Holiday in Bali
बाली विनोदयात्रा
Dakshini Marathi Khajana
दक्षिणी मराठी खजाना
Tuljapur Yatra & Darshan
तुलजापूर यत्रा अणी दर्शन
by Gurunandan Balawantha Rao
DM Translation by Ananda Rao Vasishta
तुलजा भवानी
1. पुढे तुम्हाला सांगिट्ल॑त्यास्क॑ गेल वार तुलजापूराला गेल्होतों. तुलजा भवानीला दर्शन करणे एक फार विशेष अनुभव म्हणूनच सांगांव॑. यात्रा, दर्शन अणी मझ॑ अनुभव हेज वेषयीन अत्ता हे पोस्टांत॑ सांगतों.
2. दोन वाराच पुढे मी तंजावूरला गेल्होतों. श्री राघवेन्द्र स्वामीच वडवार ब्रिंदावन दर्शन कराला. (हेज विषयीन एक पोस्ट मी थोड पुढेच अप्लोड केल्होतों.) तुलजापूरला जायाच निश्चय करताना ते समयांतच॑ तंजावूरांतल॑ वडवाराला जाऊन दर्शन करालापणीं निश्चय केलते. एक मोठ॑ कार्यक्रम आरंभ कराच पुढे मी केम्हाहीं श्री स्वामीजीच दर्शन करणे आहे. तस॑, तुलजापूराला जायाच पुढेहीं स्वामीजीच अनुग्रहीं आशीर्वादीन मला घेमते होत॑. दर्शन झालांपिरी तिकडे उत्तरादि मठ चालिवाच श्री क्रिष्ण मठांत॑ तीर्थ-प्रसाद केलों. हेज अग्गीन विषयीन विशद होऊन पुढेच तुम्हाला कळिवलोहें अणी ते करतां अत्ता पुन्हाहीं तज विषयीन सांगाच आवश्य नाही.
3. तुलजापूर यात्रा मझ॑ मनांत॑ उजंड (उदंड) दिवसापसून होत॑. देवीच दर्शन कराम॑ म्हणून अम्च॑ मनांत॑ फार होत॑तरीन कस की एवढ॑ दिवस ते झाल नाही. पण, असलास्क-असून एक दिवस यात्राच निश्चय झाल॑. नुस्त तीन चार घंटेंत प्रयाणाच व्यवस्था पूरा चर्चा करून संपिवलों. चार दिवसाच हे प्रयाण ॲगस्त चौदा पसून सत्रा पतोरी (पर्यंतीन) होत॑. दहा वर्षाच नंतर॑ हे यात्रा वास्तव झाल॑. निघाच वेळी राघवेन्द्रस्वामीच "चिंतना" विषयीन श्री. राघवेन्द्र भीमरावा अप्लोड केलते "पोस्ट" पाव्हून संतोष झाल॑. राघवेन्द्रस्वामीच "सुंदर कांड श्लोक" वाचताना अम्हाला मिळाच आशिर्वादाच पक्षा चोखोट वेगळ॑ कोण्त॑ ? हेज बरोर जोडलते (मात्र नहो, हे यात्रांत॑ अम्हाला मिळ्ळते) एक चोखोट अनुभवाच विषयीन हे पोस्टाच शेवटल॑ भागांत॑ सांगतों.
4. ॲगस्त चौदाला अर्ध-रात्री अम्ही पुणे जाऊन पावलों. ॲगस्त पंध्राला तिकडून सोळापूराला निघलों. वर्षा-वर्षी ॲगस्त पंध्रा अणी जनुवरी सव्वीस, हे दोन दिवसीन अम्च॑ बीदांत॑ (बीदींत॑) देशाच ध्वज उडिवाच एक ल्हान कार्यक्रम चालिवणे आहे. मी हे कार्यक्रमाला चुकनास्क॑ केम्हाहीं असेन॑. पण, यंदा हे तुलजापूर यात्रामळे मला तिकडे असाला झालनाही. तरीन, अम्च॑ देशाला बाळ गंगाधर ठिळक असलते महान व्यक्तीला देलते प्रांतांत॑, अम्च॑ देशाच इतिहासाच एक मुख्य दिवसी असलों म्हणून मला फार संतोषीं गौरवीं वाटल॑. पुणेंत्सून सोळापूरला अम्ही ट्रेनांत गेलों. रोडा वाटे जायाचपक्षा हेच चोखोट॑. बरोर चार घंटे झाल॑. सोळापूर जाऊन पावताना दुपारा झाल॑ अणी तिकडून तुलजापूराला टाक्सींत॑ गेलों. टाक्सींत॑ अम्च॑ बरोर वेगळ॑ लोके पणीं होते. म्हणजे, टाक्सीच खर्च अम्ही तेवढ॑दनीं वांटींगट्लों. सोळापूरांत्सून तुलजापूर 45 km दूर आहे अणी सुमार दीड घंटेंत॑ जाऊन पावूया. गेलंदपा(फा) मी हे वाटे गेल॑ तम्हा, रोडाच स्थिती उजंड मोस॑ होत॑. ते पाह्ताना यंदा, परवा नाही, बेष होत॑. गेलंदपा(फा) मी तुलजापूर पाह्ताना एक ल्हान गामास्क॑ होत॑. पण, अत्ता ते एक ल्हान पट्णास्क॑ वाढलसाच पाव्हून मला आश्चर्य वाटल॑. गाम पूरा बस्साचीं काराचीं भीड अणी सरकाराकडून केलते जन-सवारीच व्यवस्था, कोठ पाह्यलतरीन लोकांच गुंप अस॑ आहे अत्ता. बेष उद्धार झालते पट्ण म्हणून सांगाला अण्खीन भरून वेळ होईलतरीन, दहा वर्षाच पुढे होत॑ ते स्थिती पाह्ताना, जुनेस्क॑ नहो, पण, वाढलेत्यास्क॑ दिसते. भरून होटल पणीं आलाहे.
प्रवेश
5. देऊळाच अर्चक श्री विनायक कांबळे ह्यंच घरांतेच अम्ही राह्यलते. गेलंदपा गेलतम्हा पणीं इकडेच राह्यलते. पुन्हाहीं एक दपा अम्च॑ परिचय केलांपिरी अम्ही दर्शन कराला देऊळाला गेलों. तद्दी शुक्रवार होत॑, तेहीं श्रावण शुक्रवार॑. अम्च॑ समगमांतल॑ भरूनदनाचीं त्यंच सोयरीक लोकांचीं कुलदेवता हे देवीच म्हणून, हे देऊळाविषयीन तुम्हाला परिचय देणे आवश्य नाहीतरीन एक दोन गोष्ट सांगतों. फार मोठ॑ अणी विस्तार होऊन बांधलते हे देऊळाच आकार, बांधलते विध॑ हे अग्गीन पाह्ताना हे अम्च वास्तुशिल्प संस्कृतीच एक अतिशय अणी विशेष उदाहरण म्हणूनेच सांगाम॑. सुमार शंभर पायरी (पडतोरे) वेघून उत्तरामते पडेल इकडे. आंत वेघाच द्वारांतल॑ "गो-मुख तीर्थ" वलांडून अग्गिदनीं आंत जाम॑. आंत वेघलांत-की-नाही, तीन ल्हान क्षेत्र पाव्हूया ; गणेश, हनुमंत॑ अणी विठ्ठलाच॑. ह्यांच दर्शन करून, आशीर्वाद घेईंगून, अण्खीन थोडक॑ पायरी (पडतोरे) उतरून गेलतर॑ मुख्य देऊळ पाव्हूया. चोखोट वातावरण॑, चोखोट वार॑, दोन थोर झाड, हे अग्गीन मिळून संध्याकाळाच वेळ बेष होत॑. मात्र नहो, तिकड॑ "क्यूंत॑" थोडकदनेच ओठाकल॑ होते. ल्हान "क्यू" पाव्हूनटाकून मला संतोष झाल॑. कां म्हणजे, गेलंदपा आलस्तम्हा (आलस्ताना) "क्यू" हेज पक्षा थोर होत॑ म्हणून ! नंतरेच कळ्ल॑, "क्यू"च व्यवस्था पूरा बदलूनटाकलाहेत म्हणून. बेष बांधून पक्का केलाहेत॑. पण, "क्यू" एवढ॑ थोर होत॑ म्हणजे, अम्हास॑ दर्शन मिळताना पूरा तीन घंटे झाल॑. श्रावण शुक्रवाराच दिवसी देवीला दर्शन कराकरतां "क्यूंत" ओठाकणे म्हणजे, कोणाला वाईट वाटेल॑ ? संदेहेच नाही ! "धर्म-दर्शन" अणी "मुख-दर्शन" अस॑ दोन क्यू होत॑. धर्म-दर्शनांत॑ देवीच पूरा दर्शन मिळेल॑. मुख-दर्शनाच क्यूंत ओठाकल॑ तर॑, दूरसून (दूर असून) देवीला दर्शन मिळाच ठिकाणी जाऊन पावुओं. मुख-दर्शनाच क्यू लोक्कुर सरकत होत॑. पण, अम्ही धर्म-दर्शनाच क्यूंत जाऊन ओठाकलों. माडी व॑र वेघून, खाले उत्तरून, इकडे तिकडे वलांडींगून फिरींगून, हे क्यू हळ्ळु हळ्ळु पुढे सरकत होत॑. तीन घंटेच नंतर॑ मुख्य देऊळाच जवळ जाऊन पावलों. जवळ येतांतरून, दूरसून विग्रहाच दर्शन मिळ्ळ॑. पण, हे श्री लक्षी-नरसिंहाच होत॑. देवीच दर्शन मिळाच पुढे, पहिले नरसिंह-देवाच दर्शन कराम॑, हेच तिकडल॑ पद्धती. पह्जे म्हणून अस॑ केलाहेत॑. तीन घंटेच वेळ झालांपिरी नरसिंह-देवाच दर्शन॑ पहिले कराम॑. ते वेळी मनांत मला झालते विकार सांगाला होत नाही. श्री राघवेन्द्र भीमरावाच पोस्टांत वाचलते पूरा, तक्षण॑ मनांत अठींगून आल॑. श्री नरसिंह-देवाच दयामळे मात्रच हे अनुभव मला मिळ्ळते.
1. As shared earlier, had been to Thuljapur last week. It was a great experience to have dharshan of Thulja Bhavani. This post is about this trip and dharshan, with related experiences.
2. Two weeks back, I had been to Thanjavur to have dharshan of Sri Raghavendra Swamy at Vadavar Brindavan. A separate post on this was posted. As soon as a trip to Thuljapur was planned, this Thanjavur trip and dharshan was also planned. I always make it a practice to have dharshan of Sri Swamiji before commencement of any major work. That way, a trip to and dharshan at Thuljapur is certainly a significant event and wanted to seek the blessings and grace of Swamiji. Before commencement of the trip Glad that we were fortunate to have dharshan of Swamiji there and also at Krishna Mutt –a unit of Uttaradi Mutt, including theertha Prasad there. A detailed, separate post in this regard about Thanjavur trip has been shared earlier and hence Iam not going into those details again.
3. This trip to Thuljapur has been due for quite a long time. We have been wanting to have dharshan of Devi and despite our best efforts, somehow this trip could never ever happen all these days. Suddenly, in no time, this current trip got finalized. It was just a matter of a few hours within which this trip including the modalities got finalized. The date was from Aug 14th to 17th. Atlast, after a gap of nearly 10- years, we started the trip. Just as we were starting was the posting by Sri Raghavendra Bhima Rao on Swami’s chinthanaas. It was indeed a pleasant experience that I could see this post and what better way than get the blessings of Sri Swamiji through his Sundara Kaanda Sloka? There is a particular point related to this, very important and will talk about this at the concluding stage of this post. In fact, this is also one of the main highlights of this trip.
4. We landed at Pune on 14th August midnight and proceeded to Sholapur from Pune on 15th August. Normally, on Aug 15th and Jan 26th, flag hoisting in a smaller level takes place in our street and I make it a point to participate in it. But this time, I could not do that as this trip was planned. Being a rather important day in the history of our Nation, and being at a place that gave this Nation the great iron man Balagangadhar Tilak, it felt so nice. The trip to Sholapur from Pune was by train, a mode of transport that is far more comfortable than road. It takes exactly 4 hours by train. We reached in the afternoon at Sholapur and from there, took a share taxi to Thuljapur. Thuljapur is 45 kms from Sholapur. Compared to my previous visit, I must certainly say that roads have improved a lot in this route. It takes approx one and a half hour. After reaching Thuljapur, I was in for yet another surprise. The small place which had just a few street in my previous visit has changed so much and has become a small town. So much of buses, cars and public mode of transport. Though a long way to go to claim to be a developed place, it is definitely not what it was a decade back. Lots of hotels have come up.
5. Our stay was at the place of Sri Vinayak Kamble, priest at the Devi temple. We stayed at his place in our previous visit also. After getting re-introduced, we proceeded to the temple for dharshan. It was a Friday evening, and that too Shravana mahina Friday. A few words about this temple, though this needs no introduction, as this Devi is the family deity of many of our members and / or their relatives. The construction of this temple clearly indicates that it has been a part of palatial activities. The construction, its shape, structure all this is very much typical of our architectural marvel and wonder, expertise, ability. There are quite a few steps (approx 100 in number) that one has to get down / climb. At the entrance is there a “ghomukha theertha”, where all devotees have to pass through only this. Just after the entrance, there is a Ganesha temple, Sri Hanuman shrine, Vittala shrine – small shrines in size, gracing and blessing all devotees at the entry stage. After having dharshan here, as one proceeds downwards by going down a few more steps is the main temple. Excellent atmosphere. Breezy, pleasant evening with 2 large trees. I was happy to note that there were hardly only a few members in the queue, and was recalling my previous visit when it was a bit more crowded. Only then did I realize that the arrangement is now completely different, and there is a full fledged, pucca construction / arrangement for queue. The queue was so big that it took 3 hours to have dharshan. But being a Friday evening and that too sharvana mahina, who would mind waiting? No way. There were two quee s- one fro dharma dharshan (to have complete dharshan of Devi) and the other “mukha dharshan” – this will lead to a place from where we can see Devi at a distance. This mukha dharshan queue was moving fast but we joined the dharma dharshan. The queue was meandering and serpenting, going through several floors, underground et, and after 3 hours, we were close to the main shrine. Just as we approached the shrine, from a distance, we could have a glimpse of the deity. Interestingly, this deity is Sri Lakshmi Narasimha. The very first deity that one has dharshan of is that of Sri Narasimha. It has been designed that way. After a waiting time of 3 hours, dharshan starts with Sri Narasimha. No words to describe. I was promptly reminded of all the posts of Sri Raghavendran Bhima Rao that we have been fortunate to read. It is certainly the grace of Sri Narasimha that this happened.
श्री लक्ष्मी नरसिंह
6. श्री नरसिंह-देवाच दर्शन दूरसून झालांपिरी अम्ही मुख्य देऊळांत॑ घूंसलों. गर्भ-गृहाच पुढ॑ अम्ही ओठाकल॑ अस्ताना, म्हणजे, देवीच विग्रहांत्सून फार जवळ अस्ताना, देऊळाच रक्षा करणार लोके बंदोबस्ताला म्हणून तिकडे-तिकडे अडव॑ होत॑ ते लोखुंडाच कांब अग्गीन काढून वेगळ॑ रीतींत॑ ठिवाच काम आरंभ केले. हे काम पांच मिनिट काढल॑ अणी हे वेळ पूराहीं अम्हाला देवीच दर्शन उजंड जवळसून कराच भाग्य मिळ्ळ॑. देवीच सौंदर्य नुस्त गोष्टांत॑ विवरण कराला होईना. गर्भ-गृहाच समोर अम्ही अस्ताना अम्च व॑र दाक्षण्य दाखिवून बंदोबस्ताच व्यवस्था बदलिवाच पर्यंतीन अम्हाला तिकडेच थांबिवून दर्शन देले. मनांत मला वाटलते कृतज्ञताच विकार सांगाला होत नाही. देवीच दर्शन झाल नंतर॑ प्राकरांत होत॑ ते वेगळ॑ देवांच अणी देवींच दर्शन केलों. श्री नरसिंह-देवाचीं लक्ष्मीचीं दर्शन फार जवळसून केलों. हेज नंतर॑ सायंकाळी, झालते अग्गीन अठींगून प्राकारांत हायशी उगे बसलों. ते थोर झाडाच खाले, चोखोट हिंस॑ वार॑ खाईंगून, देवी अम्च॑ व॑र दाखिवलते अनुकंपा अठींगून , वेगळ॑ काहीं करनास्क॑ तिकडे उगे बसाला बेष होत॑. रात्री 9.45 झाल॑ अणी निघाला वेळ झाल॑. अग्गि दुकानीं रात्री नौ बडिवतानाच झांकूनटाकतील तरीन, दहीं-पोहे (अवलक्कि) विकाच एक ठिकाण पाह्यलों. दहीं-पोहे सोडून वेगळ॑ काहीं खायाला मिळ्ळ॑ नाही. पण, अम्हाला झालते मन्नाच तृप्तीच समोर हे काहीं नाही म्हणूनच सांगाम॑.
7. दुसर॑ दिवसी अरुणोदी चार बडिवताना दर्शन कराला निघलों. देवीला "लुगड॑ (साडी) नेसिवणे / पांघरिवणे" अणी अभिषेक, हे दोनीं पाह्याच भाग्य मिळ्ळ॑. हे सेवाला अम्ही एर्पाड केलोतों. दोन घंटे क्यूंत ओठाकून शेवटी देवीच दर्शन फार जवळसून पुन्हाहीं केलों. गेल दिवस सायंकाळीच दर्शन पूर्ण अलंकाराच होत॑, अणी पाष्टेच अभिषेकाच वेळी निर्माल्य दर्शन झाल॑. अम्च॑ डोस्के देवीच पादाच व॑र एक दोन क्षण लागिवाला सोडून नंतर॑ दर्शन करून समेच बाहेर येणे, हेच तिकडल॑ पद्धती. हे एक चोखोट पद्धती म्हणून मला वाटल॑. देवीला पुन्हाहीं-पुन्हाहीं मनांत आभार सांगून अम्ही तिकडून बाहेर आलों. आरतीच सेवा करणारांस॑ प्राकारांत॑ प्रत्येक होऊन व्यवस्था आहे. अम्हीपणीं हे करिवलों. हेज नंतर॑ एक झाडाच खाले दहा मिनिटाच गोंधळाच कार्यक्रम झाल॑. हे झालांपिरी "ओंटी भरणे / ओंटी भरिवणे", हे झाल॑. हे अग्गीन अम्च॑ परंपराच बरोर जोडलते पद्धतीच प्रत्येक संप्रदाय आहे. शेवटी, बाहेर येऊन पडतोरेच (पायरीच) व॑र थोड वेळ बसून, तिकड मिळ्ळते प्रसाद खाल्लाव॑र बाहेर निघलों.
8. सग्ळीन संपताना 8.15 झाल॑. देवीच नैवेद्य साडे-बारा घंटेला होत॑ ते करतां प्रसाद घ्याला एक घंटे पतोरी होऊया म्हणून वाटल॑. पण, पुणेला जायाच ट्रेन सोळापूरांतून दोन बडिवतान निघते म्हणून प्रसादाकरतां साडे-बारा पर्यंतीन थांबाला होईनास्क॑ झाल॑. श्री विनायक कांबळेच उपदेशाप्रकार सोळापूराच॑ श्री राघवेन्द्र सवामी मठाला समेच टाक्सी धरींगून गेलों. परतून जातानपणीं टाक्सीच खर्च अम्च बरोर टाक्सींत बसलत्यां बरोर वांटींगट्लों. दीड घंटेंत॑ सोळापूराला जाऊन पावलों. श्री राघनेन्द्र स्वामीच ब्रिंदावन कोठ आहे म्हणून टाक्सी पळिवणाराचकडे मी कित्ती दपा विचरलतरीन तला मी बोलाच मनांत॑ झाल नाही (समजल॑ नाही). हे प्रदेशांत अग्गीन महाराष्ट्राच मराठी विना, हिंदीपणीं मनांत होणार (समजणार) थोड उणेच. बंडी पळिवणाराला ब्रिंदावन असाच ठिकाण कळाला वाटेच नाही म्हणून मी म्हणींगत होतों. तम्हा ड्रैवर मला सांगिट्ला, "अगर आपने हिंदी या मराठी मे लोख सकते हो, तो लिखके दिखाओ अपना जगाह. देखता हूं कुछ कर सकता हूं". हे ऐकून, मी हिंदींत॑ "श्री राघवेन्द्र स्वामी ब्रिंदावन, मंत्रालय महाप्रभू" अस॑ लिव्हून तला दाखिवलों. तेवढ॑च, मी तुम्हाला हे लेखाच पहिले सांगट्ल होतों की, ते मुख्य विषय अत्ता आल॑. ड्रैवर सांगिट्ला, "अरे साहेब, क्या बात करते हो ? इस महाऋषी को कौन नही जानता ? और, मैं क्यों न जानूं ? तुम सही बताना चाहीहे था पहले. मैं इस जगाह अच्छी तराह जानता हूं" !!!!! अणी दहा मिनिटांत॑ तो अम्हाला ब्रिंदावनांत॑ सोडला. वेळ साडे-अक्रा झाल॑. श्री राघवेन्द्र स्वामीला विना वेगळ॑ कोणालीन एवढ॑ आश्चर्याच काम करून दाखिवाला होईना. अम्ही स्वप्नांत॑ (सोप्पनांत॑) पणीं योचना केलों नाही, सोळापूर मठांत॑ असुओं म्हणून. स्वामीजी विषयीन राघवेन्द्र भीमरव अप्लोड केलते सगळ॑ पोस्टीं, त्यंच श्लोक, हे अग्गीन मला सयेंत॑ आल॑. मझ॑ अम्माला कन्नडा कळ्ळ॑होत॑ ते करतां मठाच लोकांकडे त्यांस॑ बोलाला सांगिट्लों. मला कन्नडाच एक अक्षर पणीं कळना ! दर्शन, अणी साध्य झाल तर॑, तीर्थ-प्रसादीं विचारलों. दहा मिनिटांत॑ विचरून कळींगून प्रयास काहीं असना म्हणून तेनी म्हणट्ले. तीर्थ-प्रसादाच व्यवस्था होत अस्ताना अम्ही दर्शन करून एक सेवा पणीं करिवलों. महा-आरती होऊन, तीर्थ-प्रसाद दुपारा 12.45ला झाल॑. 1.15 pmला अम्ही निघतों म्हणून सांगताना मला तेनी एक शेष-वस्त्र देले. हे अग्गीन आराधना होऊन थोडक॑ दिवसांतेच झाल॑, तेईं मंत्रालयाच नियंत्रणाच खाले असाच मठांत॑ ! हे अग्गीन श्री राघवेन्द्र स्वामीजीच माहात्यम॑ म्हणूनच सांगाम॑, वेगळ॑ कसीं सांगाला होईना. पुढल॑ दिवसी दहीं-पोहे (अवलक्की) विना वेगळ॑ कायीं खायनास्क॑ असणे, अरुणोदी देवीच दर्शन होणे, अणी, दुसर॑ दिवस पूरा एक घांस पाणी पणीं पीनास्क॑ सरळ स्वामीजीच ब्रिंदावनाला येऊन तीर्थ-प्रसाद घेणे, हे अग्गीन देवीचीं स्वामीजीचीं इच्छामळेच झाल॑ म्हणूनच सांगाम॑. मलाईं मझ॑ बरोर आलते लोकांसीं हे अग्गीन मिळाला योग्यता आहे का, तसेच, एवढ॑ कारुण्यईं अनुग्रहीं मिळाला अम्ही कय केलों, मला अत्तापणीं हे कळत नाही. उजंड उणे वेळांत॑ अम्च आवश्य अग्गीन बरोर करून देलतेला मठाच लोकांस॑ अम्ही आभार सांगून, जाऊन येतों म्हणून सांगूनटाकून स्टेषनाला आलों. मठांत्सून स्टेषन दोन किलोमीटर दूरेच॑. जाऊन पावाला पांच मिनिट पणीं होईना. अम्ही प्ळाटफोर्मांत॑ वेघताना 1.30pm झाल॑. ट्रेन दोन घंटेला होत॑. अम्ही जाऊन पावलते वेळाच बरोर ट्रेन पणीं आल॑.
भवानी तीर्थ
9. खर॑ सांगट्लों म्हणजे, अम्हाला तुलजापूर दर्शन करूनटाकून मंत्रालयाला जायाच होत॑. पण, कस की, तस॑ कराला झाल नाही. तरीन, देवी अणी श्री स्वामीजी ते सौकर्य करून देले. देवीचीं श्री स्वामीजीचीं आशीर्वाद अणी दया, हेज विषीन काय सांगणे ?
10. डिसंबर 2013 पसून आज पर्यंतीन तीन दपा मला देवी तुलजा भवानी विषयीन लिव्हाला अवसर मिळ्ळ॑. पहिलेंदा, कांचीपुरमांत॑ झालते गोंधळ, नंतर॑, अडयार अनंतपद्मनाभ स्वामी देऊळांत झालते गोंधळ, अणी अत्ता तुलजापूराच विषयीनच॑. मझ॑ जीवनांत॑ अण्खीन अस॑ अवसर॑ करून दे म्हणून देवाला प्रार्थना करून हे लेख संपिवतों.
पुष्करणि
राजे शाहजी महाद्वार
6. After a glimpse of Sri Narasimha from a distance, we entered into the main shrine. Interestingly, as we were standing at the main entrance of the shrine, just a few metres from the idol, the security guards took up re-arrangement of barricades and asked us to wait for some time. This took 5 full minutes and all along, we were fortunate to have dharshan of Devi from very close quarters. No words to describe the charm of Devi. She has been graceful enough to make us wait at her place and instruct the guards in the meantime for re-arrangement of the barricades. And all this happens when exactly it was our turn to have dharshan. No words to describe / express the feeling of gratitude. After dharshan of Devi, we proceeded with dharshan of other shrines in the prakaara and had dharshan of Sri Narasimha with Lakshmi from very close quarters. After dharshan, we waited at the prakaara. We sat down, doing nothing – literally nothing but just rejoicing and remembering the evening’s proceedings. It felt so nice not to do anything but just keep sitting there, enjoying the cool, pleasant breeze under the gigantic tree, recollecting Devi’s mercy on us. It was 9.45 pm and it was time to leave. All shops close by 9 pm and we could locate a place that offered us “aulaki / pohae” with curd. That was the only intake for the evening. But when one’s mind and heart is full, this hardly matters.
7. Next day started at 4 am and we proceeded to the dharshan early morning. Were fortunate to watch abhisheka and “luguda / saadi paangrivna” early in the morning. We had opted for this seva. We had to wait in the queue for almost 2 hours and ultimately we had dharshan of Devi once again from very close quarters. Dharshjan on the previoius day evening was in full alankara form. Dharshan the next day morning was in abhisheka and nirmalya form. We had dharshan of Devi from just a few inches away. The arrangement / procedure there is, the priest makes us rest our head on the foot of Devi for a few seconds, makes us have dharshan of her and then asks to leave. Good arrangement. We came out thanking Devi for the nth time. For those desirous of performing aarathi, there is an arrangement made in the prakaara and we performed this. Next was Gondhala. Under the tree, Gondhala was performed for 10 minutes. This was followed by “onti bharna, onti bharivna”. Certain practices unique and special of our community. We finally came out, sat at the steps for a few minutes, tok the Prasad thatw as offered to us and then took leave.
.jpg)
8. It was 8.15 by this time and we had to wait till 1 pm for having Prasad, as Devi’s neivyedhya is at 12.30 noon. But our train to Pune was at 2 pm from Sholpaur, and there was no way we could wait till 12.30 noon. We proceeded to Sholapur as suggested by Sri Vinayak Kamble to Raghavendra Swamy Mutt. We got a shared taxi and this took us to Sholkapur in 1.5 hours. I was asking the driver about the location for Sri Swamy Mutt and he was unable to understand. In fact, in this belt, even Hindi does not work out fully. Only hard core Maharashtra Marathi works. There was no way the driver understands Sri raghavendra Swamy Brindavan location – atleast, that is what I thought. Then the driver asked me, “agar aapnae hindhi yaa Marathi mein likh sakthae ho tho likhkae dhikhao apna jagaa, dekhtha hoon kuch kar saktha hoon”. I wrote in hindhi “Sri Raghavendra Swamy Brindavan, Mantrala Mahaprabhu”. That is it. Now comes the final moment that I had indicated in the starting of this post. The driver said ‘arae saab, kya baath karthae ho? Is Maharishi ko kaun nahin jaantha? Aur main kyon na janoon? Thu sai bathaana chaahiyae thaa pehle. Mai nis jagaa achie tarah jaanthaa hoon” !!!!! And in just less that 10 minutes, he dropped us at Brindavan. Wonder of wonders, only Sri Swamiji can make this possible. We had not even dreampt of this, and we are there at Sholapur Mutt. All posts of Sri Raghavendran Bhima Rao about Sri Swamiji, his sloka came to my mind. It was around 11.30 now. Having reached the mutt, I made my mother speak to the Mutt people. She is quite familiar in Kannada, where as I do not know even a single letter. We requested for dharshan and theertha Prasad, if possible. After verifying the possibilitu, within 10 minutes, they agreed. In the meantime, we had dharshan of Sri Swamiji. All this happens just within a few days of Aradhana and that too at the Brindavan directly controlled by Mantralaya itself. We opted for a particular seva and were fortunate to be agreed by the concerned. Finally, it was Maha arathi and theertha Prasad at 12.45 noon. At 1.15 pm, we took leave, and I was called and offered a “sesha vastra”. No way to describe all this. It was Devi and Sri Swamijis wish that we must not have anything other than “aulaki / pohae” the previous day, have Devi dharshan early in the morning and proceed to Sri Swamiji’s Brindavan without having even a drop of water and have theertha Prasad there. Iam still at a loss to understand whether I / we (I mean all those who accompanied me) we deserve all this, and what is it that we have done to be eligible for all this, such a great grace and guidance. We thanked the Mutt people to have accommodated our request at such a short notice and reached the station. The station is just 2 kms form Brindavan and takes less than 5 minutes. It was 1.30 pm when we reached the platform, and the train was at 2 pm. The train was just entering the station. In fact, itw as my wish to jave dharshan at Thuljapur and then proceed to Mantralaya., but somehow could not plan it that way. But Devi and Sri Swamiji made it possible. What a grace. What a mercy on the part of Devi and Sri Swamiji !!!!
9. Between December 2013 and today, I have had the opportunity to write / share about Devi Thulja Bhavani three times – first was about Gondhal at Kanchipiram, next was Gondhal at Adyar Ananthapadmanabha Swamy temple and now at / about Thuljapur itself. Hoping, wishing and praying that I get more such opportunities in life.
10. I conclude this post, thanking all for the information shared and wishes, and with a request to members not to mind this rather lengthy post, which somehow got inadvertently lengthy. Thanks.