If I explain about Himalayas, you will go to Himalayas. That is why I will not explain it in detail.

My real father and mother are Shiva and Parvati. So sometimes I feel like visiting them. It is not because I’m angry. Yogis prefer Himalayas because it is the perfect place for penance. It is not possible for those in the family life. But it is possible for me. You cannot escape Samsara (worldly material bondages). You have family, relatives, money, business attached to you. With these attachments, even if you go to the Himalayas, you will be drawn back to them and you will feel like returning. The day you give up these attachments you will want to go to Himalayas.

Great Yogis can do it as it is their father, Lord Shiva’s place. When they do penance, the Fire from the Yoga can burn them. But the cool environment protects them. It requires a lot of determination, discipline and will-power to take up penance in that environment.

But for taking up spiritual practices (sadhana), you are not required to go to Himalayas. You can practice it here. You have to willingly overcome your bondages. You still have to care for your body because that is an instrument that aids in Sadhana, it is the abode of God. If your body has ailments, you should not travel to Himalayas. Just like you maintain your house, fix leaks and paint, you should look after your body as that is the house of the God! While doing this, you should learn that you are not the body and you are not the sense organs. When you can achieve this state, then even in the market you can do Sadhana.

Himalayas is great for those who have been able to successfully do Sadhana there. If you are able to win over your senses, then you can talk of going to Himalayas. You are born here for a reason.

Sage Agastya was ordained by Lord Shiva to live in the south. It does not make us any less fortunate than those in the Himalayas. Yogis went to Himalayas to get away from Karma, rid oneself of it. South India is known as Karma Bhumi (Land of Karma). It means that one can quickly complete their Karma in the Southern region. It is also called Karma Mukti Kshetra i.e. the land which frees a person from the bondages caused by fruitive actions. Once you are freed from Karma (fruitive actions), then the Jeevan Mukti Kshetra i.e. the land that bestows liberation, is Himalayas.

Even the thought of going to Himalayas is meritorious. Similarly, if you sincerely think of going to Kashi or Ashrama, it grants merit. You must also sincerely attempt to visit these places. The moment you think of Ashrama or wish to see Swamiji, your mind travels there immediately. Those few moments while you are thinking of Swamiji are very blissful. It is a very beautiful feeling. This thought is not constant. But for those few moments, it is very nice. We need to increase these thoughts so we stay more connected and make that physical travel also possible.

(Q&A Session 04/10/2015)