“Santosh Puri Baba was a sadhu, a nagababa. He lived the way of Advaita and was an amazing being, full of love and compassion, but also very straight forward. I spent time with him and Narmada Puri in the 1970’s. He was my first guru and I love him very much.

He left his body some years ago while sitting in Padmasana; that says much about how he was, a living example of Yoga. When I stayed with him and Narmada Puri, we just lived in a little shelter, a sort of a tent, with a beautiful duni by the banks of the holy Mother Ganga. We had not much but the grace of Gangaji. All what was given to Babaji from his devotees, he gave back to them in the form of a big bandara, food for everybody. All people who needed and came with an open heart and devotion to the Divine were welcome. He had dropped all attachment to differences of race and caste.

Often I saw Babaji in the night sitting alone in his meditation...all people sleeping. He did not speak so much, the grace of being in his presence was the greatest teaching. Everything became Yoga...everything from cow seva, to cleaning, to making food.

Some years later he got some land in Sapt Rishi, above Hardwar by the Ganga. It was an empty land with an old ruin on it. He and his devotees created the ashram out of nothing. Again, I was allowed to  be there and helped a bit.

Narmada Puri is still living at and taking care of the ashram with the same devotion and bakhti to Divinity. She is a very wise and humble being...a realised soul.”

-Rolf

If you are interested in visiting the Santosh Puri Ashram, please visit the website: http://www.yoganga.org.