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Shivabalayogi: Tapas Photos
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Shivabalayogi in 1957. After eight years of tapas, he has mastered
meditation facing all
four cardinal directions (north, south, east & west).
There was a great celebration of his accomplishment the day after his mastery of
the fourth and final direction. One thousand and eight coconuts were broken in
his honor in each of the four directions. This ceremony started at seven in the
morning and finished by midnight. When it was over, Swamiji broke many years of
mouna (silence) by chanting the sacred sound of aum.
This experience was related by Kongara Chandaya Dora of
Rajamundry:
"During the dikh [directional] tapas, there was a procedure to change the direction of
the guru. The dais itself had to be lifted up while Swamiji was seated on it and
it had to be turned so Swamiji would face the new direction. The devotees who
would do this were all instructed by Swamiji to fast for twenty-four hours
before the time they changed direction."
"We had to fast twenty-four hours from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m. beforehand. We would not
even take water."
"It was about ten at night. Each of the persons who lifted the dais to turn him
to the new direction had to break 108 coconuts. Swamiji told us that the new
direction he was to face would be the worst. It would be very bad and he would
be put to a lot of tests. After we turned the table on which Swamiji was
sitting, then only would we have a bath and take some breakfast."
"I was witness to only one of these occasions. I know that in the next direction,
the procedure was similar but not identical to the one I saw."