With Pratyaksha To Paroksha

You are all waiting to hear from Me about the journey to Badri and what happened there. These people went to Badri and returned bhadram (safe)! That is the story in a nutshell.

For, danger lurked all the time from fire, water, wind, sky, and earth—all the five elements, in fact. Every moment, these people felt the Lord’s grace; for about 150 persons, mostly old and in indifferent health, to accomplish this yaatra (pilgrimage) without a single moment of even headache, was due to Swami. Swami also went to Badri, because the Netralingam, which is the central source of holiness there, had to be revived with spiritual efficacy. Shankaracharya brought five Lingams from Kailasa and installed one each at Dwaraka, Sringeri, Badri, and Puri, and the fifth he placed at Chidambaram. Of these, the one at Badri has the Narayanamsham (orientation) and that had to be consecrated afresh. That was My task, and these people, who came with Me, saw Me doing it.

Atheism Is Not Rampant In This Land

I had to accomplish it this year itself, for this is the 35th year after this Avataar took birth and this is also the year when the 35th successor to the Shankaracharya Peetham is at Shringeri. This year is therefore important for charging the battery of spiritual wealth, known as Badarikaashrama. The Netralingam, laid by Shankaracharya underneath the idol there, was “taken” out by Me and abhishekam (consecration by pouring holy water) was done with Gangotri water, which I fetched by a wave of the hand. It was worshipped with golden bilva leaves and tumme flowers, both created by Me on the spot, and sent back to its original place. The Lingam was placed on a golden lotus with three layers of petals, each having two smaller layers of sixteen smaller petals—the entire kamala (lotus) representing the hridaya (heart), where the Lingam has to be installed for worship.

When you see the enthusiasm of the pilgrims, who trudged along the Badri road in thousands, you will be silenced with wonder; you will no more lament that atheism has become rampant in this land. With faith as their only support, people from all parts of India, men, women, and children, old and young, stalwarts and decrepit, rich and poor, move on towards Badri. There are many things, which you can learn from their steady march towards the goal; that is the advantage of going on pilgrimage. You can develop your bhakti (devotion), your shraddha (faith), and your Saadhanaa (spiritual discipline) when you are surrounded by kindred aspirants. That is the greatness of that Narayana Murti at Badri.

Yes, the spiritual change must come about. That is the reason for the belief, “A mere sight of the pilgrim, who has returned from Badri, gives much merit.” Of course, for undergoing that change, you need not go so far; you have Badrinarayana here itself! Badri is the place, where the Nara-Narayanabond is established and commemorated. That you can establish here itself. If you get rid of delusion, you become Narayana (God); if you are sunk in delusion, you continue to be Nara (human); that is all. There is no place, to which I have not gone; there is no place without Me therein.

So, the Bhaktas, who came with Me, were journeying to the abstract with the concrete, with the Pratyaksha to the Paroksha! That was their good fortune.

Pilgrims Should Maintain Silence During The Yaatra

Those of you, who were here and could not join, need not feel sorry, for all these days you were thinking of Swami and Swami alone, and so, your Saadhanaa was greater. After all, pilgrimage is for softening the heart, widening the outlook, expanding the circle of sympathy; not for collecting curios, or pictures, or prasaadam packets, or idols and images. It is more a matter for the netra (eye) than for the paatra (vessel). Pilgrimages should be as silent as the eye-lids drooping on the eye. Why should people wag their tongues, shout, and wrangle, when they are Godward bound? Truly, all Kshetras (places of pilgrimage) and all yaatras (pilgrimages) are in yourself. You are ever on a pilgrimage, though you might not have taken a step forward, towards Badri or Kashi. Do not feel sad that you did not get the abhisheka teertham (holy water used for consecrating the idol) from Gangotri, which was used for the Netralingam. I can see that all of you are desirous of getting it, ever since you heard from others about the event at Badri. I shall get you the Gangotri teertham, here itself and give you; do not worry.

People may say that pilgrimages are a waste of time and money, but let Me tell you that it is the best way of spending time and money, provided one has real devotion. Bhakti is no sign of weakness; it is a sign of courage, of wisdom, of discrimination; it alone can give saukhyam and shaanti (happiness and peace). Everyone has one day or other to fall in line with you, for everyone is terribly anxious to get these two. They try, in their ignorance or excitement, various other remedies, but this remedy alone can cure them.

Prasanthi Nilayam, 4-7-1961