A Pilgrimage to Divine Destinations - Kashi, Gaya, Allahabad, Ayodhya
- Mylapore Trio & Sugathan, Sumukhi Foundation
Info: srimylaporetrio@gmail.com / srimylaporetrio.in
We are in an era in which we need to be educated time and again, about
our own roots - culture and tradition. Many of us believe that Faith in
our religion, devotion to God & service to elders / mankind are the
basic values that needs to be imbibed. This would be more appropriate
through religious / historic tours.
As a part of the annual pilgrimage to Divine Destinations, this year the
Mylapore Trio along with Foundation Secretary Sugathan went on Kashi
Yatra for about 12 days in the Month of June 2015. The journey started
from Chennai to Varanasi and then to other places.
The Divine Destination was Varanasi - Kashi - the ultimate place. We had
a holy bath in the most sacred river Ganges early morning 3 days for
hours together, worshiped Lord Vishwanatha 7 times through morning,
afternoon, evening and night rendered songs on Lord Shiva, had a
dharshan of Goddess Annapurani & Goddess Visalakshi many times.
Above all, All four of us were individually blessed to perform 12 types
of Abhishegams to Lord Kashi Vishwanath, beginning from Ganga Jal from
Silver Gomukh, followed by Milk, Curd, Honey, Ghee, Manjal, Kumkum,
Chandan, Vibhoothi, Jigina dust, Vaasanai Dhravyam, Pushpam, Maalai,
Naivedhyam, Aarathi. The most privileged thing was that all of us
performed all Abhishegams individually and were able to stand near the
Linga for about ten minutes without any interruption in the holiest of
the holy spot, where hundreds and thousands of people congregate every
minute. It was a very divine experience, which is in explicable and
unforgettable.
In the evening we had an awesome experience of being in the
Ganges for 3 hours. We embarked on a boat and visited all the Ghats
including Harichandra, Manikarnika, etc. We were caught unaware in a
sudden sand storm in the middle of the Ganges, nothing was visible, a
very dangerous situation, boats were tossed, waves were rough, a
nightmare and after a few minutes normalcy returned, our breath too.
It was a divine watch to see the Ganga Aarathi during dusk – a lifetime
spectacle. The atmosphere was electrifying and the air rented with the
slogan “Ganga Maathaaki Jai”.
We also crisscrossed the lanes and by lanes of Kashi and visited
many local sites like Benaras Hindu University established by Shri.
Madan Mohan Malavia, Kaal Bhairav Temple, Kanchi Shankara Mutt,
Kamakoteeswarar and Kamakoteeswari Temple, Naattukkotai Nagarathar Mutt.
The most important place was the Kumara Guruparar Mutt. It is said that
it was he who retrieved the Kashi Vishwanath Temple from the Muslim
rulers through legal arguments in chaste Hindustani, even though he knew
only Tamil, which is considered to be a divine miracle. Later he
attained Jala Samadhi in Ganga. The Temple later passed many hands and
is now with the UP Govt. We had a very strange experience of watching tens
of dead bodies burning in Manikarnika and Harichandra Ghats without much
ado. Thrilled to know about the most peculiar and strange curses on
certain aspects in Kashi. It was indeed a lifetime experience to be in
the holiest of the holy place - Kashi.
Next visit was Gaya & Bodhgaya. We worshiped Vishnu Paadam,
Phalkuruni River, Akshyavadam at Gaya. Cherished the story of Sita
performing Srardham for Dasaratha with five elements as Saakshis and her
curse on them for their “Poi Saakshi”. Later we made a visit to the
Bodhgaya and were amazed & awestruck to see the Bodhi Tree and the
exact spot where Prince Siddhartha attained Nirvana and became Lord
Buddha. Young Buddha bikshus were performing religious dogmas in a very
silent manner in a serene atmosphere and in a spiritual ambience. We
lost ourselves in the chanting of “Buddham Sharanam Gachchami”. We also
visited many other Buddhist monasteries built in various styles by
different countries like China, Japan, Thailand, Srilanka, Nepal, Tibet
etc…
At Allahabad - had a holy dip in the Triveni Sangamam, the
confluence of Ganga, Yamuna & the mythical Saraswathi and also had
dharshan of Sakthi peetam - one of the 51 holy places of the Goddess
Parvathi. Thrilled to visit “Ananda Bhavan” the ancestral house of the
Nehrus and where Indira Gandhi was born and wedded to Feroz. Every inch
of the house has great historical significance. Great leaders including
Mahatma Gandhi have visited, stayed and discussed and chiseled our
freedom movement from this very building. Every room, nook and corner
have been protected with glass panes and well maintained.
We then continued our trip to the historic place of Ayodhya - rendered
Ram Bhajans for 5 hours continuously, then had a holy dip at River
Sarayu and worshiped Lord Rama at His birth place. Sang Mahatma Gandhi’s
favorite song “Raghupathi Ragava Raja Ram” in front of the Deity - A
thrilling experience. It was literally a fortress to enter the site
including a dozen security checks.
We also visited Sarnath - the place where Lord Buddha gave his First
Sermon after attaining enlightenment, in which place the famous Ashoka
Pillar (Emblem of the Govt. of India) stands a testimony to it.
On the whole it was an unforgettable and cherishable divine
experience for us & which would remain ever green in our memory. We
re-discovered many historical facts and also sublime values through this spiritual Kashi Yatra.
Manikarnika Ghat – Leaning Temple on the banks of the Ganga-Kashi
Maha Bodhi Temple at Buddha Gaya
The Historic Bodhi Tree at Buddha Gaya
The Historic “Ananda Bhavan” – the Ancestral House of the Nehru’s at Allahabad
