By Radhika Nagrath
Haridwar, 18 Feb: Ten minutes’ walk uphill on a gentle slope from Sirasu Bridge, past Shivpuri in Rishikesh, takes one to a haven of bliss – Anand Lok. Sun-kissed rooms facing the Ganga with modern facilities offer you a comfortable stay along with the life size Shivalinga’s energy to give you mental peace. Devotees of a Switzerland based spiritual Guru, Shin, who had ardent faith in Lord Shiva built this international centre for peace where one can do sadhana and relax amidst nature enjoying the organic food, mostly grown inside the one acre premises. The 36 pillared Shiva temple is unique with the only light coming from the sun and earthen lamps lit during the night.
Still retaining its sacred vibes, this place is not much visited by the tourists. Rohit Parihar, the coordinator of the retreat centre says, “Here mainly spiritual gurus and yoga exponents come with their followers who want to practice sadhna in Himalayas in a serene comfortable atmosphere. The Shiva temple is the major attraction which is uniquely designed with 36 pillars representing the 36 tatvas (elements) as is propagated in Shaivism. A spiritual aspirant strives to rise up to the Absolute Shiva consciousness through these tatvas. The ascent starts from the grossest element earth first; proceeds to subtler elements until the subtlest element ‘Param Shiva’ is attained.”
The temple structure reminds one of Mount Kailash. The brown earthy grounds leading to a golden top where Yogis are practising austerities, inside the temple is towered shaped Shivalinga made in black stone with four golden serpents on the top.
How it all started?
A chance meeting of the Management Trustee Dilbar Singh Parihar with his spiritual mentor Shin in the coffee shop of the Imperial Hotel, Connaught Place, New Delhi, in the year 1998, had led to a series of transforming events in his life and he took a world tour with his mentor. Parihar says, “Shin expressed his desire to make a Shiva temple and two came up in Varanasi and Auckland, subsequently. In the year 2012, the construction of this International Centre of Peace in Sirasu village near Shivpuri started. The devotees of Shin from all around the world helped him build the centre, though Shin did not see with his own eyes the installation of the Shivalinga since he passed away during Covid in 2020.”
Almost 23 years of association with his mentor has made Dilbar connected to this place with his heart and soul. “I wish people would visit this place and get connected to their inner Self. Those who cannot afford, we have an ashram dharamshala where sadhaks and pandits can come and stay. A charitable primary school is also run by our Trust in Dhamund village in Pauri Garhwal which caters to the needs of seven villages,” shares Dilbar.
The Challenges
Talking about the challenges in building the temple and the Centre of Peace, Rohit Parihar says, “Till 2015 there was no suspension bridge which exists today. We had to transport the heavy construction material on boats across the river from the Gular region to this centre on the top of the hill.” To sustain the entire ecosystem of the centre, regular life retreats are organised.
A visitor to the centre, Diana Marshfield, an American physician from the US exclaimed, “As soon as I stepped foot on this tranquil property and experienced the kindness of the staff and the phenomenal vegetarian cuisine, I knew I had reached heaven! My lovely room, Yamuna 5, is pristine and clean. The grounds contain ethereal gardens and beautifully painted and maintained buildings. The yoga rooms are truly spectacular. I had a phenomenal Ayurvedic head, shoulders and back massage as well as a foot reflexology session with the amazingly talented reflexology expert, Abhi.”
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