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Picnic
at Cauvery River
In August of 1993, Shivabalayogi took three busses full of devotees on a three-day picnic by the sacred Cauvery River in South India, bathing in the river at three places: Sangam, Sri Ranga Pattana, and Talakaveri.
Shri Swamiji often took devotees on such outings
after major celebrations at the Bangalore ashram, such as his birthday on
January 24 or his tapas anniversary on August 7. This outing, after
the tapas anniversary function in 1993, is particularly special
because within a year, the great yogi entered mahasamadhi and
dropped his physical form.
The Cauvery (or Kaveri) River, one of the seven
holy rivers of India, is often referred to as the Ganges of the South. Its
source is at Talakaveri, in the Western Ghats, at a peak called Brahmagiri.
It was there that in ancient times, the Seven Rishis performed a special yagna (homa, offerings through sacred fire).
This short program
collects photos, film, and videotape of Shri Swamiji blessing and bathing
in oceans, lakes and rivers, including the Ganges River and the ocean at
Kakinada and at New England in the United States. Swamiji explained that waters take on the
negativity of countless human beings who bathe in them, and the gods of
the sacred waters pray for a yogi to bathe so the yogi can take on the
accumulated "sins." This is an example of the power and love of a yogi.
Shivabalayogi enjoyed bathing in rivers and
oceans. The story goes that this love arose during his 12-year tapas when
Lord Shiva took him to visit the world of the sun. On the way back, they
stopped to bathe in all the sacred waters to help cool off. But even as a
village boy, Shri Swamiji enjoyed swimming and bathing.
Another explanation is that water conducts energy, and by bathing with devotees,
Shri Swamiji was able to pass blessings. This may explain why he insisted that
each devotee enter the water with him.
Or it could be that Swamiji simply enjoys and
loves each devotee and wants us to have fun.
"Shivabalayogi at the Anantapur Ashram, October 1982" DVD, 40 minutes plus 14 minutes extra.
"Picnic at Cauvery River" DVD, 40 minutes plus "Shivabalayogi Blesses Waters", 12:50 minutes
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