Wandering in the Himalayas: A Glimpse

This book is an authentic account of the travels of Swami Tapovan Maharaj, on foot, in the Himalayas. As Swami Chinmayananda says in the foreword to the book, ‘The book consists of poetic descriptions of places of importance in the Himalayas, sacred in their cultural lore and in the traditional faith of the Hindus. They are the many captured pictures framed by Shree Tapovanji’s mighty pen… The sincerity of the writer lends a secret charm to his pen and conveys the same feelings to the reader. The reader of this book who has in his heart reverence and devotion to Nature need not thereafter read the scriptures or even go through the sorrows of tapas to enjoy the Vision of the Infinite that plays in and through every form..‘…The winter in Hrishkesh is a delightful time, pleasant and peaceful. Many Sadhus from different corners of India congregate here during the season. Sadhus are as independent as kings, but with a difference. If it is wealth that enables a king to do what he likes, it is wealthlessness that enables a sadhu to lead the sort of life he lives. A sadhu’s lack of possessions and contentment with what chance gives him stand him in good stead wherever he goes. Among the Himalayas, even in these days of remorseless materialism, one may come across sadhus who touch no coin with their hands, who know not when or where they might get their next morsel of food and whose only occupation is communion with God.’… …Once I was wending my solitary way to Gangotri. Eighteen or twenty miles still lay before me. I had no food that day, I had sought for alms in a village, but in vain. As the day wore on, I began to feel hungry. But I was not worried. While I rested under a tree, I only wondered how God was going to feed me in that desolate place. In fact, I was watching with childlike curiosity to see how it was going to be done. Time passes. I still sat there immersed in the beauty of the surroundings. The mighty Himalayas seemed to symbolise the Almighty Himself, and the Ganga looked as if she were overflowing with milk. Just then, I saw a Parvatheeya Brahmin (i.e., a Brahmin among the mountain folk) labouring up the mountainside with a heavy load on his shoulders. He was tired and sweating all over and evidently hungry. At a distance from me, he unloaded himself and then, sitting near the stream took out a small packet which contained his food. He had already seen me. With the open packet in his hand, he now approached me respectfully and begged me to take as much ut of it as I liked. On seeing such liberality and love, I was very much moved. The man seemed to me an incarnation of God, manifesting Himself to appease my hunger. All that he could offer me was some potatoes, boiled clean, without even salt. I accepted just a little portion of it as God’s own gift and was satisfied. Here was a true instance of charity. The rich man overfeeds himself on dainty fare and then proudly gives away some morsels to the poor. His act involves no sacrifice, and it can hardly be regarded as charity. The hungry beggar who shares with another the little food he has obtained by begging is truly charitable, and his deed is really far more meritorious… (Page 39) …God shines everywhere, in stone and earth and water, but men who have not overcome their ego fail to find the Resplendent One anywhere. Conceit of Self in one’s intelligence, senses, and body is egotism. ‘I’ leads to ‘Mine’, and for the sinner who is immersed in this ‘I’ and ‘Mine’ the realisation of God’s Omnipresence is verily impossible… (Page 48) …Whatever we see is God. If, out of such firm faith, we are able to permeate all things with love, there will be no room for evil thoughts in our bosom. The less our love, the more the scope for evil thoughts…

Wandering in the Himalayas: A Glimpse

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