Ashrams we visited

It was our fortune to meet Jagatguru Ramdineshacharya ji Maharaj and Mahant Girish Das ji in our flight to Ayodhya who, and without any request from us, were good enough to immediately get us VIP passes for Ram Mandir. The in-flight interaction was insightful so much so that we subsequently went to their Ashrams.

Jagatguru Ramdineshacharya ji Maharaj of Hari Dham Peeth shared some of his photos with Yogi ji. His Ashram has about 20 students living there who are being trained in our texts, our mantra and Puja Vidhi. There is also a Gaushala with about 10 cows. He conducts Shri Ram Katha, Shrimad Bhagwat Katha, Krishna Katha, and bhajans in various places and has his own YouTube channel: Jagatguru Ramdineshacharya Ji Maharaj Official Channel  

I asked him about the ten Avatars of Vishnu, more specifically the ninth avatar since many consider it to be Gautam Buddha while others believe it is Balram. However, he reminded us that as per Bhagwat Puran, there are 24 avtars of Vishnu. Amongst the Dasavtars, the Buddha referred to is not Gautam Buddha whose teachings differ considerably from Hinduism. A little research showed that in Hindu scriptures like the Srimad Bhagvat, Vishnu ji’s avatar of Buddha is described as the son of Anjana, born in the region of Gaya (Kikaṭ) and that this incarnation appeared at the beginning of the Kaliyug (3102 BCE) to preach non-violence and reform materialistic practices.

Jagatguru ji Maharaj was pleased to honour us.

  

We then went to the ashram of Mahant Mahamandaleshwar Shri Girish Das ji Maharaj, Head Priest of Dandiya Mandir (डाड़िया मंदिर के पीठाधिपति महामंडलेश्वर महंत गिरीश दास महाराज ) He too has students there – all boys of course. The centre of the hall has a beautiful temple. Mahant ji plans to further renovate the temple in the next few months. 

The little saint

There are about 10 boys living in the ashram. Mahant ji narrated the story of this little saint. On the death of his father, his mother sought support for her son and her daughters. Since the ashram does not keep girls there, the boy was taken into the ashram where all his expenses are taken care of, also his education in school and teachings in our rituals are taught.

Shri Girish Das ji Maharaj  was also pleased to honour us

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