Sri Rama visiting Bharadwaja Ashrama

(Ref: Valmiki Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - 54 to 55)

• Meditation: I meditate on Sri Rama visiting the hermitage of sage Bharadwaja at Prayaga, the sacred place at the confluence of rivers Ganga and Yamuna.

• Events:
1. Sri Rama reaching Prayaga: During the forest exile Sri Rama crosses river Ganga at Sringaverapura and reaches the land of Vatsa. Spending the night under a big tree Sri Rama walks towards Prayaga at the confluence of rivers Ganga and Yamuna.

2. Sri Rama visiting Bharadwaja Ashrama: At Prayaga Sri Rama visits the hermitage of sage Bharadwaja. Sri Rama enquires about a suitable place to stay in the forest. Sage Bharadwaja tells about Chitrakoota mountain which is at a distance of dasha kroshas (interpreted as sixty miles) from there. The sage then describes the beauty and holiness of that mountain. As long as a man sees Chitrakoota mountain, no sin will cross his mind, and he will only perform good deeds. On that mountain the sages meditated for hundred years and ascended to the abode of Shiva (i.e. became liberated). The mountain forest is filled with fruits and vegetation, rendered charming with the sounds of peacocks, cuckoos and other birds, where elephants and deers roam about, where Kinnaras and Nagas visit and which has many caves, waterfalls and other scenic beauties.

3. Sri Rama spending a night there: Sri Rama spends a night in the hermitage of the sage. Next morning Sri Rama along with Lakshmana and Devi Sita takes leave of the sage.

4. Sage Bharadwaja telling the route to Chitrakoota: Next morning sage Bharadwaja tells Sri Rama the route to Chitrakoota from Prayaga - following river Yamuna towards west, then crossing river Yamuna and reaching a Nyagrodha tree called Shyama. After going a krosha from there Chitrakoota forest starts.

• Pilgrimage:

Bharadwaja Ashrama, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh

Bharadwaja Ashrama, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh

Bharadwaja Ashrama is located in Allahabad in the Allahabad district of Uttar Pradesh. It is in the Colonelganj area near Anand Bhavan on Jawahar Lal Nehru Road, around 3.5 km from the Allahabad railway station. The ashrama has many images including Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Bharadwajeshwar Mahadev Shiva Linga.

Bharatavarsha - The Land of Gods and Sages:

1. Stotras
2. Scriptures
3. Pilgrimages
4. Festivals
5. Saints: Ramakrishna - Vivekananda - Ramana
6. Sadhana
7. Sanskrit
8. Nature