Sadhguru narrated his mystic journey to Kedarnath among his few disciples. From Varanasi to Kedarnath and returned to Gyangunj
Mystic Journey | December 26, 2006
Prologue: The Call to the Mountains
In the ancient city of Varanasi, where the divine Ganga flows silently, laden with the prayers and tears of thousands, Sadhguru Adwaitananda —a Mystic from Gyangunj known for his deep spiritual wisdom—he received a subtle, yet profound call from the mountains. This was not merely a call to travel; it was a summons from the universe, urging me to embark on a pilgrimage to Kedarnath, a sacred land steeped in the presence of Lord Shiva. The quiet pull came as he meditated in the ancestral home where his Guru and father, Avdhoot Atmananda, had taught him the ways of a higher level of Sadhana of different dimensions. Gyangunj was his mystical abode, a sanctuary for ascended beings. Yet, the tangible world called him forth to another transformative journey—this time, toward Kedarnath, one of the holiest and most spiritually charged places in India. It was time for him to undertake Kameshwar Sadhana, an esoteric practice focusing on the mastery of both desire and consciousness, in the abode of the mighty Shiva.
The journey would not be easy, and Sadhguru knew it. Yet, he embraced the challenge, knowing the path ahead was as essential as the destination itself. His journey was not merely one of physical endurance; it was a symbolic ascent, from the material realm to the spiritual peaks of realization. He would travel on foot from Varanasi to Kedarnath, with Rudraprayag as the intermediary stop, a place where his sadhana would transcend the limitations of his physical body.
The mystical road ahead awaited him. This was no ordinary pilgrimage—it was a spiritual odyssey that would test his mastery over mind, body, and the layers of existence that weave the cosmic fabric.
Chapter 1: The Departure from Varanasi
Sadhguru began his journey in the early hours of autumn dawn when the mist still clung to the narrow lanes of Varanasi like the lingering thoughts of a half-remembered dream. He was dressed in the simple ochre robes of a renunciate, carrying nothing but a small bag with his essentials—a few pieces of dried fruit, a flask of water, and a sacred text given to him by his father, Avdhoot Atmananda. This text, a handwritten collection of esoteric practices, would guide him in his upcoming sadhanas.
As Sadhguru walked along the ghats of the Ganga for the last time before his departure, he paused briefly to offer a prayer. The river, teeming with life and death, flowed like the eternal current of time itself. Its waters whispered ancient secrets, tales of sages and saints who had once walked its banks in search of the divine. In his heart, Sadhguru carried the presence of his father, whose teachings had been the very foundation of his own spiritual ascent. Avdhoot Atmananda had guided him through the mysteries of the mind, body, and soul, and now it was time to transcend them all.
Before setting off, Sadhguru visited the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, a temple that embodied the fierce, yet compassionate energy of Shiva. The air was thick with the fragrance of incense and the sound of ringing bells, as he stood silently before the linga, absorbing its vibrant energy. Bowing his head, Sadhguru invoked the blessings of Shiva and sought inner strength for the long and arduous journey ahead. It would be weeks of walking through rugged terrain, forested paths, and steep mountains, but Sadhguru understood that the physical struggle was part of the cleansing process. The journey itself would prepare him for the higher dimensional sadhana.
Having spent countless hours in deep penance at Kaal Bhairava, Gouri-Kedareshwar, and Kashi Vishwanath, and understood that this journey was not just a physical pilgrimage but a profound inner exploration. Each of these sacred sites played a crucial role in shaping his spiritual path, guiding him towards a deeper understanding. The energy of Kaal Bhairava had imbued him with the strength to confront his shadows, while Gouri-Kedareshwar had taught him the delicate balance of creation, balance and destruction along with 15 Kalas of Kameshwara.
Now, standing at the threshold of this new journey, he felt a sense of urgency, as if the very fabric of my being was urging me to move forward. The teachings of my beloved father and guru, Avdhoot Atmananda, echoed in his heart. He had always emphasized the importance of pilgrimage in the spiritual journey—the act of physically moving towards the divine while simultaneously delving deeper within oneself.
With a heart full of gratitude and anticipation, he gathered his belongings, a simple cloth bag containing the essentials for his journey—a few clothes, a water bottle, and sacred texts. As he stepped away from the banks of the Ganges, he turned to offer a silent prayer to the river, thanking it for its blessings and asking for its guidance on his pilgrimage to Kedarnath.
Leaving the city, Sadhguru began walking northward, towards the sacred Himalayan peaks. The streets of Varanasi gradually gave way to open fields and small villages. As he walked, he encountered people—some curious, others reverent—but most simply bowed their heads, recognizing the aura of serenity and power that emanated from the mystic. Sadhguru spoke little but offered a kind smile or a blessing to those who approached him.
Chapter 2: Into the Wilderness
Days passed, and Sadhguru had left the comforts of civilization far behind. He was now deep in the wilderness, where the sounds of nature dominated the landscape. His feet tread softly upon the earth, as he made his way through dense forests and rocky paths. At night, he rested under the canopy of stars, his mind merging with the vastness of the cosmos.
In these solitary moments, he felt the presence of his Guru, Avdhoot Atmananda, guiding him from within. His father had always emphasized the importance of solitude in spiritual practice. “The world outside is a reflection of the inner universe,” his father had said. “When you quiet the noise within, the divine becomes your only companion,” Sadhguru recalled those words as he meditated beneath ancient trees, their roots as deep as his own connection to the eternal.
His first significant stop on the journey was the town of Rishikesh, where the Ganga flowed with a newfound ferocity after descending from the icy Himalayas. Though Rishikesh was bustling with pilgrims and sadhus, Sadhguru sought no company. He bathed in the holy waters of the river, cleansing himself of the dust of his journey, and spent a few days in quiet contemplation by its banks.
From Rishikesh, he continued onward, following the Ganga's upstream path. His destination was Rudraprayag, where two mighty rivers—the Alaknanda and Mandakini—met, and where he would begin a deep sadhana that would take him beyond the confines of his physical body.
Chapter 3: The Mystic Sadhana at Rudraprayag
Rudraprayag, named after the fierce form of Shiva, Rudra, held a special place in Sadhguru's heart. It was not just the confluence of two rivers, but the meeting point of energies—where the physical met the spiritual, where the manifest dissolved into the unmanifest. Sadhguru had visited Rudraprayag years earlier with his father, Avdhoot Atmananda, and had felt a deep, inexplicable connection to the place. Now, he had returned to begin a sadhana that would propel him to higher states of consciousness.
He found a small ashram near the riverbanks, a simple structure built for wandering monks and sadhakas. The ashram was humble, with only a few rooms and a small shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. The caretaker, an old sadhu with a flowing white beard, welcomed Sadhguru with a knowing smile. There was no need for words; the sadhu could sense the depth of Sadhguru's inner journey.
For weeks, Sadhguru immersed himself in intense meditation. The focus of his sadhana was Kameshwar, a tantric form of Shiva associated with the mastery of desires. Unlike the common misconception that tantra was purely about physical practices, Sadhguru's Kameshwar Sadhana was an internal process of mastering the subtle energies of desire that flowed through his being. The practice required him to go beyond the physical and emotional planes, transcending the limitations of the mind.
During his meditations, Sadhguru experienced profound states of samadhi, where his consciousness expanded beyond the confines of his body. Time lost its meaning, and the distinction between the self and the universe began to blur. He entered realms where the very fabric of existence seemed to dissolve, and all that remained was the pure awareness of Shiva, the eternal consciousness that pervaded all things.
One night, as he meditated near the confluence of the rivers, he had a vision of Lord Rudra, the fierce and compassionate form of Shiva. In the vision, Rudra appeared as a towering figure, his eyes blazing with the fire of cosmic destruction, yet filled with the boundless love of a father for his children. Rudra spoke to him, not in words, but through direct transmission of knowledge.
"To transcend desire is not to suppress it, but to understand its true nature," Rudra conveyed. "Desire is the movement of consciousness itself, the dynamic force that creates and sustains the universe. But to be free, you must not be bound by its pull. Master it, and you master the cosmos."
This realization struck Sadhguru deeply. His sadhana at Rudraprayag was complete. He had transcended the personal desires that had once bound him and had aligned himself with the cosmic flow of energy. Yet, his journey was far from over. The final leg of his pilgrimage, the ascent to Kedarnath, awaited him.
Chapter 4: The Ascent to Kedarnath
Sadhguru left Rudraprayag with a renewed sense of purpose. His body, though weary from the journey, felt light as if the burden of physical existence had been lifted from his shoulders. His next stop was Kedarnath, the sacred temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, situated high in the Garhwal Himalayas. The path was treacherous, with narrow trails winding through cliffs and deep gorges. But for Sadhguru, the external challenges mirrored the inner ones he had already overcome.
As he walked, he was accompanied by the constant hum of the rivers flowing far below, the chants of the wind through the trees, and the silent presence of the mountains, which stood like ancient guardians of spiritual knowledge. The air grew thinner as he ascended, and the cold bit at his skin, but Sadhguru remained undeterred. His breath became his only companion, as he used pranayama techniques to regulate his energy and maintain focus.
Along the way, Sadhguru encountered other pilgrims, each on their own journey to Kedarnath. Some walked in groups, singing devotional songs to Shiva, while others walked in silence, absorbed in their thoughts. Sadhguru, though solitary, felt a deep connection to all of them. They were all seeking the same truth, though their paths might be different.
The final stretch of the journey was the most challenging. The steep climb to Kedarnath was a test of both physical endurance and mental fortitude. The temple, perched at an altitude of over 11,000 feet, seemed to disappear and reappear in the mist as Sadhguru made his way up the mountain. But with each step, he felt the pull of the divine energy growing stronger. It was as if Shiva himself was drawing him closer.
Chapter 5: The Penance at Kedarnath
Upon reaching Kedarnath, Sadhguru was overcome with a profound sense of awe. The temple, built of massive stone slabs, stood like a fortress against the elements, its spire reaching toward the heavens. The surrounding peaks, draped in snow, seemed to bow in reverence to the presence of Lord Shiva. The air was charged with a tangible energy, a divine vibration that resonated deep within Sadhguru's soul.
He entered the temple with great reverence, bowing before the linga, the sacred symbol of Shiva. The atmosphere inside the temple was thick with the prayers of countless devotees who had come before him. But for Sadhguru, this was not just a place of worship—it was a portal to the infinite.
For days, Sadhguru remained in Kedarnath, meditating in the cold, austere environment. His penance was intense. He practised Kameshwar Sadhana with unwavering focus, diving deeper into the subtle realms of consciousness. His body, though subjected to the harsh cold and thin air, became secondary to his inner journey. He felt himself dissolving into the cosmic dance of Shiva and Shakti, the dynamic interplay of creation and destruction that sustained the universe.
In one of his deepest meditative states, Sadhguru had a final, profound vision. He saw Shiva not as a distant deity, but as the very essence of his being. The separation between the self and the divine collapsed, and all that remained was pure awareness. The dance of desire and consciousness, the cycles of birth and death, the struggles and triumphs of human existence—all of it was Shiva's play, and Sadhguru was both the dancer and the dance.
Chapter 6: The Return to Gyangunj
Sadhguru's sadhana at Kedarnath had come to an end, but his journey was far from over. He knew that his experiences were not for him alone, but were meant to be shared with those who sought the truth. With the blessings of Shiva, he began the long descent from Kedarnath, retracing his steps back through Rudraprayag and onward to Varanasi.
But Sadhguru would not remain in Varanasi for long. His true home was in Gyangunj, the mystical sanctuary where ascended beings resided, beyond the reach of ordinary human perception. His journey had prepared him for the next stage of his spiritual evolution, where he would continue his work in guiding souls toward liberation.
As he made his way back to the hidden valleys of Gyangunj, Sadhguru reflected on the lessons of his journey. The physical path from Varanasi to Kedarnath had been arduous, but it was the inner path that had truly tested him. He had learned that desire, when understood and mastered, was not an obstacle but a tool for spiritual growth. He had experienced the dissolution of the ego and the merging with the divine consciousness that pervaded all existence.
And now, as he approached the invisible boundaries of Gyangunj, Sadhguru knew that his journey was not an end, but a beginning. He had walked the path of the mystic, the path of Shiva, and in doing so, he had become one with the eternal dance of the cosmos.
Epilogue: The Eternal Dance
In the hidden realms of Gyangunj, where time flowed differently and the material world seemed but a fleeting dream, Sadhguru continued his work. His journey to Kedarnath, his penance at Rudraprayag, and his mastery of Kameshwar Sadhana had been but steps on the eternal path of spiritual evolution.
And as the world outside moved on, with its cycles of birth and death, desire and fulfilment, suffering and joy, Sadhguru remained a silent witness to it all—a mystic who had touched the heart of the universe and returned to guide others toward the same divine union.
The mountains had called him, and he had answered. And in that answer, he had found the infinite.
