Swami Parvatikarji Maharaj in Badrinath
Vina Maharajji
Vina Maharajji Badrinath Dham
Swami Dattatreya Rama Rao Parvatikarji (1916-1990), is seen here
playing his 'Brahm Vina', as he calls it, at the Badrinath Temple.
He said it was the only one left in existence and that he had to help in the
making of it himself, getting several strings added to the lower side (like a
harp). It had a truly mystical sound. Swamiji would be here during the entire
season that the presiding deity resides in Badri Nath Dham. Because of an
introduction letter from Babaji, I was able to stay as a guest with a family
of Swamiji's dear desciples, who succeeded in persuading me to stay on
one month instead of three days! He would daily sit in the temple compound
and would teach me the swaras, and when others would come we would all
sing kirtana lead by him. "Sriman Narayan, Narayan". Interesting was his
morning practice of first having bath in Tapt Kund, a natural mineral hot
spring, and then immediately having an ice cold bath in the grace-filled
river of Alakananda. And after this he would do yogasanas in the sunshine
beside the river, ending them with Shishasana, headstand, that alone for at
least 15 mins.
Although Swamiji spent all his Spring and Summer days in Sri Badrinath
Dham, we were surprised to see that his own 'Ishtadev', form of worship
was Sri Narsinghji Bhagavan! That amazing image could be held in one
hand, and he was seated on a throne with the child Prahladji on one knee
and Sri Laxmi Devi on the other.
Whenever I set with Swamiji in inside the temple we would sing and he
would tell us amazing stories of the grace of Sri Badri Narayana, and His
devotees. Only once did I see him in Sri Vrindavan, when there was the
special music festival there in Niddhi Van of Swami Hari Dasji Samaro.
And several times He has been on TV, the 'Door Darshan featured
him playing his unique 'Brahm Vina' and singing beautiful bhajans.
He is one of the very beautiful saints of India whose blessings
I will always treasure.
Swami Vimalanandaji and Baba Sripadji at Badrinathji
just before Deevali!!
~*~ Jai Jai Badri Vishal! ~*~
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