First Maha Shivratri of Datta Tapovan: 10 March 2013

We have been visiting Datta Tapovan since a year and seen lot of things taking shape. The land of Datta Tapovan has been powerful and mystical. All those connected with Mohanji and Datta Tapovan may need more proof of how powerful this land of tradition is. Once one steps on this land, one doesn’t return empty handed for sure. We have been experiencing this since we set our foot on this powerful land of our tradition. This land lies on the spine of the Datta tradition ( also called Agasthya Bhoomi – Land of Agasthya.) This is located near the mouth of tradition from where river of tradition – the River Krishna Originates. No words are enough to describe the power this land holds. No one returns without an experience.

Mohanji shifted to Datta Tapovan on 24 Feb 2013. We have all spent time with Mohanji in different space and time, but one look at Mohanji now after shifting to Datta Tapovan will give an idea what mystic powers this land holds. Mohanji looks more of a powerful yogi who has just come out of caves after meditating for years. We feel reluctant to speak in his presence because there is always a deep silence on his face. He at times mentions about his daily communion with the higher beings and visit of many Siddhas in different forms to the ashram land.

Mohanji asked us to prepare for Maha Shivratri. Preparations were made as per his guidance. On Maha Shivratri day, Mohanji first visited a Shiva temple in a nearby village called Vashivali on the request of locals. They had program of bhajan-kirtan and pooja on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri. We requested Mohanji to call off the visit as there was a sudden change in weather. The extreme dryness in weather was uncomfortable for all. But Mohanji insisted “Promise is a promise, one must learn to keep it”. On reaching the temple, the locals were very happy to receive him and see a Master of this stature coming to their village as promised. The person conducting the kirtan (Stories/leelas of god discoursed as lessons through music) himself called Mohanji on the stage and made him comfortable. Mohanji was honoured by giving a coconut and garland, as per the local tradition. We then left for Datta Tapovan to oversee Maha Shivratri preparations. Slowly, many BTW family members gathered at Datta Tapovan to attend the Maha Shivaratri. .

Water in Borewell

There is a villager who is guided by the higher to spot the source and location of underground water. Few days back, he earmarked a spot in Datta Tapovan and claimed that to be the best spot for underwater source. He mentioned that the water was coming from underneath of the Dattatreya Idol and such places are known to be very powerful places on earth just like swayambhu (self-manifested) Shiv Linga getting abhishek from hidden underground water .

We had bored that well as per his directions on the same day Mohanji shifted to Datta Tapovan i.e 24 Feb 2013. But water was not found as told to us before. The person said that the water source is so powerful that it will not allow us to dig more than 35 feet onward to 150 feet. But what happened was contrary to that. The bore reached 35 feet, 50 feet, 100 feet, 150 feet still there was no trace of water! We used all the capacity of the bore-well machine and went up to last 300 feet but still no water was found. This was the first time that any failure of such magnanimity happened at Datta Tapovan. We have seen many leelas (both agonies and ecstacies, tests and rewards) of this land but nothing of this sort. We stopped the work. We completely surrendered it to the Lord Dattatreya to an extent that we never discussed about it again since then; nor did Mohanji said anything on this. We just moved ahead.

On Mahashivratri day, after arriving at Datta Tapovan, we just dropped a small stone in the well and could hear the sound of stone falling on water. We could not believe our ears as the water sounded very near. How was it possible? We worked out a crude method and were able to pull out a mug of water. We were so overwhelmed that we ran to Mohanji who as usual said “Happy Now?” He knew how much this meant for us. As a gesture of gratitude, the first drawn water was to be used to do abhishek (religious bathing ceremony of the idols) to Ganapati, Dattatreya, Sai Baba and Shiv Ling at Datta Tapovan. Do we need to write what has brought water to a dry well? The water was found at 90 feet i.e the tube well has been filled up till 210 feet!

Everybody, even children helped in pulling out water from the narrow mouth of bore well, which was then filled in two containers and kept ready for the Abhishek inside the temple. First few drops of water was sprinkled by Mohanji on Audumber tree behind the temple.

Audumber tree near Dattatreya Temple

As mentioned earlier, nothing in this land is less than miraculous or mystic. Whatever one takes to write upon it, is simply not enough. The Audumber tree was planted during Datta Jayanti on 27 Dec 2012 by Mohanji himself behind the Datta temple, but it dried up within less than a week. Local suggested that a new plant needs to be planted as it had been completely dried up. For us it was hard to believe. Two months passed away and we thought that once Mohanji shifts we will get the Audumber tree planted by Mohanji again. It was very difficult for us to throw the dried up plant as our beloved Mohanji had planted it. We left it as it is unwatered for 2 months but just few days before Mohanji’s arrival we just noticed a small tiny single leaf sprouting. We couldn’t believe our eyes. This Audumbar is one of the Mohanji’s favourite and he personally takes care of it and waters it daily.

Medicine Distribution

Mohanji Seva Foundation started off with the “Health and nutrition project” for the local villages on Maha Shivratri day. With help from Dr Patel and Abhayji de-worming tablets and food packets were distributed to village children and people. They flocked to ashram in great numbers and were really happy and elated after receiving love and warmth from BTW family. They took blessings of Mohanji and left after some time.

Maha Mrutyunjay Homa

Maha – Mrutunjay Homa was done in front of Dattatreya temple. Mohanji had made it clear to all the present BTW family members to not to forget whatever is being done on this day will be purely on behalf of entire BTW family and not at personal level. We also knew how many people around the world on this point of time are connected with Mohanji and everything was offered to Homa on behalf of entire BTW family. After completion of Homa it was time for Abhishek to start.

Rudra Abhishek

At 7pm on 10 March, abhishek started with Lord Ganesha, Lord Dattatreya, Shirdi Sai Baba and then Shiv Linga – in the same sequence. Mohanji was leading the whole event and gave instructions to do Abhishek every hour. Not to forget on behalf of entire BTW family. Suresh was entrusted with this responsibility. Mohanji also planted a Tulsi plant in front of the temple and lit a diya (lamp) at its bottom.

Akhand (Non-Stop) Naam Japa started with the mantra –

Mrityonjayaya Rudraaya

Neelkanthaya Shambhave

Amrateshaaya Sharvaye

Mahadevaya Te Namah

It continued till 4 AM of 11 March. After that, japa of “Sripada Rajam Sharnam Prapadaye” started. Everybody took turns in sitting for naam japa and were thrilled to be witnessing the intense divine energy in the ashram throughout the powerful night of Maha Shivaratri.

Mohanji’s Yajna

When naam japa started in temple, at the same time around 8 pm, near the akhand dhuni, Mohanji, Abhayji and other members of the family were offering ghee in Akhand Dhuni with chanting of mantras. Atmosphere around the Akhand Dhuni was of very high energy and the various deities showed their presence in fire of yajna. To see Mohanji in the form of Shiva was a hair rising experience. The energy build up was extremely powerful and everybody could feel the effect on their body, mind and soul. Some of the family members experienced that in-spite of sitting close to yajna fire, the heat and smoke created by the high rising fire didn’t affect us. The breathing was normal and although everyone was inhaling the smoke but there was no suffocation and when same thing was tried out next day by ourselves, it just suffocated us.

Mohanji offered coconut to the sacred fire. He mentioned that this coconut is on behalf of all those who are connected with him. Offering of this coconut to the fire is to reduce a lot of karmic baggages of our entire BTW family members to ashes. Mohanji prayed and brought the negativities of all those who are connected to him, without any expectation, on to the coconut. The coconut became visibly heavy and would not break. And, in-spite of intense fire and offering of ghee didn’t show any sign of burning. Mohanji continued chanting  mantras powerfully and finally it got burned and reduced to ashes. This yajna fire was no normal fire, the power of it was revealed later on .

Kailash Abhishek

Mohanji was very particular that everybody should do Abhishek every hour without fail. Suresh did a wonderful job in calling people every hour without fail for the same. Few minutes after midnight Anurag entered Mohanji’s hut to show him some snaps which he had taken. Mohanji immediately asked, “Have you done Abhishek”? Anurag was struck with the surprise since he actually had missed one at 0000hrs! So he immediately rushed to do Abhishek and realised that nothing is invisible to a Master, who can read your thoughts at ease.

Nilkath narrates- Mohanji arrived few minutes before 00.00 hrs and he seemed to be very eager to do abhishek. He took water and before pouring it on Shiva asked Mohanish to close his eyes and see what he does. Meantime I also closed my eyes and see whether I was able to see what he was doing. After doing Abhishek , Mohanji asked me what did I see. I said “You did Abhishek to KAILASH.” He asked Mohanish about what did he see. Mohanish said “He also saw Mohanji performing Abhishek to Kailash”. Mohanji was happy that we both could see the same thing.

It can happen only at Datta Tapovan!

What is being revealed here now is just to show how powerful our tradition and the Guru of our tradition can be. Another dimension of our tradition which many of us may not be aware was revealed to everyone who was present at Datta Tapovan that day. Many of them would not speak about it but it’s important to reveal few things about it here so that when next time any one steps of this land is aware that this place is not just ashram but the Powerful Land of The Tradition, and this can happen ONLY at Datta Tapovan.

At around 1 am lights went off for few minutes and then came back. This was indication to us to get our emergency light and torches ready. No sooner did we fetch them the lights were off. We continued to do Akhand naam japa (non-stop chanting of manthras) and abhishek on shiva linga every one hour. Akhand naam japa was happening with full energy. Whole of the ashram was reverberating with energy. Each one of us whilst reciting the mantras was witnessing the subtle changes happening inside and outside of us. Mohanji was leading with example by being dot on time for every abhishek. After performing Abhishek at 3 am he went to his hut. Everybody was reciting the mantra with full energy and even though at this hour of the night, spirits of each and everybody was at full swing. Nobody was tired or sleepy. Then we noticed at around 03.15am that Mohanji was standing at the entrance of the temple facing Lord Datta. There was single oil lamp burning. We noticed that Mohanji expressions were not the same as usual. Even though 15 min passed Mohanji kept standing at the entrance like a guard. This was really unusual because after each hour’s abhishek, he went back to his hut. Every one present in the temple by the time went into a different state.

Since all members were chanting continuously few were taking break and again rejoining to contribute to the Akhand Jap. After abhishek at 3 am, one of the members came and sat exactly in front of Lord Datta as if it was pre-decided. That member sitting exactly between the Dattatreya Idol and temple entrance with Mohanji at back started swaying while chanting Mantra “Shri Paad Rajam Sharnam Prapadye”. It was clear that Mohanji was there for a purpose and he was working on something. But the thought that what would happen next left many of us shaken from spine.

That member started chanting more intensely and slowly voice changed. The member then shouted Shri Paad … Shri Paad….and then lent out a huge deafening cry. The cry and loudness were so intense that it not only sent shivers in our body but some family members resting inside the hut 100 meters away got up and didn’t dare to come to temple. Two of them closely connected to Mohanji gathered enough courage to come to temple. That cry shook up the silent mountains. Mohanji was stand still at the door of the temple, unmoved. Seeing him everyone regained their strength and continued to chant. By this time it was clear that this was not a normal cry. It was probably a cry of an entity which has been trapped in between Dattatreya and Mohanji. There was no room to escape. Mohanji gave specific instructions to specific family members. Some he asked to chant specific mantra and to some other mantra. He made few members to go around the temple with specific mantra. It was kind of kavach (protection ring) that Mohanji created around the temple. It was evident by now that he is making it impossible for the entity to hang on. It was all meticulously planned. All the movements of Mohanji and his instructions prior to 3 AM were now falling in place. Power going off, torches, lamp burning at temple. The person sitting exactly in between Dattatreya and Mohanji, Mohanji not entering the temple, all chanting different mantras of our tradition, shifting of mantras from Shiva to Shripad Vallabh Sharnam Prapadhye and to Shirdi Sai Baba .. ..

Mohanji asked one person  to be at his side. He asked for Abhishek water and then Vibhuti from the sacred fire (yagna). When everything was ready, he still waited. Just looking sideways, back and forth, and communicating with Dattatreya. That member continued to cry and shout. It was not at all a normal cry. It was fearsome. Suddenly the person collapsed backwards into Mohanji’s hands and was made to lie down. It started the second spell with the entity inside laughing nastily at Mohanji. It was a challenging, daunting laugh. It challenged Mohanji and refused to come out. Mohanji kept looking intently and unemotionally, moving his feet but not entering the temple as if nothing is happening. The one who was asked to stand beside Mohanji was given a vision to see the entity challenging Mohanji with that laugh. Seeing enough is enough, Mohanji asked to apply vibhuti to that person’s forehead. With application of vibhuti, it gave a fierce and angry look to Mohanji. Person standing next to Mohanji and who was asked to apply vibhuti says, “Those eyes sent shivers within me but standing next to Mohanji was a big strength. Those eyes; I can’t forget those eyes. It challenged Mohanji but no so sooner Vibhuti was applied on forehead, it subdued. But again there was second round of challenge, fiercer and a bigger laugh. Mohanji asked to apply more Vibhuti; but on the third eye. He then sprinkled Abhishek water and that was all. Everything became silent. There were only mantras being chanted continuously in the temple. It was amazing to see the power of the Vibhooti of the eternal dhuni that Mohanji had started! 

The person regained strength and then again vibhuti was applied on sahastrara. It was completion of the cleaning process and leaving no room for the entity to make its way back. The person prostrated at Mohanji’s feet in deep gratitude. All of us did the same. This was an amazing show of sheer spiritual strength. It could have shaken any brave man to the core! The person revealed later on that throughout all this, was aware of what is going on but everything was beyond control. It was as if there was no hope to come out of this. Only faith, that Mohanji was there standing and taking care. That time, two entities had left out of body, one of which had been powerful and silently working through without making its presence felt in day to day life.

This family member shared the dream/ Vision got on Saturday i.e 9 March; just a day before Maha Shivaratri. He/she stated that “I was clinging on Mohanji like a small child and Mohanji like the Supreme Father was protecting me from two people and was helping me to pass the particular passage thrice”. The member shared this dream with Mohanji and Mohanji confirmed that those two persons were entities and smiled saying “I always do my job”. This vision was given on Friday night and Mystery was revealed on night of Maha Shivratri, the very next day.

This is how our Supreme master works there are no words to define his power & stature. This particular experience was shared to just show how powerful tradition is, Stature of Gurus of The Tradition and another dimension of The Tradition which many may not have known. There is NO room for any negativity when one is deeply connected with Divinity. We have Divinity, in the form of Mohanji with us. Faith and surrender are the keys. If this is absolute, we are completely protected. Period. Nothing can escape the eyes of the master. Nothing can bind us or trouble us. He knows and he cares.

Bell Ringing

By the time, this fearsome event was over, it was exactly 4 am. Bramha muhurat had started. Timings of all events were meticulously pre-planned. We were flowing with it and following it without we knowing it. We performed our last abhishek at 4PM on Shiva linga.

All of sudden, Mohanji rang the temple bell. In that deep silence of Datta Tapovan, the bell could be heard from far off distances as well. Mohanish explained to us that he could see that, with Mohanji ringing the bell the main Naga Devata appeared from the top of that mountain and sat on the place where Maha-Mrityunjay homa had happened. It was also a command/request to other Sidhhas and Nag Devatas from different planes to come and attend the Dattatreya aarti. He also said, many other celestial beings also appeared from Kamandalu river on the north side of Datta Tapovan to attend the arati. Mohanji was giving a cute smile when Mohanish was watching this. He knew how surprised Mohanish was. He could see the subtle aspect of Mohanji’s actions.

Everyone offered gratitude to the tradition by singing the aarti. The energy level by now was at its peak. We all fell at Mohanji’s feet in gratitude and giving us the opportunity to witness the grandeur of The Tradition.

With 12 hours of Akhand Naam Japa extending to the whole night had filled the members of BTW family with awe and fascination. It appeared that new era had dawned in them. Everybody witnessed an absolutely new form of Mohanji as if He is operating in His true form. The long 12 hours of naam japa culminated with Lord Dattatreye Aarti which filled each member’s heart with love. The horizon of each and everybody was expanded. Everybody understood and witnessed Datta Tradition in its real form. Some members took rest and some assembled in the temple again for performance of Mohanish on Mridung/pakhwaj. Hanuman Chalisa was sung twice and no sooner did it end, a loud noise with thud heard behind the temple. As we came out, we saw 10-15 monkeys sitting on a single tree and again there was a silence. We offered gratitude to Hanuamanji for responding to our call.

Morning rays filled the entire area with love and signified the birth of new life.

We left Datta Tapovan at noon. By the time we reached home it was 2pm. Even after not sleeping for entire night and driving 250 kms, there was no tiredness because Mohanji filled up everyone with high energy level. He made sure that we reach home safely through the long drive to respective places.

Mohanji, by the morning had gone into deep silence and we could see it in his eyes. We knew that he wanted to be left alone. Mohanji just mentioned that it was a fulfilling day and he has filled up every member who is connected with him, worldwide. Mohanish also saw Mohanji multiplying into atom level, into many Mohanjis and reaching the entire world. When he told this to Mohanji, he joked “You only saw me spreading horizontally. Why not vertically?” This question challenged Mohanish and he understood that the full dimension is impossible to be witnessed.

Mohanji as usual sat at the entrance of his hut stairs feeding four calves who are his daily visitors, as if nothing ever happened in the previous night. One calf loves Mohanji so much that it is not even interested in Mohanji feeding her. Rather it enjoys kissing Mohanji all over! Before we departed we all saw an unusual bird very difficult to catch in camera. After half an hour trail after it, it still remained elusive, finally when requested from bottom of heart to all it to be pictured, it showed up and allowed only one picture. The picture itself conveys who it was..

Dattta Tapovan will always remain mystical place….

Love and gratitude,

BTW Family- Pune