Amongst all insects, butterflies are considered one of the most sāttvik or spiritually pure. Children and adults alike are fascinated with butterflies as they are a delight to behold. Many of us may have chased butterflies with the hope of catching them; however, as they are shy, they are usually quick to fly away.
However, at the Spiritual Research Centre and Ashram, we have observed butterflies and moths behaving in a surprisingly different manner. Since 2009, we saw that butterflies started to stay at the Spiritual Research Centre for prolonged periods of time. This is unique because butterflies normally keep flying from one place to another and it is not easy to make them stay in one place. Moreover, they are usually attracted to flowers. Yet, at the Spiritual Research Centre they not only stay for longer periods of time but also sit comfortably on the hands and body of seekers and Saints.
One of the highlights of this phenomenon was seeing how different types of butterflies would come and play with a child seeker Miss Anastasia Vallee for many hours. On one occasion, a butterfly stayed with her for 2 days eating, playing, and sleeping with Anastasia as though they were the best of friends.
One fascinating event unfolded when little Anastasia playfully brought one of the butterflies to show H.H. Dr Athavale. The butterfly promptly sat on H.H. Dr Athavale’s hand and as we watched, the butterfly’s wings, which started from a dull brown began to glisten spontaneously and we saw golden streaks on its wings. As H.H. Dr Athavale gently moved His finger, the sunlight from the window caught the butterfly’s wings and we saw a rainbow coloured effect on its wings. If this was not amazing enough, another butterfly tried to top this by sitting on the ceiling fan in H.H. Dr Athavale’s room while it was moving. The butterfly rode on the circulating fan for 3 hours without moving. After 3 hours it flew away.
The following pictures and video show the various instances of this fascinating phenomenon witnessed at the Spiritual Research Centre and Ashram in Goa, India.
Butterfly sits on Anastasia's nose
Anastasia plays with the butterfly and here the butterfly is seen sitting on her nose.
Butterfly sits on Anastasia's nose
This picture is one of the many pictures we took with Anastasia and a butterfly playing with each other over the course of 2 days. It was a unique event as the butterfly did not leave her side and was completely comfortable with her.
Anastasia feeding the butterfly
The butterfly came with Anastasia and sat with her at the dining table and ate the same food as her.
Anastasia feeding the butterfly
The butterfly sat patiently with Anastasia eating the same food. Anastasia kept feeding the butterfly from her plate.
Anastasia plays with the butterfly
The butterfly played with Anastasia as though they were best friends.
Anastasia plays with the butterfly
That evening, Anastasia carried the butterfly to her room at the Spiritual Science Research Centre. The butterfly sat patiently watching Anastasia bring out her various toys to play with it.
Butterfly sleeping with Anastasia
The butterfly sleeps with Anastasia through the night.
Butterfly sleeping with Anastasia
Later that night, Anastasia prepared a small toy bed for the butterfly and it slept on it throughout the night next to Anastasia. As the spiritual research team was observing this phenomena, we were truly grateful to witness it.
Butterfly on Anastasia's cheek
Random shots of Anastasia with different colourful butterflies that are attracted to her.
Butterfly on Anastasia's cheek
Every now and then, different butterflies would enter the Spiritual Research Centre and get attracted to Anastasia Vallee, a child born from a higher positive subtle plane of the Universe. The butterflies are attracted to the spiritual purity in her.
Near the sacrificial fire pit
Different butterflies are seen near the sacrificial fire pit as it is charged with positive energy.
Near the sacrificial fire pit
Many butterflies rest near the sacrificial fire pit for long periods. As many sacrificial fires are performed at the Spiritual Research Centre, the area near the fire pit is charged with spiritual positivity and butterflies are attracted to it.
Butterfly on altar
A butterfly sat on the altar near the Somyag sacrificial fire pit.
Butterfly on altar
Butterflies were seen in and around the fire pit during the Somyag sacrificial fire that was performed for the protection of seekers. Here a butterfly is seen on the altar next to the sacrificial fire where a picture of Shrivishnu was placed.
A yellow moth sitting on a monitor
A yellow moth sat on a monitor where the feet of H.H. Dr Athavale was set as the desktop image.
A yellow moth sitting on a monitor
A yellow moth came and sat on a computer monitor where the feet of H.H. Dr Athavale was set as the desktop image. As per spiritual science, the highest amount of positive energy flows from a Saint's feet.
A moth on Hindu calendar
A beige moth sat on a picture of H.H. Bhaktaraj Maharaj in the Hindu lunar calendar.
A moth on Hindu calendar
A beige moth came and sat on a Hindu calendar that had the image of H.H. Bhaktaraj Maharaj. It chose to sit exactly on the Holy feet of H.H. Bhaktaraj Maharaj. This is just one of many examples where moths sit on spiritually positive pictures.
Butterfly on fan
A butterfly came and sat on a fan in the Spiritual Research Centre where the research team sat.
Butterfly on fan
A large butterfly came and sat on a fan in the room where the research team sat. Coincidently, at that time we were writing articles on spiritual research on butterflies. We felt it was a sign of Divine approval for the service we were doing.
Butterfly on a sifting tray
As a seeker was cleaning coarse semolina, a butterfly came in and sat on the sifting tray.
Butterfly on a sifting tray
Butterflies freely roam around everywhere in the ashram. They are seen entering every department. Here is one such example when a butterfly came and sat on the sifting tray as a seeker was cleaning coarse semolina and stayed put for 30 mins.
Butterfly on window of Saint's room
A large aqua blue butterfly came and sat on the window mesh of a Saint's room.
Butterfly on window of Saint's room
A large aqua blue butterfly came and sat on the window mesh of a Saint's room - H.H. Cyriaque Vallee and H.H. Yoya Vallee. It stayed there for a couple of hours. It was attracted to the Divine consciousness present in the room.
Butterfly sitting on the floor
A butterfly sat on the floor of the Research Centre & was unperturbed even as seekers went by.
Butterfly sitting on the floor
This butterfly was sitting on the floor of one of the corridors even as seekers passed by. Due to the unusually high reflectivity of the tiles (which is a spiritual phenomena) in the Centre, the butterfly's reflection is seen clearly on the floor.
Butterfly on Deity Shiva's photo
A butterfly sat on Deity Shiva's picture in the temple room in the Spiritual Research Centre.
Butterfly on Deity Shiva's photo
Butterflies enter the temple room in the Spiritual Research Centre & sometimes sit on the images of Deities. Here, a butterfly sat on the legs of Deity Shiva's picture. It remained there even as many seekers were chanting in the temple room.
Butterfly on a painting of a Saint
A butterfly on the feet of the painting of H.H. Anantanand Saish (Guru of H.H. Bhaktaraj Maharaj).
Butterfly on a painting of a Saint
A butterfly sat on the painting of H.H. Anantanand Saish (Guru of H.H. Bhaktaraj Maharaj). Just as a devotee touches the feet of Saints in reverence to seek their blessings, we felt the butterfly too chose to sit at His feet.
Butterfly sitting on a seeker
A common evening brown butterfly found in Goa, suddenly came and sat on a seeker, Mr Sudarshan.
Butterfly sitting on a seeker
Butterflies are inherently sensitive and they are quick to react & fly away at the slightest hint of danger. At the Spiritual Research Centre butterflies stay in complete harmony with seekers. Here is one butterfly seen sitting on Mr Sudarshan.
Moth sitting on Ms. Kalyani Gangan
A light yellow coloured moth came and sat on a seeker Miss Kalyani Gangan's cheek.
Moth sitting on Ms. Kalyani Gangan
A moth came and sat on Miss Kalyani Gangan's cheek. She is a seeker who has been doing spiritual practice for many years and stays permenantly at the Spiritual Research Centre.
Butterfly on H.H. Yoya Vallee
A butterfly sat on H.H. Yoya Vallee's hand.
Butterfly on H.H. Yoya Vallee
Here, a butterfly is seen sitting on H.H. Yoya Vallee's palm. Interestingly at that time, she was helping in giving Divine Knowledge on the subject of butterflies.
Mother & child with a butterfly
Butterflies play with Anastasia & H.H. Yoya Vallee who are born from the higher positive plane of the Universe.
Mother & child with a butterfly
Butterflies are drawn to Anastasia & her mother H.H. Yoya Vallee who are born from a higher positive plane. Butterflies are attracted to the positivity around them and feel safe in their presence. Butterflies often sit on them and play with them.
A moth sitting on Ms. Madhuri Dhuse
A moth came and sat on one of the seekers Miss Madhuri Dhuse.
A moth sitting on Ms. Madhuri Dhuse
Yet another example of a moth sitting on a seeker Miss Madhuri Dhuse who has been doing full-time spiritual practice since many years. She wore a dress with floral print.
Butterfly sitting on a moving fan
This butterfly found its way into H.H. Dr Athavale's room and sat on the ceiling fan.
Butterfly sitting on a moving fan
A butterfly sat on the fan in H.H. Dr Athavale's room while it was moving. It continued to stay on the fan for 3 hours before flying away.
Butterfly sitting on H.H. Dr Athavale's fingers
This butterfly came into the room of H.H. Dr Athavale and sat on His hand.
Butterfly sitting on H.H. Dr Athavale's fingers
This butterfly came into the room of H.H. Dr Athavale and sat on His hand. While sitting on His hand, its wings shone and it changed colour. It became more golden.
An Appeal to Lepidopterists and Researchers
Many extraordinary incidents that do not have an easy rational explanation are taking place at the Spiritual Research Centre and Ashram in Goa, India. One such phenomenon described above is the unusual behaviour of butterflies.
We appeal to lepidopterists and researchers who are experts in this field to help us understand if there is a scientific reason behind such unusually friendly behaviour from butterflies and moths.
Some of our questions for lepidopterists and researchers are:
Why are butterflies attracted to places such as the Spiritual Research Centre where they stay for prolonged periods of time?
What is the reason for the different type of behaviour of butterflies that come to the Spiritual Research Centre?
In your experience have you seen butterflies sitting on humans and playing with them for over a day?
Why do butterflies sit calmly on the Saints and seekers who reside in the Spiritual Research Centre when their basic nature is that they randomly fly from one place to another at very short intervals?
Is it possible that the colour and shine of their wings can change within a short period of time?
Other articles
Spiritual research on butterflies and moths visiting the Spiritual Research Centre – Coming soon
