A Spiritual Retreat: Kolkata

Treat to Self

I am deeply connected to the book “Autobiography of a Yogi” and wanted to see and feel the places in Kolkata that were important in Paramhansa Yogananda’s (Master’s) life. Finally, I made the journey.

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Dakshineswar

The first place I visited was Dakshineswar, which is important for two reasons. First, it has the famous Dakshineswar Kali Temple. The spiritual teacher Yogananda often came here with his own teacher, who was a follower of the great saint Sri Ramakrishna. The temple is very unique, with twelve Shiva shrines, a temple for Radha-Krishna, and steps leading down to the river for bathing.

Dakshineswar temple

The second reason is the Yogoda Math, a beautiful spiritual retreat on the Ganges River. It’s the main centre in India for the Self-Realisation Fellowship (SRF) and a peaceful place for visitors from all over the world. Many of the founder’s original students have visited, including Sri Daya Mata, who led the SRF organisation for over 55 years.

How to Get There

To get to Dakshineswar, you can take the Blue Line Metro. I took it from Kalighat, because it was close to my stay (Chetla Guest House). I am thankful to my friend who helped me book this stay. Dakshineswar is the last stop on the line. You have to leave your phone at the entrance before going inside. I went early, so I didn’t have to wait in a long line. It is a very peaceful place. From there, you can take a lovely ferry ride across the river to Belur Math, where the memorial for Swami Vivekananda is located.

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Serampore: A Guru’s Home

After that, I travelled to Serampore, a place I had read so much about. I was looking for Sri Yukteswar’s main ashram on Rai Ghat Lane.

Since it’s about 25 kilometres from Dakshineswar, I took a Rapido (a bike) to avoid the heavy Dussehra traffic. When I arrived, I meditated for about 30 minutes. Afterwards, the caretaker showed me Sri Yukteswar’s old house.

The book Autobiography of a Yogi (AOY) describes the ashram as a large, two-story house with a small balcony. It was on this balcony where our Master had a powerful spiritual experience, and he felt connected to the entire universe. This place is also special because the great master Mahavatar Babaji once appeared there (near the Banyan tree of Rai Ghat) right after Sri Yukteswar published his book, The Holy Science.

The main idea of the book is to show that all religions are connected and share one ultimate goal. This goal is called Kaivalya, which is a state of oneness you reach when you realise your own soul is united with God.

The book is divided into four parts that explain how to reach this state of oneness:

• The Gospel: This part explains how the universe was created, from the highest Spirit down to the physical world.

• The Goal: This section describes the purpose of life, which is to become free from suffering by realising our true self and experiencing pure existence, consciousness, and bliss.

• The Procedure: This offers a practical guide to reach the goal through methods like meditation, self-control, proper posture, and breathing exercises. It also suggests a natural diet.

• The Revelation: This final part describes the spiritual insights and abilities a person gains as they progress on the path, eventually becoming one with the Universal Spirit.

Aashram top (left), Guru’s home (top 2nd), Banyan tree at the bottom (left), & Roy Ghat where Mahavatar Babji appeared top (right)

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The Tulsi Bose Shrine: A Friend’s Quiet Home

My final stop was a place (Garpar Road) of simple friendship and devotion: the home of Tulsi Bose. Tulsi was a boyhood friend of Yogananda. When Yogananda’s own house was too loud and busy, he would come to his quiet home to meditate.

Yogananda shared a beautiful story about how he found this friend. He prayed to Divine Mother Kali for a quiet place to meditate and a devoted friend. Soon after, he had a vision of a young boy playing in front of his home, and the Divine Mother told him, That boy is a good devotee... You will get all the help you want from him and his family.

Visiting these places was like walking through the pages of the book. It was a journey that connected me to the story and brought the words to life.

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Your Journey Starts Here

My journey was more than a trip; it was like breathing life into the sacred pages of a beloved book. I invite you to discover this story for yourself, not just as words to be read, but as a blueprint for building your own inner sanctuary - a peace so deep that the storms of the outer world cannot touch it.

You can learn to connect with the divine & get guidance the way Master did, by simply praying for a friend. The universe is listening, waiting for you to speak right from your pure heart.

It all begins with a small, sincere practice. Give yourself just five minutes of silence today. Set aside your phone, close your eyes, and let your breath become a quiet prayer. With each inhale, draw in peace; with each exhale, release the day’s chatter, letting all thoughts drift by like clouds in the sky. In that stillness, simply ask. Speak to your Higher Self - that eternal, wise, and loving part of you. Ask for guidance, for clarity, for peace. You don’t need to know how the answer will arrive. Your only task is to ask with an open heart.

For the greatest pilgrimage you will ever undertake is not across lands and oceans, but through the inner landscapes of your own soul. It is the journey inward, following a map that leads you back to the unshakable peace and unconditional love that have always been your true home.