Sathya Sai with Students: Sri Sathya Sai Visits Badrinath

The Lord in the Badri Hills - June 1961

Wednesday, June 07, 1961 to
Tuesday, July 04, 1961

Swami and His party left Madras for Badrinath via Delhi on 7th of June, 1961. After a four day stay at Delhi, Swami proceeded to Badrinath along with Dr. B. Ramakrishna Rao, Governor of Uttar Pradesh, and His group on the 11th of June. Even before leaving Delhi, Swami had described in great detail the sacred shrine at Badri. Swami mentioned facts that were hitherto unheard of. For instance, no book has any mention of Shri Adi Shankara having brought from Kailash five Lingams, and installing them one each at Badri, Puri, Sringeri, Dwaraka and Chidambaram. Swami revealed to His devotees this secret.

Nandaprayag: The Confluence of the Nandakini and Alaknanda Rivers

Enroute to Badrinath, Swami visited Brahmakund, Srinagar and Joshimath. Swami halted at Nanda Prayag, the famed Kanva Ashram, and directed the devotees to bathe at the confluence of the Alakananda and Mandakini.

Rudraprayag: The Confluence of Mandakini and Alaknanda rivers

On 14th morning, Swami and party began the sacred 18 mile trek to Badrinath. The luggage were fastened to horses, mules and donkeys. Swami walked the first 11 miles to Lambagarh and halted the night there.

Sri Sathya Sai enroute Badrinath

The remaining distance too was covered on foot, and the party reached Badrinath on 15th noon.

Sri Sathya Sai leads the entourage through the Himalayas to Bardinath

The rest of the 15th and the 16th were spent in granting interviews to civil and military officers, and the members of the temple committee.

The Badrinath Temple

During the morning Abhishekam on the 17th, Swami chose to re-infuse the sacred shrine with eroded potency. While in the shrine, Swami materialised a beautiful Narayana idol. Soon, a thousand-petalled golden lotus followed by the Netralingam that Shri Adi Shankara had procured from Kailash, and installed in Badrinath, appeared mystically. Swami ordered all the devotees to sing Bhajans.

Sri Sathya Sai performing the Abhishekam

He materialised a hundred and eight golden Bilva leaves, and the magnificent “Thumme” blooms to adore the Netralingam. Swami performed the Puja with His own hands, and after the adoration, the “Netralinga” returned to its secret niche where it was installed 1,200 years back!

Sri Sathya Sai showing the Netra Lingam to the devotees

That day in the Divine Discourse, Swami said:
"This morning, I took out from its resting place the Netralinga (egg-shaped stone, representation of Shiva, with the eye of wisdom in it) which Shankaracharya had installed as the chief source of spiritual sustenance in this Shrine, and after Abhisheka (consecrating by sprinkling holy water and Pooja (ritual worship), it was sent back to the original place from where it will continue to scatter even more Grace on the pilgrims who come here.

Sri Sathya Sai in the temple precincts

Shankaracharya, when he first came here, he must have known this place and journeyed up by means of yogic powers had with him five Lingas, which he brought from Kailasha; the other four he installed, in strict conformity with the Shastras (scriptures), at Shringeri, Dwaraka, Puri and Chidambaram. Just as the mountains Nara Parvata and Narayana Parvata which form the back-ground of this temple have the Neelakantheshwara Parvata shining on the horizon between them both, this Narayana Shrine has a Linga from Kailasha as the core of its spiritual halo. The Ganga is born from the foot of Vishnu and it is sanctified by contact with the head of Shiva. Such stories are formed to teach that there is no difference between one aspect of God and another."