Missed my blog on my pilgrimage. I should have taken my laptop so that could have jotted down my experiences immediately. But let me share now ---- Our train reached Allahabad on time but we started late for Chitrakoot. The road was very lonesome and as the area is bit dangerous due to dacoits, but i didn't mention that as the moms would be scared. i wasn't scared at all as had put all the responsibility on Srirama. We stayed in the ashram of Punjabi Bhagwan where the river Mandakini flowed just below our room.
Never in my wildest dream i thought the place would be so beautiful. It is a tapobhumi as Ram, Janaki & Lakshmana stayed there for 11 and half years and as many Rishis have done tapa there and are still doing. First time i dared to bathe in the river as i had 2 inhibitions - one about the water to be icecold and about people around! But i could overcome & win over both the inhibitions this time. I felt as though the Mandakini has taken me in her arms, her touch so warm and full of life.
Then it was easy to have a dip in the holy sangam at Prayag. We can actually see the two colours of Gangaji which is brownish and the dark colour of Yamunaji. I can't yet get over the Gangaji ki Aarti at Benaras and still keep dreaming about the Gangamaiyya. We saw the Ganga Aarti on 1st day at Assi Ghat and then for two days at Dashashwamedh Ghat which is really awesome, splendid and taking us to differrent heights of happiness. Everywhere though the aarti is done witth same reverence.
When i took the darshan of Kashi Vishwanath i was full of awe and happiness. Thinking in my mind about Swamiji and saying to myself, "Oh, this is the Mool Swaroopa of Swamiji"! as He was born of Kashi Vishweshwara's blessings.
Saarnath & Bodhgaya too reminded only of Swamiji but at Gaya i was thinking only of Sri Ramakrishna, the Gadadhar!
On our return journey guess what happened? I got call from Sarada Math asking me to speak on Swamiji in a gathering of Bengali community in Pune. I said yes and was twice happy as they were celebrating Ravindranath and Narendranath's 150th birth centenary together.
So yesterday i was at Pune and being with Bengalis on this occasion made me proud.
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