THE BITTER TRUTH: Datta Kshetra Yatra

Datta Kshetra Yatra - Surat

Leela Vishwambara

Pujya Sri Swamiji chose Surat Ashrama as the second Datta temple to visit in the pilgrimage of visiting all Datta Kshetras established by Sri Swamiji. Though the North Indian tour had been cancelled, Sri Swamiji chose to visit Surat. Sri Swamiji arrived in Surat on Saturday the 2nd November after halting for a night in Bangalore Ashrama on the 1st November. The devotees in Surat eagerly awaited the arrival of Sri Swamiji to their town. On the same evening, Sri Swamiji was given a reception in the evening and the executive Trustee, Sri Goplani delightfully welcoming Sri Swamiji in his Gujarati Speech explained the eagerness of devotees to have Sri Swamiji's Darshan as over 12 months had elapsed since last visit of Sri Swamiji. Sri Swamiji spoke about the proposed Datta Kshetra Yatra and the plan to visit all Datta temples established by Sri Swamiji.
Sri Swamiji visited houses of 10 devotees on the 3rd morning. Sri Chakra Puja was performed at 10 AM. In the evening Bhajans were sung by devotees and Sri Swamiji gave a discourse in a question answer format, clarifying the doubts that persisted. Click here for the text of the speech.
Sri Swamiji further visited 8 houses of devotees on 4th morning. As it was the day of Deepavali festival, Sri Swamiji's coming to the houses had immense importance to them. Later Sri Swamiji performed Sri Chakra Puja and Lakshmi Puja in the Ashrama. Devotees chanted Vishnu Sahasra Namam and in the evening after Dhan Lakshmi Puja, Sri Swamiji blessed assembled devotees with a rupee coin. In the evening devotees sparkled some fire crackers and Sri Swamiji joined them. Developmental plan of the Ashrama was shown to Sri Swamiji for approval.
5th November was the new year day for Gujarat. Sri Swamiji's presence and Darshan on this auspicious day brought much happiness to the hundreds of devotees who came to Ashrama and had Paduka Sparshan. (Touching of the Sacred Padukas). This was the year number 2059 - Vikram Samvat.
Sri Swamiji left for Bangalore at 12.30 PM and arrived in Bangalore at 3 PM after a brief halt in Mumbai airport for refueling.
Surat Ashrama is situated on Dumas road in the outskirts of the Surat city. But the fast growing city is encompassing Ashrama from all sides. The Ashrama has a distinctive Gujarati style architecture with Guru Nivasa in ground floor and the temple complex on the first floor. The temple has the main shrine of Dattatreya and Anagha Devi and has been given the Datta Nakshatra - LEELA VISHWAMBHARA. The temple was established in the year 1991 - on December 12th. The other shrines are Ganapati, Durgi, Karthikeya (Subramanya), Surya, Narayana, Shiva, Vishnu, Navagraha, Dakshinamurthy, Hanuman and a Naga shrine separately consecrated. The Shiva shrine was separately consecrated in the year 1997. All the shrines are on the first floor and are interconnected. There are two large Audumbara trees in the Ashrama. there is a Prayer Hall for Satsangs and devotee congregation and a dining hall and kitchen underneath the prayer hall. A Yaga Shala is there in front of the temple and priest quarters to the side of the temple complex.
River Tapti flows through the city of Surat. The city is situated on the rail link between Delhi and Mumbai. Most trains stop here. Gujarat state is famous for the city of Dwaraka (Lord Krishna), two Shiva Jyotirlinga Temples (Naageshwara and Soma Natha), Girnar is small hill which has an ancient Datta temple atop. Datta tradition is very popular and the great Dattatreya propagating Saint Vasudevananda Saraswati Swami hailed from Gujarat. Garudeshwar and Naareshwar are two other important Datta temple pilgrim sites. Sri Swamiji first visited Gujarat in 1988.
Photos from the tour...