Its 23rd September today – a very significant day in the lives of my husband and I, for this is the day when our Guru – Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev attained enlightenment. Coming from a family of seekers and disciples of Gurus, my belief in a Guru was as good as part of my DNA. But this wasn’t a Guru that I got blessed with because of my family. Desh was Sadhguru’s disciple; and he pushed me into attending the Inner Engineering workshop that was going to be conducted by the Master himself. Being a powerful Yogi, learning the Isha Kriya would be very beneficial to cure my frequent bouts of migraines. I signed up for it reluctantly, only to realise much later that this was no ordinary program and that I was going to be initiated into the world of spirituality by none other than Sadhguru himself.

I became a complete fan of Sadhguru when I attended the program back in July 2013. Being a Mystic and a Spiritual Master, Sadhguru has millions of followers across the globe. I must say that I was mighty impressed by the way he spoke and with the substance in his talks. I am smiling as I write this because it makes me realise how naïve I was at that time to think how ‘impressive’ he was. Infact during the program, I even went up to him to talk to him (a feat easily accomplished and I was later told that very few people get such an opportunity… little did I realise at that time that I was talking to such an enlightened being… lucky me!!). As I initiated my conversation with him, I happened to say that I was pushed into attending that program. He immediately latched onto that word, looked me into the eye with his mischievous piercing look and said, ‘You had to be pushed?” Oops!! Leg before wicket and badly caught, or must I say, spoke first and thought about it later. I smiled and immediately corrected myself and went on and on about the institution of marriage and blah blah blah. He kept nodding, smiling and answering my banter. That day I was truly blessed, for though I have seen Sadhguru a few times even after that, I never really got the opportunity to speak to him after that day.
A Memorable Walk Down Isha Lane and Rubbing Shoulders with the Master #Sadhguru @SadhguruJV Click To TweetAfter we finished the program, I thought about Sadhguru very often, especially about the electrifying Initiation process that he took us through, which is also the acceptance of the Guru – Shishya (Master – Disciple) relationship. Ofcourse, Desh and I always had longish conversations about him. He often kept telling me about all his meetings and experiences with Sadhguru on various occasions; especially of the time when he went to Kailash with him and how he kept weeping like a child in front of him. Frankly that was something beyond comprehension for me. I used to listen to him patiently but something within me found it very hard to believe that you could cry without reason simply because you were in close proximity of an enlightened being – until the time that I went through the same experience – on that beautiful day!

On that beautiful day, after I got married, I was volunteering for the ‘In Conversation with the Mystic’ program in Mumbai, where Juhi Chawla was going to be conversing with Sadhguru. The fact that I love Juhi has nothing to do with my affirmation to volunteer. It was the Master!! I got married to a Punjabi and had to wear the chuda (the red and white wedding bangles) for and after the wedding. It was time to take the chuda off (after the compulsory 45 days) and I desperately wanted to do that only after an audience with Sadhguru, to thank him for his grace and then complete the chuda ritual. The program gave me exactly the opportunity I was looking for. I kept ushering the high profile guests into the auditorium and once we shut the doors I was inside, listening raptly to the Master as he sent us into bouts of laughter with his jokes and his profundity in simple talks as well. And then came the fateful hour when he was going to bid goodbye. It was so crowded that there was no way I could get close to him despite being a volunteer. I wasn’t the types who would push and rush towards him to be close to him, so I decided to stand far and look at him. I was super sad that I couldn’t even come face to face with him. Bad luck! Desh has always maintained that his presence is so powerful that just being with him in the same room means a lot. But would that ever be enough for me?! He was about to walk out of the main auditorium door and at that moment I was cringing for his attention; and I said in my mind, “Sadhguru you didn’t even look at me today” and guess what happened! An unexpected miracle! Oh, oxymoron eh? Aren’t all miracles unexpected? For at that moment, Sadhguru turned and directly looked at me. I was overwhelmed. I don’t have words to express the emotions of that moment. I bent my head and folded my hands in a Namaste and he smiled and walked out amidst his security. My mother was also sitting in the auditorium and I was so taken aback with the turn of events at that moment that I didn’t realise that she came and stood next to me and said aloud, ‘Archu why are you crying?” That’s when realisation dawned upon me. These are called tears of ecstasy! I believed only when I experienced it myself. Since that day Sadhguru has been my guiding light in the true sense of the word. (Read my Haiku – “Reborn“)

We visited his Ashram at the foothills of the Velliangiri Mountains in Coimbatore last year. He was in Mumbai that time but we felt his presence in every nook and corner of the ashram. The place is blissful, but well, that is an understatement. The Dhyanlingam afforded us the much needed peace and I got a severe migraine inside the dome due to the tremendous energy I felt there. It is a space that does not ascribe to any particular faith or belief system and was consecrated by Sadhguru in 1999.

The Linga Bhairavi temple was a different energy form altogether and it seemed that the Devi would come into human form and start talking to you any moment. Such splendid presence is unheard of, her face seemed so beautiful, so graceful and so divine. The Theerthakunds – the subterranean tank (pond) with a solidified mercury lingam immersed was a huge energy form on its own and when I entered the ladies pond I felt the energy resonate inside my complete being. The whole experience was beyond expression, beyond words. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, so all I can say is that you got to go there to experience what I am unable to put in black and white.

After I moved to the US, a trip to the second Ashram here in the US was long overdue. So one fine day, my husband and I set out for a long drive to the Isha Institute of Inner Sciences at Isha Lane in McMinnville, Tennessee. What a lovely three hour drive it was – sunny, bright and beautiful. We went there unannounced and were received with the utmost warmth and love by the volunteers working there. A sweet young girl who was volunteering there on a full time basis took us for a tour of the campus and the abode of our beloved Master. Set on a breathtaking mountain top in the beautiful Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee, the Ashram has been established as an infrastructure for raising human consciousness and fostering global harmony through individual transformation. Spread over a sprawling 1300 acres, the ashram is paradisaical. The Institute is open 365 days a year and welcomes visitors from all walks of life. At the institute is Mahima, a 39,000 square-foot free-spanning meditation hall consecrated by Sadhguru to effectively be able to serve a seeking population of millions in the Western world. I’ve never seen peace at closer quarters than what I experienced at Mahima in Tennessee and Dhyanlingam in Coimbatore. If you are a seeker, these are places you cannot afford to miss visiting. Our day ended with the wonderful dinner made by the volunteers. As we bade good bye to the Ashram, the rain-gods also showered us with their tears of ecstasy and made it a dangerously lovely drive back home. Without much ado, let me take you through a quick photo tour of the Isha Institute at Tennessee.











P.S – The high point of my life was when my eulogy was printed in Sadhguru’s book – ‘Three Truths of Well Being’. Here is a picture of that excerpt too.
P.S2 – As I write this post today, Sadhguru is in the US at the Ashram in Tennessee consecrating the Adi-Yogi shrine – a tribute to Lord Shiva – the first Yogi who walked the planet. Read my poem on Shiva, the Adi Yogi.
Interesting!
Thanks CT 🙂
An excellent read, Archie. Though not a very spiritual person in the “technical” sense of the word, I am, but loved this post very much. I just remember a quote by someone which I had read long back, not sure, if it goes something like this, There are many things that are essential to arrive at true peace of mind, and the most important is faith.
I hope you can understand, my dear friend. The pic showing the tears of ecstasy summed it up.
Sanjay – this is important to clarify so will interject here. The word “faith” is a bastardized word today. It goes for belief and blind acquiescence – though not devotion. In devotion, nothing is left and “Faith” or “Belief” are very inadequate.
On the spiritual path – you are either a Seeker or Realized. The Yogis are razor sharp iconoclasts who depend on uncompromising intellect and mastery of life energies ultimately leading to devotion of the highest level. That, is who Sadhguru is. Shiva. 🙂
Very beautifully written 🙂 Pictures are also amazing..
Thanks Anjali 🙂
TSS’s heartfelt gratitude to Guruji. 🙂 A beautiful post dearie and loved all those pics. Hugs :*
Thanks M 🙂 xoxo
saw him in some of the documentary, impressing personality. Thanks for sharing.
Impressive is an under statement for Sadhguru – you must watch some of his videos on a subject of your choice..
Thanks for stopping by Mahesh 🙂
Very nice pics. A very different article. It’s tough to describe and specially pen down experiences which relates to one’s soul, very nicely articulated.
Well its not so tough Aniruddha when you have felt it so closely 🙂 Thanks buddy 🙂
great . thank you for sharing this
Thanks Nagendra 🙂
Lovely pictures 🙂
Thank you so much Arun 🙂
Great post! Thank you, Archana, for sharing:)
My pleasure Amitji… thank you for reading 🙂
Nice post Archana. Pic of the small girl with tears of joy is interesting.
Thank you Somali… That’s a simply outstanding picture that they managed to click… it says so much… 🙂
Beautifully written, Archana. What a sacred blessing, and wow – congrats for the eulogy as well!
Thank you so much Arti 🙂
Thanks for sharing. He is a learned scholar. I have seen a few of his projects closely here. commendable indeed..:)
His projects are splendid and the work that he does is par excellence UK… a boon to humankind 🙂
Interesting events. He is one of the best orator. Will visit dhyanalingam next time when i go home.
Oh yes he is Arun. You must visit the Dhyanalingam 🙂
nice post
Thanks Aroraji 🙂
interesting and nice post. Though I don’t follow but my parents and grandparents did follow the tradition of Guru. I remember my grandparents used to wash his (guru’s feet) in a big bowl and then used to take that as charnaamrit.
That’s great Binod… am sure you will find your calling some day too 🙂
beautiful. 🙂
Thanks Manpreet 🙂
Archana, a very interesting insight into your experience into the higher self elevation through your Guru. Such positive energy, faith and matters a lot to us humans to reach a spiritual state of consciousness. Fabulous. I do follow Osho’s teaching, not what his current followers been propagating but real ones.
Osho has come up with some great insights too Vishal… you should also read Krishnamurthy… Desh often makes me listen to him…
Thanks buddy 🙂
You are so lucky to experience this. And that you have this faith. Stay blessed.
I’ve always had faith Mridula 🙂 Thank you so much 🙂
Very nice. Only lucky ones get blessings of a guru. God bless.
Thank you so much Abhijit sir 🙂
Once one my friend made me read one of his writings. I was really moved.
and after reading this, surely will try to attend one of his sessions soon.
Take Care 🙂
Sarabjeet
You should Sarabjeet – I can bet you will not be disappointed.
Thanks buddy! 🙂
WOW now that is some experience , not many have it. It actually takes a good human being to have such experience. there are hundreds and thousand who follow as those who were in that auditorium but I am positive now everyone had the experience you had, Blessed indeed.
My brother is a follower of the Guru, he has similar stories to say too, I have not had the oppurtunity or maybe I am not that blessed ..
GOd bless mam ..
and beautiful pictures .. thank you for sharing .. i got a insight of something tooo 🙂 Thank you
A very inspiring post, yes, you are right Guru is the one who leads to enlightenment, lucky you that you have found your guru… All the best…
Thank you so much Prasad 🙂
Truly an Inspiring Narrative of your Memorable Experiences in the presence of the Spiritual Master Sadhguru, Archana.. The Photographs of Isha Institute at Tennessee are just amazing.. Love to visit the Place.. The Master’s Blessings ever protect all of us!
You must visit the ashram whenever you are in the US next Sreedhar sir… or atleast the Coimbatore one. Thank you so much for your lovely comment sir 🙂 and yes, the Master protects us all with his blessings… 🙂
Great Post.lovely pics… Thanks for Sharing !
Floral Pants
Thanks Ananya 🙂
It was a powerful post, Archana, too inspiring and validly enumerating the importance of Sadguru – The Guiding Light, in our lives. Many thanks for giving me chance to read the same & I am sure will drop again to re- read it !!!
My pleasure Manish… and thank you for the comment 🙂
Loved your journey towards enlightenment and I have had similar experiences in front of yogis when my thoughts have been reflected in their eyes (GULP)
Mystic indeed 🙂
I usually start my day with one of the videos of the Sadhguru since his teachings are with the today’s times and honestly I too am not into learning the scriptures. I rather live it than cram it and allow it to be buried in my subconscious mind 😛
Great Archana !!!! I wondered many times what brought we two close together amidst this huge crowded world. Now I got the answer. It’s really our destiny and our GURU….. Very very excited to be connected with you, dear……. Tears rolled down my cheeks while reading your post ….. for no reason ….. just ecstasy…… You know, I started 3 days Mahashivarathri Sathana today …. and happened to read this post …… it’s all Sadhguru’s grace ……. Pranams !!!!