Advertisement
Published: December 25th 2009
OLD COUPLES KASHI YATRA VIA KHAJURAHO (8)
10th October, 2007 - Wednesday.
After visiting the temple complex, we proceeded to the Balaji Temple which was a recent construction. This temple was constructed by Shri Parasaram Pattabhi Ramacharyulu belonging to Vaikhanasa branch of Vaishnavism with the contributions raised from Vaikhanasa Samajam of Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh). Shri Grandhi Subbarao proprietor of Crane Nut Powder of Guntur constructed a Kalyana Mandapam adjacent to the Balaji Temple. A lady affectionately called as Sri Mataji is incharge of this temple complex and she looks after the management of this temple. She is also running a Veda Pathasala teaching Vedas and Vaikhanasa Puja of Vishnu temples. At the time of our visit the Veda Pathasala students are reciting Tulasidas Rama Charita Manas. It is said that this parayanam goes uninterruptedly for 24 hours as that day happens to be an auspicious day. About 10 rooms were constructed with the donations from devotees for providing accommodation to pilgrims. As rooms were available we decided to shift our residence from the Rahi Guest House to this temple complex. On prior request meals arrangements also will be made to pilgrims in this temple. We noticed that Sri Mataji is an able Administrator managing the Veda Pathasala, the Temple and in providing facilities to the Pilgrims, especially from Andhra Pradesh. We returned to the Rahi Guest House, vacated the rooms and shifted our temporary residence to the rooms in Balaji Temple Complex. We also had our lunch in the temple along with the Veda Pathasala students.
We also learnt that this is the place where Lord Hanuman saved Rama and Lakshmana from the Patala Demon King Myravana and brought them to earth from Pathala Lokam. Naimisaranyam is the place where Maharshi Suta described the procedures for performing different Vratas such as Vinayaka Vratam, Varalakshmi Vratam, Satyanarayana Vratam, etc., besides revealing to other Sages and devotees Mahabharatam and Maha Bhagavatam written by Shri Veda Vyas. It is the Taposthal of Manu Maharaj.
After taking a brief rest and siesta, I decided to recite Vishnu Sahasranam and Sri Satyanarayana Vrata Katha in the premises of Balaji temple of Naimisaranyam which my friends Mrs. & Mr. V.Ks welcomed. After taking bath of cold water with great difficulty (hot water is not available!) we gathered in the front court yard of the temple where there are also five rooms for pilgrims. We noticed that a group of lady pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh were there in one of the rooms and an old couple natives of Visakhapatnam in another room. The old couple are 10 years senior to us and said to be on pilgrimage throughout the year! Here I feel that it is more appropriate to say a few words about these old couple who are on pilgrimage for about 8 to 9 months in an year for the last 10 years.
The gentleman’s name is Shri Raghupathirao. On enquiry he stated that he was an employee from Rourkela Steel Factory and later transferred to Visakhapatnam Steel Factory from where he retired from service in a managerial cadre. He belonged to Visakhapatnmam District. He proudly stated that while in service he spent most of the time in AC rooms and in pilgrimage he accustomed to stay in wherever and whatever accommodation is available. He stated that he had two sons and one daughter - all well settled in life - one in Delhi, another in Bangalore and the third in Secunderabad, happily living in their own houses. After retiring from service he and his wife decided to spend their remaining years of life in pilgrimage to various punya kshetras in India. He has visited almost all pilgrimages places in India. He said that he stayed for more than one year in Kasi. He spends most of his time in an year along with his wife in Punya Kshetras only. On repeated requests from his children, he spends two to three months in their houses. His wife interfered in this conversation and stated that after staying for a month in the residence of his children, they get suffocated and decide to go on pilgrimage and spend life peacefully in the presence of
God and other devotee pilgrims.
This time they decided to spend two to three months in Naimisaranyam, though this is not their first visit to this place. I curiously asked them what they will do two to three months in this place where there are no facilities and flow of pilgrims like in Kashi, Tirupati, etc. They stated that this is a very peaceful and calm place and this time they decided to stay upto Sankranti here (though the atmosphere would be very cold and not congenial to old people to live who are accustomed to comforts). This time they wanted to read and byeheart Durga Saptasati in these two months. I found they cook their meal for lunch and take tiffin in the night provided by the temple. They happily stated that they have discharged their duties towards their children and they wished to spend their remaing years of life in a Vanaprasta stage as described in our Sastras. I also noticed that at their age (above 70 years) they are carrying with them the cooking utensils and Gas cylinder and stove. They travel in trains and public transport system unlike me in a car. I used to wonder whether Vanaprastha way of living is possible in present conditions. After seeing these old couple, my doubt vanished and still there are many people who spend their old age in Vanaprastha life -not in old age homes - and I heartily wished and determined to try to follow in their foot steps.
After this lively conversation and taking their blessings, we started reciting Vishnu Sahasra Namam during which period the lady pilgrims from A.P. also participated. After this I recited the Satyanarayana Vrata Kalpam from the book which I carried along with me. By 8 pm these are finished and after taking the light refreshments provided by the temple authorities, we rested for the day with full satisfaction of having a successful tour to the pious Naimisaranyam described in our Puranas. I give below the phone number and address of Balaji Mandir in Naimisaranyam:
Sri Mataji - Mobile No.09415766122 & Phone No.05865-251274
Sri Balaji Mandir,Naimisharanyam, Sitapur District-261402 (UP)
11th October, 2007 - Thursday.
By6-30 am we were ready and started our journey from Naimisaranyam. The next place of our visit is Ayodhya. On the way before Lucknow, we had our breakfast in a Reliance Petrol Bunk Restaurant at about 9 am. After Lucknow bye pass road, we travelled through Barabanki, a big town. On the road we saw a Sardarji’s Tyres and Tubes shop when we suddenly remembered the advice of our friend in Nagpur to keep an additional tube in the car. We stopped for taking tea and also purchasing a tube from this shop. At about 1 pm after crossing a Railway Line, the car fell in a ditch on the road and the tyre punctured. We replaced the wheel with the stephny and stopped at a petrol bunk where there was a tyre/tube repairing shop. We found that the tube was useless because of travelling for about 50 metres after puncture and there were cracks on the tyre also. See the destiny. We replaced the tube which we purchased in Barabanki and kept the damaged tube as a stephney with the new tube. After that at about 2 pm we took lunch in BPCL petrol bunk restaurant near Ramsahenighat town from where Ayodhya is at a distance of 1 and half hours’ journey. In the outskirts of Ayodhya a person stopped our car and stated that he is a tourist guide and show us all important places. We declined his offer and proceeded further. After 10 minutes we found that he is following our car on a motor cycle and again stopped our, repeating his request. So we decided to engage his services and took him in our CAR and we requested to show us good accommodation for our stay. First he took us to the guest house maintained by the UP Tourism. Though the rooms are spacious and the Guest House is situated in a big area, the Guest House is full of monkeys. The moment we entered the court yard, a number of monkeys stepped on our car top and on bonnet. This Guest House is near Railway Station and at a distance from the town. So we asked the Guide to take us to any Lodging place in the town near the temple complexes. He took us to a private Lodge where there was no accommodation. Again he took us to Rampathi Niwas Dharmashala where rooms were available. Though the rooms are not good and neat we decided to stay there as it is in the centre of the town and nearer to temples and shopping complexes. It is about 4-30 pm by the time we settled in the room. The Guide stated that he will come back by 5-30 pm and take us to some of the temples.
As promised he came at 5-30 pm and we proceeded in our car to various temples in the town. He had shown us Hanuman Temple, Sita ki Rasoi temple and other temple compexes in the town. After wandering till 7-30 pm we returned to the Dharmashala and took rest for the day.
A FEW WORDS ABOUT AYODHYA - THE ABODE OF LORD SRI RAMA
AYODHYA is one of the seven important cities of ancient Bharata Desam. It is ruled by Suryavamshi Kings in which Sri Rama is the Greatest.
HANUMAN TEMPLE IN AYODHYA
Situated in the centre of the town, the ancient Hanuman temple is approachable by climbing 76 steps. The legend says that Hanuman used to live here in a cave guarding the Janmabhoomi of Lord Rama. The temple is a massive structure in the shape of four-sided Fort with circular basions at each corner and is the most famous and well preserved shrine In Ayodhya.
Ayodhya is the divine land where Vishnu incarnate Sri Rama was born and spent much of his life time. The town is situated on the banks of River Sarayu where we can walk over the streets where Lord Rama and Sri Sita might have passed thousands of years back. We can feel the divinity in the air which takes us for a ride into the ancient era. The divine city Ayodhya holds the heavenly heritage of Lord Rama and his exemplary ruling which is still remembered as Rama Rajya with respect and devotion.
We noticed that late in the night about 20 pilgrims, mostly ladies, from Andhra Pradesh stayed in this Dharmashala.
12th October, 2007 - Friday.
In the morning we proceeded to the banks of River Sarayu and had a sankalpa sahita holy bath in the River. After returning to the Dharmashala, we along with the Guide proceeded to the Ramajanma Bhoomi site. This is said to be the place where Lord Rama was said to have taken birth and there is a small Lord Rama temple here. At this location there used to be the Babri Masjid, which was constructed in 15th Century by the Moghul Kings. The mosque was destroyed in 1992 and at present a small idol of Lord Ram Lala was kept and worshipped. Before going to this place we have to walk about 1 km under strict supervision of CRPF guards and checking at more than 5 or six places. Nothing is allowed to carry while going to this place, including purse, cell phone, etc. We noticed that more than 1000 CRPF personnel are guarding this dilapidated structure throughout the day in shifts. After seeing the place and the security provided we felt what a colossal waste of human resources for the last more than 15 years! We also felt the religious fanatics have succeeded in the making the Government spend huge money and services of Security Men in guarding this dilapidated structure and place - for nothing.
OM TAT SAT OM TAT SAT OM TAT SAT
RAGHAVARAO U.V.G.V. DUGGIRALA
HYDERABAD, Dt.25th DECEMBER, 2009.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.131s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 9; qc: 48; dbt: 0.0902s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
sriram
non-member comment
Sir your article about naimisaranyam and ayodya is excellant and it is very useful as iam plaaning to visit these places soon. once again thankyou very much sir.