Learned men believe there is a land where the pure live, gently guiding the world, saving it from destruction. It is known by many names—Shangrila, Shambhala and more. Hindu esoterica calls it Siddhashram, the home of the greatest gurus which by the penance of great souls has turned into a magical place imbued with divine power. Rigveda quotes a saint singing a hymn: “Sometime or the other, when the most auspicious moment of my life arrives, I will certainly be able to enter Siddhashram and to perform the Sadhna practices of high order by sitting on its sacred ground”. In Samveda, Maharishi Yogandharwa says, “Where the soil is worth applying on the forehead just like sandal wood paste, where each and every particle is replete with penance and the wind is pious and melodious, the same abode of the blessed is the final destination of a human being where just by sitting, the real bliss of the life can be attained.” Maharishi Chyavan says the soil of Siddhashram can spontaneously eliminate all ailments.
Shankaracharya declared, “The fulfillment of human life can only be attained when one goes to Siddhashram and takes a holy dip in Siddhayoga lake”.
References to Siddhashram can be found in many ancient Hindu scriptures. Maharishi Vashishta called it mankind’s fortune. Vishwamitra called it life’s real beauty. Maharishi Pulastya called it the dream of life. Ancient Indian philosopher Kanad says, “Only one or two among a thousand saints are fortunate enough to get the privilege of entering into Siddhashram”. It was Bhishma’s last wish before Lord Krishna to go to Siddhashram. Yudhisthira too asked Lord Krishna for the same. The great Baba Gorakhnath said the ultimate aim of tantra and sadhna is to enter Siddhashram. However, the ashram is protected by divine magic: no aerial photographs of Siddhashram, from an airplane or a satellite, exist. It is said to occupy several hundred kilometres and is situated north-east of Mansarovar. Unique sanyasis live there.
Reaching Siddhashram is the ultimate desire for millions of yogis. Many have given samadhi praying they are allowed a few precious moments to live in Siddhashram. A dip in the divine ‘Siddhayoga lake’ confers divinity upon the person by completely cleansing the mind of impurity. Time, age or death do not exist here.
Legend says the guru of Siddhashram is Paramahans Yogiraj Swami Satchidanand. The occult yogis say he is several thousand years of age and even the Gods seek his blessings. Near his hermitage stands the ‘Kalpa Vriksha’; legend says the wishes of anyone who sits beneath it is immediately fulfilled. Archetypal straw huts stand near the hermitage. Inside these, exalted saints sit in samadhi or sadhna practices, some even for three or four hundred years of tapas.
Great sages like Maharishi Vashishta, Vishwamitra, Kanad, Pulastya, Atri, Bhishma, Kripacharya, Gorakhnath and Shankaracharya are believed to live there still. All the time heavenly maidens and nymphs like Rambha, Menaka and Urvashi consider dance for the sages at Siddhashram.
There are no prohibitions or restrictions in Siddhashram. But an unspoken law governs the conduct of all, confining all to the will of their sadhanas. But attaining Siddhashram is not for everyone.
The ancients have laid down five criteria that have to be met by anyone
who wishes to enter
Siddhashram.
1. He must have awakened his Kundalini up to ‘Sahastrar’ (thousand petalled lotus inside the brain where infinite consciousness resides).
2. He should have mastered at least two Mahavidyas and also have thorough knowledge of the remaining eight Mahavidyas.
3. He must have methodically all knowledge of Tantra as well as of Mantra.
4. Must be noble, simple and steeped in ancient Indian culture and practices.
5. Above all, he must be a disciple of a Guru, Yogi, ascetic or person, who himself has entered Siddhashram.