Siddhashram is a boon, bestowed upon mankind, from our ancestors, saints, sages & Yogis of high order. This is synonymous to a paradise on the earth and finds its mention in “Rigveda”, the oldest scripture of human civilization. A saint, revealing his expressions in Rigvedic hymns says, “Sometime or the other, when the most auspicious moment of my life arrives, I will certainly be able to enter Siddhashram and to perform the Sadhna practices of high order by sitting on its sacred ground”. Not only in Rigveda but also in Samveda, Maharishi Yogandharwa, while expliciting his sentiments says, “Where the soil is worth applying on the forehead just like sandal wood paste, where each and every particle is replete with penance and the wind is pious and melodious, the same abode of the blessed is the final destination of a human being where just by sitting, the real bliss of the life can be attained“.
Siddhashram has been described in hundreds of ancient scriptures. Maharishi Vashistha called it the fortune of man whereas Vishwamitra termed it as the real beauty of life. According to Maharishi Chyavan, there is a natural characteristic in the soil of Siddhashram to eliminate spontaneously the ailments of the body. Maharishi Pulastya says it is the dream of life and Kanad praising it says,”Only one or two among a thousand saints are fortunate enough to get the privilege of entering into Siddhashram”. Bhishma, lying on the bed of arrows expressed his last wish before Lord Krishna that he wanted to go to Siddhashram with his mortal body. Yudhistir also, after the end of Mahabharat war, requested, Lord Krishna with joined palms, “If some of the virtues of my life are left and if you bestow your grace upon me, I wish to spend some part of my life in Siddhashram”. Gorakhnath, addressing his disciples said, “The ultimate of Tantra and Sadhnas is the entrance into Siddhashram”. At one place, Bhagvatpad Shankaracharya has said, “The fulfillment of human life can only be attained when one goes to Siddhashram and takes a holy dip in Siddhyoga lake”.
Indeed this Siddhashram has been a dream for thousands of Yogis and aspirants. Their last wish has been to spend some moments in Siddhashram where each and every particle is pious due to the penance done by high ordered Yogis, where the sacred, pure and divine “Siddhayoga lake” shimmers continuously. It has unique therapeutic properties and therefore a mere dip in it, not only cures all ailments but also confers divinity upon that person by thoroughly cleansing the mind of impure, negative thoughts and consequently the person attains a higher elevation. The weather in this Ashram remains exhilaratingly pleasant throughout the year and this divine Ashram is free from the cycles of age, time and death. No ailment of any kind can prevail here and every moment of it is full of joy, delight, beauty and bliss.
The management of this Siddhashram is under the guidance of the universally venerated Yogiraj Swami Satchidanandji, who even after having attained the age of several thousand years is still full of eternal Youth and whose eyes are oceans of mercy. The divine rays of penance, emanating from his body intermingle with the atmosphere of Siddhashram and the mere sight of his divine body is keenly wished even by the Gods, to make their lives supremely blessed. Inspite of having the age of several thousand years only three disciples have received Dikshas from him.
In this Ashram, the Yogis, ascetics and aspirants aged thousands of years are engaged in penance. Even today the great seers like Maharishi Vashishtha, Vishwamitra, Kanad, Pulastya, Atri, Bheesma, Kripacharya, Gorakhnath and Shankaracharya can be seen wondering there in physical form and also one can have the privilege of listening to their sermons. The mere touch of their divine hands initiates the flow of a divine current into the body and due to this Shaktipaat (energizing process) the entire body of the aspirant turns sacred and full of radiance.
All the time heavenly maidens wander here and the nymphs of heaven like Rambha, Menaka and Urvashi consider themselves fortunate on performing their dance at this place, where each moment is full of ecstasy, bliss, joy and enthusiasm.
It is not possible to get an aerial view of this Ashram from an aeroplane. This Ashram occupying an area of several hundred kilometres is situated in the north-east of Mansarowar and is an abode of unique Yogis. At some places, Yogis are engaged in penance and at other places, Yogis are teaching the intricacies and minute points of Sadhna to their disciples. Some Yogis are seen entranced and also some some celibates are performing Yagya. Somewhere else, the recitation of Vedas by learned Maharishis is going on and the sermons of Brahmarishis is enjoyed by thousands of Yogis. The heavenly maidens fully ornamented are seen wandering and at some places, various young and beautiful heavenly dancers are presenting their outstanding dances and Yogis are seen doing Sandhya Vandana in Siddhyoga Lake at some distance from them. Pretty maidens are seen bathing and throwing water on each other and frolicking in the pure and sparkling water of the lake. Aspirants are seen enjoying boating in the boats of rock crystal. Few maidens are engrossed in conversation and the entire atmosphere is enveloped by enthusiasm, joy, bliss and delight. There is no pain and suffering of any kind and each aspirant’s face is devoid of any expression of tension. No one has any sorrow and this way, there is eternal ecstasy, bliss and joy all around in this Ashram.
The weather remains exhilaratingly pleasant in Siddhashram as it is free from the cycles of the seasons. The rain comes with pleasant drizzling. Roses of hundred varieties and also other flowers of different kinds keep blooming here all around the year. Due to a protective shield set up by the powers of penance, there is no entrance of death, consequently no flower gets withered or plucked from its stalk. The green velvety grass covering the ground of Siddhashram appears like a green carpet. There are thousands of varieties of fruit bearing trees and it is hard to believe that there can be so many innumerable fruits. Chirping sound of the birds creates a lovely atmosphere in itself.
At some distance from the hermitage of Paramhans Swami Satchidanandji, the world famous ‘Kalp Vriksha’ stands bloomed to its full maturity, sitting beneath which, fulfils immediately every wish and any materialistic article can be obtained within the blinking of an eye. Several straw huts constructed near by this hermitage gives an idea of the appearance of hermitages of our ancient sages. In these straw huts, the Yogis of high order sit in the state of Samadhi or remain fully absorbed in their Sadhna practices. Since three or four hundred years some Yogis are entranced and are lost in inexhaustible bliss. The beating hearts of such Yogis is the only evidence of their being alive. Even the sight of these Yogis is inaccessible and it is quite enthrilling to have a glimpse of their radiant faces and bodies which are full of serenity.
There are no prohibitions or restrictions in this Ashram. Each aspirant is free and at liberty. Nevertheless every one seems to be bound by some unknown law, therefore, each one keeping within his limits is engrossed in his duties. There is no malice, illwill, jealousy or hypocrisy. All are lost in themselves and are busy in meditating to reach the heights of Sadhna. Inspite of being at liberty all are under the control of some unsaid law and regulation.
It is very arduous to enter Siddhashram as there are five eligibility criteria which are essential for gaining entrance into this Ashram.
After attaining all these five criteria, the aspirant can gain entrance into Siddhashram. For this purpose, it is also essential that the aspirant while being excellent in the field of Sadhna practices, must also have great devotion and faith for his Guru. A Guru can’t take his disciple with him into this Ashram unless he himself has entered Siddhashram and also has got permission from the senior Yogis of Siddhashram to take his disciple along with him. Certainly, a person by obeying the rules mentioned before can enter Siddhashram but only few of the Yogis are fortunate enough to return back to this materialistic world after entering Siddhashram and then to go back again to this Ashram. The aspirants who have got the privilege of returning again to the mundane sphere from Siddhashram are as follow-
1. Yogiraj Shankaranand
2. Swami Paramdeva
3. Sadhwi Tejomayi
4. Shankaracharya
5. Mahatapa Brigraj
6. Gorakhnath
7. Lama Hegang
8. Datia Baba
9. Maa Bharavi
10. Mahavatra Baba
11. Kinkar Swami
12. Baba Tejavatar
13. Parvati Bai
14. Dhima Bhai Chiman Bhai
15. Raghuvar Barotkar
16. Uria Baba
17. Yogiraj Arvind
18. Swami Vishuddhanandji
19. Trijata Aghori
20. Householder Viran Ganguli
21. Girdhar Pattiyar
22. Swami Vishveshwaranandji
23. Maa Anandmayi
24. Swami Gunatitanandji
25. Swami Nikhileshwaranandji (who as a householder is known as Poojya Narayan Dutt Shrimaliji)
As I have told earlier that hitherto only three disciples have been initiated by Mahayogi Swami Satchidanandji, who is the founder of this Siddhashram and Swami Nikhileshwaranandji is also among these three disciples, and it is our great fortune that his immense knowledge and thoughts are available to us.
Only after becoming a disciple of any one of these competent Gurus an aspirant can get entrance into Siddhashram due to the efforts of his Guru and thus he, by abiding at that divine place can view these saints of high order and also can learn the intricacies of Sadhna practices.
Although an ordinary person cannot enter Siddhashram but owing to the special efforts of Swami Nikhileshwaranandji, some important personalities, who were of highly materialistic mind and thoughts were allowed to enter Siddhashram for a few hours. This is a revolutionary change in the history of Siddhashram as the central Brahmarishi committee does not permit this entrance but in this changing modern era, it was felt that such materialistic persons should be allowed to have a glimpse of Siddhashram only if for a few hours. During previous days, some scientists, doctors and a group of persons from western countries were taken to Siddhashram through Yogic power, to make them understand that this Ashram is not imaginary but is a real truth. Those persons were enthrilled by its sight and they realised that it is a place on the earth which controls the entire universe. In this adverse environment when a mania of violence and war is prevailing in the world and the entire world is sitting on a heap of gunpowder the credit for survival of mankind goes only to Siddhashram.
The high ordered Yogis of this place, due to their powers of penance are responsible for the protection of the mankind. It is owing to their herculean efforts that the atomic war is delayed again and again, and thus the human civilization is prevented from becoming extinct.
That fortunate group included persons who are excellent in their own fields. Among them, the famous atomic scientist of America Mr. Jeff and renowned doctors of Brazil, Dr. Puling and Dr. Yulee were present. Scientist Emerson and astronomer Mr. Paharich; the famous fashion model of Hollywood, Miss Beeli; scientist from London, Mr. Bruooji were also among them. The group also included scientist Sirang who designed space travelling to moon and scientist Hori, who was the inventor of computer science. all these great personalities admitted unanimously that this divine place is astonishing to the mind; where the nature is beautiful, bountiful and gay all the time, where innumerable flowers are blooming, where the Yogis having the age of several hundred years are engaged in their Sadhna practices and where there is no sign of death.
Indeed this is a great fortune for India to have such a divine and unique place of penance and we all aspirants have the opportunity to make ourselves competent for gaining entrance into Siddhashram by accomplishing various Sadhna practices. Undoubtedly, those aspirants are blessed, who in their life time, are able to get entrance into this exquisite Ashram and such mothers are fortunate who are blessed with such sons, who by performing higher Sadhna practices and by attaining those elevations are able to acquire totality in their lives.