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The Path of Ālak Purī and the Sacred Rivers

A spiritual discourse on the lineage of Ālak Purī and the sacred geography of the Himalayas.

"We have received their great light, reflections, and blessings." "You have found your master, your path. You should remain steadfast."

Swamiji addresses a gathering, sharing teachings and personal pilgrimage experiences related to the ancient Ālak Purī lineage. He narrates the origin of the Alakanandā River, tells the myth of Śiva and Śakti leading to the creation of sacred sites, and recounts visits to Ālak Purī's cave and the Nanda Devī forest, emphasizing the importance of steadfastness on the spiritual path.

Filming location: Vienna, Austria

Oṁ tryambakaṁ yajāmahe sugandhiṁ puṣṭivardhanam, urvārukam iva bandhanān mṛtyormukṣīya māmṛtāt. Asato mā sad gamaya, tamaso mā jyotir gamaya, mṛtyor mā amṛtaṁ gamaya. Sarveśāṁ svastir bhavatu, sarveśāṁ śāntir bhavatu. Sarveṣāṃ maṅgalam bhavatu, sarveṣāṃ śāntir bhavatu. Oṁ śāntiḥ, śāntiḥ... Blessings. Our devotion is to our paramparā, our lineage from generation to generation, originating from Śrī Ālak Purījī. In the world, in many ancient scriptures, in the bhajans of Mahāprabhujī, Maṅgīlāljī, and our dear holy Gurujī, it is said—though we do not know for how many years—that this lineage extends from the Satya Yuga, Tretā Yuga, Dvāpara Yuga, and now into this fourth age, the Kali Yuga. In my opinion and my feeling of happiness, we did not see the Ālak Purījīs directly, but we have received their great light, reflections, and blessings. For example, when we are in a car and do not know the path, we ask someone for directions. Once we have the path, we proceed using a navigator. We believe and are sure this navigator will bring us to our destination. Similarly, through sādhanā, when we received this path from the Ālak Purījīs—who reside in the Himālaya in astral form—we looked into our revelation for guidance on how to proceed correctly, so we would not go astray. Sometimes, even with navigation, we go the wrong way, and a voice tells us, "Please turn back." So it is when we have found our path. When we are sure in our heart, we will not wander left and right. But if we do wander, we become lost for many ages. My Gurudev guides me, from the holy Gurujīs to the great Bhagavān Deep Nārāyaṇ Mahāprabhujī. His light was opened to us by our holy Gurujī. There is a book someone gave me. When I opened it, our holy Gurujī opened our eyes to Mahāprabhujī. Mahāprabhujī embodies many things we know. Where Śiva itself is present in form, we call him Devapurījī. One should never say, "I am the incarnation of Śiva." Only that Śiva is Svayaṃbhu. Sometimes people, especially Europeans, mistakenly write that Devapurījī is Svayaṃbhu. I have said, "No, not like that." He is that, yet he was born. Mahāprabhujī was born from a mother, and I am of my holy Gurujī, and you all... who knows? Perhaps I was Śrīm? In that Ālak Purī lineage, there are many, many things. Day by day, I receive very beautiful thoughts, visions, and reflections. I have been to the cave of Ālak Purījī three or four times. The fourth time, we were about 10 or 20 people and had profound experiences. Thanks to our dear Śāntī, who showed us the path; she was our navigator. I was in one of the four holiest places. There, I met the head of the temple work, led by Śāntī. He showed me great respect, bowing when I came. I asked him, "Do you know something about Ālak Purījī? I am going to his cave." He said, "Of course," and he showed me scriptures and chants, which I also have recorded. He said it is written in many ancient scriptures and books that about eight kilometers behind, towards China, are the Alakāpurī glaciers. I tell you this so you may know: you have found your master, your path. You should remain steadfast. They are called the Alakāpurī glaciers in the high Himālaya, with vast, frozen snow layered one upon another. Unfortunately, I have seen them four times, and each time the glacier is melting more and more. When Dr. Śāntī first went about ten or fifteen years ago, the glaciers were much more extensive. This range is known as Ālak Purījī’s glaciers. Ālak Purījī was and is great. It is written in some books that this is the capital of Ālak Purījī. Now, the river... where does it begin? It is very beautiful, with many rivers merging into it, including the Sarasvatī. The Sarasvatī went underground and later reappeared very wide. It is said that during the Mahākumbhamelā, the Sarasvatī flows beneath the water, joining Gaṅgā and Yamunā. There is also the Lakṣmī River, which merged into the Ālak Purī, and others, growing bigger and bigger. But the Ālak Purī is the Alakanandā River. How old is it? It is from that ancient time, which is very important for us to know. When Śiva and Śakti... there was a situation where Śakti’s father, the father of humans, performed a great yajña but did not invite Śiva. Śakti was sad and asked, "Why did you not invite my husband, Śiva?" Śiva said, "No problem," but she was angry and went to her home. Śiva said, "Don’t go," but she insisted. At her home, her father, mother, and other ṛṣis did not respect her or Śiva. In her anguish, she fell into the fire and was burned. When the message reached Śiva, he was grief-stricken. His devotees brought Śakti’s body. Seeing her burned, Śiva was filled with a profound anger. He took up his triśūla, placed Śakti on his shoulder, and departed. Brahmā and Viṣṇu, along with the other ṛṣis, were distraught, asking, "Where is Śiva? Where is Śaktī?" Brahmā asked Viṣṇu to bring Śiva back. Śiva had given the Sudarśana cakra to Viṣṇu for use only in the most critical times. Viṣṇu took the Sudarśana cakra and, with his finger, directed it to separate Śakti from Śiva. The cakra cut Śakti’s body into forty-two parts, which fell from Śiva’s shoulder onto the earth, across the Himālaya and India. Wherever a part of Śakti fell, it became one of the holiest places, worshipped to this day as a seat of the divine Śakti. Śiva returned. He is the king of the Himālaya, residing on Mount Kailāśa. In the fourth generation of what they call the Buddhists, they killed the Śiva king, and now we have the 14th Dalai Lama. But I do not wish to go into that. Sarasvatī and Pārvatī were sisters. One is Sarasvatī, who manifests as Gaṅgā, and the other is Pārvatī. Pārvatī desired to marry Śiva. Her parents said it was impossible, but she was determined. She went into the forest near Badrināth, to a place called Nanda Devī. There, in the forest, is a Śiva liṅga where she performed intense anuṣṭhāna, meditating day and night. When asked where Pārvatī was, celestial beings said she was in the Nanda forest. There is a Pārvatī temple near Badrināth; Śāntī brought me there last time. This is that very place. The entire forest there is Nanda Devī’s forest. In our Ālak Purījī’s cave, we are not allowed to make fire, build anything, or have toilets—only rocks. You may pitch a tent. I asked in Badrinath for a little land, but they said no. I asked if I could lease it for 99 years, and they agreed but said no buildings. So be it. Pārvatī’s anuṣṭhāna was so powerful. That is why the Kriyā Anuṣṭhāna we practiced was very powerful, though over time it diminished. But if one does it properly, it is great. Śiva, the king of the Himālaya, inquired about her. Pārvatī’s mother was reluctant because Śiva would change his form, sometimes adorned with snakes. There is also the sage Gargācārya. My lineage is connected to the Gargācāryas. I have found all the letters and records from him. There are the Saptaṛṣis, the seven sages. Gargācārya has documented the lineages. It is very interesting; I have received all this information over the last three months. From there, Śiva and Pārvatī united. Now, returning to our path: Nanda Devī was a disciple of Ālak Purī. There is a story that she was grazing cows when a tiger came to attack. She offered herself as a cow to save the others, then appeared in human form. The tiger was actually a deity in disguise, who said, "Nanda Devī, you are great. Anuṣṭhāna is not easy. If you wish to do it, do it." The tiger turned away. Nanda Devī said, "I have two wishes. First, that this forest become my temple." That temple still exists. "Second, I wish to be with my guru, my master river." Initially, it was the Ālak Purī River, now the Alakanandā. So Nanda Devī is great. You see, the power of the feminine is great. But if one is unsteady, moving here and there, it is like a rotten fruit. Do not be rotten. The same applies to men. It is vital to know how to channel your prāṇas. These are the stories of the Ālak Purījīs, the Alakanandā, and those holy places. When you enter that area, you will feel it. Those who are receptive will know; others will not. This is very important. Ālak Purījī is still there. The first time I went, the head of Badrinath asked, "When are you going, Swamijī? Will you stay overnight?" I said, "Tomorrow, for two or three nights." He said that in that month, no fire was allowed—no cooking, only pūjā with agarbattī. I mentioned we had vegetables. He went into his room and brought out several kilos of dry fruits, saying this would be enough. It was not a joke but reality. We left the vegetables, took the dry fruits and water. I had about five police guards with me. In the evening, we prayed and ate a handful of dry fruits each. A girl with us went outside and saw a quick light, though there was no lightning or rain. Everyone had similar experiences. He also said, "From midnight to one, do not sleep. Look at the sky. You may feel something; many people have experiences." We looked but could not see what others described. That particular day was Nanda Devī’s day, when the Śakti power is strong. Twice I have had visions: seven steps, a large mountain, fog, and the appearance of Ālak Purījī. In the rocks and waterfalls, three times I saw different visions of Ālak Purījī. Śāntī also said she had certain visions. Today, I attest that this is the truth. We were there at a height of nearly 2,000 meters at Devapurījī’s cave. The altitude is very high, challenging for the lungs. People go for three or four days, ascending slowly. Each step feels like a hundred. There are beautiful waterfalls and a pond in the Himālaya. Devapurījī is there. I now realize why holy Gurujī wrote that Devapurījī went through the rock and became a child. That was his sādhanā. We should learn to live in that way, not haphazardly, or the glaciers will fall. If you have found this path and feel that Ālak Pur is your origin, it is very important. I did not plan to speak of this today. I never simply read from a book. It is good to see you all. You can read all day, but when the moment comes, your inner self will guide you differently. Ālak Purījī’s lineage is from the Satya Yuga. It is said that on one side is the Bhagīrathī River and on the other the Alakanandā. They merge at a place called Devaprayāg, becoming the pure Gaṅgā. There are many holy rivers there. There is a beautiful, ancient temple at Gargācāryajī, with a few sādhus. I should go there again. We must go with the heart. The path is rocky and difficult, with no houses or hotels. But when we open our heart, everything is the best. I hope you will all reflect on this. Do not think it is merely a good story. Good stories enter your brain and your heart. Even if you do not accept it now, the impression is made, like a color that does not fade. It may take one, two, or three births, but it will emerge someday. It is very nice to see you all. Tomorrow I will be here again.

This text is transcribed and grammar corrected by AI. If in doubt what was actually said in the recording, use the transcript to double click the desired cue. This will position the recording in most cases just before the sentence is uttered.

The text contains hyperlinks in bold to three authoritative books on yoga, written by humans, to clarify the context of the lecture:

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