Hello Everyone,
I am Thyagarajan.V from Hyderabad. Last month myself along with my wife Mrs.Padma, my elder brother Mr.Viswanathan and manni Mrs.Raji Viswanathan had been on a trip to Kashi, Prayag and Gaya to visit temples as well as to complete the Srardh rituals. I would like to share my experience on this forum so that I can help others who plan such trips.
WHY SRARDH AT PRAYAG, KASHI AND GAYA?
AT PRAYAG IT IS VISHNU FACE, AT KASHI VISHNU NABHI AND AT GAYA VISHNU PADAM.
TO TAKE: THREE SETS OF 9 YARDS SAREE AND 9/6 YARDS DHOTIES TO BE TAKEN FOR THE YATRA BY THE GRUHASTHAS.
WE TWO FAMILIES (FOUR PERSONS) COMMENCED KASHI YATRA JOURNEY WITH THE BLESSINGS OF LORD SHIVA AND VISHNU AND GODDESS, MAHA PERIAVAL ANUGRAHAM FROM SECUNDERABAD BY PATNA EXPRESS (RUNNING DAILY FROM SECUNDERABAD TO PATNA) AT 10.00 AM(16.3.13) AND REACHED KASHI (VARANASI) AT ABOUT 4.30PM NEXT DAY (17.3.13). TRAIN WAS LATE BY 2HRS. TOOK AN AUTORICKSHAW AND REACHED KANCHI MUTT IN HANUMAN GHAT. APPROACHED MUTT AUTHORITY AND OCCUPIED IN A ROOM. AFTER RELAXING FOR 10 MINUTES IN THE ROOM, CONTACTED THE MANAGER OF THE MUTT SHRI SUBRAMANIAM TO COLLECT THE ITINERARY. WE DEPOSITED RS.12,000.00 TO THE MANAGER FOR THE RITUAL EXPENSES.
THE MANAGER ASKED US OUR READINESS TO GO TO PRAYAG(ALLAHABAD) NEXT MORNING (18.3.13). WE HAVE EXPRESSED OUR WILLINGNESS AND WERE READY BY 5.15AM AFTER OUR BATH IN THE MUTT ROOM. THE DRIVER OF INDIGO CAR REPORTED AT 5.30AM. WE PROCEEDED AT ABOUT 5.45AM AND REACHED ALLAHABAD. LETTER TO SHIVA MUTT AT PRAYAG WAS ISSUED BY KANCHI MUTT AUTHORITY. WE WERE ASKED TO PAY RS.1500.00 TO THE MUTT VADHYAR(APART FROM RS.12000.00 STATED ABOVE).
BOTH COUPLES(MY BROTHER, MANNI, SELF AND WIFE) PERFORMED VENI DAANAM WITH POOJA. VADHYAR (PUNDIT) ASKED US WHETHER WE HAVE BROUGHT MANAL FROM RAMESWARAM. YES WAS THE ANSWER FROM US. HE ASKED US TO MAKE SHIVA LINGAM FROM THE MANAL. POOJA WAS PERFORMED TO THE LINGAM. HE THEN SENT A GUIDE AND ASKED US TO PROCEED TO TRIVENI (GANGA, YAMUNA AND SARASWATHI RIVERS SANGAMAM) FOR HOLY BATH AND POOJA. AT TRIVENI A BOAT WAS ARRANGED (MONEY TO BE PAID SEPARATELY FOR BOAT, FOR NAVIDAN AND GUIDE) AND WE PROCEEDED TO THE MID OF THE RIVER WHERE A SHORE WAS AVAILABLE. INSTRUCTIONS WAS PASSED ON TO US BY PANDIT THAT LADIES AND GENTS HAVE TO OFFER THEIR MUDI. GENTS HAVE TO PUT PINNAL TO THE LADIES AND AT THE END 3 TIMES MUDI TO BE CUT AND LADIES HAVE TO RETAIN WITH THEM. GENTS WILL HAVE VAPANAM AND LITTLE MUDI. THEN BOTH DAMPATI (HOLDING THE HAND OF LADY BY GENT) WILL HAVE HOLY DIP (IF CHOMBU OR MUG IS CARRIED IT WILL BE EASY). THEN ALONGWITH LINGAM AND POOJA ITEMS OF VENI DAANAM AND MUDI WERE OFFERED TO TRIVENI NADHI MATHA. WITH WET CLOTHES, WHILE RETURNING, VENI MADHAV DARSHAN (TEMPLE) AND RETURN TO MUTT FOR PINDA TARPANAM WITH WET CLOTHES. 17 PINDAMS- 6 PITHUR VARGAM, 6 MATHUR VARGAM, 1 KARUNYA AND 4 FOR OTHERS. AVIS (ANNAM) WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE COOK AT PRAYAG MUTT AT A COST. WE CAN OFFER FOR FRIENDS, ANIMALS, KNOWN PITHURS OF 4 PINDAMS. AFTER THE TARPANAM, WE HAVE TO LEAVE THE 9 YARDS SAREE AND 9/6 DHOTI AT PRAYAG MUTT THEN CHANGED DRESS AND HAD FOOD. AFTER COMPLETING THE RITUALS AT PRAYAG, FOOD WILL BE ARRANGED AT MUTT AT OUR COST. WE HAVE TO INFORM WHILE REPORTING AT PRAYAG SHIVA MUTT THE NUMBER OF PERSONS TO ENABLE COOK TO PREPARE FOOD. CONVEYANCE FROM KASHI TO PRAYAG RS.3000.00 FOR INDIGO WAS PAID. IF TWO FAMILIES OR 3 FAMILIES BIGGER VEHICLE CAN BE HIRED AND SHARED. PRAYAG RITUALS CONCLUDES.
WE RETURNED EARLY EVENING FROM ALLAHABAD(PRAYAG) AND REPORTED THE PROCEEDINGS TO THE MANAGER, KANCHI MUTT AT KASHI. IMMEDIATELY HE ARRANGED FOR DARSHAN OF VISHWANATH, VISALAKSHI, DUNDI GANAPATHY, ANNAPOORNI, OTHER SMALL TEMPLES AND GANGA AARTI BY BOAT. COSTS HAVE TO BE BORNE BY INDIVIDUALS FOR BOATMAN WHO IS ALSO GUIDE. GANGA AARTI ON BOAT RIDE IS GOOD TO WATCH IN THE NIGHT (AARTI BETWEEN 7 AND 8 PM DAILY). WE REACHED ROOM AND HAD AAHARAM(TIFFIN) AT MUTT. TIFFIN AND MEALS ARE CHARGED.
KASHI (19[SUP]TH[/SUP] AND 20[SUP]TH[/SUP] MARCH 2013) RITUALS:
19[SUP]TH[/SUP] MORNING GANGA SNANAM. CHANGE CLOTHES. SIT FOR TARPANAM(PINDAMS) AND SRARDHAM PARVANA SOOTHRAM-YAJUR VEDHAM. IF VISHNU ELAI IS IN VOGUE PLEASE INFORM SASTRIGAL. ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE BY MUTT (DAKSHINA, FOOD AND OTHER ITEMS WILL BE PAID FROM RS.12000.00 DEPOSITED). PINDAMS WERE OFFERED IN THE GANGA AFTER SRARDH. THEN BHOJANAM AT MUTT.
EVENING WE (4) ENGAGED AUTO AND SEEN OTHER TEMPLES LIKE KALA BHAIRAVAR, SANKAT MOCHAN HANUMAN, DURGA MATHA, TULSI MATHA, GOUDI AMMAN(GAVVALU/CHOZHI) AND BHU (BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY) CAMPUS BIRLA MANDIR. RETURNED TO ROOM(AT MUTT) FOR AAHARAM.
20[SUP]TH[/SUP] MORNING AT 8.30 AM WITH AVIS(ANNAM) WITH 9 YDS AND 9/6 DHOTI WE PROCEEDED TO GANGA FOR PANCHA TEERTHA PINDA DAANAM(17 PINDAMS AT EACH GHAT). IN EACH GHAT BY BOAT WITH PANDIT WE OFFERED PINDA DAANAM.(GHATS ARE TULSI(ASI), DASHASWAMEDHA, VARUNA, PANCH GANGA AND MANIKARNIKA) SNANAM IN ALL 5 GHATS AND WITH WET CLOTHES PINDAMS TO BE OFFERED, AT MANIKARNIKA GHAT AFTER SNANAM WE WENT CLIMBING ABOUT 75 STEPS BINDU MADHAV TEMPLE AND THEN PERFORMED PINDA PRADHANAM. THEN RETURNED TO MUTT FOR BHOJANAM. AFTER MEALS, BOLERO 7 SEATER VEHICLE WAS ARRANGED. WE FOUR AND OTHER 3 MEMBERS JOINTLY PROCEEDED TO GAYA.
ABOUT 5-1/2 HRS DRIVE(ABOUT 250 KMS FROM KASHI) WE REACHED AFTER HAVING DARSHAN OF BOUDH GAYA (BUDDHAR, VASUDEV) AND VISHNU PAADAM TEMPLE ABOUT 8.30 PM AND REPORTED TO KANCHI MUTT MANAGER AT GAYA.
GAYA HAS ANCIENT TALE. IN TRETA YUGAM WHEN RAMA, SITA AND LAKSHMAN WERE PASSING, RAMA HAD TO PERFORM SRARDH FOR DASARATHA. RAMA AND LAKSHMANA WENT TO PROCURE REQUIRED PROVISIONS FOR PERFORMING SRARDH. BUT COULD NOT REACH AS THEY WERE PREVENTED BY TORRENTIAL RAIN. IN THE MEANTIME, DASARATHA DEMANDED SITA FOR ANNAM. SITA IMMEDIATELY ( IN THE PRESENCE OF PHALGUNI RIVER, TULSI, COW, BRAHMIN AND AKSHAYA VATAM(BIG TREE)} OFFERED PINDAM MADE FROM SAND AND DASARATHA ACCEPTED. WHEN RAMA RETURNED SITA INFORMED THAT SRARDH IS OVER AND WITNESS TO MY PERFORMING SRARDH IS ABOVE STATED FIVE. WHEN RAMA ASKED PHALGUNI RIVER, SHE STATED THAT I WAS LOOKING THE OTHER SIDE WHEN SITA OFFERED PINDAM. COW ANSWERED I DID NOT SEE. A BRAHMIN SAID THE SAME THING. BUT AKSHYA VATAM SAID I DID SEE SITA AMMA OFFERING PINDAM TO DASARATHA MAHARAJA. SITA WAS HAPPY AND BLESSED THE AKSHAYA VATAM. AT THE SAME TIME SITA WITH ANGER GIVEN SHAPAM(CURSE) TO PHALGUNI RIVER THAT YOU WILL NEVER RISE ABOVE SURFACE LEVEL. FOR COW, HUMAN BEING SHOULD NEVER PRAY FROM FRONT. FOR A BRAHMIN, THE SHAPAM WAS “ YOU WILL NEVER BE HAPPY “. THEREFORE, DAKSHINA IN GAYA FOR BRAHMINS WILL BE LESS COMPARED TO KASHI BRAHMINS.
HE ASKED US TO HAVE OUR TIFFIN(WE HAVE PACKED TIFFIN FROM KASHI MUTT) AND BE READY FOR HIS BRIEFING OF GAYA SRARDH TO BE PERFORMED ON 21[SUP]ST[/SUP] MARCH, 2013. HE BRIEFED US AND WE SLEPT IN THE ROOM ALLOTTED TO US AT GAYA MUTT.
MORNING WE WERE READY BY 8.00 AM. GUIDE HAS TAKEN US BY WALK TO VISHNU PADAM TEMPLE ALONGWITH AVIS(BIG VESSEL AVIS).
PROGRAMME AT GAYA: 17 PINDAMS WITH TARPANAM TO BE OFFERED TO PHALGUNI NADHI(BUT NO WATER IN THE NADHI, THEREFORE, PINDAMS TO BE OFFERED TO COW). WE HAVE DONE ACCORDINGLY.
64 PINDAMS AT VISHNU PADAM AFTER TARPANAM. (6 FOR PITHUR, 6 FOR MATHUR, 1 KARUNYA, 4 FOR OTHERS, 16 FOR MOTHER(MATHUHU), REMAINING FOR OTHERS. WE OFFERED AT THE FEET OF MAHA VISHNU IN THE TEMPLE. VISHNU PADAM DARSHAN SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN THE EVENING ITSELF, OTHERWISE IN THE MORNING WE CANNOT SEE AS MANY GRUHASTHAS WILL OFFER PINDAMS ON HIS FEET. AFTER FINISHING PINDA PRADHANAM AT PHALGUNI AND VISHNU PADAM, WE PROCEEDED TO MUTT FOR SRARDH (AGNI SRARDHAM). WE COMPLETED SRARDHAM AND WITH BALANCE AVIS AGAIN 64 PINDAMS WITH KAKAI PINDAM WE PROCEEDED TO AKSHYAVATAM(BIG TREE) BY AUTO(AUTO CHARGES AND GUIDE CHARGES TO OUR ACCOUNT. SRARDH AND PANDIT DAKSHINAI AND DANAM AT PHALGUNI, VISHNU PADAM AND AKSHYAVATAM MUTT WILL BEAR FROM OUR DEPOSITED AMOUNT).
AT AKSHYA VATAM WE OFFERED PINDA DHANAM. 16 PINDAMS FOR MATHUHU THE PANDIT WILL EXPLAIN THE REASONS FOR OFFERING. IT IS AN EMOTIONAL EVENT. SON OFFERING TO MOTHER FOR HER DIFFICULTIES FACED IN GIVING BIRTH AND AFTER BIRTH SERVING THE CHILD. AT AKSHAYA VATAM WE HAVE TO FOREGO THREE ITEMS VIZ. ONE KEERAI (LEAF), ONE VEGETABLE AND ONE FRUIT. THE SIGNIFICANCE BEHIND THIS FOREGOING IS THAT WE HAVE NO STRICT ATTACHMENT FOR ANYTHING. BY DEFAULT IF WE CONSUME OUTSIDE THERE IS PRAYACHITAM. IN KARTHIGAI MASAM, WE SHOULD OFFER THE ITEM TO TWO BRAHMINS WITH DAKSHINA. BUT NO RELAXATION IF WE COOK AT HOME(IT IS PAPAM). THEN PROCEEDED TO MUTT, OFFERED PANDIT DAKSHINA. HAD FOOD AT MUTT AND ASKED HIM TO PACK THE ITEMS FOR NIGHT TIFFIN AND RETURNED TO KASHI IN THE VEHICLE. (PAID RS.6500.00 TO THE VEHICLE BY BOTH FAMILIES(7)}.
REPORTED TO MANAGER, KANCHI MUTT AND REQUESTED HIM TO ARRANGE FOR DAMPATI POOJA ON 22[SUP]ND[/SUP] MARCH, 2013.
WE VISITED IN THE EARLY MORNING 6.00 AM ONCE AGAIN KASI VISWANATH, VISALAKSHI, ANNAPOORNI, DUNDI GANAPATHY AND RETURNED AT 6.45 AM.
PERFORMED DAMPATI POOJA ON 22-3-2013 AT ABOUT 9.00 AM.
(VERY ELDERLY DAMPATI AGED ABOUT 90 YRS AND 85 YRS WAS MADE AVAILABLE BY MUTT AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT SAREE, DHOTI, DAKSHINA AND OTHER ITEMS).
WE HAD OUR MEALS ABOUT 12.00 NOON. SETTLED ROOM RENT WITH MUTT AUTHORITY. PURCHASED GANGA CHOMBU, VISHNU PADAM, ANNAPOORNI, KASI THREAD FOR DISTRIBUTION TO RELATIVES. TAKEN NIGHT TIFFINS PACKED AND PROCEEDED TO RLY. STATION (KASI CANTT). BOARDED TRAIN AND REACHED SEC’BAD BY 9.30PM ON 23.3.2013.
AFTER COMPLETING THE RITUALS AT ALLAHABAD(PRAYAG), KASHI AND GAYA THE CIRCUIT WILL BE COMPLETE WHEN TRIVENI SANGAM PUNYA TEERTHAM (JAL) CARRIED TO RAMESWARAM AND ABHISEKAM TO RAMALINGESWARA IS PERFORMED. RAMESWARAM SAND (LINGAM) IMMERSION IN TRIVENI(ALLAHABAD) AND TRIVENI WATER ABHISEKAM IN RAMESWARAM MEANS BRINGING PARVATI PARMESWAR TOGETHER.
BY V.VISWANATHAN, RAJI VISWANATHAN, V.THYAGARAJAN AND PADMA
FOR INFORMATION AND THEREFORE, ERRORS AND OMISSIONS EXCEPTED.
I wish everyone Good luck on their Journey!!
I am Thyagarajan.V from Hyderabad. Last month myself along with my wife Mrs.Padma, my elder brother Mr.Viswanathan and manni Mrs.Raji Viswanathan had been on a trip to Kashi, Prayag and Gaya to visit temples as well as to complete the Srardh rituals. I would like to share my experience on this forum so that I can help others who plan such trips.
WHY SRARDH AT PRAYAG, KASHI AND GAYA?
AT PRAYAG IT IS VISHNU FACE, AT KASHI VISHNU NABHI AND AT GAYA VISHNU PADAM.
TO TAKE: THREE SETS OF 9 YARDS SAREE AND 9/6 YARDS DHOTIES TO BE TAKEN FOR THE YATRA BY THE GRUHASTHAS.
WE TWO FAMILIES (FOUR PERSONS) COMMENCED KASHI YATRA JOURNEY WITH THE BLESSINGS OF LORD SHIVA AND VISHNU AND GODDESS, MAHA PERIAVAL ANUGRAHAM FROM SECUNDERABAD BY PATNA EXPRESS (RUNNING DAILY FROM SECUNDERABAD TO PATNA) AT 10.00 AM(16.3.13) AND REACHED KASHI (VARANASI) AT ABOUT 4.30PM NEXT DAY (17.3.13). TRAIN WAS LATE BY 2HRS. TOOK AN AUTORICKSHAW AND REACHED KANCHI MUTT IN HANUMAN GHAT. APPROACHED MUTT AUTHORITY AND OCCUPIED IN A ROOM. AFTER RELAXING FOR 10 MINUTES IN THE ROOM, CONTACTED THE MANAGER OF THE MUTT SHRI SUBRAMANIAM TO COLLECT THE ITINERARY. WE DEPOSITED RS.12,000.00 TO THE MANAGER FOR THE RITUAL EXPENSES.
THE MANAGER ASKED US OUR READINESS TO GO TO PRAYAG(ALLAHABAD) NEXT MORNING (18.3.13). WE HAVE EXPRESSED OUR WILLINGNESS AND WERE READY BY 5.15AM AFTER OUR BATH IN THE MUTT ROOM. THE DRIVER OF INDIGO CAR REPORTED AT 5.30AM. WE PROCEEDED AT ABOUT 5.45AM AND REACHED ALLAHABAD. LETTER TO SHIVA MUTT AT PRAYAG WAS ISSUED BY KANCHI MUTT AUTHORITY. WE WERE ASKED TO PAY RS.1500.00 TO THE MUTT VADHYAR(APART FROM RS.12000.00 STATED ABOVE).
BOTH COUPLES(MY BROTHER, MANNI, SELF AND WIFE) PERFORMED VENI DAANAM WITH POOJA. VADHYAR (PUNDIT) ASKED US WHETHER WE HAVE BROUGHT MANAL FROM RAMESWARAM. YES WAS THE ANSWER FROM US. HE ASKED US TO MAKE SHIVA LINGAM FROM THE MANAL. POOJA WAS PERFORMED TO THE LINGAM. HE THEN SENT A GUIDE AND ASKED US TO PROCEED TO TRIVENI (GANGA, YAMUNA AND SARASWATHI RIVERS SANGAMAM) FOR HOLY BATH AND POOJA. AT TRIVENI A BOAT WAS ARRANGED (MONEY TO BE PAID SEPARATELY FOR BOAT, FOR NAVIDAN AND GUIDE) AND WE PROCEEDED TO THE MID OF THE RIVER WHERE A SHORE WAS AVAILABLE. INSTRUCTIONS WAS PASSED ON TO US BY PANDIT THAT LADIES AND GENTS HAVE TO OFFER THEIR MUDI. GENTS HAVE TO PUT PINNAL TO THE LADIES AND AT THE END 3 TIMES MUDI TO BE CUT AND LADIES HAVE TO RETAIN WITH THEM. GENTS WILL HAVE VAPANAM AND LITTLE MUDI. THEN BOTH DAMPATI (HOLDING THE HAND OF LADY BY GENT) WILL HAVE HOLY DIP (IF CHOMBU OR MUG IS CARRIED IT WILL BE EASY). THEN ALONGWITH LINGAM AND POOJA ITEMS OF VENI DAANAM AND MUDI WERE OFFERED TO TRIVENI NADHI MATHA. WITH WET CLOTHES, WHILE RETURNING, VENI MADHAV DARSHAN (TEMPLE) AND RETURN TO MUTT FOR PINDA TARPANAM WITH WET CLOTHES. 17 PINDAMS- 6 PITHUR VARGAM, 6 MATHUR VARGAM, 1 KARUNYA AND 4 FOR OTHERS. AVIS (ANNAM) WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE COOK AT PRAYAG MUTT AT A COST. WE CAN OFFER FOR FRIENDS, ANIMALS, KNOWN PITHURS OF 4 PINDAMS. AFTER THE TARPANAM, WE HAVE TO LEAVE THE 9 YARDS SAREE AND 9/6 DHOTI AT PRAYAG MUTT THEN CHANGED DRESS AND HAD FOOD. AFTER COMPLETING THE RITUALS AT PRAYAG, FOOD WILL BE ARRANGED AT MUTT AT OUR COST. WE HAVE TO INFORM WHILE REPORTING AT PRAYAG SHIVA MUTT THE NUMBER OF PERSONS TO ENABLE COOK TO PREPARE FOOD. CONVEYANCE FROM KASHI TO PRAYAG RS.3000.00 FOR INDIGO WAS PAID. IF TWO FAMILIES OR 3 FAMILIES BIGGER VEHICLE CAN BE HIRED AND SHARED. PRAYAG RITUALS CONCLUDES.
WE RETURNED EARLY EVENING FROM ALLAHABAD(PRAYAG) AND REPORTED THE PROCEEDINGS TO THE MANAGER, KANCHI MUTT AT KASHI. IMMEDIATELY HE ARRANGED FOR DARSHAN OF VISHWANATH, VISALAKSHI, DUNDI GANAPATHY, ANNAPOORNI, OTHER SMALL TEMPLES AND GANGA AARTI BY BOAT. COSTS HAVE TO BE BORNE BY INDIVIDUALS FOR BOATMAN WHO IS ALSO GUIDE. GANGA AARTI ON BOAT RIDE IS GOOD TO WATCH IN THE NIGHT (AARTI BETWEEN 7 AND 8 PM DAILY). WE REACHED ROOM AND HAD AAHARAM(TIFFIN) AT MUTT. TIFFIN AND MEALS ARE CHARGED.
KASHI (19[SUP]TH[/SUP] AND 20[SUP]TH[/SUP] MARCH 2013) RITUALS:
19[SUP]TH[/SUP] MORNING GANGA SNANAM. CHANGE CLOTHES. SIT FOR TARPANAM(PINDAMS) AND SRARDHAM PARVANA SOOTHRAM-YAJUR VEDHAM. IF VISHNU ELAI IS IN VOGUE PLEASE INFORM SASTRIGAL. ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE BY MUTT (DAKSHINA, FOOD AND OTHER ITEMS WILL BE PAID FROM RS.12000.00 DEPOSITED). PINDAMS WERE OFFERED IN THE GANGA AFTER SRARDH. THEN BHOJANAM AT MUTT.
EVENING WE (4) ENGAGED AUTO AND SEEN OTHER TEMPLES LIKE KALA BHAIRAVAR, SANKAT MOCHAN HANUMAN, DURGA MATHA, TULSI MATHA, GOUDI AMMAN(GAVVALU/CHOZHI) AND BHU (BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY) CAMPUS BIRLA MANDIR. RETURNED TO ROOM(AT MUTT) FOR AAHARAM.
20[SUP]TH[/SUP] MORNING AT 8.30 AM WITH AVIS(ANNAM) WITH 9 YDS AND 9/6 DHOTI WE PROCEEDED TO GANGA FOR PANCHA TEERTHA PINDA DAANAM(17 PINDAMS AT EACH GHAT). IN EACH GHAT BY BOAT WITH PANDIT WE OFFERED PINDA DAANAM.(GHATS ARE TULSI(ASI), DASHASWAMEDHA, VARUNA, PANCH GANGA AND MANIKARNIKA) SNANAM IN ALL 5 GHATS AND WITH WET CLOTHES PINDAMS TO BE OFFERED, AT MANIKARNIKA GHAT AFTER SNANAM WE WENT CLIMBING ABOUT 75 STEPS BINDU MADHAV TEMPLE AND THEN PERFORMED PINDA PRADHANAM. THEN RETURNED TO MUTT FOR BHOJANAM. AFTER MEALS, BOLERO 7 SEATER VEHICLE WAS ARRANGED. WE FOUR AND OTHER 3 MEMBERS JOINTLY PROCEEDED TO GAYA.
ABOUT 5-1/2 HRS DRIVE(ABOUT 250 KMS FROM KASHI) WE REACHED AFTER HAVING DARSHAN OF BOUDH GAYA (BUDDHAR, VASUDEV) AND VISHNU PAADAM TEMPLE ABOUT 8.30 PM AND REPORTED TO KANCHI MUTT MANAGER AT GAYA.
GAYA HAS ANCIENT TALE. IN TRETA YUGAM WHEN RAMA, SITA AND LAKSHMAN WERE PASSING, RAMA HAD TO PERFORM SRARDH FOR DASARATHA. RAMA AND LAKSHMANA WENT TO PROCURE REQUIRED PROVISIONS FOR PERFORMING SRARDH. BUT COULD NOT REACH AS THEY WERE PREVENTED BY TORRENTIAL RAIN. IN THE MEANTIME, DASARATHA DEMANDED SITA FOR ANNAM. SITA IMMEDIATELY ( IN THE PRESENCE OF PHALGUNI RIVER, TULSI, COW, BRAHMIN AND AKSHAYA VATAM(BIG TREE)} OFFERED PINDAM MADE FROM SAND AND DASARATHA ACCEPTED. WHEN RAMA RETURNED SITA INFORMED THAT SRARDH IS OVER AND WITNESS TO MY PERFORMING SRARDH IS ABOVE STATED FIVE. WHEN RAMA ASKED PHALGUNI RIVER, SHE STATED THAT I WAS LOOKING THE OTHER SIDE WHEN SITA OFFERED PINDAM. COW ANSWERED I DID NOT SEE. A BRAHMIN SAID THE SAME THING. BUT AKSHYA VATAM SAID I DID SEE SITA AMMA OFFERING PINDAM TO DASARATHA MAHARAJA. SITA WAS HAPPY AND BLESSED THE AKSHAYA VATAM. AT THE SAME TIME SITA WITH ANGER GIVEN SHAPAM(CURSE) TO PHALGUNI RIVER THAT YOU WILL NEVER RISE ABOVE SURFACE LEVEL. FOR COW, HUMAN BEING SHOULD NEVER PRAY FROM FRONT. FOR A BRAHMIN, THE SHAPAM WAS “ YOU WILL NEVER BE HAPPY “. THEREFORE, DAKSHINA IN GAYA FOR BRAHMINS WILL BE LESS COMPARED TO KASHI BRAHMINS.
HE ASKED US TO HAVE OUR TIFFIN(WE HAVE PACKED TIFFIN FROM KASHI MUTT) AND BE READY FOR HIS BRIEFING OF GAYA SRARDH TO BE PERFORMED ON 21[SUP]ST[/SUP] MARCH, 2013. HE BRIEFED US AND WE SLEPT IN THE ROOM ALLOTTED TO US AT GAYA MUTT.
MORNING WE WERE READY BY 8.00 AM. GUIDE HAS TAKEN US BY WALK TO VISHNU PADAM TEMPLE ALONGWITH AVIS(BIG VESSEL AVIS).
PROGRAMME AT GAYA: 17 PINDAMS WITH TARPANAM TO BE OFFERED TO PHALGUNI NADHI(BUT NO WATER IN THE NADHI, THEREFORE, PINDAMS TO BE OFFERED TO COW). WE HAVE DONE ACCORDINGLY.
64 PINDAMS AT VISHNU PADAM AFTER TARPANAM. (6 FOR PITHUR, 6 FOR MATHUR, 1 KARUNYA, 4 FOR OTHERS, 16 FOR MOTHER(MATHUHU), REMAINING FOR OTHERS. WE OFFERED AT THE FEET OF MAHA VISHNU IN THE TEMPLE. VISHNU PADAM DARSHAN SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN THE EVENING ITSELF, OTHERWISE IN THE MORNING WE CANNOT SEE AS MANY GRUHASTHAS WILL OFFER PINDAMS ON HIS FEET. AFTER FINISHING PINDA PRADHANAM AT PHALGUNI AND VISHNU PADAM, WE PROCEEDED TO MUTT FOR SRARDH (AGNI SRARDHAM). WE COMPLETED SRARDHAM AND WITH BALANCE AVIS AGAIN 64 PINDAMS WITH KAKAI PINDAM WE PROCEEDED TO AKSHYAVATAM(BIG TREE) BY AUTO(AUTO CHARGES AND GUIDE CHARGES TO OUR ACCOUNT. SRARDH AND PANDIT DAKSHINAI AND DANAM AT PHALGUNI, VISHNU PADAM AND AKSHYAVATAM MUTT WILL BEAR FROM OUR DEPOSITED AMOUNT).
AT AKSHYA VATAM WE OFFERED PINDA DHANAM. 16 PINDAMS FOR MATHUHU THE PANDIT WILL EXPLAIN THE REASONS FOR OFFERING. IT IS AN EMOTIONAL EVENT. SON OFFERING TO MOTHER FOR HER DIFFICULTIES FACED IN GIVING BIRTH AND AFTER BIRTH SERVING THE CHILD. AT AKSHAYA VATAM WE HAVE TO FOREGO THREE ITEMS VIZ. ONE KEERAI (LEAF), ONE VEGETABLE AND ONE FRUIT. THE SIGNIFICANCE BEHIND THIS FOREGOING IS THAT WE HAVE NO STRICT ATTACHMENT FOR ANYTHING. BY DEFAULT IF WE CONSUME OUTSIDE THERE IS PRAYACHITAM. IN KARTHIGAI MASAM, WE SHOULD OFFER THE ITEM TO TWO BRAHMINS WITH DAKSHINA. BUT NO RELAXATION IF WE COOK AT HOME(IT IS PAPAM). THEN PROCEEDED TO MUTT, OFFERED PANDIT DAKSHINA. HAD FOOD AT MUTT AND ASKED HIM TO PACK THE ITEMS FOR NIGHT TIFFIN AND RETURNED TO KASHI IN THE VEHICLE. (PAID RS.6500.00 TO THE VEHICLE BY BOTH FAMILIES(7)}.
REPORTED TO MANAGER, KANCHI MUTT AND REQUESTED HIM TO ARRANGE FOR DAMPATI POOJA ON 22[SUP]ND[/SUP] MARCH, 2013.
WE VISITED IN THE EARLY MORNING 6.00 AM ONCE AGAIN KASI VISWANATH, VISALAKSHI, ANNAPOORNI, DUNDI GANAPATHY AND RETURNED AT 6.45 AM.
PERFORMED DAMPATI POOJA ON 22-3-2013 AT ABOUT 9.00 AM.
(VERY ELDERLY DAMPATI AGED ABOUT 90 YRS AND 85 YRS WAS MADE AVAILABLE BY MUTT AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT SAREE, DHOTI, DAKSHINA AND OTHER ITEMS).
WE HAD OUR MEALS ABOUT 12.00 NOON. SETTLED ROOM RENT WITH MUTT AUTHORITY. PURCHASED GANGA CHOMBU, VISHNU PADAM, ANNAPOORNI, KASI THREAD FOR DISTRIBUTION TO RELATIVES. TAKEN NIGHT TIFFINS PACKED AND PROCEEDED TO RLY. STATION (KASI CANTT). BOARDED TRAIN AND REACHED SEC’BAD BY 9.30PM ON 23.3.2013.
AFTER COMPLETING THE RITUALS AT ALLAHABAD(PRAYAG), KASHI AND GAYA THE CIRCUIT WILL BE COMPLETE WHEN TRIVENI SANGAM PUNYA TEERTHAM (JAL) CARRIED TO RAMESWARAM AND ABHISEKAM TO RAMALINGESWARA IS PERFORMED. RAMESWARAM SAND (LINGAM) IMMERSION IN TRIVENI(ALLAHABAD) AND TRIVENI WATER ABHISEKAM IN RAMESWARAM MEANS BRINGING PARVATI PARMESWAR TOGETHER.
BY V.VISWANATHAN, RAJI VISWANATHAN, V.THYAGARAJAN AND PADMA
FOR INFORMATION AND THEREFORE, ERRORS AND OMISSIONS EXCEPTED.
I wish everyone Good luck on their Journey!!
