Mountain Meditation

Mountain Meditation (MM)

A brief version is to meditate on going up the mountain(s) and remember all the persons who helped make you the person you are. And become one with the mountain

Extended version

pray to the mountain, the paths which go to it, the streams that flow from it , the trees , animals, who grow , live there. The many people who have gone through those paths. Their associations and aspirations. Meditate on the lessons of the mountain . Then become one with the mountain. Imagine you are a part of the mountain- what spiritual lessons are drawn from the mountain paths , rivers, streams, trees… 

MM is a great meditation to connect to the universal energies and specific memories

PRAYERS AT DHARI DEVI MANDIR (DDM) -Pauri Garhwal- Srinagar area

MM-DDM-Feb 09-2023

Dhari Devi Mandir (DDM)- Srinagar Pauri Garhwal Uttarakhand

Many generations of our family Bhatts of Uphalda Srinagar have prayed and reflected in the DDM over the centuries.

Bhatt family members shifted to Shimla- (United Punjab) in 1880s and then to Delhi-1930s.

My father-Prem Narain Bhatt joined the Indian Army after medical graduation from AIIMS-1958 batch. I went to Libya -2003 .

Our family shifted to Toronto-area in July 2012 after two years in Malta.

Went to DDM after paying respects of Sabu Bua ji (Savitri Thapliyal nee Bhatt) – and meeting Priti and Rahul in Dehradun. First time meeting them after passing away of Surendra Mama-ji (Aug 2022).

Earlier Perspectives- 2012- October- Reflections on Rememrance Rituals https://prashantbhatt.wordpress.com/2…

After prayers at DDM went to meet Manorma Mami – to pay respects first time meeting her after the passing of Umesh Mamaji (Umesh Mamgain-passed May 2021).

Earlier Perspectives-2011-October -Walks by Alaknanda https://prashantbhatt.wordpress.com/2…

We return again to DDM – to say our prayers, reflect on the times gone by and honour the memory of our ancestors

REFLECTIONS

Remember When (RW) is a great way to build perspective. RW you first prayed at a mountain temple, who was with you, whom did you remember. For me, two temples stand out. One is the small Hanuman temple in the Hills of Lullanagar Pune- (see blog https://prashantbhatt.com/2008/08/19/walkers-at-lullanagar/ ) where we would go for morning walks in the 1970s. I had been introduced to praying in hill temples at Chattersinghi Temple of Khadki area Pune in the early 1970s when I would go to primary school- Loyola. After we shifted to Golibar Maidan-Pune, my parents would take me for morning walks. Lullanagar was one such place I remember.

In the Himalayas- the Kali Bari temple of Shimla was a place to remember our ancestors, pray and reflect on the times gone by. We would go to Kaithu Bazaar where our family stayed from 1880s, and then go for walks to the Hill temples in and around Shimla – Jakhu, Tara Devi, Naldera

MM- DDM- Mountain Meditation Dhari Devi Mandir

Shimla 1940s -Bhatt Family – Brahmi Bhatt (BB) with his three sons and their families- Sri Sri Krishan, Bhawani, Kali – my father PNB- Prem Narain Bhatt is seen on the lap of his mother- to the right of BB

I got this family photograph when I visited Rakesh Chacha-ji in Kamla Nagar Agra. The MM we had at Dhari Devi has many manifestations and gifts

Earlier Perspective : Early Morning at Lodhi- with Guddu Bhai- Yogendra Dobhal

Question: Which MM connected you with your roots, legacy, heritage?

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Walks-Febuary-2023

Visiting India after I finally finished my papers related to immigration. If one is not resilient, then one cannot survive as an immigrant.

During the first few days in Delhi, with the base in Jasola, we went to Palam and Vasant Kunj

The memories of coming to Jasola from Palam, when the children were in pre-school days (now have finished University) came back in many ways. 

Walks- with Mayank-Feb 21-2023 : Humayun Tomb

Mausa-ji- the person who taught me to make notes- was there with me on this trip to Palam. We paid respects to Saraswati Buaji- and I remembered the time in 2015, when after a long time I stayed overnight at Palam-the first time after my mother passed away-Mausaji was there with me, and later, on reflecting, I realized that night in Palam was so unique with so many memories and discussions. 

Shailu-ji’s birthday (10-Feb) was the occasion I chose to re-visit India. On the last day, went to dear Guddu bhai-Nirmal Bhabhi place in Lodhi colony.

“When we shift out of Lodhi to Sector 56 Gurgaon, it will be closing a chapter of over 70 plus years”

Guddu bhai told as we walked back to the Metro station and spent some moments at the tomb of Najaf Khan,  who was the highest commander of the Mughal army under Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II -from 1772 till his death in April 1782. Talked to Sabu buaji from the Garden tomb-just as we have done over the years. Whenever Guddu bhai and I would sit in Lodhi -and remember the times gone by- we would reach out to Sabu bua-ji.

Some pictures from Family Albums-Dear Guddu Bhai-Yogendra Dobhal-

The Dobhal Brothers-Guddu bhai, Ravi bhai, Sanju bhai-Delhi 1986

..Padma Bua-ji- (Padma Dobhal nee Bhatt)

EARLIER PERSPECTIVES

Walks in Lodhi- with Guddu Bhai-2015

Museum walks with children-National Rail Museum-2008

Writing workshops with Mayank-2011-October

https://prashantbhatt.wordpress.com/2011/10/22/writing-workshops-with-mayank/

PURANA QUILA-2011-OCTOBER-Mayank Rolling

Devraj Bhai- at Palam 2016

BROTHERHOODS-Devraj Bhai Sahib-Palam-India

Memories of many meals and times together in B Block-Palam Vihar- the Dabral Family

2016-DECEMBER-PALAM- with Saraswati Buaji- The Sisterhoods

At B- Block Park with Saraswati Buaji – 2016-November

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On spiritual communities-Walks around Mumbai Feb 2023

We went to Father Agnel Ashram where we have prayed over the decades. The Sunday Mass was going on, and the hymn- ” All I want is you to remember me, loving you” was apt for the trip. Remembered coming to Father Agnel when I used to stay in Parel, (KEM-Mumbai-1993-1996) and the many facets of Mumbai which I was introduced to. Being part of the spiritual traditions of Western India, a Vincentian who started his schooling in Pashan, Pune- 1973, going to Father Agnel after six years in Canada was a pilgrimage I was looking forward to.

Remembering conversations in Ontario- with Sagar on the shores of Lake Ontario, the groups and communities of which we are part of, and how these shaped us.

Father Agnel Ashram-Bandra -Mumbai-Feb 2023

Jalaram Bapa Mandir- Meditations- The Spiritual Traditions. We had some interesting walks, talks and the highlight was going to a temple in Bhiwandi. “Prashant, yahan par humari shaadi hui thi” ( We got married in this temple) I was told about the significance of the temple, as we went there on Jalaram Jayanti. (Nov 4,1799- Feb 23,1881).

Memories of May 1966, and many nuances of how the first post independence generation of India found their way.

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