Mysuru:  Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji of Avadhoota Datta Peetham, Mysuru, inaugurated its branch in Varanasi, Kashi recently.

Sri Swamiji, who arrived in Varanasi from Hyderabad, drove from airport to Kedarghat area of Varanasi where a new Ashrama building was constructed on the instructions and directions of Pujya Swamiji. 

Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji received Sri Swamiji in front of Chintamani Ganapathy Temple. There, Sri Swamiji and the Junior Swamiji offered worship to the famed Chintamani Ganapathy and walked to the new Ashrama premises. At the entrance, Sri Swamiji unveiled the inaugural stone plaque thereby inaugurating the Datta Peetham branch in Varanasi. 

Sri Swamiji then entered the Ashrama prayer hall and offered Purnahuti of Pratishtha Homa.  He sprinkled the sacred Homa Kalasha water on the marble idols of Dattatreya and Hanuman marking the Pratishtha programme. 

Speaking on the occasion, Sri Swamiji said “this Kashi Ashrama is a dream come true. Pilgrimage to Kashi is greatly revered in our scriptures. Spend as much time as possible in Shiva Dhyana. Sleeping a night in Kashi removes one’s life’s sin while sleeping three night’s, a family’s sins and sleeping nine nights, akin to Garbhavasa, relieves one from the bond of life and death. Kashi is like the trident of Lord Shiva and we are protected by Lord Shiva.” 

“Just to be in Kashi is a blessing. To be in Kashi in the sacred Karthika Masa is an extra blessing. And to be here in Kashi in Karthika Masa and witness Ati Rudra Maha Yaga is a great blessing,” he said and added, ” I have a Sankalpa to build an Ashrama in Ayodhya. Now that a Ram Temple will come in the sacred Ayodhya, we should have an Ashrama there also.”