Amidst the sound of tinkling bells of anklets worn by Kanwadias who are walking in a stream on national highway these days and Kanwad Patri route, over 100 year old sacred place along the national highway draws attention of spiritualists. Lahiri Mahasaya Smriti Sthal Ashram, located at the banks of Ganga river along the Haridwar –Dehradun national Highway, just a mile from Har ki Paidi is located in the heart of the city on the busy highway but still away from the surrounding noise of traffic and Kanwads.
With the sacred vibrations kept intact, less visited by people, this Ashram is being maintained by Katyayani Trust of Vrindavan and Haridwar. The Ashram houses two temples of significance – firstly Samadhi Sthal of Shyamacharan Lahiri, an eminent Kriya Yogi and master of Tantras and secondly temple of goddess Katyayani. Over the Samadhi Sthal stands a small Shiva temple with Shivalinga surrounded by massive trees of Rudraksha and banyan tree, supposedly hundreds of years old. Three small meditation caves exist below the Shiva temple where Swami Keshvanand, direct disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya, used to do spiritual practices.
There is an administrative building which has a small hall installed with idol of Swami Keshvanand, the founder of this Ashram and inside the caves are old black and white framed photographs of Swami Keshvanand, Mahavatar Babaji and Lahiri Mahasaya. The doors of the Keshvanand hall are carved with cast iron engravings of lotus flower. Standing on the main pathway inside the Ashram one can see streams of vehicles moving on the highway and Hotel Alaknanda on the other side. The backside of the Ashram leads to Ganga Ghat.
A Kanwad pilgrim from Haryana, Mukund Pal said that it is sheer pleasure to stay in Ashram and the green cover makes this place a haven with no noise of highway reaching the Ashram rooms. He said that without knowing much about the historical importance of the place and getting room through an acquaintance, he felt blessed having spent a few hours in temple premises, meditating, during Panchak period.
Ashram trustee Kumud Sharma said, “It is here in Haridwar that Swami Keshvanand established his first Ashram after coming down from the Himalayas. Yogiraj Swami Keshavananda Brahmachari was direct disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya. The exact date of formation of this Samadhi Sthal is not known but 18 years ago centenary of ashram was celebrated.” It is said that goddess Katyayni inspired Swami Keshvanand to build her temple and after that he went to Vrindavan for austerities. The idol is made of Astdhatu (eight metals). Regarding Samadhi Sthal, Sharma said, “Since Lahiri Mahasaya was a householder, his body was cremated in Varanasi. But Keshvanand had a vision that his mentor Lahiri Mahasaya was calling him that he wanted to leave his body. Keshvanand brought relics of Lahiri Mahasaya to Haridwar and installed them here where the Shiva temple stands. That time it was all jungle area, animals used to come so he made three meditation caves with provision for air. Highway was built long after the construction of temple.”