to wear new dress during Durgā Poojā. “How happy these children will be”, I told Swamiji.

Durgā Poojā! It is held in autumn, during September-October. Arrival of autumn is announced by Nature, through the sky and breeze. Rains having almost receded, the sky is beautifully blue with bunches of white cotton-like clouds lazily rafting around. On the paddy fields falls the shadow of the clouds passing by.

On the fields blossom in abundance silvery ‘Kāsh’ flowers, typical of the autumn season in North India. They swing their heads with the breeze, shining in sunshine like silver. Every night, the ‘Night Jasmines’ (Parijat or Shephali) bloom abundantly; the land below gets covered by these small fragrant flowers with white petals held together by an orange stalk. The blue sky, white floating clouds, fragrant Parijat and “Kāsh-flowers”, all announce the arrival of Durgā Poojā, the great advent of our Mother Durgā on earth. This is the greatest devotional festival in Bengal.

While worshipping Mother Durgā, everybody in the family tries to wear a new dress. But very often, poor people are not able to buy new attire. In the matter of giving to the needy, our Swamiji is always ready and prompt. He delightfully decided to buy new clothes for the orphanage children, asking us to go ahead instantly. Shibay got the list of boys and girls in the orphanage, with their ages. As we were getting ready to buy dresses, the faces of the many other poor children also shone in our minds!

Shibay said there were extremely poor families in some parts of the village. Our minds were eager to give new clothes to them also, and see their joyful faces. But how to go about it? Giving dresses to various age groups of children is not easy like giving a blanket/saree to all. We have to ascertain the sizes of boys and girls, acquire the correct items and distribute correctly, so that each child gets the right size.

We were hesitating to go forward with the project as we did not have much time in hand before we returned. But Swamiji expressed his wish quite firmly. He said, “Having come here just before the Durgā Poojā, it will not be right to return without doing something good for the village”.

Then followed a whirlwind of activity. With the help of volunteers, a detailed list was made of children, with their age and gender, belonging to every family in the underprivileged areas together with parents’ names. With great enthusiasm devotees went to buy the items from wholesale shops in Salar, a nearby junction. Till late night, all of us together with some devotees from the village sat in the Mandapam, making packets of dresses to be given to children of each family.

It was a joy doing all this work together. Devotees from the village said they never got so much of joy doing any work. A young lady said, “Such a joy! It is true I am a bit better off and can afford to buy new clothes for my children. But I do not have excess to buy for other children and make them happy. Swamiji is giving these children new dresses. I consider myself fortunate that I am able to at least witness this scene of joy.” I was so happy hearing this young lady.

This is how the mind expands in the association of Sadguru. Our minds break the barrier of thinking only of our own family and children!

The last day of our Yatra this time woke us up into a very busy schedule. From morning itself the recipient children with their parents started assembling in Poornashram courtyard. The whole Poornashram was filled with children’s sweet chatter interspersed with parents’ shrill voices to control them.

The distribution was quite smooth as we had bundled the packets according to families. Mostly the sizes fitted except a few, for whom we patiently searched and found the correct sizes. At the end, two small girls came in front of me in all smiles holding two beautiful frocks stretched in their hands. They said their dresses did not fit them well. They were asked to wait. Both the girls were immensely satisfied that after their long wait, dresses of their sizes were found and handed over to them.

More than 300 children received dresses that day. All were given two Cadbury chocolate bars, which they might not have expected at all, along with the dresses.

Just the previous day, we went in the evening to distribute new dresses to the 86 children, boys and girls of various ages, in the Sonarundi orphanage. The children had gathered in the open ground in front of the building, which was once upon a time a king’s palace. How beautifully they welcomed Poojya Swamiji, did ārati to him, and placed flowers at his feet! They are all going to school, we were told. My mind was full with fond emotions, looking at them. I hoped their care-takers provided enough love and care, indispensable for the growth of any child.

Refreshing memory of a blessed association

We were returning from the orphanage. Our car had almost reached Poornashram. Suddenly, I told Swamiji, “Swamiji, let us not get down here. Let us go further, towards the railway station, and see how the station looks these days!” Swamiji nodded and approved. We told the driver our plans.

From the station, it was a straight road to Poornashram. When Baba was there, how many times we have walked this path! There was no platform at that time. We had to jump off the train on a solitary platform. There was a small room for the station master which also served as the ticket counter.

After getting down we would wash our face, hands and feet in the clear cool water from the tube-well with a hand pump. We would feel fully refreshed after drinking the cool water and resting for a while in the shade of the big peepul tree. With what vigour and enthusiasm we would begin to walk to Dakshinkhanda situated two miles away! On the way, there was a mango grove with shady trees where we would rest for some time. I eagerly tried to locate that spot.

As the car moved to the railway station, many such scenes and incidents flashed in my memory. Both Swamiji and I were looking eagerly out of the windows of the car. The village has progressed considerably. “Things have changed so much, is it not Swamiji?”, I asked. Swamiji nodded and then enquired, “Did you not say there is an over-bridge? Are you able to see it?”

As our car almost reached the railway station, the overbridge came into our view. With the innocence of a child, I pointed towards it and exclaimed: “There, there!”. Swamiji stretched out his head to see the over-bridge. I was amused by my own excitement! Have we not seen many over-bridges in many railway stations? Then what was this great excitement for, I wondered!

We went past the level-crossing and reached the station platform. It had the proper height like those in any other station these days. The huge peepul tree still stood as a witness to Time and change. However, I could not spot the tube well and hand pump, although I tried hard.

We were very young those days when we used to come to Baba. We had no difficulty to walk the 2-mile distance carrying our bags. However, at times just to earn a little money some poor man would plead with us to carry our bags. We would allow him to carry our bags and walk along with him talking to him heartily. If by chance somebody from the village had come earlier in a bullock cart to catch the same train, we would be lucky to get a free return trip to Dakshinkhanda.

We were returning to Poornashram musing over these memories. Even though a great deal of changes have set in, still the village radiated its ‘naisargikata’, natural, pristine, beauty. There are still stretches of vast paddy fields, full of tender green paddy. In between were small and big natural ponds full to the brim due to heavy rains. In the fields were cranes standing on one leg, also ducks walking, swaying on two sides towards water-bodies. At places there were big shady trees embracing one another. In the field as well as on the road side stood tall palm trees. In the blue autumn sky were floating bunches of soft cotton-like clouds.

Spiritual dissemination

When Poojya Swamiji was in Poornashram in February, quite a few devotees had prayed to be initiated. Swamiji gave initiation to six devotees. This time some more devotees prayed for initiation. In the time available, Swamiji gave deeksha to four more devotees. A day before Swamiji was to return from Poornashram, he sat in a group meditation in front of Baba’s shrine with all initiated disciples, including those from Dakshinkhanda and Ashram brahmacharinis.

I remembered the day when in this room in the original cottage, I had sat in meditation for the first time with Baba during my Deeksha. Baba’s body was frail and old, but as he chanted the Deeksha-mantra, his deep powerful voice echoed and resounded in every corner of the room drawing me into my own inner embrace. Four years later, it is in this very room that I had first met Swamiji.

I still remember the scene. Baba, very sick, was lying on his āsan. Swamiji was sitting near Baba’s head. Nutan Swamiji and I were sitting near Baba’s feet. Baba introduced us to Swamiji. After some conversation, Swamiji asked both of us to sit in meditation with him near Baba’s āsan.

When I look back and think, I understand what a rare and blessed moment that was! Sitting and meditating being guided by two Realized Souls – the Guru and his disciple. Even remembering those scenes makes me feel so blessed!

All these are such significant moments in my life! They remain etched in my inner being, purifying me to the core ever after. Having held this association with Guru as the ‘supreme treasure’ in my heart, considering no other relationship greater than this Soul-relationship, I had made my Guru the helmsman of my spiritual boat. It is Guru’s will which has placed me wherever I am now.

Poojya Swamiji visited Poornashram only for ten days. As it always happens, as the day of departure nears, the same minds which were full of excitement, fervour and delight, start feeling sad and heavy, thinking of the impending departure. When we came, everybody’s face was beaming with joy. They said, “Khub bhalo lagchhe apnara esechhen. Amra apekha kor chhilam (We are so happy you have come. We were waiting eagerly).” The same faces were not so bright now and all said, “Eto taratari kete gelo dingulo. Mon kharab lagchhe. Taratari chole ashben abar (How fast the days passed by. Feeling very sad. Come back soon.).”

To wipe off their sadness, we decided to have a Bhakti-bhoj for all devotees including their family members on the last night after Swamiji’s last talk was over. That evening many had come to listen to Swamiji’s talk on Prahlada, the great devotee of Sri Hari. Swamiji spoke thunderously, emphasizing pure devotion and supreme reliance on God. Swamiji made everyone call God lovingly with full heart just as Prahlada made his fellow classmates call for the Lord. Poornashram resonated with the chorus voices of the devotees with their repeated chanting of “Hare, Jagat-pate, Narayana ….”. Everyone would have felt he/ she was in Vaikuntha.

All had the opportunity to do pranam to Swamiji and receive his blessings including Prasada from his hand. All were very happy to partake of the Bhakti-bhoj.

At the end, Poojya Swamiji distributed new clothes to our regular domestic workers, the night-guard, the ambulance driver, the regular and special cooks. Some of them were given dress for their whole family. Their joy knew no bounds getting new dress just before Durgā Poojā.

The day of departure arrived. Since morning we were busy with last minute packing. Gradually devotees started assembling. We all went upstairs to Baba’s shrine, and stood there for some time. I spoke to Baba mentally. I was leaving Poornashram, no doubt, but carrying Baba in my heart.

After a last round of praṇāms sitting in the Mandapam, Swamiji and all of us boarded the cars, ready to start. Nobody was willing to say good bye to Swamiji. With tearful eyes they could only say with choked voices, “Please come soon. Please come soon.” The cars started and slowly Poornashram receded from our vision remaining in our hearts as a bright star glowing eternally.

Jai Guru!

(Vicharasethu December 2025)