MUSTANG: Life takes unexpected turns. Who would have thought that Shivnath Dogre, a successful doctor from Kashmir, would leave it all behind and become known as Khaptad Baba in Nepal’s remote Himalayan region?
His legacy is so significant that a vast area in Doti district bears his name. His writings on humanities and spiritual philosophy remain influential both within Nepal and abroad.
Similarly, Kapil Singh, a former fighter pilot from Sasaram, Bihar, India, transformed into the spiritual figure known as Pilot Baba—trading military precision for meditative peace.
Even Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi once shared how he had spent years as a yogi in Muktinath, one of Nepal’s holiest and most serene places of meditation.
Now, another story emerges from the sacred land of Muktinath—that of Somananda, a former journalist who gave up his worldly life to walk the spiritual path.
I left the pen behind for peace: Somananda
“I worked as a journalist for 18 years,” said Somananda. “I was with Hindustan Times, published out of New Delhi. But in 2006, I left journalism for good and embarked on a spiritual journey. I haven’t looked back since.”
He now lives near Bishnu Chula, a sacred spot above the Muktinath temple, where he has been meditating for almost eight years.
“When I first came here, no one visited the site. It was untouched. The snow leopard was my only companion,” he recalls.
Later, the government allocated NPR one million for the site, which was responsibly handled by a well-meaning monk. But the second time another million was sent, disputes arose. Local Buddhists objected, work was obstructed, and the funds were reportedly misused. Workers went unpaid.
“I’ve seen strange rituals,” he said. “Once, after descending from Bishnu Chula, I noticed goat heads had been discarded after ritual slaughter. Just a month ago, 10 lamas from Ladakh arrived. They performed a symbolic funeral, buried an effigy, chanted, and even drank alcohol. After four hours, their leader fainted.”
Mysteries of Bishnu Chula
Somananda speaks passionately about Bishnu Chula—an ancient rock formation that holds deep symbolic meaning.
“No one knows how deep the rock’s axis goes. It stands on its own, a natural wonder,” he said. “If you look closely, you’ll see the ‘chakra’, the fish avatar of Bishnu, a trident, and a serpent embedded in its natural design.”
He recounts an ancient legend tied to the land—Bishnu’s arrival in Muktinath nearly 2.5 million years ago, he says, was tied to two key reasons:
The Story of Jalandhar and Vrinda:
Jalandhar, a powerful Rudra and devotee of Shiva, could not be defeated because of the chastity of his wife, Vrinda. When Lord Indra betrayed Jalandhar, his rage caused the gods to flee to the mountains.
They turned to Lord Bishnu. In a controversial act, Vishnu deceived Vrinda by taking Jalandhar’s form, thereby breaking her chastity and weakening Jalandhar. Vrinda then cursed Bishnu, saying, “You shall become stone and lose compassion.”
The Tale of Mother Gandaki:
It is believed that the Gandaki River originated from here. Kali emerged from Damodar Kund and became Gandaki after merging. The female ascetics, yoginis, and celestial beings who lived here once pleaded with Vishnu to be born among them as a son. This too compelled Vishnu to descend.
Somananda claims that Vishnu performed penance at the now-invisible Vishnu Kund, located beyond the view of the current Muktinath temple, seeking salvation for Jalandhar and Vrinda.
“This land is sacred. It holds truths we’ve forgotten,” Somananda says, his eyes scanning the snow-covered peaks. From journalism to yogic isolation, his story stands as a remarkable testament to the transformative power of the Himalayas.
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