February 02, 2026; Narad Ghat, Varanasi

Commemoration event: One year remembrance of Dr Mark S. G. Dyczkowski

To commemorate one year since the passing of the great scholar of Kashmir Śaivism, Mark Dyczkowski, a memorial meeting was held at Narad Ghat. An impressive ritual of Mahamrityuñjaya Homa was performed by Arjun. It was followed by reports about continuing Mark's legacy and completing his works, some of which are almost at the stage of publication. My contribution was homage to a great scholar, friend and colleague in the sense of our commitment to the great tradition of Trika. I also shared about our respective relationship with the Guru, Swami Lakshman Joo.

January 23, 2026; Varanasi

Saraswati Puja

Sarasvati pujã was celebrated at the library von 23rd January, Vasant Pañcami. This is also the foundation day of Samvidalaya and hence of special importance for the library.

January 18 and 26, 2026; Varanasi

Important visits in January

On 18th January Prof. Bishnu Mohapatra of Krea University visited the library on the occasion of his lecture in BHU. Discussion with this scholar and poet are always inspiring. On 26th January Prof. Amitabh Mattoo visited Samvidalaya with his family. He was Vice Chancellor of JNU and other universities and is an internationally known political scientist. He belongs to the Kashmiri Pandit community and is also concerned about the continuity of the tradition of Kashmir Śaivism.

January 4 - 14, 2026; Tiruvannamalai

Visit to Tiruvannamalai and Arunachala

The year 2026 began with a significant pilgrimage to Tiruvannamalai and Arunachala. Together with my students Armin and Milind we met in Bangalore and stayed at the house of another dear friend, Aparna, before proceeding to Arunachala. We reached in time to attend a lecture by Sri Nochur Swami on Ramana Maharshi's Jayanti on the 4th. This was followed by a series of teachings by Nochur Swami continuing his commentary of Ramana Maharshi’s Aksharamanamalai (from 5th to 11th of January). Fortunately, Sri Ganesan was also present and occasionally gave a speech which showed that his health had improved. The afternoons were spent with short climbs on Arunachala with the small group of students. We used our satsang to study the beginning of Spanda Karika (vv. 1 -11) in that extraordinary setting of Arunachala. One day we could combine the teaching with an Abhisheka in the temple of Kamakshi in an atmosphere of Devi bhakti. Finally, after the continued teaching was over, we climbed up to Skandashramam, quite an effort but crowned with the meditation in the cave, for me the culmination of the entire pilgrimage. From there we descended to Virupaksha Cave which was quiet due to a downpour. Our small group was joined by Prof. Bishnu Mohapatra. He teaches Political Science at Krea University in Andhra Pradesh, but besides he is a noted poet in Odia. His presence added to our rich exchange and satsang. But beside these events most of the time was spent in meditation in Ramanasramam, the ideal place for sādhanā. Thus these 10 days at the sacred mountain were inspiring, continuing old and establishing new connections.

September 5 - 12, 2025; Srinagar

Visit to Kashmir

It was a unique opportunity to return to Kashmir and Ishvar Ashram in September (5-12). This time the stay was facilitated by Sri Pran Nath Kaul, close disciple of Swami Lakshman Joo, who offered me and my student Robert his ‚Dharmshala‘, near the Guptaganga temple and in walking distance from the Ashram. Meditation in the Ashram was the great opportunity, but the main focus was the annual yajña for Swamiji on the 10th of September, which brought together a large group of devotees. The day-long yajña performed by Pandit Pran Nath was like merging in the presence of the Guru and his unique way of performing. Recitation of the mantras and stotras was impressive. Meeting Sri Inderji Raina, Swamiji's nephew, was important after a long gap.

This visit was coordinated with Rajan Khosa, my gurubhai an, friend from our time with Gurudeva. He is an accomplished film maker. Among the shared deep experiences was a visit to Swamiji’s old Ashram on the hill, which is in a state of renovation. The atmosphere in that building, after 100 years, was intoxicating. Then we shared a pilgrimage to Sharika Devi, also with my dear Mexican students Fernando und Diego, a place of power and of the presence also of Sharika Devi. In the Ashram we obtained the permission to have access to the diksāmandapa where both of us had received initiation in 1987. We spent a long time in absorption in the presence of the Master.

June 25, 2025; Salzburg

Meeting with Brother David Steindl-Rast

Another meeting with Brother David Steindl-Rast took place in Salzburg on 25th June, in the Bettina Bäumer Bibliothek of the University. We shared our two recent publications and he received my English autobiography. I received Brother David’s commentary on Rilke’s poems (Sonnets to Orpheus). It was a blessing. 

May 09, 2025; Ishvar Parvat, Phulchatti

Book Release: The Light In-Between: A Journey of Recognition

The autobiography of Bettina Sharada Bäumer, 'The Light In-Between: A Journey of Recognition', covers her life from childhood in Austria, her way to India and her spiritual as well as intellectual  path, bridging Europe and India. It describes her close contacts with important spiritual and academic personalities such as R. Panikkar, Swami Abhishiktananda, scholars like Kapila Vatsyayan and Alice Boner in the fields of Indian Art. This path finally led her to the living tradition of Kashmir Shaivism as personified in the Guru Swami Lakshman Joo.  By studying and translating the important texts of Kashmir Shaivism she has contributed to the continuation of the tradition. In her teaching of these texts over 25 years she has combined the spiritual with the textual aspects. Thus the book also contains a kind of personal introduction to this tradition which has much to contribute towards addressing the problems humanity is facing at this crucial moment of history.

This book is the outcome of an academic project of the Austrian Fund for Scientific Research (FWF), located at the University of Salzburg, which has collected and archived important biographical material. 

The book was released with a small ritual at Dhyan Mandir, Ishvar Parvat, which can be viewed on her YouTube Channel. 

Available from the Publisher: Order Online

Available on Amazon: Order Online

Table of Contents: Download here

February 18 - 19, 2025; Tiruvannamalai

Satsanga with Ramanacaranatirtha Sri Nochur Swami

Bettina Sharada paid a visit to Tiruvannamalai and Arunachala in February (before Shivaratri), where she attended the ongoing teaching of Ramanacaranatirtha Sri Nochur Swami. Since she offered him a copy of her latest book “Pasyanti”, he chanced upon the hymn Anuttarastika by Abhinavagupta. He was inspired to teach this hymn on two consecutive days (18^th-19^th February). On the second day he requested her to give a brief introduction to Abhinavagupta and Kashmir Shaivism, which she did spontaneously. His special interest was also in the spiritual connection between Kashmir and its Advaita and the South, historically, as well as in the 20^th century unique encounter between Swami Lakshman Joo and Sri Ramana Maharshi. This meeting and the shared teaching was very touching for everyone and there was great interest o know more about this connection.

Anuttaraashtika (Video 1): Watch here

Anuttaraashtika (Video 2): Watch here

February 12, 2025; Sirigere, Karnataka

Taralabalu Purnima Mahotsava

Dr. Shivamurthy Mahaswamiji of Taralabalu Brihanmath in Sirigere, Karnataka, invited Bettina Sharada to the annual festival of the Virashaiva community, on their Taralabalu Purnima Mahotsava, and requested her to give a speech to the assembled devotees (over one Lakh in audience). It was a great honor and experience to be a part of this festival, and the speech was well received by Swamiji and other dignitaries. It was also translated into Kannada.
Swamiji extended a wonderful hospitality at his centre in Bangalore, and at his Ashram Shantivana in Sirigere. It was an occasion for sharing memories and thoughts about the future.

Video recording of speech: Watch on YouTube

August 16, 2024; Salzburg

Meeting with Brother David Steindl-Rast

A blessed meeting with Brother David Steindl-Rast took place in Salzburg on August 16, 2024. It was inspiring to share experiences with him. Brother David is 98 now, but intellectually and spiritually lively as ever. I could express my deep gratitude that it was he who invited me to give retreat seminars in the ‘House of Silence’ at Puregg, which I continued for 20 years. To revive this connection, we went to Puregg with friends.

August 07, 2024

Book Release: 'Bettina Sharada Bäumer - ein Leben zwischen Indien und Europa' by Christian Hackbarth-Johnson

"Bettina Sharada Bäumer - ein Leben zwischen Indien und Europa : Biographische Studie zur interreligiösen Existenz der österreichischen Religionswissenschaftlerin, Band 1: 'Man muss flexibel sein!' Kindheit und Jugend (1940-1964), Innsbruck-Wien, Tyrolia, 2024" authored by Christian Hackbarth-Johnson.The book has been published as part of a research project at the Center for Intercultural Theology, University of Salzburg, with the generous support of FWF (Austrian Scientific Fund). The second Volume is still work-in-progress.

Available at: www.amazon.de/Bettina-Sharada-B%C3%A4umer-interreligi%C3%B6sen-%C3%B6sterreichischen/dp/3702241655

April 17, 2023

Book Donation to Ishvar Parvat Samvidalaya Library

On 17th April, 2023, the Jayanti Puja of Swami Lakshman Joo has been celebrated in the Dhyan Mandir of Ishvar Parvat, in the presence of the students of the Advaita Bhakti Retreat and members of the Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama in Rishikesh. Pandit Sameer Jotshi was the celebrant.

It was fitting in that context that Professor S.K. Sopory and Srimati Meena Sopory paid a visit to Ishvar Parvat on 19th till 21st April. After the mahasamadhi of Sushri Prabha Deviji they came for the first time and brought her blessings and a precious donation of books for the Samvidalaya Library. Deviji had destined them for this ashram since they contain  books which she has received from Swami Lakshman Joo and her own books, with the trust that they will be used for sadhana and study of Trika Shaivism, to continue the tradition. We the Trustees are extremely grateful to Deviji and to Professor and Mrs Sopory for taking care of her inheritance in all respects.

We are planning to get an annotated list or catalogue prepared which can also be put online. These precious books will engage me for years to come to receive Swamiji’s and Deviji’s blessings and understanding of the tradition.