WANDERLUST: The Path Within (Part 2) - Two Days in Rishikesh

As I was in Delhi during the time of Kanwar Yatra, I thought of going to Rishikesh to bring Ganga Jal (Holy Ganges Water) for the rituals in home. So here is my pilgrimage to Rishikesh from Dehradun divided in Two Parts, (due to the length of the post was too big to be unleashed on un-suspecting readers). The story below is from the day two in Rishikesh. To read the FIRST part, DAY ONE, click here…

Krishna giving the knowledge of Bhagwat Gita to Arjuna
Sculpture at Triveni Ghat.

yada yada hi dharmasya | glanir bhavati bharata ||

abhyutthanam adharmasya | tadatmanam srjamy aham ||

Praritranaya Sadhunam | Vinashaya Cha Dushkritam ||

Dharamasansthapnaya |Sambhavami Yuge-Yuge.||

(Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion--at that time I descend Myself. For the protection of the good, for the destruc­tion of the wicked and for the establishment of righteousness, I am born in every age.) 

– BHAGWAT GITA CHAPTER IV – SHLOKA 7 & 8

(To hear a beautiful rendition of this shloka, please click here..)

The day two started with my nephew Aniket Pandey, who joined me from Dehradun and my host of the day was Swami Omkarananda, previously of Sivananda Ashram. My old friend Swami Yatidharmananda, who is traveling europe in order to spread knowledge of yoga, specially requested me to meet him to design and work on the Yoga Ashram being created through the help of some of our friends. Swami Omkaranada ji is an amazing personality. Traveled far and wide, did his PhD in Metaphysics from Japan, studied with buddhist monks in Tibet and had to leave the place incognito, when Chinese Govt ordered all the monks to leave. His thought process, his clarity of vision and desire to promote yoga across the world is exemplery. There are people like Swami ji, who make this devbhoomi a spiritual place. After morning rituals and meditation, we reached Swami ji's Yoga Ashram near Ram Jhoola. 

The place of stay, just above the bank of river Ganges, afford a lovely view of the river, the bridge and the ashrams and hills across. My favorite sand beach is now submoerged in the flood of river Ganges but still having early morning bath, on the ghat visible from the room is still the same. The clouds over shadow the distant hills but the crystal clear air, the serinty of the mountains makes a lovely view...

As the river meanders through the Rishikesh Valley, I remember those silent cold nights, when I used to go down to the river along with a Sadhu to stand in the cold water before the sunrise and chant Mantras for hours together. At the far in the distance where the river bends, I can see my favorite place of food. German bakery's Little Buddha restaurant. So many friends that I have had met and made there...

A silent place for early morning mediation, before the sunrises is being created and is one of my favorite place to be. The river silently flows below, murmuring soft vibrations of energy with in your soul and slowly easing out the essence of ego and self to flower forth and fall... 

On the right hand side, the suspension bridge comes to life by early morning.. and by 7 - 8 AM, the traffic comes alive on this and gives a constant call to close the meditation and walk across to either Choti Wala or to Little Buddha for sumptuous breakfast. I usually prefer the road side Chaiwala, just at the other end of the bridge and probably a piece of bread... and then walk all the way to German bakery and sit on the overhang of the second floor overlooking the River Ganges and finish reading the book that I am currently reading. Shankaracharya's Discourse on Gita... 

The ashram across the Yoga Ashram, comes alive in the morning and find many devotees going about their morning meditations...

Some like this lady, is deep in her thoughts, looking for some long lost reason in the distance of life... lived. 

As I started back on my journey back to Dehradun, to catch up with my late night train to Delhi, the high mountain peaks got me to promise to be back...

The setting sun, illuminated my path and the thoughts that filled my self, reminded me how important it is to live in this now, savour the moments passing by and be fully within this 'now'. Life is not lived in the past or the future, it is in the present and when we learn to live in the present, fully wholly we know life as it is... not what it was and can be... in future.

Just listen with laughter in your heart

The soft breeze do sing

The beautiful life's love song

A beautiful sunset on the way, gave me a farewell and I look forward to being in Dev Bhoomi Rishikesh again... I hope you have enjoyed this walk with me ...

__

Shashi

ॐ नमः शिवाय

Om Namah Shivaya

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The Path Within - Two days in Rishikesh (Part I)            JIM CORBETT TIGER PARK

WANDERLUST: The Path Within (Part 1)- Two days in Rishikesh Himalaya

Every year, I visit Rishikesh in Himalaya but this time I got a chance to visit devbhoomi (God’s own earth) in the Hindu month of Shravan (July – Aug). Shravan month is sacred in Hindu system for various festivals that are celebrated during this period like Janamashtami (Lord Krishna’s birthday), Raksha Bandhan, Naag Panchami, Basava Panchami etc. Shravani Mela is a major festival time at Deoghar in Jharkhand with thousands of saffron-clad pilgrims bringing holy water around 100 km on foot from the Ganges at Sultanganj.

Shiva Statue at Haridwar

Shravan is also the time of the annual Kanwar Yatra, the annual pilgrimage of devotees of Shiva, known as Kanwaria make to Hindu pilgrimage places of Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri in Uttarakhand to fetch holy waters of Ganges River. Kanwar yatra is related to churning of ocean of the milk in Hindu Puranas. When poison came out before Amrita and world started burning from its heat then lord Shiva accepted to inhale poison. But, after inhaling it he started suffering from negative energy of poison. In Treta Yuga Lord Shiva's devout follower Ravana did meditation. He brought holy water of Ganga by using kanwar and pour it on lord Shiva temple in Puramahadev. It released Lord Shiva from the negative energy of poison.

As I was in Delhi during the time of Kanwar Yatra, I thought of going to Rishikesh to bring Ganga Jal (Holy Ganges Water) for the rituals in home. So here is my pilgrimage to Rishikesh from Dehradun divided in Two Parts, (due to the length of the post was too big to be unleashed on un-suspecting readers J). The story below is from the DAY ONE and to read the second part, DAY TWO, click here…

Sculpture of Lord Krisha as Charioteer, giving knowledge of Bhagwat Gita
to warrior Arjuna at Triveni Ghat in Rishikesh

yada yada hi dharmasya | glanir bhavati bharata ||

abhyutthanam adharmasya | tadatmanam srjamy aham ||

Praritranaya Sadhunam | Vinashaya Cha Dushkritam ||

Dharamasansthapnaya |Sambhavami Yuge-Yuge.||

 – BHAGWAT GITA CHAPTER IV – SHLOKA 7-8

(To hear this shloka, click here)

(Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion--at that time I descend Myself. For the protection of the good, for the destruction of the wicked and for the establishment of righteousness, I am born in every age.) 

My journey started from Delhi, by Rajdhani Express, one of the fastest train to reach Dehradun. I usually travel to Rishikesh, by road, but because of the large rush of Kanwarias, the road from Delhi to Rishikesh via Meerut, Roorkee etc is closed for traffic. Well, this kind of thing can only happen in India I guess. The idea was to reach Dehradun and then after over night stay, planned to visit Rishikesh, starting very early in the morning.

The rains has swept the forest, the land and the atmosphere clean and pure. The clouds in the distance hugging the mountain hills, were almost giving you a call to change your course and head for those peaks. 

On the way, there I saw prayer flags of Buddhist  wondering about those monks and kind of searched them around. I have special affinity towards Buddhism, as I believe in their concept of peace and harmony, to a large extent. As it was getting delayed and could not find anyone around, I moved on, as the distance was long and I had to reach Rishikesh before the sun was high in the east.

The weather was lovely, the clouds gave me company all the way from Dehradun and at the Triveni Ghat, they come out in full form. Hiding the distant Himalayan peaks from view and soft falling rain drops, made the first impression of Holy River Ganges, an amazing experience. Compared to all the times, that I have had visited this Devabhoomi, the river was in full flow. it reminded me of the recent devastation, the cloud burst and floods in the upper region of Himalaya, specially in Kedarnath, this river has brought on its way. The life is not only about salvation and enlightenment or even of living in karma, but also of being compassionate and soulful in the face of calamity and difficulties. I was happy the way, the local people have had taken this in their stride and brought the normalcy back in their life, after a devastating catastrophe that left 10s of thousand dead. 

Unusually, the Triveni Ghat was uncrowded and the banks of the river afforded a lovely view of the long stretch of the beach. I could see my brother in law who accompanied me in this journey in the distance...

Reaching the final destination, at last I was relieved. The soft spray from the waves of Ganges, from the steps of the ghat, washed away all the exertion and tiredness. In the back ground, two of the fishermen, were fishing for things (Netting Coins, offerings and some times I was told, dead bodies in recent times) and the other side of the bank, was the beginning of the forest, that is said to contain wild elephant, assorted animals and many yogis who live in isolation. On the way to Neelkanth Mahadev Temple (probably the most powerful temple of Lord Shiva around Rishikesh, 30 KM's by road and 12 KMs by trek), some times one does come across some of them.

In the distant bank, a family moved along, probably in search of a place to bath and refresh. The way kids were hanging on to the mother, it looked more like a search of secluded spot for feeding them. 

And another women, found a spot along the bank to probably meditate on this around her and her life... seeking solution or solitude or just a time to reflect. I find that the banks of the Ganges, in itself is a powerful trigger to push you on a journey of self discovery. If you just let yourself flow in the flow of Ganges, you will probably end up flowering within... and that's one of the reason, Rishikesh - The Spiritual Capital of the World, beckons me all the time. 

But then there is day to day life... like this girl focused on reaching her school, that's further down the river. Determination on her face speaks a lot about her way of worship. Gnana Yoga perhaps...

After spending the day in the Triveni Ghat, having a most refreshing bath in the river, cleansing myself of toxicity of urban living, meditating for hours along the bank, I reluctantly moved back to the place where my brother-in-law has parked his beautiful yellow Nano car. A long last look back, revealed that the monsoon clouds have lifted a little to give me the glimpse of distant mountain peaks (One of them is Neel Kanth Mahadev peak). This reminded me of my last visit there. I remembered Shiva silently, seeking Neelkanth's blessings for family, friends and every one around me...

The journey back is always full of emotions, reverie and deep feeling of bliss. The mantra yoga chant always fills me with energy and reverence for the universal soul and cosmic design. How the freshness of the road side flowers, fruits and vegetables, permeates within the heart, making Purusha (Man/soul) and Prakriti (Nature) one, within; reminding that there is nothing separate, every thing that is there, is there because of you, connected with you, your path and the cosmic design. If only one can realise that the dreams, desires and destination is not isolated events, occuring in separate time and space but in this reality of 'now' and here, Life will become beautiful on its own, without a need to dream, to desire and of destination. 

No one reaches any where by walking but by knowing where to go.

And the path is always there... for you to know, if only you look for it within...

____________________________

... Contd DAY TWO

__

Shashi

ॐ नमः शिवाय

Om Namah Shivaya

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STILL LIFE:

Through the Lens of Kanwaria

STILL LIFE: Through The Lens of Kanvaria - Dehradun To Rishikesh

Lakhs of devotees every year, make an annual pilgrimage in the month of Shravan (July-August) to Haridwar, Rishikesh, Badrinath, Kedarnath in Himalaya to fetch Holy river Ganges water and bath their local Deity Lord Shiva in villages,  towns or city temples across India. These pilgrims are known as Kanvarias.

HISTORY

Kanwar yatra is related to churning of ocean of the milk in Hindu Puranas. When poison came out before Amrita and world started burning from its heat then lord Shiva accepted to inhale poison. But, after inhaling it he started suffering from negative energy of poison. In Treta Yuga Lord Shiva's devout follower Ravana did meditation. He brought holy water of Ganga by using kanwar and pour it on lord Shiva temple in Puramahadev. It released Lord Shiva from the negative energy of poison. (Curtsy Wikipedia, click here to read more...)

A large sculpture of Shiva, as river Ganges comes down from heaven...
TRIVENI GHAT - RISHIKESH

This trend of walking on foot to fetch holy water was started by saints and older devotees few decades back but gained popularity in 1990's when young men from the villages, towns and cities started participating in the pilgrimage as an annual ritual. Around 8 million people were expected to be reaching Haridwar and Rishikesh this year (Hindustan Times Report) and I thought of being one of them again. As I was travelling to Delhi, I planned my trip to start from Dehradun to bring Holy water from Rishikesh, back to my home.

Jolly Grant Airport

From Dehradun Airport, Rishikesh is around 35 Kms. I chose Rishikesh instead of Haridwar which is normal choice of pilgrims, since I find it more peaceful and have been visiting almost every year. The way from Dehradun to Rishikesh is also very beautiful and because of monsoon rains, the path is through 'fresh' lush green Deodar forests...

So here is my journey through some still images... Hope you will enjoy it.  

The way...

Triveni Ghat at Rishikesh

Finally reached...

The Ganges in full flow....

Some of the devotees offering Ganga Jal to Sun God....

After the bath and meditation, a time to pose with a wandering Bhikshu...

And the Sun set on the way back... It was important to cross this forest
before night fall as wild elephant take over the route during the night.

Hope you have liked the journey, through the images and if interested to join me in one of my journey to Rishikesh, please leave a comment below..

__

Shashi

ॐ नमः शिवाय

Om Namah Shivaya

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The Long Walk To Rishikesh - Kanvarias                            Another day in Deva Bhoomi

WANDERLUST: The long walk to Rishikesh - Kanwarias

This time, as I was travelling to Rishikesh to spend some time on the banks of Holy River Gange’s and in Shivananda Asharm, I realise that it’s difficult to take to the usual roads that have been clogged by Kanwaria’s and govt  had diverted all the normal routes  for general traffic. It was a long detour for me to reach Rishikesh.

Every year the roads to pilgrim places like Haridwar, Rishikesh, Gangotri or Gaumukh (the glacier from where the Ganga originates) in Uttaranchal turns into flaming orange color with Kanwars – the saffron clad devotees, who’s mission is to collect holy ganges water from these holy places and consecrate the Shiva Linga’s at their villages and homes. 

Its written Hindu Scripture’s that at the time of Samudra Manthan (churning of the sea) both ambrosia (amrit ) and poison surfaced. While every one wanted amrit, no one wanted to have poison. Since it was necessary to consume the poison as otherwise it would have poison the earth, Lord Shiva drank the poison. As His consort Parvati Devi protested this act, she stopped the poison going into the stomach by holding it at adam’s apple, which turned blue (Hence He got to be known as Neel Kanth - Blue Adam’s Apple). Yet the poison caused tremendous heat in Shiva’s body. It is to pacify this heat that Gangajal (water from the Ganga) is poured over Shivlingas, a process known as jalabhishek. 

It is a convention that water- pot (kanwar) must not touch the ground till the time of consecration. Chanting Har Har Mahadev, the Kanwariyas carry the vessels containing the holy water on their shoulders. All along the route voluntary organisations as well as the government put-up make-shift stands where the kanwars can be kept. They also put-up food and medical stalls for the benefit of the yatris. 

The craze for becoming a Kanwariya has increased so much that for almost 20 days normal life comes to standstill in most of these states. The main highways connecting the rest of the North India to Haridwar are closed for heavy traffic to facilitate the safe passage of the devotees. 

The Rishikesh, being the Dev Bhoomi – Land of God, was totally clogged with Kanwarias. All night long chanting, walking and running by Dak Kanwars – The Devotees who cover the whole distance by running, which in some case can be as long as 100-150 KMs. But the Shivanand Ashram, where I stayed has its usual calmness within.

Coming down from Ashram at night to be with the Holy Ganges is in itself a powerful ritual but bathing at early morning and then meditation at the bank of the river till sun rise is very uplifting and cleansing. 

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Brief Note about Kanwar's

Text from Wikipedia

The Kānvar Yatrā or Kavad Yatra (Devanagari: काँवर यात्रा or कांवड़ यात्रा) is annual pilgrimage of devotees of Shiva, known as Kānvarias, to Hindu pilgrimage places of Haridwar,  Gaumukh  and  Gangotri in Uttarakhand to fetch holy waters of Ganges River, Ganga Jal, which is later offered at their local Shiva temples. TheYatra takes place during the sacred month of Shravan (Saawan) (July -August), according to the Hindu calendar. The Yatra used to be a small affair undertaken by a few saints and older devotees till the 1990s, when it started gaining popularity, today lakhs of devotees from surrounding states of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh,Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab and some from as far as Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh reach these places to participate in Kanwar Mela, in 2003. 5.5 Million pilgrims reached Haridwar, with traffic growing each year, heavy security measured are undertaken by the government and the traffic on Delhi-Haridwar national highway  (National Highway 58)is diverted for the period.

ॐ नमः शिवाय

Om Namah Shivaya