Out of thin air, where once the mighty Ganga flowed just a couple of months ago, the Yogadham Akhada was set up as if by a magical Samudra Manthan by The Satsang Foundation Volunteers. The actual churning began with the arrival of Master Sri M, working on the hearts and minds of the over 4,500 milling participants, leaving the premises overflowing with love and compassion at the end of 47 days.
The one acre of land on Arail Ghat overlooking the sacred river was consecrated by a Dhwaja Aarohan and Bhumi Puja by Sri M, warming hearts and uplifting spirits even as the flag arose to flutter against blue skies on the freezing winter morning of January 13th.
Nestled behind amazing artwork depicting the Samudra Manthan and Sri M’s quotes was a spacious satsang hall, a yagnashala, a conference room, living quarters, kitchen, dining room, and common spaces filled with participants arriving from all corners of the globe.
Nine events across the 47 days ensured that participants had an immersive and transformative spiritual experience. Two Shibirs with Sri M, five yoga retreats, the Yoga Vasistha Retreat, and Maha Shivratri celebrations spanned across the Sadhana Parva, Dhyana Parva, and Updesha Parva, melding the three key paths to salvation in the Sanatana or Ancient Dharma – Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, and Jnana Yoga.
The days began with volunteers up at the crack of dawn to clean up the premises and embellish Sri Guru Babaji’s shrine with flowers, lights, and incense. The yagnashala situated near the gates to allow in visitors was also cleaned with the Dhuni stoked and cow dung spread around it, allowing participants to sit around and meditate before sunrise.
As dawn broke with spectacular sunrises across the river, the chanting of mantras from Mantra: A Yantra for the Mind, a curated collection of sacred mantras to explore the transformative power of sound reverberated across Yogadham. Amidst the blowing of conch shells, the hypnotic beat of the damaru, and the pealing of bells, the aarti at Sri Guru Babaji’s shrine was performed by Sri M with all participants joining in.
The Rig Vedic mantra “Sangachhadhwam samvadadhwam samvo manaansi jaanataam” – May we move together; study together; with our minds put together, may we understand- led to a session of silent meditation under Sri M’s guidance. Bhartiya Yogavidya Kendra teachers then held a session of Yoga Asanas, bolstering the mind-body connection in preparation for Sri M’s discourses on the highest spiritual learnings.
The noon annadaanam seva and afternoon chai seva at the Yogadham seva counter situated right outside its gates, witnessed moving scenes everyday as hungry, weary pilgrims, sadhus, and locals queued up for a hot meal and refreshment after a holy dip in the river or just after arriving at the Mahakumbh. Sri M himself led the annadaanam tending to each sadhu and pilgrim with complete attention and care, honouring them by bowing before them with deep humility, teaching participants by example how to honour the living, walking, talking temples of God as he referred to them.
On the eve of Maha Shivaratri, 500 sadhus, sanyasins, and Vedic priests were invited at Yogadham. Chanting of the Purusha Suktam in the Shukla Yajurveda style preceded this special annadaanam seva as Sri M himself served the sadhus with complete attention and waited for all to finish before he left.
The dusk Akhand Dhuni Puja accompanied by the melodious chants of the Mantra Pushpams – the in-house team of chanters – brought the day to a serene close even as a number of visitors trooped in to meet Sri M or to spend some time at the Akhada. The dining hall provided round- the-clock services with sattvik local food served for three meals and morning and evening tea with snacks, keeping all participants well-nourished and fortified for receiving all the learnings on offer. Ayurveda experts from ArogyaM and specialist doctors from among the volunteers were on call 24/7 for any medical emergencies and also in designated shifts during the day for any other ailments.
The Amrita or holy nectar of immortality that emerged from the churning of the Samudra manthan at Yogadham were the teachings of Sri M be they on ceremonials, mantra chanting, Kriya Yoga, meditation or the difficult text of Yoga Vasistha. He even taught the Upanishads over two evenings at the Ekatma Dham nearby and an evening by the Namo Ghat in Varanasi, where he spoke of their relevance in today’s day and age at an Aatman 2025 event. He simplified each teaching, making it relevant with anecdotes, a dash of humour and the depth of personal experience, touching a chord with each participant at whichever level of learning they were on.
The Truth is simple – Go to the Core, theories are of no use, as he says. And as this small academy set up near the banks of the river gave a fond farewell to him amidst the beating of drums by a local band, hearts and minds overflowed with love and gratitude for his love and compassion in reaching out to each of the nearly 5,000 people who he met and addressed during this period. The Yogadham Kumbh or Pot was indeed full and overflowing.
To browse through our daily blog on the MahaKumbh celebrations at Yogadham, please click here.
