PILGRIMAGE TO NEPAL

After visiting many temples in India along with my wife, this is the first time i am putting my experience on records and sharing with you all. To all viewers of this blog, wish you a happy journey!!

With chanting of Om Namo Narayanaya, Jai Siddhi Vinayaka Murthiki Jai and Jai Sairam, we all reached Ernakulam south railway station by 12.30 hrs on Friday, 27^th June, 2008 to board train no 2522 Rapthisagar express and left for Gorakhpur. A group of 42 persons male and female reached Gorakhpur by midnight on 29^th June ‘08.

We were received at the station by a guide along with a team of cooks and a luxury bus. All were accommodated in a hotel on sharing basis. Next day morning, after a cup of coffee, we left for Gorakhnath temple darshan. By 10.30 hrs we proceeded towards Sonali-Nepal border and after entering Nepal, we were lodged at Hotel Manasarover. We were served breakfast, lunch and tea enroute by the organizers.

On 01-07-08 we were taken by bus to Lumbini, the birth place of Buddha for sight seeing. It is situated 250km south-west of Kathmandu. This place is the apostle of peace, compassion and non-violence. This is a holy site, where there are remnants of monasteries and chaithyas built over the centuries following Buddha’s birth in 543 BC. We visited Mayadevi temple also. We saw the BODHI tree where Lord Buddha got enlightenment. We left for Kathmandu and reached Hotel Maharaja for night halt.

On 02-07-08 being new moon day, some of us performed “tharpanam” at the hotel room and then left to have darshan of lord Pashupathinath one of the most sacred Hindu shrines of Shiva in the world. The richly ornamented pagoda houses the sacred religious pilgrims and sadhus who travel all the way from remote areas of India to visit this temple. Even though these devotees have denounced worldly possessions, each carry an identification card to freely cross over the border between India and Nepal. The Pasupathinath’s existence is indicated to prior 400 AD. Devotees can be seen taking ritual dip in the holy Baghmathi River flowing beside the temple, also a world heritage site. A sight seeing was arranged by bus and we all visited Kal Bhairab Temple, Badrakali temple, and Dakshina kali temple, where devotees were seen offering “rum” being poured into the mouth of the presiding deity. We had the blessing of KUMARI--a 10-11 year old girl who is worshipped by the natives as the living goddess of Nepal. We also visited a 17^th century Radhakrishna temple where Ramayana and Mahabharata are engraved on the rock wall of the temple. In the evening we had been to the Pasupathinath temple to witness aarthi performed on the banks of Baghmathi River. It was a sight worth seeing. It is like the one performed on the banks of river Ganga at Haridwar.

On 03-07-08 morning abhishekam to Lord Pashupathinath was performed after sankalpam. Chanting of Rudram, Chamakam were done by the pandits at the temple and all of us took part having a good darshan of Lord Pashupathinath again. During sight seeing thereafter we went to Durbar square. This is a complex of palaces, country-yard and temples built between 12^th and 18^th centuries by Malla kings of Kathmandu. Boudhanath Stupa, the largest stupa in the valley looms 36 m high and presents one of the most fascinating specimens of stupa design. It is also known as “Khasti”. There are more than 45 Buddhist monasteries in the area. Many have schools that teach young monks. We visited “Aarthi Matha” temple climbing 108 steps from where we had an exotic full view of Nepal. The Chinese border is about 130 km from this place. We had the glimpse of Bhimsen stupa and Rani Pokhri from the bus. We also visited Bhavani temple which is open only for three days in a year viz, Durgashtami, Mahanavami and Vijayadasami. We also visited Budhanilkantha temple also known as Jalnarayan which is situated below Shivpuri hills at the northern end of valley. The hub of the temple complex is a pond in which lies a great stone figure of lord Vishnu reclining on the coils of the cosmic serpent. It is also known as Bhuijasi. During the three days at Kathmandu, local purchases were also done. We saw rudhraksha tree at the hotel premises. We left for Pokhra and reached by about 22.30 hours for night halt at Lumbini resort, Pokhra.

On 04-07-08, a batch of about 22 persons left for Mukhthinath, a Hindu Vishnu shrine situated near river Kandagi, at the height of 13,500 ft above sea level. They all left by plane and landed at “Jonsom” airport at Mukhthinath.

Those who did not go there, left for sight seeing. First we went to ‘Namasthe children house’ which is an orphanage and a home for destitute women. A handsome donation was given to them. A shopping was also arranged in the morning and afternoon. We visited “Varahi Devi Mandir by boat and also an underground cave temple called Guptheswar. We also saw Devi’s falls in the afternoon.

Due to the sudden change of climate at Mukhthinath people there could not return on time. However it was told that they had a good darshan of Sridevi, Bhoodevi sametha Lord Vishnu, also called Mukhthinath. They also visited places in and around the temple. Praying for the safe return of our co passengers we had a bhajan session in the evening at the resort. Lord answered our prayers and the whole group returned in the morning of

07-07-08 safely and were received at the airport. As prasadam, they brought 110 theertha prasadam and distributed to all of us

After reaching resort, all had breakfast we all left to cross Indo-Nepal border. On the way  we visited a temple in which the main deity is “Manakamana Devi—the wish fulfilling goddess” at Mungling by cable car (udan katola). Since the 17^th century, Manakamana Devi has been widely venerated all over Nepal because of the belief that she fulfills all wishes. This temple has a four-tiered pagoda style roof with the entrance facing south-west. The pujari performs daily rituals behind closed doors before allowing the public to enter. Journey to Manakamana can be exhilarating both spiritually and visually. Spectacular views from around the temple area include deep valleys, terraced fields as well as the Manaslu-Himalchuli and the Annapoorna ranges. It is located on top of a ridge overlooking the river valleys of Trisuli and Marshyangdi. This shrine is accessible in about 10 minutes with Nepal’s first cable car at a height of 3.06 km.

We crossed the Nepal border at about 19.00 hours and reached Gorakhpur station at about 1.30 hours in the night. On 08-07-08 by 7.30 hrs we left by train no 2521 Rapthisagar express to Ernakulam and reached safely here on 10-07-08 by about 23.00 hrs.

The group with which we went was very good and cooperative. We had persons to deliver religious lectures and doctors to give us medical advice on various subjects and many people to sing bhajans, chant slokas and this truly made the trip, so spiritual and enjoyable, both physically and mentally. A total harmony was maintained throughout the journey. In all, this trip to Nepal will remain evergreen in our memories. My heart-felt thanks to BHAKTHA SEVA SAMAJ and its organizers.

JAI PASHUPATHINATH: JAI MUKHTHINATH