Kailash Mansarovar Yatra - Part 17

Charan Sparsh!

Even while posting these photos in the blog, the hair on my hands stand erect... the photo just above is the view from just outside our room in Deraphuk.  I sat down with few of the yatris on a stone near the room looking at the Mount - many yatris have not yet reached the camp. We were having our hearts, eyes filled with the sight and sound of Kailash. 

A small girl came from somewhere and asked me "Bindi".... I did not have any (I was using Kumkum, chandan and vibhuti throughout the yatra time - this had reached me from the forum members of Kanchi Periva Forum, as prasad of MahaPerivaa Jayanti celebrations held on 25th May 2013 - this kumkum was taken by many yatris whenever they felt a sense of anxiety or fear in them) but had some sweets with me (which is in my waist pouch as energiser/substitute for water -  for the trek). I found those toffees and gave it to that girl - some more children came and I gave them sweets.  Thinking of it now, did Goddess Gauri come to me asking for Bhindi?? 

The cooks had reached by then and it was decided that we will not have maggie - but wait and take lunch even if it takes time for preparation. Hence, we had nothing else to do other than look at the Mount and enjoy every second of that moment.

Narayan said that we should go to Charan Sparsh now and started walking. Radha, Deepashree, myself, Sachin, Rinaben and Hamsaben went behind him. When we started, I had no idea as to how far it is, how high it is, how much effort it will take - I knew that it is the only place where we can GET TO GO CLOSEST TO MOUNT KAILASH AND ALSO GET TO TOUCH THE FEET OF THE MOUNT - HENCE CHARAN SPARSH ( TOUCHING THE FEET IN HINDI).  This one thought that I am going to get closer to the Mount was all in my mind and I started. 

The climb was getting tougher and Sachin went on encouraging me with the words "take baby-steps - go slow - but do not give up - keep going - we will all reach and come back only after all of us reach Charan Sparsh" - this kept me moving further. Narayan was moving ahead like a goat on the mountain rocks jumping from one rock to other and paving the way for us. There is no route or path or anything there - one has to find their own way and keep walking - just like how each one finds God in Hinduism! I was looking at Narayan and listening to Sachin who was behind me guiding and helping others also move ahead.

We walked next to a river that was flowing from the Charan Sparsh - hence it is Charan Theerth - the mud nearer the water was slippery - hence Narayan walked on the rocks and avoided the muddy part - it was slippery and also because it is Charan Theerth and hence better not to put our feet on that sacred water.

It started drizzling and none of us had rain-coat. We proceeded. Small snow-flakes started falling and Narayan told us to expect needles of snow on us as we go nearer and not to get scared but keep walking as our goal is to see and do Charan Sparsh!

I looked up and saw little Sun behind a big cloud! I spoke to the Sun - "look, with my physical strength, I cannot make this yatra again - so you have to be good to me, good to us and come with us making these clouds go away - I do not want any rain, no snow, but only you with us" and started chanting "Adityaya Namaha: Sooryaya Namaha: Dinakaraya Namaha: Bhaskaraya Namaha: " and was reciting Aditya Hrudayam Shloka! 

Needless to say that we did not experience rain or snow afterwards - we walked up taking a lot of risks jumping from one rock to another - climbing a steep rock - finding some foothold to reach the next spot - the Mount looked closer but far - the way ahead looked very far suddenly but on turning a bend looked nearer and again it looked far. Mount Kailash was playing hide and seek and it looked half covered with clouds (making the tip disappear from our sight). By the time I was real closer to the sacred place all clouds had vanished and the Mount Kailash was fully visible  - upto the topmost tip - clear and nice. Half way through I remembered that it is Shakti Maa who would take me to Her Lord and hence I should pray to Her and not to Him directly. I went on chanting "Om Shakti Om Shakti Om" and was singing Subramanya Bharatiyar's "Solluk kadangadhey Para Shakti Soora Thanangalellam - Vallamai Thandhiduval Para Shakthi Vazhi Endrey Thudhippom"... I went on repeating this.

As I neared the spot where Narayan had reached already, tears were flowing from my eyes out of excitement and I fell on the ground doing complete sashtanga namaskaram as I went closer. Narayan was there along with Ravi from Gujarat. Hamsaben and Rinaben reached the place from the other side of the Charan Theerth. Sachin, Radha, Sweety, Charulata, Sahayohita and Kismat also reached the spot. 

I was speechless - my limbs went numb - my mind was blank - I stood there looking at the awesome sight - snow covered feet of the Mount - feet of the Lord - that eluded even Brahma and Vishnu - I was seeing an old man's face on the Mount Kailash with His eyes staring at me! 

It took some time for me to regain my composure and realised that Ravi had lit a small havan and was doing pooja. I took out the Rudraksha mala and Tulsi malas I had taken with me - washed them in Charantheerth and placed them on a small Linga shaped rock just in front and very close to Charan Sparsh. I took the waterbottle, filled it with water from the CharanSparsh (snow melting and the origin of Charan Theerth) and did Abhishek to that Linga with all the Malas. Ravi gave me Chandan - applied it, and did Namaskaram!

By now, Sweety, Radha and Narayan had removed their shoes and sitting with bare foot started their Pooja. Sweety kept a Spatika Linga on a stone, did Abhishekam and applied chandan, kumkum and recited Rudrashtakam. We all joined her and all of us were behaving like small children - excited,happy, friendly and feeling very close to each other. That moment is something that cannot be explained with words. Charu was crying; I started crying; almost everyone had tears of joy! We hugged each other and celebrated that moment! Rinaben was reminded of her daughter whom she had lost 2 years back - she kept her photograph there on the Charan Sparsh and was crying uncontrollably. I took her on my shoulders and told her whatever came to my mind and told her that crying should be only tears of joy! I remembered my younger sister Gayathri whom we lost when she was too young - just 29!  Rinaben stopped crying and I pulled her into our pooja and singing. Narayan and Radha kept their family photos in Charan Sparsh and prayed for everyone.

I had not taken any photos - but I sat and thought of every member of the family and prayed for each one. All the members of my family from my parents side and husband's side. I thought of all the departed members of our families and prayed for them. My maternal grandparents kept coming into my thoughts. I had seen and participated in the Pooja that my grandfather used to do to the family deity - Sambamurthy Lingam - in our ancestral house. As children, we used to wait for the Abhisheka theertham to fall on our heads when grandfather takes a little of it in an Udhrani and throws it on us children! I used to believe that this theertha would make me study better.. I do not know how good I am in academic subjects which was only in my mind then - but that abhisheka theertha had brought me to this holiest place on earth. I was going on thanking my grandparents and parents for everything that was happening there at that time for me.

Sweety made a snow Lingam and we applied Chandan to the Linga and recited whichever shloka came to our minds. 

Narayan had told us that we may not be able to stay in Charan Sparsh for more than a few minutes. But, Sun was shining bright and no rain or snow - we lost count of the minutes that we were spending there. We lost ourselves and did not feel like leaving that place.

It was Narayan who reminded us that we should start our downward movement - actually that was our "downward" movement - back to the world where we have to live the rest of our lives, leaving the beautiful abode of the Lord!

Radha has problem with climbing down and Narayan assured us that we can proceed ahead and he will come with her. I started walking down and soon I was alone - that was a great time I had with myself - talking to myself, singing, laughing and crying - not even a porter with me - so I was like a mad person drunk with happiness! High with the happiness!  Happiness lasts not very long - I saw LO, Deepkiran and some more yatris coming towards me - they asked me "how far" - I encouraged them to go further as it is very near now and the experience beautiful. I saw Prasadgaru and Anuradha on the way - told them to go ahead saying that when I could reach that place, they can easily climb up! I told Anuradha to keep chanting Om Shakti Om and walk ahead.

I walked fast and reached our camp where others were eating lunch - it was almost dinner time - and lunch was going on - I sat down peacefully and had two plates of rice with papad!  Unforgettable day! Unforgettable time! Thank you God for giving me that happiness though I am not that good to deserve your unlimited kindness! Having enjoyed this bliss, now make me a better person, make me someone whom you would love to call as your devotee! Om NamaShivayah!

Om Nama Shivayah! Om Nama Shivayah! Om NamaShivayah! Om Shakti Om Shakti Om!