Teen leaves home, seeks forgiveness from Premanandji:Admits misinterpreting his words, narrates 1,000 km spiritual journey across cities

Fifteen-year-old Rudra Pandey from Shri Krishna Vihar colony in Indore recently embarked on a spontaneous journey, leaving home without informing anyone. Inspired by videos of the spiritual leader Premanandji, Rudra decided to leave home to pursue a life of devotion. Though he left without his mobile, he carried unwavering faith with him and left a note for his parents. Recently, the police located him and brought him back safely. In an exclusive conversation with Dainik Bhaskar, Rudra recounted his 1,000-kilometer journey that began at Indore railway station and took him all the way to the mysterious hills of the Himalayas. Now, he wishes to meet Premanandji to apologize for misunderstanding his teachings. He now also wants to apologize to Premanandji, but why? Read in this report… A well-planned decision Rudra said his decision to leave home was not sudden. “I wrote the letter on February 21 and hid it in the attic for 20 days. My last 10th-grade exam was on March 6—I was just waiting for that. The letter said I was going to my true family (God) and not to look for me.” A devoted follower of Goddess Kali since childhood, Rudra said, “I would see her in my dreams every day. I thought I could not achieve God while living a worldly life. When I saw Premanandji’s video showing he left home at 11, I felt I could do the same. I worship Kali Mata every day.” Stops in Mathura and Rishikesh During his journey, Rudra stopped in Mathura, visiting religious sites and attempting to meet a saint. Due to crowds and train schedules, he could only pay respects from a distance. He then traveled to Rishikesh and continued toward Kalimath, following a route he had planned in advance using the internet. A setback at Kalimath Upon reaching Kalimath, Rudra wanted to receive initiation from a priest. However, when requesting accommodation, the hotel asked for an Aadhaar card. Unable to get a room without it, Rudra called his father using someone else’s phone to request the document. Hearing his father’s stern voice, Rudra realized the gravity of his actions. His father, Anil Pandey, said, “Son, if you had told us, we could have taken you ourselves.” The family immediately decided to bring him back. Rudra explained that his uncle arranged for the Aadhaar card to be sent and coordinated with a family friend in Tehri Garhwal to pick him up. The priest then provided him food and shelter until the police arrived the next morning to ensure his safe return. Realization at Triveni Ghat Rudra realized his mistake while listening to a sermon at Triveni Ghat in Rishikesh. A saint said, “One who does not serve their parents cannot attain the benefits of even bathing in the Ganges.” Rudra reflected, “I understood I was wrong to leave home without permission. God does not ask us to abandon our loved ones.” Returning home and future plans Back home under police protection, Rudra’s perspective has changed. He now intends to remain at home and pursue devotion while completing his education. He said, “I want to meet Premanandji to apologise for misinterpreting his words. My parents have assured me that if I wish to pursue devotion, they will guide me.” Rudra plans to focus on completing his 12th-class studies and then study scriptures, observing Brahmacharya and chanting at home. Parents’ perspective Anil Pandey, a taxi driver, explained that their family regularly engages in morning and evening prayers, which inspired Rudra’s devotion. “He is a great devotee of Kali Mata and spends hours in worship. We thought it was normal religious inclination, but he was secretly planning something else.” When Rudra left home, he left a note mentioning photos and videos on his mobile related to his devotion, including videos of Premanandji. This led the family to believe he might have gone to meet the spiritual leader in Uttarakhand. The family was deeply worried about potential risks from strangers or negative influences. Safe return Rudra’s father quickly coordinated with the person whose phone Rudra used to call. The priest was informed of the situation, and the next morning, Kalimath police safely escorted Rudra back home.