The Divine Journey from Devotion to Knowledge

One of Gujarat’s most revered Shakti Peeths, Ambaji,situated about 180 kilometers from Ahmedabad. Every year during this period, devotees from all corners of Gujarat and beyond walk hundreds of kilometers to have the darshan of Mother Jagdamba. However, this year holds a special significance. Around 45 to 50 lakh devotees are expected to journey on foot to Ambaji, creating a divine wave of devotion and collective energy rarely witnessed on Earth.From about 30 kilometers ahead of Ahmedabad, the roads—stretching over 150 kilometers—were lined with thousands of service camps. Each camp offered free food, drinks, tea, lemonade, dosas, idlis, and more. Devotees walked joyfully, some with blisters and swollen feet, yet filled with determination and love. Medical camps offered aid, massage machines comforted tired legs, and the air was filled with devotion, chanting, and service. This Padyatra (foot pilgrimage) is not merely a religious event—it is a living embodiment of seva (service) and bhakti (devotion). People from every village form groups of 100, 200, or even 500, placing the idol of Mother Jagdamba on a cart and walking together for five or six days. Farmers, having a brief respite from work, dedicate their time to service and devotion. They cook, feed others, and ensure every passerby receives care. Even the wealthiest contribute selflessly—spending lakhs and crores from their earnings to feed and serve unknown travelers. This is not charity; it is faith and gratitude expressed through action. Yet amidst this sea of devotion, one striking absence was noticeable—no one spoke of knowledge. There was food donation, water donation, and medical help, but no donation of divine knowledge, the very essence that can liberate souls.

Bhakti (Devotion) vs. Gyaan (Knowledge)

The path of devotion is vital for those who have not yet awakened to the knowledge of life. In today’s world, many young people are lost in the realm of technology, disconnected from service or spirituality. Seeing lakhs of people walking in faith is an awakening experience—it reminds us of what true connection looks like.

However, devotion without knowledge is incomplete. The next step on the spiritual journey is understanding the subtle world (Sookshma Loka), the world that lies beyond physical perception.

The Subtle World: Insights from the Vedas and Upanishads

According to the Vedas, Upanishads, and Puranas, the universe is not limited to the gross (physical) world. There exists a subtle realm, invisible to the human eye, where the soul continues its journey after leaving the body.

The human being is made up of three bodies:

1.     Gross Body (Sthool Sharir): Composed of the five great elements—earth, water, fire, air, and space.

2.     Subtle Body (Sookshma Sharir): Composed of the mind, intellect, ego, and life force.

3.     Causal Body (Kaaran Sharir): The seed form of karma and impressions.

When a person dies, the gross body dissolves into the elements, but the subtle and causal bodies continue the soul’s journey. The Garuda Purana and Atharva Veda explain that souls burdened with unfulfilled desires or negative karma remain in the spirit realm—known as Preta Loka. They appear as ghosts or spirits, invisible yet powerful in vibration.

The Chandogya Upanishad beautifully elaborates that souls ascend through Devayana (the path of light) or descend through Pitriyana (the path of ancestors). Those trapped in between, due to karmic bondage, remain in the spirit realm until purified through offerings, rituals, or self-realization.

Modern Science and the Subtle Reality

Today, even science acknowledges what ancient sages revealed thousands of years ago. The existence of energy bodies, auras, and paranormal vibrations is being researched through modern instruments. Scientists can now measure subtle energies and identify frequencies that correspond to emotional and spiritual states. Thus, the subtle world—the world of souls and spirits—is not superstition but an energetic reality. Just as the body functions through energy, so does the soul vibrate through its subtle frequencies.

 The Bondage of Karma and the Path of Liberation

As long as the soul remains attached to desires and unfulfilled actions, it cannot attain liberation. The Bhagavad Gita states that the final thought at the moment of death determines the next birth. Those who die with fear, anger, or attachment enter the subtle world, while those who depart with the remembrance of the Divine attain liberation.The Garuda Purana mentions that the soul stays near its physical surroundings for 13 days after death and remains in the spirit realm for up to a year unless proper rites (Shraddha, Tarpan, Daan) are performed.True liberation occurs only through knowledge of the Self and the Supreme. Gyaan (knowledge) alone cuts the bonds of karma and awakens the soul’s divine consciousness.

Awakening the Soul in the Age of AI

In today’s world, as artificial intelligence advances, it is said that AI may take away human memory and independent thinking. The more dependent we become on technology, the weaker our inner faculties grow. Just as the overuse of calculators diminished mental math, overreliance on machines can dull the intellect and disconnect us from our inner soul power. Yet, those who have awakened the soul and realized their divine essence cannot be influenced by external forces. Their aura is strong; their consciousness remains stable. Such souls travel straight toward Brahmalok, the highest realm, attaining liberation while alive (Jeevanmukti).

 The Real Service: Donation of Knowledge

When I visited the Ambaji fair, I saw food, water, and medicine being donated freely, but no one was distributing the donation of divine knowledge—the highest form of charity. Feeding the body sustains it temporarily; feeding the soul with knowledge sustains it eternally.

In the future, I wish to see knowledge camps set up alongside these service tents—where millions of devotees receive not just food for the stomach but also food for the soul. The time has come for humanity to awaken from ignorance and embrace the truth of the soul and the Supreme.

A Message for Today’s Youth: The Spirit of Selfless Service and Devotion at Bhadarvi Poonam

This festival carries a profound message for today’s youth — especially for those who have drifted away from service, karma, and devotion, lost in the maze of the internet and distracted by superficial mediums. The sacred festival of Bhadarvi Poonam, as it is called in Gujarati, serves as a living reminder of what true devotion and service mean. This deep faith and love motivate them to spend from their annual earnings for this sacred cause. It’s not a transaction — it’s devotion in action, love in service, and faith in motion.

 A Lesson for Today’s Youth

For the youth of today, this is a powerful example to reflect upon. In a time when the world has grown increasingly self-centered — where most people think only about themselves — such acts of selfless service are truly divine. Why are thousands of people working day and night to feed others, massage tired feet, and serve strangers with love and care? What drives them to do so without expecting anything in return?

It is the spirit of devotion, the joy of service, and the bliss of giving. Even the poorest of people — those who have very little — contribute in whatever way they can. They cook, distribute food, offer water, and treat everyone equally, without any discrimination. There is no distinction of caste, wealth, or background. All are served with the same love and respect.This creates a divine atmosphere — a vibration of devotion, unity, and peace that spreads across the entire region.

 The Inner Transformation of the Devotees

Those who undertake this pilgrimage year after year carry a deep sense of faith and commitment within. After walking so many miles and offering so much effort to reach the temple of the Divine Mother, they make a silent promise to themselves: “For the rest of the year, I will not do anything that dishonors or wastes my devotion.”

This is the highest form of spiritual discipline — the realization that devotion is not a one-day event but a way of life. Their hearts are purified through effort, their minds are elevated through faith, and their souls are charged with divine vibrations. They walk not just toward a temple, but toward inner transformation.

 The Essence of the Message

Let today’s youth understand — service is not weakness; it is strength. Devotion is not outdated; it is timeless. In a world becoming increasingly materialistic, these acts of compassion and devotion remind us that humanity’s real power lies in love, unity, and selflessness. Let us all learn from these devotees who walk for days under the open sky, not for fame or reward, but for faith and divine connection. The Journey from Devotion to

 Liberation

Ghosts, spirits, and souls are not myths—they are travelers in the cosmic journey of evolution. Every soul, bound by karma and desire, is destined to eventually return to its Source, the Supreme Being. Liberation is not about death but about realization—realizing one’s connection with the Supreme Creator. The true relationship between the soul and the Supreme is eternal, unbreakable, and liberating. As Bapuji Dashrathbhai Patel always says, the purpose of life is to spread Paramshanti (Supreme Peace) throughout the multiverse. Let every soul, every atom, and every realm resonate with this divine vibration.So now, let us all close our eyes, connect to the Supreme Light, and radiate the vibrations of Paramshanti to the entire world.