Parvathamalai Darisanam - Part 3

After the kadapparai malai is the stairs made from rail tracks...! How would one have brought the rail tracks up here...! It is learnt that Saint Ramagiri was the person instrumental in this. His jeeva samadhi is near the rly station as told by Shri Krishnan sir. The body just keeps moving after a point, there is no thought of what is right what is wrong, every move is expected to be right...! You are now very near to His Kingdom and you ought to be right...!

 

When I finished it and came up, my people who were already on the top cheered me...! I thot there is nothing to my credit, it is all His Doing...! We went into the MounaGuru Ashramam. Many of us were hungry, some reason I was not that hungry...! so I told we will go to the temple in the same tempo and complete our Abisekham. Others were not for it really...! I told fine and got into the Ashramam and requested for food. They informed that food will be ready by 7:30 PM, i.e. atleast two hours later...! Now, there was no choice to go to the temple...! It was His Wish...!

 

We went to the temple and started our Abisekhams. We did Panneer abisekham, Thaen Abisekham, Santhana Abisekham, Nei Abisekham, Elumichai Abisekham and finally Vibuthi Abisekhham...! We started our Bhajans and were lost in it. PSL Narayanan and Nagarajan were expert singers of Bhajans and I only did a chorus for them. All the thots on getting up getting down staying in the night has vanished. It looked like only thing in the world at the moment was doing Bhajans. We were all so immersed that we sensed we had taken more than an hour for the same and people were waiting outisde.

 

After completing the Abisekham of Mallikarjueswarar we went and had a Darshan of Piramarambigai. What a beauty this Deity is, She looked so Graceful and with some much love on Her Face...! Her Smile was so infectious, you start feeling that This Lady will take care of all your life's problems...! Then there is statue of Saint Agasthiar opposite to Her in a corner. We felt it was a real 'bagiyam' to have come to this place, where Shri Agasthiar had also been...!

 

Now, it was more than 8 PM, and when we came out after having Darshan of Lord Muruga, the sky was lit with too many stars. It looked like if you can jump a bit, you could pluck few stars and put it in your pocket, they were bright and there so many...! We understood why we were able to see so many stars, when we saw clouds sweeping our legs...! Yes, clouds are below us and that's why so much of visibility to the starts - a lesson for life...!

 

Being pitch dark I was hesitant to climb down fm the temple to the Ashramam. I informed that I will sleep in the temple and get down next day morning. HP Narayanan sounded very concerned since I didn't have my dinner, which was actually not a concern for me...! Then came these people from nowhere. One showed a bright torch fm the front and another fm behind. Suddenly pitch dark became damn bright and I climbed down i a jiffy and was wondering 'Have we really reached the Ashramam...!'.

 

The night stay was planned after the advice of Shri Krishnan Sir. We stayed in the Ashramam where we were guided for doing meditation and later offered a good dinner. We slept comfortably and started climbing down at 5 AM on Sunday 21st Dec 2008. Actually, I had various visions during the sleep like climbing down and bit shaken because of the same. Now, here was the instruction fm PSL Narayanan 'Sit and climb down'. I took this as vedha-vaaku in all testing times. All the steep climbdowns I sat and got down. Now is our favorite Kadapparai Malai, which I was adviced to climb down the same way I climbed up...! Again I just did what PSL Narayanan told me...! When I got down on flat surface and when PSL Narayanan announced me that I've crossed 'Kadapparai Malai' I was not able to believe myself...! He Did it again..!

 

Then on the descent was very comfortable and was a 'Suganubhavam'. I had 'more', 'ilani', 'lime soda' and herbal water as I came down...! I even slept for around 10 minutes on the side of the steps. What an experience...! On reaching Veerabadhra Swamy temple our Noi-kanji with keerai vadai and pickles was waiting for us...! Wow, what an experience...! Fulfilling the soul and body too...! Only He can give this Darshan..!

 

The best part of this, on reaching down, everyone looked more charged than they were when climbing up...! My younger brothers were asking me 'What next Anna?' I was happy and not surprised...! That's the way He Treats people..! We took a mini-van and reached another village fm where we got a bus to Thiruvannamalai. All of us wanted to convey our Pranams to Annamalaiar. We saw Annamalaiar even before we started entering Thiruvannamalai and we started our Thanks Giving...! From Thiruvannamalai we boarded the bus to Chennai and reached home safely and Happily...! His Mission is Accomplished...!

 

I wish all of you who have not been to Parvathamalai visit the place. Go as a small crowd to share your Happiness...! Leave it to Him...! When He guides a 100+ Kg weighing man like me, He will do for you too...!

Namaskarams

Ram

Parvathamalai Darisanam - Part 2

We were all at the bus stand by 3:50 AM and were discussing loudly about the bus to board. Suddenly we heard the driver in the bus next to us ask us 'Are you going to Parvathamalai?'. We answered yes and told we are looking out for the bus to Then-maathi-mangalam. He informed that it is his bus that will take us there, but the name board was not Then-maathi-mangalam, so were confused. Then we told that the bus is expected to start at 4 AM. The bus dirver told that it is this bus and started to rev up the engine.

 

We were sort of not sure and wanted to take a calculated risk and got in, since after the 4 AM bus, it was 6:30 AM bus only that would take us there. On getting in we started chatting about where to get down and how to go further. Again, the lady in the seat before looked behind and asked us 'Are you going to Parvathamalai?'. How do categorize too much of these coincidences? All of us were in no mood to even appreciate His Kindness, rather were too involved in getting to know the route. This lady informed us that she has a shop atop Parvathamalai...! She told that we shd get down in 'Koot Road' and take a bus to 'Then-maathi-mangalam' and then walk towards Parvathamalai. She also got down at Koot Road and took the next bus along with us to 'Then-maathi-mangalam'. She got down earlier at Kadaladi and told that she will 'up-there' before we reach her place.

 

We got down in 'Then-maathi-mangalam' at 5 AM. There was a Selva-Vinayagar temple and Amman temple across the road. We went to Vinayagar temple and PSL Narayanan lit a camphor. Then we saw a dark image suddenly waking up, it was our 'Bhairavar'. Initially I did not much notice it, later I understood that the Bhairavar was there to guide us up the Parvathamalai...! Yes, this Bhairavar came with us till 'Kadapparai Malai'...! I was amazed with His Planning. He knew about arrival about the place of landing and the time of landing and had This Bhairavar wait for us...!

 

We went to the Amman temple and prayed there too and started walking. Bhairavar was leading us and we reached Pachiamman Temple. We prayed to the Amman and The Ayyanars there. There was Poondi Mahan photo there, before which I stood emotionally and requested Him to guide us all through. I felt like a school boy taking up some task which is just impossible by me but could be done only with His Blessings...!

 

We started walking further and reached Veerabadhra Swamy temple. We prayed there and went to Renugambal temple nearby. There was also 'Saptha Kannigai-gal' nearby. I had a bath in the water that was flowing there. This has to be done to rejuvanate yourself. Meanwhile, the poojari at Veerabadra Swamy temple had prepared Noi-kanji for us. We had good amount of kanji with keerai vadai. We rested for sometime there and started walking.

 

Near Veerabadra Swamy temple is the Vana Durgai temple, which also we visited and prayed. The prayer was the same everywhere, to guide us throughout...! The steps start near the Vana Durgai temple. This goes for 1.78 KM. We had a happy walk with needed breaks inbetween. After the concrete steps is the rock path. This is like Sathuragiri. Then you reach the Kadapparai Malai. The name has come because of the kadapparai struck on the rocks like jumpers. Since the climb is steep you shd hold these kadapparai one after the other to climb up. We prayed to Lord Shiva represented by a Lingam here. There is also a Pillaiyar before you step up on the Kadapparai Malai steps. These Gods give you the needed impetus to climb up.

 

My friend PSL Narayanan was behind me, doing all the needed guidance. He asked me hold the kadapparai tight, after going up a few steps. Then he told me 'Ram, look to your right, then look to your left, see what God has created for us'. Yes, it was an amazing sight. One has to be there to experience it. I just did what PSL Narayanan told me. I did not allow my mind to work, it was all my Heart at work...! It was just enjoying being there...! It was singing, it was dancing within all against the protests of the mind, which was scaring about the 3000ft down...!

 

(To be continued...!)

Parvathamalai Darisanam - Part 1

I had never planned to go to Parvathamalai after my friend HP Narayanan told about the boulders and steep climbs. But destiny has it that I shd visit Him atop on the given day - who could stop it...! This is the writeup of my experience to Parvathamalai - which He guided me up He gave The Darshan and He guided me down...!

Long since we were invited by Annamalaiar for Girivalam, my friends and self formed sort of a group which was always together in such pursuits. Amongst these friends were HP Narayanan, PSL Narayanan, and PSL Venkat who made a visit to Parvathamalai last year. The story HP Narayanan told me later was scary...! He clearly sounded 'Never Attempt'. I was in no mood to attempt either way, since I always thought He decides what we shd do and yearning for something which we may not be fit for is of no use. Later in Mar '08 we all had our first Darshan of Mahalingam at Sathuragiri, later Mahalingam called us again during Aug '08 to provide another Darshan.

After all this, never was a thot of going to Parvathamalai came into my mind. Me and my wife were planning to come Sathuragiri again on our Marriage Day falling due on Nov 29th. Then was the travelogue of Shri Krishnan Sir got my attention and probably there was subconscious decision made to go to Parvathamalai...! I'm still only making a guess, because there is no logical trigger that made me think of this possibility, given the heavy frame that I'm.

Then on a fine day PSL Narayanan called me 'generally' and was enquiring 'kshema laabams'. I put in him the thought of Parvathamalai, which he imm'ly accepted. PSL Narayanan is one person who has got some amount of instincts, and I always felt this was because of his other yogic practices. He is a family man managing his spiritual side very well, which I felt was due to some Kundalini awakening within him. He never discussed this in detail with me, but only uttered few words of wisdom on the same here and there.

PSL Narayanan was actually very upbeat about this possibility. Then I talked to HP Narayanan, who is the younger Narayanan who was always fine to the possibility to visiting Parvathamalai. The surprise here is, the same souls who were heavily apprehensive earlier, were now more than forthcoming...! It actually did not strike me then.Now, I had a cousin brother of mine, Anand, for whom we had one-point-agenda 'getting-married', whom also I asked to join me. The crowd now became bigger and two more relatives joined and one more friend also joined, totalling to eight of us.

I started collecting details fm the google, as a truthful IT guy, to understand all about Parvathamalai. I actually started losing sleep when more info was available. As I told everybody, the feeling was like newly wed Girl, with fear, anxiety, worry, thrill and other mixed feelings. But I had one point in my mind, it was He who will do what has to be done. He will guide us up, He will show us the Darshan and He will guide us down and make us reach our homes happily.

The date was changed fm my Wedding Day, since people felt that on Wedding Day it is better to be at home and get the Blessing of Mom than to go out. The date later became 19th Dec 2008. It was me, Narayanans (2), Nagarajan, Vichu, Vijay, Ravi Anna and Anand. We were in constant touch with each other and were exchanging info on Parvathamalai we knew.

The day beckoned, on 19th Dec 2008, afternoon we set off to Thiruvannamalai. We wanted to get the permission of Annamalaiar before venturing on this. We reached Thiruvannamalai at 9 pm. We literally ran to the temple, which was said to closing down by 9:30 PM. When were entering the temple I saw a person taking alms. I went to him offered little money, he in turn told me a mantra on GangaDevi. He asked me to recite it thrice, which I did. I also informed him that we were planning to go to Parvathamalai. He looked very happy and blessed us and told we will have a Happy Journey. I was astonished by the kindness of Annamalaiar, it, in hindsight, looks likes Annamalaiar's words.

We went had an excellent Darshan of Annamalaiar, inface we went back and forth thrice to have more and more of His Darshan. Later when were moving to have a Darshan of UnnamulaiAmmai, we were struck with the Darshan of MahaDeepam atop Annamalaiar...! This is the first time in my life I'm seeing the Jyothi...! I literally screamed and called others to have Darshan of the same. What were seeing is the Worlds First Celebration...! All Ithihasam and Puranams has got reference to This Deepam...!

We went and had good Darshan of UnnamulaiAmmai. Here also I came back again to have peaceful Darshan on a plank. When we were through with our Darshan and started moving out, a Old Periyavar called us and gave us Abisekham Milk. What more can u ask for? We thoroughly felt that we had all His Blessings for our visit to Parvathamalai. When I was moving out, I wanted to have a glance of UnnamulaiAmmai again and looked behind, believe me, the doors were closed...! It looked Ammai and Appan were waiting to give Darshan for us only...!

We stayed in a hotel that night and started the next day at 4 AM. We never knew we were getting into a memorable journey of our life by then...!

(To be continued....)

Kasi Yatra Chronicles- Part 20

Morning we reached the temple at around 4:45 and was stunned to see around 150 people waiting in the special queue for Rs.50/-. This was a Monday and the crowd was still huge, what would've been the weekend crowd...! It is pleasant experience to wake up in the morning and do what our heart loves to...! Walking towards temple at this time is really a great experience.

The crowd slowly moved and when we came to Sannidhi, we had the Darshan of this Great Wonder, Spadika Lingam. There was lights all around it. This is the Lingam for which abisekham is done everyday and charged. It was a delight to have a look at Him at that early hour. After this we returned to the hotel to get ready for our other visits.

We had our breakfast at our usual Ganesh Mess, one of the best vegetarian joints around there. The auto came to pick us up there. We went to Gandha Madhava Parvatham. We went had a Darshan of Ramar Patham, the equivalent of Vishnu Patham at Gaya. While Vishnu Patham symbolizes destruction of Gayasuran, Ramar Patham symbolizes destruction of Ravanan. 

The entire Rameswaram town is visible from this place. We sudenly saw a row of our Pithruswaiting to give us Darshan. It is something of an odd site, where a row of crows sitting undisturbed. There is a floor above the Sannidhi from where it is claimed that one can view Srilanka...!

From here we moved on to Ramar Theertham where one can see the floating stone. We are allowed to hold a stone from the water which is said to weigh around 20 kgs...! That was phenomenal...! After this we went to Ramar temple opposite to the Theertham. All these theerthams have got a entry fee. After this we went to a beautiful Anjaneyar temple, where we saw the temple under construction for a 16 ft Anjaneyar...! Floating stones are found here too, but is sold only at Ramar Theertham.

Later we went to Lakshmana Theertham and finally to Seetha Theertham. We did theertha prokshanam at all these places. Having got the Blessings of all these Deities, we moved on to do some shopping. As a last activity of the visit we visited Dr. Abdul Kalam's shopping mall. After the temple visit, this is one good place everyone tourist should visit. They sell various sea shell crafts and handicrafts including spadika maalai and salagramam...!

After some shopping, we returned to the hotel. With packing almost having been done due to our earlier plans, it was less effort this today to just pack the left outs. When we sat in the bus and when it started moving at 5 PM it was feeling of fulfillment and joy. The chairs were reclined and we felt very relaxed. Ramanatha Swamy had taken care of His guests thoroughly...!

We reached Chennai on time and the daily rigmarole started. With His Blessings having completed round trip of Kasi Yatra, we plan to conduct the Samaradhanai at Chennai, tentatively on 25th Jun 2011. With His Blessings and all your Blessings, we pray that it should go through fine. I pray that He gives every Wishing Soul a Good Kasi Yatra experience, as He gave us...!

Anantha Kodi Namaskarams

Ram

Kasi Yatra Chronicles- Part 19

After our lunch around 2 PM, the next two hours was chaotic. We were waiting for a miracle of tickets getting confirmed. The thoughts of Monday morning blues of office was coming to mind. Not sure what to do to return to Chennai, we discussed all possibilities except chartered flight...!

Finally, Vijaya told that staying back was also a good option, and after some thought I felt the same. We live in a artificial world, where we assume office problems, sky will fall and things will coming to a grinding halt if we were not in the planned place for sometime. The fact remains that nothing stops and work is as usual even in our absence.It takes sometime to digest this fact...!

By 3 PM, my sms to 139 with "PNR " confirmed that tickets were waitlisted...! Now, the risk having happened, we went on to contingency plans. We started roaming aroundRameswaram, this time for our travel plans. Many travel operators were point blank to tell, it is just impossible to get a train ticket or bus ticket on the day of travel. There are only two bus operators from Rameswaram to Chennai viz. Parveen Travels and Universel Travels.

After lots of deliberations we called Universel Travels for a ticket on next day evening. The bus leaves at 5 PM and reaches Chennai at 5 AM, almost like train travel time. This ticket was delivered to us at the hotel. Now, I made alternative arrangements at office and now started enjoying the plans of Ramanatha Swamy had for us.

The next day travel was the icing in the cake of our Kasi Yatra. Technically the yatra having come to a completion and only awaiting Samarathanai, the next day's visit was ''bonus' offered Ramanatha Swamy to us...! We called an auto driver whom's number we got during the first visit to Rameswaram, and fixed him for our visits for next day. After a good dinner, we went to sleep with the eagerness to have Darshan of Spadika Lingam at 4:30 AM next day morning...!

(To be continued...!)

Kasi Yatra Chronicles- Part 18

Next day morning we set off to Kshetradanam of places around Rameswaram. Sethu Karai, Devi Pattinam, Utthara Kosa Mangai and Thiruppullani around 7 AM. Not knowing Ramanatha Swamy's plans we were deeply thinking about what could happen if tickets were not confirmed. But, I consciously decided to discuss about this only by 12 noon, since the chart preparation would happen by 3 pm.

Sethu Karai was the first spot. A magnificent place indeed.Lord Hanuman looking direct into the ocean, the spot where Sethu (bridge) construction was started by Lord Rama. The temple Archakar told that if travel a bit into the ocean we can see a bridge structure, which is called as Adam's bridge by Westerners.

There was a old Sadhu outside the temple to whom we were immediately tempted to give alms and we moved on. We reached Devi Pattinam for Navabashanam, the navagrahas consecrated by Lord Rama before his travel t Lanka. After this we went off to Thirupullani. A wonderful temple with a wonderful Theertham called Sakkara Theertham.It is really magnificent with huge corridors and big gopurams. King Dasaratha had brought His wives and had taken payasam resulting in Rama's birth. We took Kungumam from Thaayar for my sister, which Gurukkal gave after performing pooja. The shrine looked to possess lots of Divinity inspite of average number of people turning out there.

The Dharba-sayana Perumal here is beautiful Deity to look at. Lord Rama is supposed to have rested here on Dharpasanam, on the lap of Laskmana, when He did not know Seetha's whereabouts. This is till Lord Hanuman came back and told 'Kandaen Seethayai'...! We had a good Darshan from His Patham onwards and took His Blessings and move on.

We left from there to Utthara Kosa Mangai, which was a longer travel. My MIL's hometown happens to be Ramanathapuram and she was always in praise of the Utthara Kosa Mangai temple and its gopuram. We saw the grandeur of the temple gopuram when we reached there. It was very hot sun, but our awe to stand and look at the gopuram was not disturbed.

Ambal Mangalanayaki sametha Mangeleswarar resides in this beautiful temple, which is claimed to be more than 4000 years old. Ambal and Parameswaran are great sights to keep looking at. We then started back to Rameswaram to have our lunch. By this time, Ramanatha Swamy's plan was slowly unfolding. He did not want us to leave the Kshetram without few other visits.

(To be continued...!)

Kasi Yatra Chronicles- Part 17

After the evening's Abisekham, it was our time fully at Rameswaram that day. We were at our will do whatever we want. Myself and Vijaya roamed the roads of Rameswaram. Bit late evening around 6 to 7 PM times, walking around in Rameswaram is a pleasant experience. Various types of Devotees, various types of practices, various languages, various beliefs, but one God - Ramanatha Swamy. The thread that was binding the citizens of Bharatha Bhoomi seemed to be strong. 

People from various states, sects, languages were pouring into one spot of the vast Indian landscape to pay their respects to Him. This is very surprising. It is probably in the genes of all Indian born citizens, or people with India as roots. The urge to do Kasi Yatra seems to have been for ages. In Kaliyugam, it is slowly coming down and it is our responsibility to re-kindle these thoughts and make everyone get the joy of doing Kasi Yatra.

To have time at our command is a nice thing, which is what was happening on the first day evening. But it was giving us pleasant experiences and we got used to many finer aspects of Rameswaram. We had our dinner at Sastrigal's residence, being the tharpanam day and went to sleep not sure about our tickets' status and Ramanatha Swamy's plans to make us stay long...!

(To be continued...!)

Kasi Yatra Chronicles- Part 16

The first day early evening function was pooja to Ganga Matha which was brought for Ramanathaswamy's Abisekham. This was attended by around eight Brahmins who recited Rudram. It was a wonderful site to hear the Rudram for almost one hour. Ganga Jalam was then taken to Ramanatha Swamy temple from Sastrigal's residence. 

It was a dream coming true fully. He made us come here, take Veni Mahdavar and immerse in Thriveni and He made us collect Ganga Jalam and is having abisekham for Himself...! In between He is using us as tools...! A thought of joy and scare gets in together into the minds. Joy for being in His sight to do this Kasi Yatra and scare for being good enough to stay in His sight...! In Kaliyugam, it is easy to do misdeeds and justify the same, I was requesting Him to guide us to do deeds which He saw fit to be good...! Sambho Mahadeva...! Om Namo Naryana...!

The gurukkal took the ganga jalam and poured into another vessel. This was done to put everyone's ganga jalam into a single container. Then this water was taken to perform Abisekham for Ramanatha Swamy. It's a glorious site, deep in the heart it more looked like He ordered Ganga Jalam for Himself and was getting Himself bathed in it. This was the logical completion of our Kasi Yatra. As told earlier, Ramanatha Swamy had extended plans for us, which we did not know that day...!

(To be continued...!

Kasi Yatra Chronicles- Part 15

Agni Theertham is always the place of action. Many of these activities are supposed to be happening at Dhanushkodi, but people for their own reasons. Myself and Viji dipped in the water here also and started walking to the Temple with the kind treatment of Sun God.

The attire in all these activites were full, panch-kachcha veshti for me and madisar for Viji. With this we got into temple for theertha snanam. Except the fifth theertham, which was closed due to some repair work, we had bath in all the other theerthams. How much ever we tell, the experience of having bath in 22 theerthams has to be learnt as an experience than being read or heard...! Ajacent wells providing different chilled water and this being done for yugas is a miracle by itself...!

Once we reached back the hotel and changed our clothes to get ready for srartham. It is important that one does not bathe again after having done the 22 theertha snanam. We should only change the clothes and not have bath again outside these 22 theerthams. We went to Sastrigal home to do the Srartham, which went on very well. After the Brahmins had food and we had ours, some stark reality started haunting us. This was the waiting list of our return tickets. We were still in Waiting List 1 & 2 and we were supposed to start the next day evening. 

Shree Swaminatha Sastrigal was positive about this, but when we told this was 2 AC, he was not sure about the possibilities. Overall, our stand was that, we have come in as guests of Ramanatha Swamy and it was upto Him to treat us the best way...! He definitely had surprises for us, when we knew that the ticket never got confirmed till journey the next day...!

(To be continued...!)

Kasi Yatra Chronicles- Part 14

It was a sheer coincidence that I was able to connect to one Holy Soul the day before our travel toRameswaram. The Soul had forwarded the Rameswaram experiences which I took a printout for reference. I would not have known the significance of some areas, had I not got these inputs. Calling this as sheer coincidence is the simplest way to describe the event...!

We reached Rameswaram right in the morning at around 4:15, while ETA was 5 AM. We got down and walked out to see the Dakshinamurthy just before the exit. We prayed Him and got His Blessings and moved on. He was not visible to us during the last visit, the Holy Soul had opened our eyes to Him...!

We got ready at the same Hotel Venkatesh and met our Purohit Shree Swaminatha Sastrigal who is in the adjacent road. We started travelling to Dhanushkodi at around 7 AM. The same jeep which had two sentences on the front glass. One referring to Murugan and another (yes you got it...!) to Annamalaiar...! Mayilam Murugan happens to be our Family Deity and Annamalaiar is our Ishta Deivam - both of them ready to pick us up to Dhanushkodi. The soul who was driving the jeep is an ardent follower of Ramana Maharishi...! What more do you want in a good Yatra...!

We started the rituals on reaching Dhanushkodi and had a dip in the sethu. There was something different we experienced this time, the waves were dashing which was not the case last time. We asked Shree Swaminatha Sastrigal about this and then he showed the two shores. One side the ocean was waveless and on the otherside with heavy waves and Dhanushkodi is the spot they merge...!

It is Bay of Bengal on one side and Arabian sea on another side. Our Purohit said that the current created in its sangamam is good for health...! It was definitely bit tough to stand in this area, which is the actual tip of the entire land...!

There was one old person whom we met last time, who came out of nowhere. This time, my eyes were roving to find any such possible person at Dhanushkodi, but did not find anyone...! Maybe, my expectation made me miss this one...! We travelled back to Rameswaram with the next sequence of activities starting from Agni Theertham. The Sun was kind with us, even though He was shining strong, He made our bare foot walk comfortable.

(To be continued...!)

Kasi Yatra Chronicles- Part 13

Namaskarams

With His Blessings, 'm back...! Before I write about Kasi Yatra, I would like to share with you all the happy news about the overwhelming response this mail sequence has created. Starting from my own family members to so many other group members, there were quite a lot of mails - All This is attributed to my Aiyan Annamalaiyar. He gave the thought and He executed the plan and He made me share all this with you. So, all the best things of this writeup is owed to Him and any discrepancies are because of my oversight and aloofness.

I'm in no mood to jump into the last leg of the yatra and convey our blissful experience, instead dwell little on the significance of Kasi Yatra itself. Few tidbits on Kasi Yatra:-

• Kasi yatra is mandatory for everyone and is NOT a RELIGIOUS activity, but a life discipline
• Just that the yatri should be doing it for their Pithrus / Forefathers
• Plan Kasi yatra when your are physically comfortable, not in a age when you depend on others a lot
• Plan your Kasi Yatra with the help of your family Purohit (Vadhyar) if not, through some one whom you know, who will not advice 'quick yatras'
• While many activities could go wrong viz. 'Not doing sethu snanam', 'not doing veni dhanam in Prayag', 'shortening kasi stay', 'quickening gaya activities' and many more - ensure there is proper guide to do all things right, to the extent possible
• Have Him as your guide in Kasi Yatra apart from the mortal ones
• Never underspend or overspend in Kasi Yatra, this means you have to spend money which your conscience tells as the 'apt' one - very dicey though...!
• Make Kasi Yatra an enjoyable experience and do not ride any other horses (ex. Office work, Personal activities etc.) during this time
• Keep remembering that having a bath in Ganga is a chance that so many athmas in so many Universes are waiting for. Enjoy every bit of Ganga Matha's shower on us. Our Forefathers meant something special when they told that all our sins gets washed away when bathe in Ganga - a message to be deciphered beyond simple language
• Never ever criticize anyone asking for alms during yatra (even otherwise), since you never know to whom you would be providing the alms...! If you are no mood to donate a penny, keep quiet and move on
• Please don't experience a 'luxurious stay' during the yatra, what experience you get will definitely be luxurious for soul, sometimes not for body, but it SHOULD NOT MATTER
• Spread your good experiences with your near and dear and to all in your environment. In Kaliyug, it is important to do our bit for global harmony, do that little bit

Now, let me get into our Rameswaram travel on 27th May 2011. With His managing of the entire show with lots of care, we did not bother about our tickets being in waiting list till a week before travel. Two days before we got our ticket confirmed, unlike last time where it got confirmed on the day of travel.

Like last time, I went to Chengalpattu, which happens to be my native town, from my office in Mahindra City to board the train. My wife boarded it from Egmore, with whom I joined. This time there was another event, I signed an agreement, bit materialistic in nature, but a dream of mine right opposite to the CPT railway station. I got into train, and started travelling to Rameswaram...! He was waiting with lots of surprises for us...!

(To be contiued...!)

Kasi Yatra Chronicles - Part 12

Given a choice I would've slept for 2 full hours, but with the need to have Darshan of Kala Bhairavar, we had little time left. Myself with wife and MIL left by 3 PM on Sunday to Kala Bhairavar temple. We had a Pudhina Mango juice on the way. This was bit refreshing. We reached Kala Bhairavar temple around 3:30 pm. The auto driver who was also our guide, told that in another 10 min the temple would open. 

We continued to stand and time started moving. Probably Kala Bhairavar is expected to be incharge of time also, we had to spend lots of time there...! Around 4:45 pm the entrance opened up and people pushed forward. We had bought Kasi Kayiru, which is supposed to be placed on Kala Bhairavar's feet, after which it really gets its power. On entering we got Kala Bhairavar's Blessings and got the Kasi Kayiru also blessed. Pandas are the same everywhere, demanding money, but that's a way of life in Kasi, better to understand it and live with it.

Kala Bhairavar is a powerful Deity with a fierceful look.If one can take Him into their heart, He would be with us for all our good deeds, providing the necessary courage for its fruitful completion.With His Blessings, we proceeding to Chozhi Amman temple. She is supposed to be the sister of Lord Shiva, who once felt jealous about Her Brother getting all the attention. Lord Shiva became angry and cursed Her, for which She requested His pardoning. Lord Shiva became kind and offered that everyone visiting Kasi will visit Her to get to the Poorana Benefit of the yatra.

They give us five chozhis (sea shells) in the temple, out of which one should be held with us and the rest offered to Her. There was a very young boy who asked us to recite the sloka, which was conveying about our request to Her to give us the Full Benefit of Kasi Yatra. This Boy was very courteous and did not demand money.

On the last day early morning we also had a darshan of Varahi. The temple is open between 6 am and 8 am. This also seemed to a powerful temple, where we had to have the Darshan of Varahi from upstairs through a hole in the ground. Varahi is a gigantic figure standing below, where there are two provisions to look at Her fully and to have a Darshan of Her feet separately. We also earlier had Darshan of Sakshi Ganapathy, who becomes sakshi of our visit to Kasi.

After this we packed and started to the Varanasi Rly Station, where Sekar Sastigal came along. He saw us till we reached the platform and took leave from us. We profusely thanked Sekar Sastrigal and requested him to come home whenever he is in Chennai. We started on 24th Apr and reached on the morning of 26th Apr.

With His Blessings,we've now booked our tickets to Rameswaram on 27th May 2011 and would be updating all you. We plan to have samaradhanai sometime before or after this trip. Meanwhile feel free to write to me at ramkumarramachandran@yahoo.co.in for any queries. I will answer whatever is possible, and will put you on to Sekar Sastrigal otherwise. I strongly urge you to buy the Kasi Yathirai book by Shri Sreedharan referred in this series earlier. This gives a glimpse of Kasi Yatra, which I got only on the day of travel.

Thanks for the ones who read this, this long and wishing all of you who want to go on a Kasi Yatra a Heartul Wishes to have a Great Kasi Yatra...!

 

(To be continued - after Rameswaram trip...!)

Pranams

Ram

Kasi Yatra Chronicles - Part 11

We almost lived a Kasi-ian life during out Yatra. We had aloo every day, the way Kasi lives, at times aloo is available for Rs.2/- per kg, we were told. We bathed in Ganges frequently, had our clothes washed in Ganges water. Roamed around Kasi and were used to gallis and cows in those gallis...!It was like walking talking and sleeping Kasi. There was bit of Kasi inside all of us...!

On return from Gaya, we woke up for our coffee next day and were tempted to go for Ganga Snanam again. Sekar Sastrigal had planned for Pancha Theertha Srartham for that day. This demanded the ritual to start with Ganga Snanam, so our expectation and the ritual matched. The only difference was we had to go in full attire, unlike earlier snanams, where we had bath and then got ready. It was an excellent experience anytime, to have bath in Ganga...! We took bath and got into boat with full 'madi' and the possibility of 'madi' being spoilt was nil, since were wet when we got in the boat...!

In the boat we have 'kumuti and charcoal, which Viji used to prepare cook the rice brought by Sekar Sastrigal.The boat started moving and the cooked rice was used to prepare Pindams. We visited five ghats where we offered Pindams separately. We were asked to take bath in three places after getting into the boat. 

Each place the cooking is separate and pindam has to be prepared and offered into Ganges. As told earlier this is a very 'madi' offering, where there nil chances to do anything un-hygenic, as may happen in other places. Some info on this is here:- 

Pancha Theertha Sraddham Sradham and Pinda Dhanam is performed at the following ghats:-

• 1. Asi Ghat- Here the river Asi joins the river Ganga
• 2. Dashwamedha Ghat –The Rudra Sarovar mixes with Ganga in this ghat.
• 3. Varuna Ghat- The waters which washes God Vishnu’s feet is suppose to merge in Ganga in this Ghat.
• 4. Pancha Ganga Ghat- Here the waters of the five rivers of Dharmanadha, Dhoodhapapa, Kirana, Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswathi is suppose to merge.It is believed that the bath here is holiest.
• 5. Mani Karnika Ghat

 

This was a very heart warming exercise, where we feel that we offered Pindams to Pithrus in the most purest and respectful form. I told my Mom with lots of happiness and satisfaction the same, who also sounded very happy. 

Second half of the day we went for shopping. My wife Viji went with Sekar Sastrigal's wife and I went with Sekar Sastrigal. I bought three Kurtas and gave it for stitching there itself. Sekar Sastriga promised to despatch this through some Chennai Bhaktas who would be coming to Kasi, which I was perfectly fine and told him that there is no hurry.

Next day was the last day for us at Kasi and readied for a hectic schedule. Morning was Ko Dhanam, where there was good red cow brought in. I ensured my Mom was there to witness this. It was her effort of bringing me up without father from my 13th year and bless me to become whatever I'm today. My Father's and other forefathers Blessings were evident and I wanted my Mom to be present this precious moment. 

It was a beautiful Kamadhenu, as told, red in color and a small white patch on the forehead.It had a small calf born just 36 days ago, which was also there. We did Ko Pooja and it showed us a very comfortable position for us to conduct the pooja.My Mom was elated. After the pooja we went to on do the Dampathi Pooja at Sekar Sastrigal's residence. Smt & Sri Sekar Sastrigal were like our Kasi Viswanathar and Visalakshi. 

Later we gave Thamboolam to Sumagalis whom Sekar Sastrigal had invited. Later we went to Annapooreswari temple, where my wife had the 'bhagyam' of doing abisekham on her own.This is like the chance we got to do abisekham to Ganga Matha, something we never expected but She decided to give us. Later we went to Kasi Viswanathar temple again, this time had the chance of doing abisekham with Viji for Kasi Viswanathar.

All this was possible because of our Pithrus Blessings, The Divine Blessings and effort of Sekar Sastrigal. He was not only influential in Kasi, but also was very caring. He ensured whatever should be provided for Elders was done promptly and whatever to be done for the kids also promptly. Never did he let us down anywhere.

The last leg was to visit Kala Bhairavar, post lunch. By now were actually very tired...!

(To be continued...!)

Pranams

Ram

Kasi Yatra Chronicles - Part 10

There are sixty four ghats in Kasi. Each under a God's name or some Holy Personality's name or some King's name. Out of this only two ghats are used to burn the pyre viz. Harichandra Ghat and Manikarnigha Ghat. Out of these two, Harichandran Ghat has to burn one pyre atleast, since the ashes from this is taken for early morning abisekham to Kasi Viswanathar.

The day of travel to Gaya, we started early in the morning to Shivala Ghat and started our yet another exciting bath in Ganges. The experience is something that cannot be conveyed in words. The kids really enjoyed it. They were screaming and jumping in the water. We made several dips in the water. I remembered our 'Thula Snanam' that we had with the Blessings of Kaveri Matha in Srirangam. Probably Kaveri Matha blessed us to have yet another exciting experience with Ganga Matha...!

By early noon we started to Gaya and visited Bodhgaya on the way. We had a guide by name Mishra in his mid 30s, who was the only disappointing person in this entire tour. We were never sure what was the purpose of his accompanying. He either walked before us or behind us. Bodhgaya is a peaceful and beautiful place where Buddha got enlightened. The description of Buddha's enlightenment was in too simple words and if one attempts meditation, it was easily coming thru. The place was definitely something special...!

We reached Gaya around 8 pm and stayed in Karnatak Bhavan. This seems to be the place of all south indians coming to Gaya for Pinda Tharpanam. People are very courteous, but the facilities are bare minimum. If Pithru rituals are on the top of the mind, one need not bother about the facilities. Sekar Sastrigal had organized Shri Chandrasekar to take care of us at Karnatak Bhavan. We had a good Upma for dinner and went to sleep. 

Morning we got up and readied to go to Vishnu Padham, which is walkable from Karnatak Bhavan. Here we have to cook the rice using the water from Falguni. Water is not evident at the surface of Falguni, but on digging a little. There was a boy who was selling water by digging a huge crater on the bed of Falguni. We picked up water from this one.

We can offer pindam to our ancestors and to all known departed souls. This could be any of our deceased relatives, friends,pets, gurus, animals, birds etc. Motherless people have to offer 64 pindams and those with mother should offer 48 pindams. I offered 48, which included my classmate Alexander who recently passed away. Felt very happy, since his soul would've now settled peacefully.

These pindams were dropped on the Vishnu Padham, which is hard impression of Lord Vishnuhimself. Puranas tell that Gayasuran took a boon that whoever touches him will attain Moksham and reach heaven. Due to this there was no one coming to hell, and Heaven was overcrowded. Devars complained about this to Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu, in turn asked the Thevars to request Gayasuran's body to perform a yagna. This request from Devars was immediately accepted by Gayasuran and yagna was performed. But, Gayasuran's head was shaking and was not steady, for which Lord Vishnu pressed His foot on Gayasuran's body. 

Gayasuran understood all of their intent, and told that he would've done all this more willingly, if he knew it was Lord Vishnu's wish. He then asked Lord Vishnu to provide a boon again, where anyone doing Pinda Tharpanam here will make their Pithrus go to Moksha forever and all their misdeeds will be cleansed off. Lord Vishnu gave him this boon. It is so believed that when one provides Pinda Tharpanam and completes Gaya Srartham, their forefathers will reach Moksha and will never have birth again by having Happy Life in Heaven.

After this we went to Akshaya Vadam, the most fascinating place. This tree's root is in Prayag, trunk in Varanasi and tip in Gaya. This is the place Dasarathar is supposed to have got His Pindam. The first pindam was given to Dasrathar by Seetha...! Seetha who came out from Falguni, saw the hungry Dassrathar asking for Pindam.Since Shri Ramar was just then cooking the rice for Pindam, Seetha took the sand on the banks of Falguni and made into two Pindams and offered it to Dasarathar. Dasarathar was happy with this and consumed it.

When Shri Ramar offered Pindam, Dasarathar did not take it, instead informed that He has already taken it from Seetha. Shri Ramar asks for eye-witness to this incident, which Seetha had. They were Thulasi, Falguni river, Gaya Brahmin, Cow and Akshaya Vatam. Except Akshaya Vatam, all other, fearing conflict between Rama and Seetha, tell that they are not aware of this. Seetha curses these four, but Akshaya Vatam, which tells the truth is blessed to live across yugas. So Akshaya Vatam is very Holy. We did Pinda Tharpanam here and offered to Akshaya Vatam. 

We offered on Pindam to crow as well. Mom had a high sense of satisfaction. I could see from her face that there was sense of achievement and fulfillment. My prayer to Him for giving a strong physique and strong mind seems to have been addressed...!

We reached to Karnatak Bhavan to do Srartham, with homam. Vadhyar organized by Sekar Sastrigal at Gaya was very good. He guided us through slokas clearly. After Srartham, Gaya Brahmana Bhojanam was done. They don't take much of rice but more of pooris and vadais.Sekar Sastrigal asked my wife to server lots of Poori and Vadai to these brahmins to have a happy food. They also looked very happy after the bhojanam, and blessed us. 

When we sat to eat it was 4:30 pm. After this we had a small sleep and started back to Kasi around 6 pm. We reached Kasi around midnight. We were now getting into the last leg of our Kasi Yatra...! It continued look like dream...!

(To be continued...!)

Pranams

Ram

Kasi Yatra Chronicles - Part 9

The next day morning had my wife complaining of food poisoning and MIL complaining indigestion...! With His Blessings, my Mom was pretty normal...! He had ensured that my worst fears were fully addressed, which is of my Mom not being comfortable in the journey. Mom was fine and also advised what medication can each one have (my Father was a Pharmacist...!)

Again the day started at 6:30, when the piping hot coffee came, but we were no mood to jump in for the same, due to stomach problems. Sekar Sastrigal came in later to inform the day's itinerary. Seeing our situation, he became extremely concerned. He told that food would come from his home from now on and not from the identified cook. It looked like he strongly felt that food was the trigger. Looks like he was right, since the time food started coming from his home, we were alright.

It was Hiranya Srardham, Punyaka Vachanam and other rituals on Day 2 at Kasi. This happened at Sekar Sastrigal's residence. It was a nice place with a blend of old and new style, and was claimed to be a century old home. With stomach upset, I sat in the function with lots of worry, but with the belief that He would do whatever was right to me. We completed the rituals safely and went back to Ashram where we had our lunch. I took some medicine, which I always wanted to do as the last resort, but this time there were not many options.

After around 2 hours of sleep we got up and dressed in semi-formal attire (Veshti / Podavai) to the temples. It is surprising that such famous temples are in small 'gallis' / narrow roads. Mom also was there to have darshan of Anna Poorneswari (she also had some bigger good things in store for us later...!). We had a good darshan of all other deities around Anna Poorneswari. From there we reached Kasi Viswanathar temple.

Here was Kasi Viswanathar, we were waiting to have a Darshan all along...! The one, entire World is waiting to see...! What a place, what a crowd and what a simplicity of The Lord. He stands in the corner as a small structure, misleading people to be a simple soul, but in fact being the Saviour of many...! He only brought in Ganga Matha here...! He only made this place as His Place...! Shiva Parvathi first put their foot in Kasi, seeing this place to be very peaceful and for its beauty.

We were able to embrace Him and convey our respects and affection. I never thought I can bend so much, for my paunch...! He made it possible...! My Mom and MIL had the bhagyam of doing abisekham for Him...! What an opportunity..! All this amidst tight police supervision. Police were everywhere, bit rude bit harsh but doing their duty.

We also had the Darshan of Dundi Ganapathy, before getting into all these Darshan. From Kasi Viswanathar, we went to have a Darshan of Kasi Visalakshi. There were people from some madam singing tamil hymns. All of them looked to be Sanyasis. The Darshan of Kasi Visalakshi also looked to be a dream...! Suddenly it looked like having a darshan of Karpagambal at Mylai. Did Karpagambal come to Kasi or have been seeing Visalakshi at Mylai...! It was a beautiful experience...!

Later after a good dinner, we went into good sleep. We were to travel to Gaya the next day by early noon. Ganga Matha had plans to excite us the next day morning...! Next day morning we set off again to Shivala Ghat for some more exciting experience...!

(To be continued...!)

 

Pranams

Ram

Kasi Yatra Chronicles - Part 8

We marched on the banks of Ganga right from Shivala ghat to Prayag Ghat (Das Aswamedha Ghat), which was a wonderful experience by itself. Boatmen were calling us to get into boats and have a great view of the Ganga Maha Aarathi.

from their boats. We were never listening to them, our point was on Sekar Sastrigal, who was trotting fast before us. Myself, wife and the kids only were there. Very honestly, I had great fascination about Ganga Arathi, but never in my life time I thought I will be coming to look in person...! (But Ganga Matha had bigger things for us...!)

We reached the Prayag Ghat and thought of standing and having a good Darshan of Aarthi. This is a tourist attraction and there was huge crowd out there. My wife suddenly remembered what need not be remembered, she asked ' This is the place there was a bomb blast last year right?'. I did not want to answer her, getting into that state of mind will make us miss the action that was currently happening. 

There was young stage performer who was singing bhajans mellifluously. There was a sudden tapping from behind by Sekar Sastrigal. He showed us a dais which was empty, right before the middle arathi person. There were seven people waiting to perform Aarathi and we were made to sit comfortably on a decorated dais behind the fourth Aarathi. Again, this disbelief...! What am I doing...! How did this become possible? There were no questions to logical answers, but Ganga Matha had brought us here and has given a seat to look at the Aarathi for her.

Then, suddenly there was this second tapping behind me. Again, it was Sekar Sastrigal. He informed the most exciting thing. "They are calling you to do the initial abisekham to Ganga Matha". We were in total belief. I went into a state of trance. I cannot believe what was happening. Out of the thousands gathered there, we were called for doing the Ganga Abisekham after which the Ganga Maha Aarathi would start.

We got down the steps, helped by the Aarathi team and were made to do all the poojas to Ganga Matha. Me, my wife and kids were asked to do this. Smearing of kumkum, santhanam and all the Holy things. Milk was poured onto Ganga Matha and finally a garland put on her...! We returned to see the Ganga Maha Arathi start and enjoyed the full session...! At the time of sitting on the dais, we had another beautiful experience. There was huge Shri Satya Sai photograph smiling at us. We were moved to get His Darshan there...! This was couple of days He attained Siddhi.

My younger son Prashanth was bit uneasy throughout, but enjoyed the aarathi and other rituals. We walked back to the main road and got an auto back to the Ashram. On reaching the Ashram, Prashanth became sick with stomach upset and vomiting...! But now, I was quite relaxed, since I thought, that we have come as guests to Kasi Viswanathar, so let Him take care of all this.

Sometime later in the night my elder son Pranav complained the same, and in the middle of the night I had the same problem. But throughout all this, I've left it to Him to do whatever He feels fit. This was yet another adventure He gave for us...! It was only my wife, Mom and MIL who were normal. This also proved wrong the next day...!

(To be continued...!)

Pranams

Ram

Kasi Yatra Chronicles - Part 7

It was an excellent sleep on the day we reached Kasi. Sleeping on the lap of mother Ganga with the care of Kasi Viswanathar and Kasi Visalakshi, what more you need to have a peaceful sleep. Having immersed safely the Veni Madhavar brought from Rameswaram at Prayagai, the sleep was probably more peaceful.

Right in the morning at 6:30 we had Vijay, the guide deputed by Sekar Sastrigal knocking the doors of our room. Here I should tell about Balananda Teerthashramam. It is an excellent no-frills traditional building, which is really huge with plenty of rooms. Few closed places are dusty, but all places used by people were clean. There was a lady dhobi who came to collect our clothes for washing. I was thrilled by the possibility of our clothes washed with Ganga water. What a bhagyam...!

Morning we went to Ganga through the nearby (5 to 10 minutes from Balananda Ashram) Shivala Ghat. My Mom also came apart from my wife, kids and MIL. I had the Blessings of Him where my Mom was able to hold my hands and have Holy Dip in Ganga...! What a Blessing. The same person whom we were scared due to hip surgery, is here bending down to have Ganga Snanam...! Definitely Pithrus are looking at us and Blessing us...!

She peacefully completed the Ganga Snanam and was helped by Vijay, our guide, back to Ashram. Myself and the kids were excited and never felt like coming out. Since we had the sankalpam around 10 am, we were forced to come out of our snanam. We later dressed in traditional attire and went to a place near Sankara Madam for sankalpam. Sekar Sastrigal had informed us that there would be around thirty brahmins who will be present to bless us a Happy and Successful Kasi Yatra. I was amazed at the possibility of thirty Kasi Brahmins blessing all of us for our Kasi Yatra...!

When we entered the hall, there were already quite a few Brahamanas and our sankalpam started. All the stars and Gothrams of all of us, myself, Mom, Wife, Kids and MIL were asked and recited accordingly. Now, I was getting used to tell "Uththarae Parswe, sadapthae, varthamanae..." the north of Vindhyas sankalpam.

The brahmanas crowd started increasing and Sekar Sastrigal was on the top of his voice to tell the mantras. The Holy Vedas getting into our ears, we were thrilled, I'm sure it was making some goodness for our system, which no logic could prove. Then there was the Guru of Sekar Sastrigal, who told certain specific mantras for our wellbeing and for good Kasi Yatra.

After providing due respects to all the Brahamanas we set off to Manikarnigha Ghat on boat. We climbed the steps to reach Sakkara Theertham, which was across the road and needed to climb down. This teertham is the place where where Lord Shiva's third eye touched upon and Goddess Parvathi's Karnika dropped into (that was my understanding from my little Hindi knowledge, heard from guide Vijay). We did 'Prokshanam' of this chakkara theertham and brought some theertham back in a vessel to the boat to sprinkle on the kids.

We again had a bath at Manikarnigha ghat. Kids enjoyed this too...! The steps here are very very very slippery and one is advised utmost caution while getting down. I sat down for the last two visible steps and had a good bath. The pandas are always around you to do something or the other and later demand money. Here too, a person helped me take water and wanted some money when I got into the boat. Point is, in Kasi you never feel like telling a 'No' to anyone asking for alms...! You naturally tend to give them, without questioning...! I strictly followed Sekar Sastrigal's advice on this front.

In the evening, I was describing my Mom about the brahmanas at Sankalpam and told around thirty had come. Sekar Sastrigal, who came there told that it was not thirty, but fifty eight to be precise...! I was amazed. Brahmanas representing Rig, Yaju, Sama and Atharvana Vedham were there. Additionally, under Yajur, two sets of people with Krishna-Yajur and Sukla-Yajur were there he informed. He told all the Vedhas were recited for Happy and Successful Kasi Yatra...! I was moved...! Time and again, His Care is proven...!

Then we moved on to have a darshan of Ganga Maha Aarathi. We never knew the further surprises that Ganga Maa had for us, with mixed bags...!

(To be continued...!)

Pranams

Ram

Kasi Yatra Chronicles - Part 6

When our Kicha Sastrigal at Rameswaram told 'Pack Holy sand Veni Madhavar first in your bag to Kasi, before you forget', we were wondering 'how come one can ever forget the Holy sand Veni Madhavar'. In the train we heard this story. One of the family which travelled in the same train to Kasi had missed the Veni Madhavar. They ordered their Vadhyar and a relative to bring it in the car to the station, by which time train had started. So, Veni Madhavar was requested to be couriered...! Oh my God, I did not have the wildest dream of Kicha Sastrigal's words coming true for anyone.

On reaching Siva Madam and getting ourselves refreshed and had our first good coffee in three days, we felt we were alive and kicking...! We did our rituals there of Sankalpam and the rest and set off to Thriveni Sangamam. Prayagai (Prayag) is called as Theertha Raja. For the first time in life I was doing Sankalpam north of Vindhyas and the slokas differed to that extent. The sankalpam referred to the Kshetram (Prayag) and conveyed about Theertha Raja and also referred the near by cities of Kasi and Gaya and even referred Buddha...!

After the sankalpam we went to Veni Madhavar temple which was a quite one with lots of beauty. As a common one, all the famous temples of Prayag-Kasi-Gaya were in 'gallis' or narrow roads. None of them wore the pomp and splendor of south indian temples like Kanchi, Madurai or Tanjavur.

We took the Sumo to Thriveni Sangamam. On the way we had Darshan of temple built by Sankara Madam and the very famous Anjaneyar temple. Anjaneyar here is below the ground level and in horizontal position to the ground. There was a big crowd out here.

Thriveni Sangamam is the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswathy. Here ladies are expected to do Veni Dhaanam, which is cutting part of their hair and giving it to Thriveni Sangamam. This is supposed to be very Holy Act. The husbands are expected to do this and later comb the wife's hair and make it three bands and cross band them. The three bands are supposed to be Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswathy. While three bands are evident while fixing the hair, only two are visible outside, similarly only Ganga and Yamuna are evident outside and Saraswathy is hidden below. 

These three Holy Rivers confluence is the place we have to take our Holy Dip. I also was shaved off a bit from my head hair, since that was mandatory. Later all of us, with our kids had a good Thriveni Sangamam Snanam. It was a beautiful experience. We wanted to be there for one more hour, but our guide informed us to pack back. There was an elderly couple from Delhi who were also with us in the boat. They were very jovial and were enquiring how to put 'pinnal' for bob cut ladies...! There is something special about this pair. We met them in Allahabad, Thriveni Sangamam first, later at Kasi on the boat and as well in Gaya (Bodh Gaya)...! I felt my own Grandpa has been going round watching me with my Grandma...! Possibly true.

After Thriveni Sangamam we returned to Siva Madam and performed Pinda Thaanam. Later we had our lunch and had a small sleep. We had brought in Ganga Jal from Thriveni Sangamam which we packed in various sizes of sombus, including one big one for Ramanatha Swamy abisekham. We packed all and started our travel to Kasi, the place of maximum action...! We reached bit late in the evening and reached Balananda Ashram at Kasi. We got a huge room with five cots @ Rs.150 per cot. It was a very neat room with attached bath and toilet, which were crystal cler. In half hour's time Sekar Sastrigal was there with strong piping hot coffee, receiving all of us with his inimitable smile...! 

Only next to The Amighty's Blessings, our Pithrus Blessings it was Sekar Sastrigal's (+919335474312 / +91 9936651109) excellent co-ordination and concern for our comfortable stay and doing rituals, we had this wonderful Kasi Yatra. His presence radiated power and any weak soul, ailing soul or lethargic soul immediately came to life. Many a times Viji or me or my MIL would've offered to stay back in the room, but when he came and asked 'Vaango Kilambalaam' we were all up and ready for the trip.

We went to bed after a good chappathi - alu sabji with the thoughts of Ganga and our snanam in it...! We never thought Ganga had bigger plans for us during our stay in Kasi...!

(To be continued...!)

Pranams

Ram

Kasi Yatra Chronicles - Part 5

Long travels in trains with big group is real fun. We had a long travel, but our group was My Mom, myself, my wife, my kids Pranav & Prashanth and my Mother-in-law. It was exciting one with all foods packed for two days in compact a/c compartment. I felt like being on a picnic than a pilgrimage, just missed a bigger crowd of my cousins and uncles / aunts.

There were last minute adventures here too. We went to the identified Kasi Viswanathar temple on the morning of the travel. The gurukal was very kind, when we informed about the Kasi Yatra he blessed us for good trip and did pooja for the same as well. Meanwhile, I had hunted down this book on Kasi Yatra by Shri Sreedharan (+91 44 2224 1414 / sridharan@swarnapuri.in) and had to visit the shop near Appar Swamy koil street by noon. 

With my Mom having undergone her hip replacement surgery, I was bit wondering how to engage the battery vehicle at Central Station. My MIL reached the station in the first trip by car and waited for us. The second trip all the rest of us with rest of luggage reached the station. The place where we alighted and walked in, my MIL was standing to inform us that, that was the very spot where battery car would pickup elders...!

The battery car came for some VIP and to my surprise the VIP lady was accommodative to my Mom. She volunteered to make my Mom get in the vehicle and sit comfortably. It was amazing, I felt that I had to make my Mom walk a bit, then take the vehicle. Inspite of the doctors confidence and my Mom's readiness to walk a little, I yearned that she is comfortable through out the journey. The prayers seemed to have been answered and probably Kasi Visalakshi was there to give my Mom a Happy Ride to the train...!

The travel in train was mixed experience of boring, funny, interesting, relaxing and enjoying...! We ate, talked, watched, slept and kept wondering at time, what to do. After two days of travel, we reached Allahadbad. The train was early by 30 minutes and I went to out see what station this was, due to Mom's insistence and discovered we have reached ALD...!

We had our guide Dheeraj waiting for us there. We travelled to Siva Madam from the station and the Prayag experience started...! 

(To be continued...!)

Pranams

Ram