 Omkar Ashram |
 Omkareshwara,The Linga Sadguru used to worship | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 Place where Sadguru was cremated A new sandhi has been constructed in this place |
 Pond constructed by Sadguru | ||
 Dakshina Pinakini flowing beside |
 Way to Ashram | ||
 Ashram as seen from Ayyappa temple |
About the ashram:-Sadguru's Ashram is a nice quiet place located in lower Nandi hills. It's in a hill called Channa rayana betta,named after the Chenna keshava temple atop the hill. Set amidst sylvan surroundings,it was a dilapidated Shiva temple which was converted into an ashram by Sadguru. About his ashram,Sadguru used to say:My ashram is a beautiful place with all the inconveniences necessary for spiritual growth but disappointing to a lover of ease and comfort. True to that statement, it's a simple place with hardly any modern amenities. When Sadguru was living he had not taken electricity connection, now it's there. Also some of the fruit trees planted by him died after he left the planet and out of the two coconut trees planted by him, only one exists. During the period of sadhana he stayed in the Chenna keshava temple (which's actually a cave) for more than 10 yrs, alone. After the completion of his sadhana he came down to the present place & was there till his end.Dakshina Pinakini flows besides the ashram as a small rivulet. Seeing the birds chirping happily,a rivulet flowing beside & the surrounding greenery one gets the feeling of an ancient hermitage!
A person is staying there,worshipping Omkareshwara. He has been there for last 5-6 yrs living on the generosity of villagers and keeps the ashram open on Mondays & Thursdays. Some villagers told me that they celebrate his Jayanti every year. The Jayanti is usually held after 2 days of Ghati Subramanya Shashti. A kid told he & his friends do Suryanamaskara in ashram on Sunday's.
How to get there:-The nearest town is Chickaballapur,it's well connected by road to Bangalore. At Chickaballapur catch a bus going to Nandi Hills or Doddaballapur and get down at Nandi village. At Nandi take an auto to Sulthanpet & go slightly beyond the village. On the right side, there's a sign board in Kannada mentioning "Omkar Ashrama". Get down there & walk for a quarter kilometre to reach the ashram.
Potential Threats/Concerns:- Rampant quarrying is going on besides the hill. It may touch the present hill too. Quarrying, Mining, Sand stealing have become the curse of Karnataka. It's unfortunate that forests,hills,lakes & rivers are getting lost to the above factors. Seeing the support/encouragement of government for such destructive activities; passive, helpless & least bothered attitude of people towards mother nature; enormous clout & influence those inhuman people have in the current corrupt establishment one loses all hope & is forced to looked towards God for redemption, which's unfortunate.
The very thought of the place getting lost in history due to the above factor makes one's heart wrench in grief & sorrow. Wish things take a turn for good.
PS:- Here a great soul meditated & got enlightened. So please respect & maintain the sanctity of the place without polluting it in any form.