Rishikesh: A Holy Haven for Spiritual Seekers, Part 2 of 2

Sadhus and Hindu pilgrims bathe in the Ganges in the morning and throughout the day. Triveni Ghat in Rishikesh is the largest and most visited of these. It is here that the Shraddha ritual, an act of acknowledging and expressing gratitude to departed souls, is solemnly performed. Another unique sight in Rishikesh are two great suspension bridges flying over the river Ganges: the Lakshman Jhula and Ram Jhula. The Tera Manzil Temple, also known as the Trimbakeshwar Temple, is the largest and an important holy temple in Rishikesh. Respect for all living things and avoidance of violence towards others is well-observed at Rishikesh, a strictly vegetarian and also alcohol-free city. From the nearby Kaudiyala to Rajaji National Park is a wildlife sanctuary in the peaceful dense forest.

Gita Bhawan is a famous ashram located within Swargashram. From the end of April to early July, thousands of devotees attend special satsang programs. A satsang is a spiritual discourse or sacred gathering. The Sivananda Ashram was founded by His Holiness Sri Swami Sivananda (vegetarian), who began building the ashram in 1936, brick by brick, on the foundation of his noble ideal. The 11th President of India, His Excellency Abdul Kalam (vegetarian), stated in his autobiography “Wings of Fire” that meeting with Swami Sivananda defined his life.

During a lecture in New Land Ashram, Taiwan, also known as Formosa, in 2019, our Most Beloved Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan) mentioned the many temples and ashrams in Rishikesh. “One of the disciples of Master Baba Sawan Singh is Kirpal Singh. He went there to do a retreat for some time, before He came out to be a Master in one of the Indian branches of inner (Heavenly) Light and Sound method. ‘Shabda’ means Sound, (inner) Heavenly Sound. And they call the (inner Heavenly) Light, their knowledge of the Lord, ‘Naam,’ means the true Knowledge, true Name.”