Lovely Planet !

[Guest guest]

OUR VISIT TO GAUMUKH :

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Last year I got my long overdue vacation and left Beirut (Lebanon)

for India. India had changed a lot and signs of economic progress

were clearly visible in cities. One of my businessman friend

proposed me to go to Gaumukh and Gangotri with him. As you know

Gaumukh is the glacier from where sacred river Ganga appears…and

Gangotri is the temple dedicated to Ganga, which is treated as a

form of Mother Shakti by Hindus. This made me dance with joy, as it

was my years long desire to visit these holy places. But my tight

schedule and difficult times in Lebanon never permitted me to

fulfill this desire.

 

So we set out for Gangtori by car. From Delhi we reached

Haridwar via Meerut and Muzaffar Nagar and after taking a holy dip

at Har ki Pauri we started our journey towards Rishikesh 22 Kms from

Haridwar. From Rishikesh we took a left turn towards Narender Nagar

and Gangtori.

 

The hills had started …the road was steep, small and without

much traffic. We were enjoying our journey amidst choicest songs

and light rain. In the evening we reached Uttarkashi, an ancient

city in the Himalayas. We were surprised to see the city …as it

looked as if bombarded. The shops were broken, people were digging

and bringing out their belongings. Roofs of some vehicles were seen

in debris. On enquiry we were told that the city of Uttarkashi was

on the foothills of Mount Varnavrata (this was the same place which

was mentioned in Mahabharat where Pandavas were thought to be burnt

alive in the palace of Varnavrata). The mountain had become

disintegrated due to the dangerous earthquake a few years back and

now with the heavy rains, the mud and stones have come down heavily

on the city…destroying their main market, houses and bus stop.

The

scene was pathetic as the Garhwali people who are already very poor

and make both ends meet with difficulty, were now in distress due to

this natural calamity. They have not much of industries or markets

in hills and their main earning is from the yearly Yatra of Gangotri

etc. But still I was happy how they without losing heart were

trying to save their goods and selling them from the debris itself,

as their shops have been under it.

 

We stayed in a hotel nearby. Since it was a long and

tiresome journey from Delhi we soon went to sleep. In my sleep, I

saw a horrible dream as if we were washed away with the mountain

debris…I heard a loud noise and soon realized it was real. I

woke

up and went out in the balcony. It was raining cats and dogs.

Thunders striking like a hungry monster. I looked around…all

people

of the city were out with torches in their hands and looking towards

the black mountain tip…which was looking like an alien

ship…shining

now and then with the thunder strike. I saw downwards and was

astonished to see a current of mud mixed with stone boulders flowing

on the road. It was some 2 feet deep and was dragging slowly with

it some scooters , cars, trees and other things lying on the road.

Luckily our car was parked at a higher place and was untouched by

the rolling debris. I felt shivers….and then suddenly remembered

Mother Kali, the eternal energy of destruction. Where else I could

have seen mother kali in her play on the material level. The

enormous energy contained by the mud-current was an iota of the

energy of Mother Kali and still it was deadly for us.

 

I prayed Mother Kali and thanked her that if we are saved

from this …that would be her Kripa…not due to our efforts, or

intellect . I came back to the room and tried to sleep but in

vain…

my friend was snoring with a smile on face…perhaps dreaming about

a

good profit in his business!

 

Next morning was pleasant. We woke up and started our

journey. Our hotel staff had advised us to see the little village

of "Harshil" on the way. The village became famous due to

shooting

of a Raj Kapur's film "Ram Teri Ganga Maili" which was a

better re-

make of lesser known French film "Ganga Maiyya". We saw the

village

first from the uphill. I was spell bound. I had never believed a

village could be so beautiful ! awesome ! Small streams of milky

white water were flowing from the streets of the village which

itself was very neat and clean. The streams had tiny bridges on

them…I thought I am dreaming and I am in an astral world. We

both

planned that we would make a small house here and will spend old age

here….a dream which was shattered soon when we were told that

this

was a military area and no outsider is allowed to live here without

special permit from military…which is normally not given!

 

Finally we reached Gangtori by the afternoon.....

 

(Will continue in next post)

 

With love and regards

[Guest guest]

Further to my msg #6307....

WE REACH GANGTORI !

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So we reached Gangotri. It was middle of July and the temple

complex was almost empty because not many dare visit the hills

during the treacherous rainy season. We were very happy to find

loneliness as it will give us a chance to see the temple more

closely and without discomfort. It was very cold there. Ganges

water was not crystal clear as I had heard but was muddy. Big

boulders were being dragged by furious Ganga River, producing a

sound of super-sonic planes taking off.

 

I felt as if I have traveled in time. In Haridwar Ganga was

mature, sincere and dignified lady…and as I traveled back to the

life of Ganga now seeing her ever youthful, energetic and ready to

jump to conclusions, taking anyone into her awe with her youth

energies….looked like Mother Ganga was in her full glory of youth.

At that point there was no one in the world to stop her ebbing

energies….she was singing the song of love as if waiting for her

lover to come and embrace her and cool down her flaring energy.

 

I was looking for a hotel, and talking to many unemployed

youths who were working as touts for hotels. Seeing us gave them

refreshing energies and they bounced upon us, as almost all hotels

were empty. My friend suggested we first go to temple and then

decide about staying. In Temple we met a panda who very gratefully

offered his own house to stay…a cool two room house on the Ganges

beyond the temple. Though the house had no electricity, yet the

loving offer of the Panda, and the serenity of the house just on

Ganges, was too forceful to deny.

 

It was still day, and we asked Pundit as to what we can see

there. He asked us to follow the Ganges uphill and we would be able

to meet some Saints sitting and meditating in the caves. He also

revealed that great Naga saint (Naked saint) Swami Daneshananda was

also there, but advised us not to go to him as he was (in)famous for

driving people out of his cave with harsh words.

 

Law of Reverse Action worked, and I decided that we would first go

to Swami Daneshananda and get rebukes before we go to other saints

for blessings. I felt an immense desire to meet him…god knows why.

So we tracked uphill by the side of Ganga and after about 1 Km, we

reached the cave of Swami Daneshananda. It was a very clean cave

with lot of flowers outside reflecting the inner beauty of the

ascetic. My friend was a little reluctant to enter the cave, but my

persuasions worked and we entered the cave. Swami was sitting in

lotus posture. Though he was naked yet he was sitting in such a

manner which hid his genitals. A woman and man were sitting near

his feet and asking something. We meekly sat in a corner. All of a

sudden the swami roared," what do you think of me? Am I god that I

bless your daughter in law to get a son. You are reaping what you

sow." The couple uttered a few more words and swami ordered them to

leave the cave immediately. They rushed out, and we tried to follow

them seeing the swami to be angry. But surprisingly the swami in a

very soft voice asked us to sit down. "He must be a very good actor…

how come in a moment his eyes which were ejaculating fire have

become so loving" my friend murmured.

 

Swami fixed his gaze on me and asked," why did you decide to

meet me first?" I was spell bound! I tried to answer but could not

find words…Swami waved," ok forget…you wish to ask me something?" I

meekly asked about my Sadhna and swami gave some further

instructions as if he knew fully what I was doing as meditation.

 

Now swami saw towards my friend and said," You need to work much on

your ego my friend….the universe is not just you or your family…care

for others too" My friend felt insulted and sat quietly in a corner.

 

"Swami ji can I ask you one question ?" My confident voice had come

back to me… "Yes son go ahead"

 

"We were told that you are very rude and rebuking…but I found you to

be a very loving caring and higher soul…why is it so?

 

Swami told," Yes I am rude…you see son I have renunciated the world

for God. I too had family, money and status…but I found the Glory of

God more attracting….now people come here and ask me boons for

getting sons, or getting money in lottery or bring down their

enemies…..I feel so much anger on their demands that I ask them to

get out of my cave…though I feel pity for them in heart. I do not

wish to discuss material things…with you I was loving because you

did not ask for any material but about your sadhna. That is what

pleases me." Swami continued," Now please go and meet other holy

souls here…and if you visit Gaumukh do not forget to do some

meditation there as 500 souls of Hiranyaloka always reside there.

They will listen to you and will help you."

 

We came out of the cave. I felt as if all my energies were

refreshed….my body vibrating at finer frequencies. Ganga was no

more looking as a muddy water stream but a stream of molten silver

shining and vibrating.

 

We met some other holy souls there, one Israeli-American woman

saint who had a very neat and clean cave with gas cylinder and

battery operated tube light inside the cave. She did not seem to be

in a mood to talk to us…so we touched her feet and came out. There

was Sivananda Ashram too…we knocked at the door but no response…

repeated knocks and we saw someone opening window of first floor of

ashram…perhaps a library as we could see the books. The man looked

like a bored soul…waiting someone to enlighten him. He rudely bade

us to go away and vanished behind the books…..perhaps an

intellectual…who was trying to find God in printed words.

 

We were tired and hence returned to our room to sleep early as

next day we had to go to Gaumukh !!!

 

Rest in next