When I started walking alone, by 5 I reached a spot where a boy from a shop came running to me and asked for time. I told him that there was no watch or mobile with me to find the time. Then he informed me that my Guruswami had requested me to go back to Mukkizhi and take an auto to Pampa.
I smiled at Him and moved away. Immediately after few shops another shop owner stopped me and told the same thing. This person sounded more scary and told for another 2 KM Karimala was going to be very steep. His gestures were bit scaring. I looked at him and told 'Look, Aiyappan has brought me here. If He Wishes me to finish this yatra He will do it. I'm not contributing in any way to this yatra, it is He who is driving everything. If He can then I will definitely go thru all this'. In hindsight, it is very surprising to see my mindset at that point in time. There was not an iota of negative thought about the yatra. There was only an excitement inside me.
Another gentleman came and told that I should be reaching Karimala Medu by 7 PM. He also informed that by 6:40 PM we can have Jyothi Darisanam from Karimala Medu. This inspired me. I told if I can bit fasten up, with His Blessings, I can possibly see Jyothi as well. Till then, having Jyothi Darisanam was not in the top of my mind. Every step on the Periya Paathai was exciting for me and Jyothi Darisanam was got, it was more an icing on the cake.
After that I started walking and suddenly sensed that there were no one in the forest apart from me. For around a KM, there were no one before or after me. It was a very wonderful experience. Then I heard that sound 'chachak chachak', I was not sure what it was. It looked like my partially filled water bottle was creating clugging noise. Later i heard the same sound and suddenly decided to stop. I stopped and looked around. The sound was clear, like someone walking on the dryed leaves. When I looked around there some disturbances.
Then it occured to me, it possibly is HIM. Aiyappan was accompanying me, even now a shrill chill runs down my spine when I think about this. I was so happy, so excited, so emotional and He is with me, He is proving that He takes care. This is an experience that comes once a lifetime...! By 6:10 I was in Karimala Medu.
My Jyothi Darisanam was a very different one. I saw it through my heart...! Saw it with my eyes close and ears open. I called home to convey my Guruswami, who was not reachable. I informed the place where 'm and also had the Jyoti Darisanam...!
I've resolved not to make calls home, till I completed the yatra, but this call Aiyappan had done with a purpose, I understood later. Almost at this juncture, was the sad event at Pulmedu. People at home would've been pushed to worry, if the call me from had not landed at the same moment.
That night I did not have anything to keep as my pillow and no shirt also. I told to myself that Aiyappan who did so many things will take care of this also. The shop keeper helped me me with rolled up matress and a dhoti to cover. I least expected these here and got them with His Blessings. Aiyappan had sent another Holy Soul with me at this point. This Holy Soul slept in the same place and gave me lots of messages. The Holy Soul also accompanied me down from Karimala, next day morning...!
When we reached Periyanavattom, my co swamis were waiting for me, almost in full tears. They seemed to have not slept the night before, wondering what I was doing. I answered the usual way 'Aiyappan takes care'. From there we started our journey to Pampa for the next leg of going to Sannidhanam...!
(To be continued...!)
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