We left C005,Dwarka by a taxi pre arranged by Ganesh as he could not accompany us to Hazrat Nizamuddin to see us off.The train Mangala exp was to leave Nizamuddin at 9.55am and taking into account the distance and Delhi traffic added to our Parasara Gothram`s extra over cautiousness we boarded the taxi at 7.30am itself.This was on the 6th.We were there at eight ten as the traffic was thin and has yet not begun to swell it being the first working day of the week.I gave a missed call to Anu as agreed upon to announce that we arrived at the station safely.The empty racks of Mangala Exp.were brought to platform well in advance and we were able to occupy our berths without much ado.I could secure a side lower berth for patti.Amma had to content herself with a side upper berth and she later told me that she could not sleep nicely.I was comfortable in an inside upper berth a little removed from the two ladies.The train was much over crowded as waitlisted passengers were also allowed to board the coaches without any TTE insight to guide them properly.Probably Lalu makes profit this way.We had only one serviceable entrance with luggages dumped and passengers squatting in pathway to latrine on all the other three doorways -literally it looked like an unreserved compartment except for passengers able to sit in their reserved seats.The train started on dot and really was fast and behaved to its super fast label.I wanted to see the Chambal valley and the river once infested by thugs and pindaries.Oh what a beautiful riverine bed almost like a shallow Colorado of USA.I showed it to both Patti and Amma.In Bina jn I talked to Malathy.Here the track branches off to Katni.The train was on dot at Bhopal and tried to hook Setu Athimber by my mobile.But he could not respond.It left Bhopal at 9.05 pm and from itarsi branched off to Mumbai line.I woke up at Bhusaval and checked with the station personnel that the train was running to time.It was 3.00am.The next worry was to alight from the train with least difficulty in the back ground of the over crowded nature of the coach in which we were travelling.Copassengers were good natured but lacked sophistication and culture.I shifted the luggages to the nearest doorway by asking a Keralite youth to go and occupy my upper berth.The poor guy was bound for Ernakulam and was half awake/half sleeping on the doorway corridor.My next worry was which side of the train the plat form will appear as the opposite doorway was shut and another guy was sleeping with all his luggages.Fortunately the plat form was on our side when we reached Nashik road station and comfortably we got down.The time was 5.55am.the day was 7th nov. and it was on dot.the Athimber was right there waving his hand.We moved to the Zen of Chandhu.As a porter was pre engaged thanks to Athimber-he said he and Malathy had problem in getting a porter when they disembarked on the 2nd.-we could get into the car with least time.Nashik was very chill and shawls were put into service by amma and patti.Chithappa was to arrive in Mumbai from Delhi by Jet Air and from there to proceed to Nashik by Bus as Sriram`s earlier plan to travel by car from Mumbai had to be given up as he was preoccupied with his work.I accompanied Ravi to fetch Chinnambi and co from Bombay Naka where the buses from Mumbai stop to off load passengers to Nashik.The buses also stop at Hotel Dwaraka which is nearer to Chandhu`s house.But precious half an hour is wasted in reaching to this place from Bombay Naka.We asked Chithappa to get down at Bombay naka and brought them home by auto. Mobile telephony was useful here.It was about 8.00pm .
Chithappa narrated his experiences in Nepal and by and large the trip was nice and enjoyable.Only he had tobe on tenterhooks while leaving Kathmandu as he forgot to carry the passports.I learn that for air travel passports are a must after the highjack of an Air India flight from Kathmandu to Kandhahar the Taliban.The Indian embassy staff helped in issuing fresh identity cards to all the three.In the place of passports one can carry voter`s photo identity card. Another fact is that 500`s are accepted freely by bigger establishments of Nepal though there was some apprehension that 500`s may be declined by Nepalese inview of Pakistan`s ISI said to circulate forged 500`s.He was happy that he could see some of the unapproachable Himalayan peaks by taking a small Aircraft ride.The exchange rate was 60paise to a Nepali rupee.We were toknow the programme of Sriram.He sent an sms telling that he was leaving Mumbai by bus leaving at 11.30pm and was reaching at 3.30am.It was settled that his fetching up will be by Chandhu.Sastrigal from Mumbai arrived at around 10.30pm.Almost identical with the seemantham at Ludhiana where sastrigal came from Delhi.The house was agog with nears and dears.Cook was arranged again from Bombay from 5th onwards till the 9th to take care of food needs.We all move on stomach only not only the Army.The Gruhapravesam-8th Nov- was at 6.00am.Sriram arrived at last late by 11/2 hrs.He could get down at a nearer place -artillery centre-as he was travelling by a Shirdi bound bus which passes very near to Upnagar the locality where Chandhu`s flat is situated.Setu Athimber and Mangalam athai arrived by Mangala Exp.They also spoke about over crowding in the train.So all set for the Gruhapravesham.
The function started with Malathy and mappillai entering the new flat with a lighted kuthu vilakku and poorna kumbam.The relatives and neighbours arrived one by one and it was awell attended function.Ganapathy Homam and Navgraha homam were performed and other connected poojas by the duo-sastrigal-father and son.They did it sastroktham.We had breakfast in the new flat -pongal,vadai and kesari.the cook had been doing a fairly nice job.The flat is well lit and ventilated and is on the first floor.It is inside a compound with security staff etc.The kitchen is an open type and with a service area adjacent to it.The hall is quite spacious and contains the kitchen in a corner.Balconies are abetting the hall and bed rooms which are quite roomy.Bath rooms are also big.There is no water problem as such in Nashik.The area in which the flat is,is also very good -nearer to Railway Station and just a stone`s throw away from the Nashik main road which conncts the station and the city.The city is about six kms from Malathy`s location.We-Setu athimber,chithappa and self- took a walk around the area and located two or three schools and a college in the vicinity.One of the neighbours of Chandhu and Vinaya,a lady sang good carnatic songs and all were happy to hear her rendering.Slowly everybody joined and sang their favourites.Patti and Mangalam athai sang kalyanam kalyanam and amma rendered her favourites.For my part I sang some thirupugazh.Mohan`s son Vicky sang Hindi film song and he was good at that.Chandra chithi also sang.The trio came by a taxi from Mumbai to grace the function.So the function was made memorable for the lively participation of one and all and removed the usual boredom that descends after the homams and poojas were over.We planned to go to shirdi at 2.30pm after lunch by a sumo.Apart from Chithappa,chithi and Lakshman, Saikumar`s Hyderabad chithi-she is going to be located in Nashik only hereafter and is searching to purchase a good flat for herself-and peria mami also joined us for the trip. We had lunch with avial-Malathy was telling it was dry-kothavarai paruppu usili,amai vadai,semia pal payasam juicy jangiri for kalathu sweet,appalam sambar, rasam etc.Payasam was nice except that it was more sweety.
We went to Chandhu`s flat to change and refresh our selves after the Lunch and got ready to go to Shirdi.
We started from Malathy`s flat at around 2.45pm by the hired Sumo.As Sriram said he will spend more time with Malathy he opted out from Shirdi trip.The road to Shirdi is not that nice and at many places big pot holes have to be negotiated.As the crushing season had begun we have to tail vehicles usually bullock pulled stacked with sugarcane freshly harvested.The road to begin with is good upto Sangamner which is on the way to Pune.from Sangamner we took a left turn and proceeded to Shirdi.This part of the road is not well maintained.It was a Wednesday and we hoped that there will not be much crowding in Shirdi.We could spot many groups of walkers who were heading towards Shirdi.The driver explained that they make a vow and walk off the entire distance from their village/town and it may take a number of days to reach Shirdi.Their necessaries of life are carried in a van which goes ahead and waits for them to catch up at predetermined places along the road to Shirdi.We passed several such groups of devotees and finaly reached Shirdi.As expected there was not much crowd and it was about 4.30pm and we were told to rush as the darshan will be closed at 5.00pm.We later learnt that it was Mukthi Darshan some special darshan which is open to all from 4.00pm to 5.00pm.We found the entrance and were happy that there were not many people queuing up.And for senior citizens no queues.They can straight away go to the sanctum sanctorum.Except Chithappa and Laxman we all just walked in and had Darshan of Shirdi Baba as he is affectionately called.Chithappa and Laxman also caught up soon with us.we offered the bangles of Anu and these were placed at His feet and were given back to us.We had onemore Darshan like this.We were happy.We had a look at the museum where Shri Baba`s coach,the grinding stone He used,the stone on which he used to sit and bathe and some rare photographs of Shri Baba with His devotees were kept for display.Then we moved on to the chavadi where Shri Baba used to sit in the evenings and talk with the devotees.We went to Sri Dwarakamayi where the eternally burning Dhuni since the days of Shri BABA is housed and also the trepezium stone where Shri Baba usually sat with one leg down and another folded on the stone`s base-the usual picture we often see-.Earler these places were approachable from the inner precincts but now have to be approached from the rear outside entrance.I was happy that there were not beggers inside the temple.We also saw the neem tree underneath of which Shri Baba used to rest.We made a pradhakshinam and were ready to start back home.Sriram called on my mobile as to when we are leaving the temple.Chithappa was interested to collect the holy ashes and got a packet as prasad by giving a donation as the counter was temporarily closed.I showed to patti and amma the coconut breaking machine which is housed just opposite to the sacred neem tree.
We exited collecting our chappals and boarded the Sumo.On way back it was full of Bajans.Arunachala shiva was rendered by all and relished by the two ladies who were hearing it for the first time.We also recited Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam as by now night has fallen the time was already half past six.The devotional songs and recitals continued till we were in the outskirts of Nashik.We proceeded to Chandhu`s flat after learning that the dinner will be there only.It was just 8.00pm and by the grace of Shri Baba the trip was nice and satisfying.
The next morning we went to Triambakeshwar and Panchavati Sriram also accompanying us.This time one Mangala from Hyderabad joined us along with Vijaya chithi.Mangala is affectionately called Mangu by mami.Saikumar`s periamanni didnot come as she had toleave in the afternoon to Pune.We started around 8.30am after breakfast and first went to Triambakeshwar which is 38kms from Nashik city.The road is good and neatly laid.Here also there was not much crowd though we had to stand in a queue for about 1/2an hr.We passed through Nandikeshwar and waited for the Darshan of one of the 12 JYOTHIRLINGAMS viz Triambakeshwar.Nowa days they do not allow inside the sanctum sanctorum and therefore the Darshan has to be seen from the entrance.A big mirror is installed which facilitates seeing the pooja and abhishekam from the entrance.When we reached the entrance Abhishekam was going on.We sat in the front mandapam and spent some time in dhyanam/reciting slokas.The temple tower resmbles the architecture of Puri temple/khajuraho complex temples bereft of small sculptures.After worship we ambled through the outer prakaram which contains a big tank.It is said that those devotees who bathe in this tank wearing wet clothes are allowed inside the inner depth of the sanctum.But in Rameshwaram another Jyothir linga kshethram one has to change into dry clothes after bathing in the 22 and odd wells for Darshan of the Lord.So the custom varies from place to place.The setting of the temple amidst mountains is indeed very pleasant and congenial to contemplate.River godavari starts from one of the mountain ranges here only.
After Triambakeshwar we reached Panchavati on the banks of river Godhavari.There was full sunshine.We sat on one of the several banks and put our feet on the chill flowing waters of the river.It was a nice feeling.Then we offered prayers to Sri Anjaneya,Sri Saibaba and Sri Durga.At Sri Saibaba temple we received warm sundal prasadam as it was a Thursday.We gave the bangles to Matha Durga and they were put on Her hands.We felt happy.the driver suggested that we visit Kala Ram`s temple.This is a beautiful temple built of coarse granite stones and the gopuram, steps and mandapam all resembled Triambakeshwar temple.The sanctum Sanctorum houses Sri Ram,Sri Lakshman and Matha Seetha.Seetha is on the right side of Sri Rama as in Maduranthakam eri katha Ramar Koil.As it was before abduction of Seetha there is no Anjaneya in the Sannadhi.Pancha vadi derives its name from the five vada -banyan tree-vrukshaThe five vada vrukshas are serially numbered and are believed to be in that place from time immemorial.There are places indicating where Matha Seetha was abducted by Ravana,where the Maricha appeared as a deer,where Soorpanaka first tried to seduce Lakshmana etc.We could not enter Seetha`s gufa where she was alone at the time of abduction as there was no electriciy at that time.There is another place called tapovanam where Srirama,Sri Seetha and Sri Lakshman stayed before moving to Panchavati.So many landmarks associated with Srimad Ramayana.Nasik itself derives its name from the episode of Soorpanaka`s nose having been cut off by Sri Rama when she tried to harm Sri Seetha.We did not visit Tapovan as the time was already one p.m.Chithappa expressed desire to see one Manikatti vinayakar temple before calling it a day and we could locate after some search.People offer bells of different shapes and metals once their prayers are answered.There was one other temple like this but this was devoted to some Amman.Here we could see a number of bells of various hues tied together.
So Nashik trip was coming to a close.We finished our lunch, loaded the Sumo with our luggages and bade fair well to one and all and took the road to Mumbai.The highway was approached through some short cut.The railway line criss crosses the road in a number of places. We descended down to Mumbai plains at a place called Igatpuri.We had a break in a way side hotel and enjoyed a cup of tea.chithappa and chithi sat in front sri ram and Lakshamn at the rear along with the luggage dump .As suggested by the driver we took the road to Kalyan and from there to Vashi,instead of reaching Thane which is on the national Highway and from there to Vashi as originally planned.Before the diversion to Kalyan we had diesel for the sumo.This change was to avoid thick traffic of the highway.However the road we took was narrow though of lesser trafficand almost took the same time as crawling behind heavy vehicles.We passed through Kalyan and finally touched Vashi and then sector 17 where Sriram`s flat is.Vashi is very big and full of people.We off loaded and let the hired vehicle go.Sriram`s flat is spacious with two a/c bed rooms and with lifts and is on the 4th floor.Lakshman and Patty chose to stay back.We five went to hotel Navaratna for dinner.Food was good.I had rava dosa and curd rice amma ditto,Sriram, Chithappa and Chithi had sada dosa and curd rice.For patty and Lakshman we had parcels of chappathi and curd rice.It was about 10.30pm when we went to sleep.
