It was the time when Sidhbari was hardly known, and the amenities in the ashram were the bare essentials. There were hardly any cottages or even beds. Yet, the sheer power of Gurudev’s discourses and the exalted subject matter swept everyone off their feet into a realm beyond physical wants.

Those first five camps were a magical penance with a routine that reined in the wandering senses and redefined time. Pujya Gurudev encouraged all to use the spiritual retreat as a time to embark on a single-pointed quest for the Highest. It was a time for temporary sannyas – to renounce the noisy wants of the world and step into the silence of the Self.

The 5 am meditation sessions with Gurudev were blissful. The eloquent brilliance of Gurudev’s examples in his daily discourses at 6:30 am and 7:30 pm had the audience spellbound. Gurudev directed delegates to walk in solitude through the pine forest for some time in the day to introspect in deep silence. The discussions and question-answer sessions with Brahmachari Vivek Chaitanya, the first Acharya of Sandeepany Himalayas, increased understanding. The evening satsangs in the ethereal dusk of Sidhbari uplifted all to the peaks of reflective stillness.

While the intellect was steered toward clarity, the heart was softened to experience the purity of devotion. The collective Vishnu Sahasranama Archana and the trip to the stream to offer the flower petals after the puja made hearts soar and sing with divine joy. The Paada pujas offered to Pujya Gurudev’s holy Feet were full of  reverence. 

The fragrance of knowledge and devotion also came through in the routine of those camps when all attendees could assist and volunteer in different ways during the days.

There were other special events that made these early camps stand out even more. The Dalai Lama visited Chinmaya Tapovan for a special satsang on October 3rd, 1981 during the third camp. 

Oct.27th, 1981, during the fifth camp, Pujya Gurudev consecrated the very special idols of Sri Kirata Murti Shiva and Parvati along with Lord Ganesha in an intricately carved Mandap inside the Satsang Hall. He narrated the story of Arjuna being blessed with the Pashupataastra after Shiva, in a hunter’s guise, tested and wiped out Arjuna’s arrogance. Arjuna learned the importance of humility and complete surrender.  

Even today, those reigning idols inside the Satsang Hall are Pujya Gurudev’s reminder to us about the importance of surrendering our vasanas during satsang.

When the final camp of the first Vivekachoodamani series concluded on Oct.28th, 1981, Gurudev conducted the landmark convocation ceremony, a tradition he had started since the first camp. Pujya Gurudev applied the chandana tilaka to bless each attendee and gave a certificate to recognize the completion of the verses in that session. Then, each attendee carried a lamp lit from the Akhanda Jyoti at Swami Tapovan Maharaj’s altar  and  placed it on their home-states on a map of Bharat. With that unique ritual, Pujya Gurudev emphasized the importance of each seeker spreading the light of knowledge in their hometowns.

Pujya Gurudev conducted about 43 camps in Sidhbari expounding on a vast range of introductory and Upanishadic texts. In several of the camps, Brahmachari Vivek Chaitanya melted hearts with his discourses on Tulsi Ramayana, sweetening the flowing Knowledge with nectarine devotion.

After those iconic camps of 1981, the flow of Knowledge, Jnana Ganga, from Sidhbari was incessant. Pujya Gurudev called the spiritual camps as a port for spiritual dry-docking. He said: “‘You all have come here for dry-docking, It is a must for spiritual Sadhaks. The ships, after a few voyages in the ocean, are dry-docked for a complete rehauling and repairs. It is absolutely necessary for spiritual Sadhaks to dry-dock to a quiet place like Siddhabari and listen to the spiritual Masters, deeply reflect on them and lift the mind in contemplation on the Reality. This constant listening, thinking and contemplating helps the corroded mind to drop all its dross that it gathered during its sojourn in the ocean of Samsaar. A mind thus repaired and properly tuned up, can expand and lift itself to a state of Pure Awareness and Bliss.”  

Chinmaya Tapovan Sidhbari is truly a vibrant spiritual port. Throughout the years, many Swamis and Acharyas ferry their devotees from all over the world to ‘dock’ in the soothing serenity of Sidhbari. Spiritual camps in Hindi, English, and the regional Indian languages are conducted regularly, and the camp routine that Pujya Gurudev initiated is still implemented. Meditation, daily discourses, discussions, Q&A sessions, seva opportunities, bhajans, and the famous treks in the pine forests are key attractions. Pujya Gurudev’s Paduka Puja is a worshipful experience. And, the field trips to the Gaushala and CORD premises are cherished by all.

The camps also reach out to a varied audience. Chinmaya Tapovan Trust graciously hosts yearly CHYK camps, management camps, educational trips from Chinmaya Vidyalayas and colleges. The complete experience in Sidhbari is an uplifting, continuous blessing.