To start with I would like to share my Vaishno Devi tour incident which still mesmerises me and leaves severals questiones unanswered .
I used to think why Vaishno Devi Shrine is so hyped. What is special there that millions of peolpe flock to it every year . May be because the temple
is located in a very serene beautiful place high in himalayas. Journey to the temple is exiciting n memorable so it works like a picnic spot where
people go in groups for trekking enjoying beautiful flora fauna just like any other hill station along with an added advantage of visiting a reknowned temple.
Though I m not an atheist but always used to doubt it and blind followers that there is something very special about this place and that devi still resides there in form of some stones called pindiyas. If there is god as it is said that he/she is omnipresent so why people endeavour these places in quest of divine
experience n blessings ? Some people say that there mannat(whishes) got fulfilled so they visit this place every year while some other say that feel divine experience but when asked what about this extra ordinary experience they filled to share something concrete. A lot many people say that if so many people go there
then there must be something special about it .May be but what that is ? Faith is not bound to logic and what one believes is what one believes, simple.
Is'nt it ?
In early 2009 when I was still a 3rd year engineering student studying in a college in Agra my mother told me that she wish to goto Vaishno Devi some day .
As I said above personally I had no inclination to visit this because of divine grandeur but was gald to fulfill my mother's wish as her happiness meant much to me.
I made a plan with two college friends. Booked tickets in a hurry and called her along with my younger brother to Agra even though our ticket to jammu was not confirmed.
In train we sat here n there as we had no confirmed seats .Problem started around 10 PM when jhelum express reached Delhi where huge croud boarded the train everybody demanding
their seats to rest in night . We were in constant touch with ticket collector to give us minimum one seat so that at least my mother can rest.He said that train is over crowded and so no empty seat is available. I was worried and quilty of not able to make proper arragements while friends, brother n my mother all standing in running train trying to some how manage themselves and luggage.
Suddenly ticket collector came to me around 11 PM and to my surpise offered four berths and I gladly accepted it.
In the morning my mother had a severe headache in want of tea.Morning tea is an integral part of her daily routine and has become much of a habit. She starts household only after having a cup of tea.
One thing I forgot to tell you that my mother is great devotee of goddess Durga and every day puja is must for her .She wakes around 4 am takes bath, performs her puja which lasts around 6 am followed by a cup of tea
and house activities. Her health has been a major concern for last 20 years due to major neuro, ortho and several other problems .Her puja routine is only interrupted when is too weak to get up from bed or dizziness.
Now back to train, she drank several cups of tea sold by vendors but her headache failed to recede as tea sold by them hardly had anything like real tea. We started having litti (sattu stuffed bread iconic to Bihar) as breakfast
but had failed to bring sauce.Weather was cold and dry so litties were hard n difficult to swallow.
We caught one pantry staff and demanded for some sauce, seeing us eating litti he got excited and enquired about our home town. In conservation we came to know that pantry man was from my mother's neighbouring village. Happy to serve us he brought
plates overbrimming with sauce and when he came to know that my mother had headache for tea he went running retuning with a cups of tea. He said that this is special tea made of real dense milk unlike being sold by vendors and is only served to
railway employees. He was very friendly and helping, brought cultelts and samosas offering us for free !
As we reached Jammu he came again to help us, lifted as much luggage he could ignoring our all request not to take any trouble and asked us to follow to a restaurent visited by most of railway employees. He was a known figure in the there and
himself served lunch taking so much care of everything as if we were special guest to his home. He was even paying for our food but we did not allow him to do so .He asked the owner of the restaurant to take minimum as we were his close relatives.
He took only 100 rupees for unlimited food for five ! The food was very good and I thought what a treat just reaching Jammu. My mother had to buy a shaul for the yatra so he took us to a known shop and bargained with owner for it. Finally
carrying maximum luggage himself he took us to bus stand to ply to katra, touched my mother feet and said to me that he can bring fresh apples to agra and I can collect from station.After exchanging phone numbers he left leaving me buffled as why as a stranger he took so much pain without having any benefit of it ? Even though he had
said that he can bring boxes of fresh apple whenever I want to, I was convinced that he is not going to do so . A gutt feeling came to me that he is like a messanger of godess come to help only for this trip. Though my belief had no logic but it was true as he never picked my
phone nor he tried to call me ever after .
You may say that this is mere co incident, yes may be but lets move on the yatra had just started.
We stated our 14 km long yatra same night and though my mother was ill and weak she refused to a take a palanquin or pony . After about half a kilometer my mother got very tired and we had to take a break .After resting for 10 -15 minutes we started again but soon had to take second break. It was obivious as she even used to get tired soon walking on
flat, non inclined city roads and mountain climb required much more effort .Some how we climbed up to 2 km but by then she was totally exhausted and had no strength to go further.It was february month cold night in mountains adding to her problems. We rested there for some time so that she may regain some strength but her condition didt not improve much. Finally
she closed her eyes and started praying to the Goddess and soon we started again . She started slowly but soon gained unmatched pace leaving us all behind even after trying our best to match her speed. Next 12 km she travelled without a single break not slowing down for even for a moment ! So many times I asked her to take rest as myself desperately needed some but she continued. It was no less than a miracle . One may say that strong determination would have fuelled her to carry on but just determination only can do that ? Can I fly even if I m very determined ? I was bound to believe that there is someone who is helping her climb so fast as if flying. Tears rolled down my cheeks, I wished
my mother could always have this strength so that her life becomes less miserable.We reached around four in morning, had some rest and went to the temple after bath . As soon as we entered the temple it was closed for two hours and we were extremely lucky to be in temple for such a long time.While coming down I never left her hand as I was anxious
that she may tumble, she was coming down so fast ! At ardhkumari it started raining so we took shelter in a shop. Temperature was going down quickly so wanted to get down as quickly as possible, my mother despite all warm wollens clothes was shivering . We all were worried and decided not to goto cave as there was atleast 2-3 hours waiting.As rain stopped and we were about to leave
I saw an isolated vermillion box on bench with nobody near around. I decided not to take it but then my mother noticed and picked it, within a minute a red chunari came flying from some were and rested near my mother feet ! Every body was amazed by this miracle.
The yatra was a huge success, next day when we reached Jammu around 9 PM to catch train to Agra we came to know that due to bomb blast in Samjhauta Express, train is late by 5 hours and will depart from jammu at 4 AM. We all were tired and exhausted so fell asleep after dinner on the sation depite our every effort to remain awake .Exactly at 4 am I woke up somebody saying to me that dont you have to catch
train ? I woke in a flash saw every body deep sleep curled up in their blankets. I woke them up, collected all our belongings and ran for the train .It was jsut about to leave when we reached the platform but we managed to board in time .
So friends this way our miracalous Maa Vaishno Devi Yatra came to an end . So what you have to say ?
I just have to say one line - Jai Maa Vaishno Devi.
I used to think why Vaishno Devi Shrine is so hyped. What is special there that millions of peolpe flock to it every year . May be because the temple
is located in a very serene beautiful place high in himalayas. Journey to the temple is exiciting n memorable so it works like a picnic spot where
people go in groups for trekking enjoying beautiful flora fauna just like any other hill station along with an added advantage of visiting a reknowned temple.
Though I m not an atheist but always used to doubt it and blind followers that there is something very special about this place and that devi still resides there in form of some stones called pindiyas. If there is god as it is said that he/she is omnipresent so why people endeavour these places in quest of divine
experience n blessings ? Some people say that there mannat(whishes) got fulfilled so they visit this place every year while some other say that feel divine experience but when asked what about this extra ordinary experience they filled to share something concrete. A lot many people say that if so many people go there
then there must be something special about it .May be but what that is ? Faith is not bound to logic and what one believes is what one believes, simple.
Is'nt it ?
In early 2009 when I was still a 3rd year engineering student studying in a college in Agra my mother told me that she wish to goto Vaishno Devi some day .
As I said above personally I had no inclination to visit this because of divine grandeur but was gald to fulfill my mother's wish as her happiness meant much to me.
I made a plan with two college friends. Booked tickets in a hurry and called her along with my younger brother to Agra even though our ticket to jammu was not confirmed.
In train we sat here n there as we had no confirmed seats .Problem started around 10 PM when jhelum express reached Delhi where huge croud boarded the train everybody demanding
their seats to rest in night . We were in constant touch with ticket collector to give us minimum one seat so that at least my mother can rest.He said that train is over crowded and so no empty seat is available. I was worried and quilty of not able to make proper arragements while friends, brother n my mother all standing in running train trying to some how manage themselves and luggage.
Suddenly ticket collector came to me around 11 PM and to my surpise offered four berths and I gladly accepted it.
In the morning my mother had a severe headache in want of tea.Morning tea is an integral part of her daily routine and has become much of a habit. She starts household only after having a cup of tea.
One thing I forgot to tell you that my mother is great devotee of goddess Durga and every day puja is must for her .She wakes around 4 am takes bath, performs her puja which lasts around 6 am followed by a cup of tea
and house activities. Her health has been a major concern for last 20 years due to major neuro, ortho and several other problems .Her puja routine is only interrupted when is too weak to get up from bed or dizziness.
Now back to train, she drank several cups of tea sold by vendors but her headache failed to recede as tea sold by them hardly had anything like real tea. We started having litti (sattu stuffed bread iconic to Bihar) as breakfast
but had failed to bring sauce.Weather was cold and dry so litties were hard n difficult to swallow.
We caught one pantry staff and demanded for some sauce, seeing us eating litti he got excited and enquired about our home town. In conservation we came to know that pantry man was from my mother's neighbouring village. Happy to serve us he brought
plates overbrimming with sauce and when he came to know that my mother had headache for tea he went running retuning with a cups of tea. He said that this is special tea made of real dense milk unlike being sold by vendors and is only served to
railway employees. He was very friendly and helping, brought cultelts and samosas offering us for free !
As we reached Jammu he came again to help us, lifted as much luggage he could ignoring our all request not to take any trouble and asked us to follow to a restaurent visited by most of railway employees. He was a known figure in the there and
himself served lunch taking so much care of everything as if we were special guest to his home. He was even paying for our food but we did not allow him to do so .He asked the owner of the restaurant to take minimum as we were his close relatives.
He took only 100 rupees for unlimited food for five ! The food was very good and I thought what a treat just reaching Jammu. My mother had to buy a shaul for the yatra so he took us to a known shop and bargained with owner for it. Finally
carrying maximum luggage himself he took us to bus stand to ply to katra, touched my mother feet and said to me that he can bring fresh apples to agra and I can collect from station.After exchanging phone numbers he left leaving me buffled as why as a stranger he took so much pain without having any benefit of it ? Even though he had
said that he can bring boxes of fresh apple whenever I want to, I was convinced that he is not going to do so . A gutt feeling came to me that he is like a messanger of godess come to help only for this trip. Though my belief had no logic but it was true as he never picked my
phone nor he tried to call me ever after .
You may say that this is mere co incident, yes may be but lets move on the yatra had just started.
We stated our 14 km long yatra same night and though my mother was ill and weak she refused to a take a palanquin or pony . After about half a kilometer my mother got very tired and we had to take a break .After resting for 10 -15 minutes we started again but soon had to take second break. It was obivious as she even used to get tired soon walking on
flat, non inclined city roads and mountain climb required much more effort .Some how we climbed up to 2 km but by then she was totally exhausted and had no strength to go further.It was february month cold night in mountains adding to her problems. We rested there for some time so that she may regain some strength but her condition didt not improve much. Finally
she closed her eyes and started praying to the Goddess and soon we started again . She started slowly but soon gained unmatched pace leaving us all behind even after trying our best to match her speed. Next 12 km she travelled without a single break not slowing down for even for a moment ! So many times I asked her to take rest as myself desperately needed some but she continued. It was no less than a miracle . One may say that strong determination would have fuelled her to carry on but just determination only can do that ? Can I fly even if I m very determined ? I was bound to believe that there is someone who is helping her climb so fast as if flying. Tears rolled down my cheeks, I wished
my mother could always have this strength so that her life becomes less miserable.We reached around four in morning, had some rest and went to the temple after bath . As soon as we entered the temple it was closed for two hours and we were extremely lucky to be in temple for such a long time.While coming down I never left her hand as I was anxious
that she may tumble, she was coming down so fast ! At ardhkumari it started raining so we took shelter in a shop. Temperature was going down quickly so wanted to get down as quickly as possible, my mother despite all warm wollens clothes was shivering . We all were worried and decided not to goto cave as there was atleast 2-3 hours waiting.As rain stopped and we were about to leave
I saw an isolated vermillion box on bench with nobody near around. I decided not to take it but then my mother noticed and picked it, within a minute a red chunari came flying from some were and rested near my mother feet ! Every body was amazed by this miracle.
The yatra was a huge success, next day when we reached Jammu around 9 PM to catch train to Agra we came to know that due to bomb blast in Samjhauta Express, train is late by 5 hours and will depart from jammu at 4 AM. We all were tired and exhausted so fell asleep after dinner on the sation depite our every effort to remain awake .Exactly at 4 am I woke up somebody saying to me that dont you have to catch
train ? I woke in a flash saw every body deep sleep curled up in their blankets. I woke them up, collected all our belongings and ran for the train .It was jsut about to leave when we reached the platform but we managed to board in time .
So friends this way our miracalous Maa Vaishno Devi Yatra came to an end . So what you have to say ?
I just have to say one line - Jai Maa Vaishno Devi.
