An interesting journey !

A couple of days ago ,I was on my way to Patna .When my train pulled in and halted at Asansol jn ,in West Bengal a family consisting of two kids ,husband ,wife, grandparents boarded the train, with a  load of luggage .

As they got into it one of the two children ,very bold and smart rushed to my seat and said" Uncle 17,18,19,20,21,22 are our seats"I kept mum and didn't reply .In a flash his father came with two heavy bags ,followed by his other family members.They all arranged the luggage and occupied their seats.Then ,the granny asked the kids"Give the  luggage if any left" To that the kids shouted in unison "Take these two bags but the jute bag we won't give you granny, as this bag has food ,chips ,cakes and many more to eat ".

 Then, the process of eating started. Firstly, came the turn of tiffin box that they had .The aroma of the food spreaded  all over the compartment.They consumed the tiffin stuffs in no time.  Then, in the queue present were ready to eat food like chips ,cakes etc.The opening of packets continued up to the last minute of the journey .

During my whole journey of around eight hours their mouth kept doing the exercises, never paused for a second ,the chewing and biting process kept running. The most interesting part was that in that fest not only kids had participated but the whole members husband,wife ,grandparents all equally had taken part. I really enjoyed that journey and how the time ran out ,I didn't understand.

'Bhasma Aarti' of Mahakaleswar Temple

In ancient times ,Ujjain city was also known by the name'Avantika'.Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain is unique and has a significant place in the Hindu mythology.

 The description and reference of this holy place can be found in the pages of Vedas,Upanishads etc.It is one of the twelve jyotirlingams present on the globe.About this temple there is a belief that one who pays obeisance in front of this Shiv linga do not die a premature death.

Since ages,pilgrims from all over the country have been visiting this divine place. But the uniqueness is not only because of the jyotirlinga but lies in the fact that here a very uncommon ritual is observed i.e 'Bhasma Aarti'.

       'Bhasma' means 'ashes' and 'Aarti' is a ritual done to pay respect and to please the God.To truely experience the beauty of this' Aarti ' needs absolute devotion to Almighty. Concentration and clear mind are must to enjoy every bit of this function.

 Attracted by this divine ritual I also booked a free entry pass, a day in advance .Getting into also require a dress code and is strictly followed without fail.

The male devotees are allowed in traditional dress' dhoti' while females are permitted in saris .

Perhaps, this is because of the reason that in Hindu religion stitched cloth is not believed to be sacred.
 Next morning, I  left the bed earlier.Around 3.30 AM out the main entrance of the temple there was a long queue and I too joined the crowd. Gradually the serpentine queue moved towards the Sanctum Sanctorum .The path led me into a gallery lookalike a portion of stadium ,close to the Jyotirlinga.

After a short while, the door of the Sanctum Sanctorum opened and then began the chanting of mantras by a group of priests.The head priest bathed the Shiva Linga with holy water, milk,curd and many other things.

 At that particular instant 'Aghori' a man who lives in place where mortal remains are cremated stepped in with ashes of freshly burnt human body.The head priest accepted the ashes also called 'Bhasma' and adorned the Shiva Linga with it.The decoration was done in such a way that the Linga turned into a king wearing crown.

Really the images that passed through my eyes was fantastic sights to behold and deeply settled in my mind.

A trip to the temple city Ujjain-1

Travel enthusiasts are always in search of a new destination, a bit challenging but that really gives immense pleasure to them .Travelling always top their priority list.Their vacations are all about discovering a place of importance .They explore scenic beauty and experience the culture. They are always committed to travelling.Like them,I too have an appetite for sight seeing .No matter it may be a metropolitan city ,a temple town or a national park.Each sight gives a boost to my desire and always encourages me to hunt for another mesmerizing destination.
                 After a short stay at Udaipur city and with Vivid memories I returned Udaipur station when the day is done to catch Ujjain bound train.Many a time I have heard that the temple city Ujjain offers an unique experience of Hindu religion and more importantly is also a place of pilgrimage. It has a lot more than temples -rich history related to Hindu mythology like good food for both body and soul.And the friendly people with emotional touch.That's what attracted me a lot to tour there.

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           Next morning, my train pulled into this city and just 30 mins drive got me to the main entrance of 'Mahakaleshwar Temple' the temple of Lord Shiva.I was really enthralled to see the beauty of this temple. Since the days of the Ramayana Ujjain is known but by another name 'Avantika'
      In the vicinity many comfy hotels at pocket friendly prices were available and I chose one of them.Other stay options were also there.
     It is not just the temples that attract tourist from all over the globe but one thing that add a bit of excitement is to enjoy the 'Bhasma Aarti' performed in the Mahakal temple. To be a part of this Aarti a pass is needed that is issued a day in advance by the temple management.This is the Ujjain that has given birth to many stories relating to Hindu mythology.