5. Vanavicharan and Bharat Parikraman

Ghanshyam now came to be known as Neelkanth. The fearless young Neelkanth, for seven years, one month and eleven days, wandered through the dense forests of the Himalayas and travelled on foot to almost all important places of pilgrimage in India. While in forests, Neelkanth practised Ashtang Yoga [all the eight parts of body are brought under the control of the mind] under the guidance of a yogi called Gopala, and attained mastery over the most difficult arts of Hatha Yoga [a mode of practising abstract meditation through self mortification]. The penance that He offered during His stay in the forest, was so severe that his body was emaciated to that extent that if He got hurt or injured, not blood but water trickled out of the cut. But this did not deter Him and He always appeared cheerful and radiant even in this condition.

As this Divine Pilgrim Neelkanth passed through forests and different parts of India, He transformed the lives of many people. He preached the message of right conduct to the wandering mendicants and beggars and brought them back on the path of righteousness. He inspired many fallen individuals to give up the path of sin and helped them return to the life of morality and truth. His divine presence in the midst of these people, radically transformed their lives and they all became the seekers after the Ultimate Reality. They sought salvation through Him. Nothing is impossible for God the incarnate.

If we study the entire history of human civilization, we cannot miss the significance of the pilgrimage undertaken by Neelkanth Varni. It was a unique method of educating others by imbibing the cultural and religious life of India. As he travelled further and farther, He began to unfold His divine and spiritual process before the people, finally emerging as the Absolute Reality or the Godhead.