Visit to the cave of Mahavatara Babaji

Mahavatara Babaji's cave

I waited for this day for 23 years. Ever since I read “The Autobiography of a Yogi” for the first time, I wanted to visit the cave of Mahavatara Babaji and meditate there.

As we neared the base of the trek, the excitement in my heart was palpable.

Because of the pandemic, there were no tourists. It was just the 6 of us trekking.

We followed the direction boards and walked through a beautiful display of nature and colors - blue sky, white clouds, brown hills, green plants, dried yellow grass, bright pink, orange and red flowers.

At some places the path was very narrow and at some places the climb was very steep.

We reached a point where it was dense forest and didn't know which way to proceed. There was neither a direction board, nor a pathway to follow. And no person in sight.

We all sat down and chanted "OM" praying to Babaji for guidance.

I asked Atulit to move in a particular direction and tell us if any path was visible. He did that and saw a path ahead. He said he felt someone calling out to him from that direction but couldn't see anyone.

We walked for few minutes we saw a sign board which gave us reassurance.While climbing up, we saw a lady wearing bright colorful clothes. She had very fair complexion and sharp features. Atulit asked her if that was the way to the cave. She didn't speak but gave a divine smile which indicated that we were on track.

After 15 more minutes of trekking we reached the spot I yearned for so long.

The Cave.

 
Instantly there was a deep silence, serenity and reverence.

The Cave is not only a holy place. It's a holy presence.

 ...

 

I removed my footwear and climbed up the steps to the cave. As I ascended something took over the being.

पिया एसो जिया में समाए गयो री

के में तन मन की सुदबुद गवां बैठी

हर आहट पे समझी वो आए गयो री

के में फूलन की बगिया में जा बैठी

मोरे अंगना में जब पूर्वैय्या खिली

मोरे द्वारे की खुल गई किवाड़िया

मैंने जाना के आ गए सावरिया मोरे

झट घूंघट में मुखड़ा छुपा बैठी

At the entrance I peeped in through the slit in the grill gate to have a first view inside the cave.

I prostrated in front of the gate and lay there for few moments. Then with deep reverence I opened the latch and the gate.

With folded hands I entered into the timeless cave. There was not a moment to be lost. As if propelled by an unseen force I took a seat at the deepest end of the cave, put my bag on the ground and closed my eyes for meditation. Nothing else mattered.

In the cave everything happened naturally and effortlessly. While meditating, I could hear some human movements but it didn't matter.

In the loving embrace of the beloved divine almighty, it didn't matter what was going on around.

 

It was a moment of ONENESS.

After the meditation a thought came to do Sudarshan Kriya in the cave. There was a slight concern if it would disturb others meditating in the cave.The concern dissolved when I heard someone else doing Kriya.

I thought it was a family member or another visitor doing it.

I did the Sudarshan Kriya. Rather I witnessed Sudarshan Kriya happening.

After that Guru Puja chanting happened. It felt like the puja was being offered to the holy feet of Babaji in front of me. It was an emotionally supercharged experience.

In Guru Puja, various items are symbolically offered to the lotus feet of Guru. The only thing I had to offer that day was gratitude. Every bit of gratitude I could source in my entire being was offered to the lotus feet of the guru.

I sat in silence for some time.

I felt that we were all very blessed to be there in the cave. I didn't know what we had done to deserve such a grace.

Akila clicked a few pictures inside the cave and then I prostrated with reverence and gratitude to Babaji.

We then came out and took some more pictures at the entrance.

Entrance of Mahavatara Babaji's cave

 

When we started our trek back to the base, the mind was empty but the heart was full to brim.

That evening when we were all together in the room I asked Akila - "Who was doing Kriya in the cave? Was it one of you or some other visitor?"

She said - "You were alone in the cave for a long time. No one else came. We were all outside."

 

PS. The visit to the cave was on 13 April, 2021.