Experience Taking a Roadtrip with the Baba Jis in India
December 8, 2018
April 2016:
One day in Omkareshwar, I went on a spontaneous motorbike road trip with the Baba Ji’s to Mahakaleshwar. Turns out that a road trip with a Baba Ji is a whole other ball game!
“Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it” – Greg Anderson… that’s why it took us 6 hours to reach to our 70km destination, rather than the 3 hours it could have been. Seriously though, 6 hours to get to there!
It was a hilarious image: a super white tourist on a motorbike with a highly-revered, fearless, and powerful Baba Ji.
Riding on the back of a Baba Ji’s motorbike. Adit Baba doesn’t wear a shirt or shoes, even on a motorbike! Mind you, this was a 6 hour ride!
Selfie with Adit Baba on a motorbike en route to Mahakaleshwar. I am riding on the back of Mahese’s bike.
Stop #1:
First, we stopped at a spot along the Narmada river where Hindus do the cremations of the dead Baba Ji’s. We burned some incense for a small poojah, and Adit Baba collected some of the ashes that remained from the previous days’ cremations. Ashes are a holy part of Hindu rituals, as Lord Shiva’s body is typically depicted as being covered in ashes.
Adit Baba and Mahese doing a poojah in this sacred area where Baba Ji’s are cremated after death.
Adit Baba used to sleep in the area where the cremations are done, something that only powerful Baba Ji’s are permitted to do.
Next, we visited 2 separate homes that are family friends of Adit Baba, some of whom he had not seen for at least 10 years…. they all recognized him immediately! All of the family members gave Adit Baba their full respect, and then requested his help solve their problems.
Stop #2:
At the first family, the grandmother expressed that she has severe pain in her legs. Adit Baba said that he will make medicine for her and return in 5 days. He also gave the teenage daughter a small bit of the ashes collected in the morning, which she immediately licked off her hand and consumed on the the spot!
Adit Baba solving the ailments and issues of family friends. #TakingCareOfBusiness
Stop #3:
At the second family, Adit Baba gave the young boy all of the samosas we had just bought for our breakfast! Baba Ji’s want to give the things they have to those in need, in addition to giving them the things they do not have (i.e., these families have veggies and chapati; but, they don’t have samosas, as those are only bought in the street shops). This boy will forever remember the honour he felt when this powerful Baba Ji visited his home, and gifted him samosas from his holy hands.
Stop #4:
And of course…. another stop! We parked at a roadside temple where Adit Baba gifted me with one of his rudraksha necklaces for my protection. When I saw this, my heart stopped; I was honored to receive something that has been absorbing the prayers and energies of this Baba Ji for so many years.
When we were departing from the temple, a car filled with Indians travelling for their Parikrama (an extensive Hindu pilgrimage) rolled up. These Hindu men immediately recognized the strong energy of Adit Baba and donated money to him!
Hindus stopped us on the road, in order to give donations of rupees to Adit Baba.
Stop #5:
After our final stop at the peaceful Narmada Kooti Ashram, we made it to Maheshwar! (For your sake, I skipped a few of the other stops we made… yes, there were more!)
When we arrived, we visited the Shiva temple in the Maheshwar fort, where the 3 of us sat and chanted mantras in unison. Chanting is highly meditative and quieting for the mind. I felt a connection with ‘Om Nama Shivai’ mantra, so I went back in the temple on my own for a solo mantra meditation.
Prior to the chanting, Adit Baba and Mahese made a Shiva Lingam (an abstract depiction of Lord Shiva on a natural object, such as a stone) at the temple.
I stayed in the temple for a solo ‘Om Nama Shivai’ chanting session. Couldn’t get enough of the peacefulness.
We took a boat ride to visit a temple in the middle of the river, and the boat driver refused to accept payment from Adit Baba, as he said he was honored to have this powerful Baba Ji on his boat. However, Adit Baba understands this is the boy’s business and he needs to make a living, so Adit Baba ensured made the boy accepted payment for the boatride. Adit Baba doesn’t take advantage of his position of power by freeloading off of people; his objective is to help others.
We took a boatride across the river from Maheshwar, and the 3 of us took a dip in the river. You can see the Maheshwar fort in the background.
En route back to Omkareshwar, we passed a car accident. The next morning we found out that a local boy from Omkareshwar died in the accident. The dedication of the locals was heart-warming… in the morning, the local businesses closed shop, as the community went down to dip in the Narmada river in respect of the boy.
Next up: Adit Baba, Mahese, & I make an excursion for some good karma!
Ariel
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