Romesh Kheryal
It is a popular saying that “Man Proposes God Disposes”. On 27 June, 2000 I alongwith my daughter’s family proceeded to Sudh Mahadev, a famous Lord Shiva’s pilgrimage in district Udhampur. We left Jammu at about 8 am and reached Sudh Mahadev at at 11 am in our private car. The soothing and rustic atmosphere of the place pleased us so much that soon we all got refreshed and entire tiredness of the journey vanished within minutes. After some rest we proceeded to the Devsthan which I had visited about 30 years earlier with very faint memories still left in my subconsious mind. After paying obeisance to Lord Shiva we got some briefing about the importance of the place from the Pujaries and spent about two hours there. After taking lunch we proceeded to Mantalai, a famous hill spot about 7.5 km from Sudh Mahadev.
On reaching Mantalai my memory lane dragged me back to this place when I had visited it 30 years ago for about half an hour. At that time the place was well maintained and a Yoga camp was running under the supervision of Swami Dharinder Brahmchari, a towering personlity of the time. Quality breed milking cows were being managed by Swamiji. There used to be a very good zoo well managed by Brahmchari. The commoners were not allowed without seeking proper permission. Coming back from memory lane to the present, I saw four hired taxies with few tourist there. They perhaps had come from Katra (Vaishnodevi). A group of them was being guided by a local gentleman. While looking here and there, I found there was no zoo and cows were also missing. Instead, there was a heap of about a dozen rusted and juncked vehicles which used to be an impressive fleet during the glorious period of Dharinder Brahmchari. On my enquiry the man guiding the tourists told that he used to drive one of the juncked and rusted vehicles. But was soon ousted by Swamiji as he did not possess the driving licence. The Meditation hall Aparna Asharm was locked and no one was there to tell us any thing about it. However we could see few thatched huts outside the Aparna Ashrams which perhaps were used by the Yoga students. While returning, my eyes suddenly fell on a high structure which used to be a well managed light and guiding tower for landing of personal helicopter or airplane of the Brahmchari. Though it was in ruins but the technology used about 30 years back in such a remote place is really stunning.
I had a chance to see this great personality at Jammu Airport in 1985 when I had gone there to receive my brother’s family coming from the USA. The Swami was clad in a white Dhoti and wore woodden slipper (Kharoon) in his feet. He was about 6ft tall and some persons were touching his feet in the longue of the Airport. On my enquiry from a security official I was told that it was famous Dharinder Brahmchari. Perhaps he was on way to Srinagar and had alighted for a while at Jammu Airport.
Swami Ji established Vishwaytna Yogashram at Katra, Mantalai (J&K) and Delhi and also International Yoga Research Centre & Hospital at Ashoka Road Delhi with all moderan facilities and a 50 beds Indoor Hospital for patients. It is said that his intimacy with Indira Gandhi and her family made the opposition parties drag him to many controversies. He was made a copartner in a famous gun factory named as Shiva Gun Factory under which some unauthorised material was imported from abroad and a case still stands lodged against him.
He died in a airplane crash at Mantalai on 9th June 1994 alongwith his pilot. It will be appropriate if the govt. constitute a high power committee of technocrats to fullfil the dream of this great Yogi and develop Mantalai as tourist resort and a Yoga training centre of international level with all modern facilities, keeping in mind that this remote area gets everything as per the dream of the Swami.
I remember that when the Swami was under the shadow of evil stars the Govt. of India ordered a senior govt gazetted officer to takeover the charge of the Yog Ashrams Mantalai as well as Katra from Dharinder Brhamchari. One of my very close friends, late Dr. T . N. Srivastava was ordered to takeover charge of Katra as well as Mantalai from the Swami, which he executed at Katra(Vaishnodevi) very smoothly and cooperatively. Dr. Srivastava had talked to me about the personlity, simplicity and straightforwardness of the Swami.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
