18 Our Visits to Ganeshpuri
After my Father’s appendectomy, his health improved, but he still felt weak and his energy levels were low. Apart from this, his career at the Reserve Bank was not going in the right direction – he was denied a promotion due to office politics, and a far junior person was promoted, leaving him further depressed. My Mother watched all of this helplessly but her innate spirituality stabilized her, and very soon as we will see, Providence showed her the path and answered her prayers!
We had many Konkani GSB families living in our building Krishna Sadan, and one of them was the Shenai Family residing on the ground floor –not to be confused with my cousins, the Shenoys on the 3rd floor. Mrs Shenai hailed from Hosdurga or Kanhangad as it is called today in the present Kerala state. My Grandmother was also from Kanhangad and so they were good friends – during a conversation, my Mother shared her anxiety about my Father including his depression due to his work place woes. Mrs Shenai was very sympathetic and suggested that we should accompany her to the Ganeshpuri Ashram near Bombay.
The seer there, Swami Nityanand, had a large following of devotees. My Mother decided that we should all go to Ganeshpuri the following week – Thursday was a high day at the Ashram and our visit was planned accordingly.
The next Thursday, we left early in the morning by the suburban train from Mahim to Bassein Road (now Vasai). From there by bus to Ganeshpuri – the entire journey took about 3 hours. Ganeshpuri and Vajreshwari are well known for their popular hot sulphur springs, where people bathe in these tanks or kunds for their medicinal values. My Mother liked this first visit to Ganeshpuri, where we had the opportunity of an audience with Swami Nityanand. Returning home my Mother told Bappa about Ganeshpuri and the Swamiji, and suggested that we visit again and specifically request the Swamiji for his blessings and advice.
In our subsequent Darshan with Swami Nityanand, my Father briefed him about his health and also about his unhappiness at his work place, and requested him for his counsel. The Swamiji just said that he should take a dip in the hot springs regularly and the rest would follow! Obediently, our family then on visited Ganeshpuri once a month for the next 3 years; for a dip in the hot springs and to spend a day or two in the quiet of this small town called Ganeshpuri.