Neem Karoli Baba Ashram, Kainchi Dham, Uttarakhand

The Kainchi Dham ashram, where Neem Karoli Baba stayed in the last decade of his life. The ashram also contains the samadhi of Sri Siddhi Ma.

There is a place to sit and meditate. You can go into meditative states here effortlessly.

How to Get there
The temple is located 17.7 kms North East of Nainital Bus Stand.

Map:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/t8WDssQx3u5U1frB8

About Kainchi Dham Ashram

It was some time in 1962 when Maharajji called for Shri Poornanand of Kainchi village while he himself waited sitting on parapet wall by the road side near Kainchi. When he came, they refreshed the memories of their first meeting which they had 20 years back in 1942. They discussed about the place around. Maharajji wanted to see the place where Sadhu Premi Baba and Sombari Maharaj had lived and performed Yagyas. The forest was cleared and Maharajji asked for the construction of a Chabootara (rectangular platform) covering the Yagyashala. Maharajji contacted the then “conservator of forests” and took possession of the requisite land on lease.

The Hanuman temple is built over the platform mentioned above. His devotees started coming from different places and a chain of bhandaras, kirtans, bhajans started. The Pran-Pratishtha of idols of Hanumanji and others was performed on 15th June in different years. Thus, 15th June is celebrated every year as Pratishtha Divas when a large number of devotees come to Kainchi and get Prasad. The number of devotees and the associated vehicular traffic is so large that the district administration has to make special arrangement to regulate the same. Accordingly some changes have been made in the whole complex so that people do not face any difficulty in movement.

Kainchi temple is of a special importance in each and every devotee’s life. It was here that Ram Dass and other westerners spent a lot of good time with Maharajji. All devotees should pay a visit to this temple at least once.

Babaji left His physical body in the night of 10 September 1973. The Kalash containing His ashes was already installed in Shri Kainchi dham. Then, without any plan and design the construction work of Baba’s temple began in 1974. All His devotees cooperated (voluntarily).

The artisans and masons engaged in the construction work has an early bath and wearing clean clothes began work, reciting Hanuman Chalissa and chanting “Maharajji Ki Jai” (glory to Maharajji). When the construction work was on, the devotees also recited Hanuman Chalissaand did Kirtan by singing (Shri Rama – Jai Rama – Jai Jai Rama), Mothers also writing “Ramnam” on the bricks passed them on to the workers. The whole atmosphere vibrated with the chanting of “Baba Neem Karoli Maharaj Ki Jai”. Influenced by the ardent devotion of the Mothers for Babaji, the workers also developed the same feeling of devotion, faith, reverance and love. It was Babaji’s lila that he infused these workers with the qualities of Vishwakarma (the architect of Gods) and they remained busy with the construction work.

Now came 15th June 1976, the day for installation and consecration of Maharajji’s murti. Maharajji Himself had fixed June 15th as the consecration of Kainchidham.

The Bhagwat saptah and yajna etc. were completed before the installation and consecration ceremony. The devotees installed Kalash and hoisted flag on the temple with the sound of bells, gongs, drums and conches.The sky vibrated with the sound of clapping. Kirtan and slogans of glory to Babaji. The atmosphere was ecstatic and everyone had the feeling of Babaji Maharaj’s physical presence. Then with recitation of hymns from Vedas and with the specified method of consecration ceremony and worship, Maharajji’s murti was installed. In this way, Babaji Maharaj in the form of a murti is seated in Shri Kainchi Dham.

About Neem Karoli Baba

Baba Neem Karoli Maharaj was a great Indian saint of the Himalayan lineage who left his body in 1973.

Neem Karoli Baba is also known as Neeb Karori Baba, and is called “Maharaj-ji” by His devotees. Maharaj-ji’s teachings were simple and universal. He often said, “Sub Ek” — All is One. He taught us to “love everyone, serve everyone, remember God, and tell the truth.” Strongly connected to Hanuman, the Hindu God in the form of a monkey, Maharaj-ji “taught” in a highly personalized, non-traditional way that reflected the deep devotion of the bhakti path of the heart. Known as the “Miracle Baba” throughout north India, He manifested many siddhis (powers), such as being in two places at once or putting devotees in samadhi (state of God consciousness) at the touch of a finger.

How Maharaj-Ji became known as Neem Karoli Baba, which means the sadhu from Neem Karoli (or Neeb Karori).

This was many years ago, perhaps when Maharaj-ji was in his late twenties or early thirties. For several days, no one had given him any food and hunger drove him to board a train for the nearest city. When the conductor discovered Maharaj-ji seated in the first class coach without a ticket, he pulled the emergency brake and the train ground to a halt. After some verbal debate, Maharaj-ji was unceremoniously put off the train. The train had stopped near the village of Neeb Karori where Maharaj-Ji had been living.

Maharaj-ji sat down under the shade of a tree while the conductor blew his whistle and the engineer opened the throttle. But the train didn’t move. For some time the train sat there while every attempt was made to get it to move. Another engine was called in to push it, but all to no avail. A local magistrate with one arm, who knew of Maharaj-ji, suggested to the officials that they coax that young sadhu back onto the train. Initially the officials were appalled by such superstition, but after many frustrating attempts to move the train they decided to give it a try.

Many passengers and railway officials approached Maharaj-ji, carrying with them food and sweets as offerings to Him. They requested that He board the train. He agreed on two conditions: The railway officials must promise to have a station built for the village of Neeb Karori (at the time the villagers had to walk many miles to the nearest station), and the railroad must henceforth treat sadhus better. The officials promised to do whatever was in their power, and Maharaj-ji finally re-boarded the train. Then they asked Maharaj-ji to start the train. He got very abusive and said, “What, is it up to me to start trains?” The engineer started the train, the train traveled a few yards, and then the engineer stopped it and said, “Unless the sadhu orders me, I will not go forward.” Maharaj-ji said, “Let him go.” And they proceeded. Then Maharaj-ji said that the officials kept their word, and soon afterward a train station was built at Neeb Karori and sadhus received more respect.

Categories: Kumaon Uttarakhand, Sadhana Place, Uttarakhand, Verified by Sannidhi.net

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