A practice carried down the valley

One can easily cherish the sight of these poor ones but it had been a conflict of interest if studied retrospectively.

Now, we should come to the real story to whom this book is dedicated towards.

As a child was born in the location of Nepal, Pokhara 11, Fulbari (English Name ‘Garden’), this boy grew up and at a certain time, he went to Benaras (India) for his studies. After completing his studies returned to his homeland.

Thereafter, he created a kind of Ashram in Pokhara 20, Bhalam (then V.D.C.2) popularized as Bahirabari Bagaicha (english name – Garden), and remained active there. We even find some contemporary people like Dr. Jagman Gurung describing this awesome GURU, also a medicine man (Ayurvedic doctor). We further find some people claiming the Swami was occasionally welcomed in the Narayanhiti Palace for PURAN VACHAN (mythological storytelling).

But as the saying goes by “there’ll be shadow beneath each lamp”, this awesome Swami developed an addiction towards liquor. Slowly this habit caused deterioration in his health. So he had to be shifted to a more ‘urbanite’ section of Pokhara 5, Parsyang. Then ultimately he rested permanently or died there.

Although still the issue of Swami’s birth place and date is debatable, he had died in Gandaki Regional Hospital in year 2033 B.S.

Even though there was nearly a year‑long gap between his death and my birth, as in my childhood I used to visit this ‘Ashram’ in Bhalam nearly regularly. We, a group of few local kids used to pay visit to steal any fruits that were available in this garden (BAGAICHA). Varieties like lichhy (Litchi chinensis), chiuri (Diploknema butyracea), guava (Psidium guajava), peach (Prunus presica), plums (Prunus domestica), Kafal (Myrica esculanta), haluwabedh (Diospyros kaki), Amala (Phyllanthus emblica) etc could be found.

There certainly were many species of flowers and herbs. But as any other normal kids, we were only interested in the edible fruits.

And with the arrival of the intermediate season between rainy & autumn, we could see uncountable varieties of butterflies flapping their wings. It was really a sight of dancing rainbows. Among them, I particularly preferred the ‘leaf‑shaped’ (Kallima inachus) for existential camouflage.

But alas! I used to kill the manifold of butterflies using the long branches of LALUPATE (Euphorbia pulcherrima) or the stems of maize (Zea mays).

Now as I remember my cruel past, I’ve named myself as ‘a priest of death’. After the passing away of Swamiji, there have been twists and turns in events concerning the Ashram. The shape and quality of the Ashram have been deteriorating until a novice and a student of him have begun to develop this place. In about 40 years, this Ashram has been worsening since.

Being present continuously around and in ‘SAIDEV SADHANA KUTIR’, established by this student, Puran Pragya Mohan Sairam has constructed and established an Ashram since B.S. 2075, Asar 11. On various occasions, there have been numerous programs conducted in the Ashram. Several dignitaries in spirituality and many lay people have been participants in the evolution or development of this place.

So, here we can see the stark contrast between our Swamiji and Mr. Colin Philip Smith. With the former having the title of a ‘Priest of Life’ and the latter as another ‘priest of death’.

Truly late Swami Devanand should be honored with ‘double citizenship’ and HE deserves to be addressed as Putali Baje.

Now concluding these memories we heartfully offer our blissful wishes for the bright future of this ‘Saidev Sadhana Kutir’.