Asaram bapu followers converted ujjain city into a mini kumbh place during four day shivir

Ujjain:  Asaram bapu during his spiritual discourses at Faridabad announced that Uttarayna shivir would take place at Ujjain.  Many followers were surprised and many were happy with this decision of asaram. When asaram communicated this announcement, media was found very active in declaring their self-made judgments (supported with zero evidence) from this decision of  asaram.

One can note evidences of prior cases of self declared judgments of media, when asaram lawyers voluntarily withdrew the petition (to quash the FIR) from the Supreme Court. The media declared this news as “Supreme court paves the way for arrest of Asaram”.  Though such kind of reporting seems to be very strange, but it is very common in media and especially, when some media channels report about Hindu saints.  Be it asaram bapu or swami Jayendra Sarswati, such kind of false reporting was always there and now with such rapid increase in these false reportings, integrity and ability of  the “MEDIA” to report correct facts has severely affected.

Media did the same when asaram declared the venue for Uttarayna Shivir.  Many intellectuals from the media background came out with a common thought that asaram fears of his arrest due to an FIR lodged by a person who was sacked from the ashram in 2005. Some news reporters who are expert in allegations once again alleged that asaram has transferred the location from Ahmedabad to Ujjain in order to get rid of police.

However, as it is well known in the public that these so called reporters who report everything except news forget to report this fact that asaram was in Ahmedabad in the last week of December 2009.

This was the time, when the State High Court had already rejected the petition of asaram bapu to quash the FIR against him.  The Honorable High court of the Ahmedabad states that since investigation is at a very early stage, so this is not right time to consider this petition.  

These same reporters, the self-proclaimed carriers of ”truth” to the masses did not get enough courage to bring this news to their readers that people in Ahmedabad welcomed asaram even after false allegations made by biased media channels. Anything but ridicule and sensational articles is not news worth being published it seems.

Finally,  when Januray 14, 2009 came and whole world was watching towards Haridwar due to Mahakumb celebrations,  a mini maha kumb started at Ujjain.  Ujjain people experienced a huge gathering that were chanting “Hari Om” to communicate with each other.  

Dressed in white clothes, the colour of purity, simplicity and serenity, and living life with motive to serve the society, these followers came from every corner of the India to attend this shivir. People who are active in promoting false news against asaram were expecting that after so much misleading news and thrashing by the media, the followers would also stop listening to asaram. But these speculations were thrashed by the massive turnout at Ujjain.

On the very first day, the managing authorities need to replan their strategies to manage the huge number of the crowd.  Addressing this huge gathering (where number were crossing millions), asaram told the managing authorities to manage this large crowd effectively.

Bapu asked the local followers to support the non-local followers.The arrangements at the venue fell short, the hotels and dharmashalas were fully occupied by these followers. Bapuji urged the local people of Ujjain to open their homes to accommodate the followers. He stated that those who have courage (Himmat), patience (Dhairya), faith (Shraddha) can overcome all obstacles and can achieve success. He then gave example of Kinar Kamala Bua, a eunuch.

He praised Kinar Kamala Bua for his patience and mentioned that his patience was the key to his success against BJP and Congress, otherwise, a eunuch getting elected is unheard of! On similar lines He mentioned that even though Gandhiji so lean (thin in comparison to Britishers at that time) his patience paid off. In short he mentioned that those with patience, courage and faith can win over those people who are physically healthier then them. All in all, God helps those who help themselves.

During this period, followers of him attended from all over the world . Many flew from Canada, USA, Canada, Dubai, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore and other well connected countries to attend this four day shivir program. During the shivir, asaram communicated the reason behind the shifting of the shivir from Ahmedabad to Ujjain.  

Ujjain is one of the seven most holiest cities (“Sapta Moksha Dayini Nagari”) of india and bathing, japa, dhyan, satsang held in these cities have special importance during Kumbh (14 January 2010 to 28 April 2010) which commenced from 14 January 2010. As location of Shivrati festival was decided prior to deciding location of uttrayan festival, therefore in order to provide maximum spirtitual benefits to his followers in the Uttrayan festival, asaram decided to celebrate the Uttarayna festival in Ujjain rather than any other place.

Media claimed that bapu shifted the place due to fear of his arrest.  But these reporters hardly tried to seek the truth and when asaram declared the reason behind this, national news papers were too busy to provide truth to its readers.

Many sadhus also took benefit  of this festival and followers who were managing the sitting space were contiuosly working very hard to accommodate new followers who were coming from the all over the world. During this four day shivir, after every session, one could see followers working on sitting space arrangement, as the space allocated for a particular session was not available to accommodate the newly arrived followers.

Where this four day shivir came as an economical boom to the local of Ujjains, followers were amply satisfied with their spiritual rise during this shivir. This shivir serves the purpose of kumb mela of Hardiwar. On the last day of the shivir, followers were having one question only: Why did this mini kumb mela last only for four days?