Kasi experience Although I have heard many people say that they are going to kasi and even when I saw this place in many movies, I never developed a wish to visit this place until i read "Kasi Swasi" book written by Swami Omkar. His description about kasi was very detailed. As I was reading it, i was virtually in this wonderful city. From that day, I was waiting for an opportunity to go to kasi. Although we went to Allahabad last year, we didn't get a chance to visit kasi. The moment swami announced kasi trip 2014, I got ready to go. The excitement was growing day by day and it became very high as we were nearing the dates for the journey. I couldn't sleep properly the last few days. Travel was very comfortable and we reached kasi on Jan 27th. In the very first day satsang by swami he mentioned about Kalabhairavar. He said one cannot enter kasi without Kalabhairavar's approval and the entire city is controlled by him. We could feel his presence the entire time we were in Kasi. We would be surrounded by very very friendly dogs most of the time. Throughout our stay in kasi, i had an extra beat in my heart as I spotted the places and things that Swami mentioned in the book. Amazing indian cows everywhere. Milk and its byproducts tasted yummy in kasi. We had awesome 6 days including couple of days in Allahabad and Gaya. Many unforgettable moments, will share a few Ganga Dip

After our everyday ganga dip in MahaKumbh, it was wonderful to get into ganga again. Water was very cold, although the teeth was typing, we were enjoying it :-) One of the days, we had a chance to bathe in Ganga just after midnight(12.30). Super super superosuper. Enjoyed the dip thoroughly. Jala japam on all days inside ganga was ultimate. Kedarishwarar temple Abhishekam to all lingams in Kedarghat temple and japa experience in the temple was different. Our evening japa would coincide with the temple pooja timings and will always have the pooja bell sound as background music for japa. On ammavasi day, swami did homa in kedarghat temple. Blessed to be part of it. Manikarnika Ghat We went in the evening time. There were many corpses burning when we went and looks like thats the usual sight. We stood very closely to a burning corpse and it had absolutely no smell. The cows and dogs were sitting next to the fire for the warmth. When i see the agnihotra ash daily it reminds me of the burning corpses ash. Gaya Japa in Vishnupadam temple gave a chill feeling. It was such a old temple and gave attendance to satchi gopalan also. Swami mentioned that he is the one who would give witness that we made attempts to attain liberation. In Bodh Gaya,longed to touch the tree but could just sit next to it. All buddha stories learnt during childhood days were running in mind. Mangala Arathi pooja at kasi viswanathar temple

Pooja was at 3am in the morning and we witnessed the entire pooja sitting very close to kasi viswanathar. After that had a chance to do japa in kasi viswanathar temple and annapoorani temple. Both the places had a very silent atmosphere and was giving a divine feeling. A special mention is about the kali mandapam in annapoorani temple, it was awfully silent there. When we did japa,we could hear the tick tock of the wallclock. Didn't have the mind to stop japa and leave the place.

Overall, had a chance to get acquainted with new people in this journey. Its not an easy thing to organize and coordinate 40 people for a weeks time. Everything was taken care off very well. After Kasi effect All those days in kasi, we were fresh despite a packed schedule. We were all in high tempo throughout the stay. On the last day of closure satsang, swami warned us that after leaving kasi we will have little tiredness because we will be going out from the high prana place. We came back and slept and slept and slept. Those 6 days were like a dream. Life back at home was in slow motion. Guess Kalabhairavar took away our senses and just releasing them one by one. Now I have started visiting kasi very often :-)