Rishikesh,Uttarkashi and Gangothri- Pilgrimage Trip
Natesan Pasupathy
Sharjah
(U.A.E)
Hari Aum!
Humble Prostration to the lotus feet of Maa Ji,
With Maa Ji Blessing we (Meenu Ji, shikha Ji, Manish Ji, Swastik and Me) all left to Rishikesh at 6.06 AM on 24th of November 2018.
Manish Ji drove the car and simultaneously he was having conversation on different topics related to one self, spiritual, Experience of his pilgrimage trips.
We reached Rishikesh and there we went to Ram and Lakshman Jula and Mother Ganga blessed us to feel her, we enjoyed the walk on the banks, as the flow of river was calm and fierce. It was a feast to watch and experience it. Following day despite the temperature being cold Mother Ganga blessed us to take a dip and cleanse the mind that carries endless unwanted thoughts. It was great experience to take a dip in Mother Ganga at early hours. Post taking bath we had time to walk across the Lakshman jula. On the way we saw Mandir and we witnessed morning Bajan.
Then we returned back to Room to have breakfast, post breakfast we left to Uttarkashi. Once lunch was over, it was evening we all went to Sree Saumya Kashi Viswanath Temple. Head priest was there and he was kind enough to explain about the History of Mandir and significance of the temple and other Jyothi Lingam that are in India and also he referred Skandapurana versus and in that it is mentioned that who all had visited e.g. Rama devi etc. We enjoyed thoroughly our presence infront of Shiv Ji and his glory. All other information did not stay in our ears as we were stunned by the magnanimity of Lingam and Maata temple just opposite to Lord Shiv Mandir. Post temple visit we returned back to Room and had dinner and settled down.
On 26th early morning we left to Gangothri and on the way we had few stops to enjoy Himalayan region and it's nice weather. Climate was favouring our journey as the sky was clear and we reached Gangothri at 10 O clock. We entered the temple and we did pranaam, Deity has been shifted to lower region temple. Then Manish Ji took us to Bagirathi bank and started chanting Ganga Stotram. Once completed the Ganga Stotram we all were feeling extreme cold due to low temperatures and then we went near Mandir and took bath in Holy river and proceeded to SreeTapovan kutir. There we saw Suryakund(first place the sun rays hit the mother earth).Every experience was amazing, our mind and heart was best flow as the mother Ganga regulated our blood flow and there after we never felt cold.
While feeling the physical presence of existing in the helm of Earth, subtle mind was still searching for peace as the self is still not reached its peak. Unique experience one gets to experience in these places, my mind was wandering as I was trying to capture the scenic beauty and on the other hand I felt that I should have spent time with myself so that my purpose of travel to these sacred places would have taught or directed me to get connected to Ishwara.
We descended back to Uttarkashi, on the way we had few stops and it's worth mentioning two stop one is view point and second one is Hot Spring Sulphur bath.
View point was spectacular, flow of Ganga between the two green mountain, you feel as if the direction to Heaven is that way.
With regard to Hot Spring- Long time ago one of the Rishi while trekking towards uphill Gangothri he did tapas and got bleesing from Lord and initiated the hot spring. Whole region is cold and once you get into spring you feel the hot water relaxing your physical body. Spellbound by that experience.
We headed back to Room and retired, next day we got up and had breakfast and walked towards Tapovan Kutir and we did meditation there for some time. Manish Ji explained about the significance of the kutir and how Swami Chinmayananda came to this place and also explained the milestone of Sree Sadgurus. I could feel my brain getting charged ( all I could feel the physical impact) I have not progressed in the spiritual side so that other part of heavenly experience is unknown to me.
Then we went to Mother Ganga and sat on the rocks and discussion started with Manish Ji, discussion went on well as the questions raised at that point were based on the individual mind frame.
We headed back to Room for Lunch and same day evening we went to Sree Saumya Kashi Viswanath Temple and saw evening Arthi. We resumed back to Room and retired.
On last day 28th early morning we started back to Noida SISS and we reached by 6 PM to SISS.
By evening then we sat with Maa Ji, she asked our experience and she explained her enlightenment during her visit to sacred place. We learnt the value and significance post travel, its not that visiting sacred places will make one sacred, its Guru's guidance and blessing gives us the best experience in the spiritual world.
We all had dinner together and all of us took Maa Ji blessings and we departed to respective destination to continue the worldly life but Spiritually enriched..
Longing for similar pilgrimage trip....