Author: Lea Kosovac
Thanks to Mohanji, I was blessed to visit the sacred island of Sri Lanka twice. Each time, I felt as if forgotten fragments of my soul were returning, completing the puzzle of my being.
For those who follow Mohanji, he is a spiritual Master and avatar (a divine incarnation) – a soul from the Dattatreya lineage (a spiritual tradition tracing back to the Lord Dattatreya), with a mission to awaken consciousness and preserve dharma on earth. During both journeys, I felt a powerful flow of Datta’s energy, as if it was guiding me through memories beyond this lifetime.
According to Vedic astrology (an ancient Indian system of astrology), I was born in the Krittika nakshatra (a star constellation associated with fire and clarity). One of my ishta-devatas (personal divine protectors) is Lord Kartikeya, the son of Shiva and Parvati.
Kartikeya himself, according to legend, was born under the Krittika star and raised by the seven sisters – the Pleiades (a cluster of stars), associated with light, wisdom, and spiritual fire.
M45: The Pleiades Star Cluster
Image Credit & Copyright: Robert Gendler
Kataragama – A Jungle Temple, the Heart of Silence
Deep in the jungles of southern Sri Lanka lies one of the holiest temples dedicated to Lord Kartikeya – Kataragama.
Legend says that Lord Kartikeya came here seeking silence and meditation. He soon met the tribal princess Valli, with whom he formed a sacred bond. Their story, a symbol of the divine and the earthly union, is depicted on the temple walls.
Traveling with Mohanji, our group had the unique opportunity to attend a special puja (a sacred ritual or ceremony) –done in honor of Mohanji, a true moment of deep connection and extraordinary experience.
Within the temple is the Sri Yantra (an ancient geometric symbol representing the divine feminine energy, or Shakti), hidden from public view and used exclusively in rituals, and we had a short but powerful glimpse into its enormous powers.
In the Land of Sages and Avatars
Within the temple complex are sacred sites and images: depictions of rishis (ancient sages), the image of Lord Dattatreya (the divine trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva in one being), and a small cave where, according to legend, Maha Avatar Babaji (an immortal yogic master) meditated and received spiritual knowledge from the saint Bogharnath.
Dattatreya, in Hinduism, is the divine trinity – Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer) in one being, the eternal Guru (spiritual teacher) and protector of inner freedom. Wherever I looked in Sri Lanka, his words resonated within me:“Wherever you look in nature – that is me.”
During the whole visit, I had a feeling that Mohanji came there as an activator of a spiritual lineage that has lasted for millennia, and was very much present in this region, to continue the dharmic duties and enhance the potency of the place.
Before temples were built, Sri Lanka was the land of rishis and siddhas (enlightened beings with spiritual powers) – sages who practiced tapasya (intense spiritual discipline) by the Manik Ganga river, which flows through the jungle close to the temple.
Dattatreya – The Invisible Guru of Kataragama
Many yogic lineages (spiritual traditions) speak of the connection between Dattatreya and Kataragama. It is believed that Dattatreya sent his emissaries – siddhas, avadhutas (detached mystics), natha yogis (members of an ancient yogic order) – to maintain energy points across the world, including Kataragama.
They wove the knowledge of Samkhya philosophy (an ancient Indian system explaining creation through 24 fundamental principles, or tattvas), understanding of the 24 tattvas (elements of creation), and the wisdom of non-duality (Advaita – the philosophy that all is one) into Kataragama.
Thus, Kataragama became more than a sacred place – it became a spiritual portal, a site of spiritual alchemy, through which one can touch their true Self.
Kataragama – A Sacred Space for All Traditions
Kataragama uniquely unites several religious traditions:
• For Hindus: Pilgrimage to Lord Murugan (another name for Kartikeya) includes carrying kavadi (sacrificial offerings of penance and surrender).
• For Buddhists: Kataragama Deviyo (the deity of Kataragama) is the protector of Buddhist teaching and the island.
• For Muslims: A nearby shrine is dedicated to Al-Khidr (a mysterious, immortal figure in Islamic tradition), often identified with Kataragama Deviyo.
• For the Vedda people (the island’s indigenous people): The jungle of Kataragama is an ancient ancestral sanctuary, older than any institutional religion.
Spiritual Crossroads: Kataragama and Datta’s Presence
For me, Sri Lanka is not just a natural paradise, but a sacred land bearing the memory of sages and avatars, a land where the stories from Ramayana took place… Traveling with Mohanji allowed me not only to physically visit all sacred spaces, but to experience them from within, through the presence of the Avatar and a deep remembrance. I felt the return of colors I had missed, a sense of freedom, and complete connection with nature.
With Datta, who whispers through the silence: You already are everything.
