A TRIP TO RAMESWARAM

I have earlier made a reference in one of my blog posts as to how certain events keep happening with such perfect periodicity, time and again.

This has again been witnessed by me. It was exactly about 20 years back when i had been to RAMESWARAM to do away with the sins (committed uptil then!!) so that i could muster strength to commit them once again.Now that 20 years is a long time when one should have accumulated enough sins to pay another visit and more than that some astrologers have suggested to me to go to that palce so that i can start discharging certain responsibilities, hiterto not attended to by me, with the blessings of the almighty. So the second trip after 20 years.

And it so happened (or it was so suggested) that the trip and the dip in the ocean shall take place on a day when Amavasya, falls on a Monday.Accordinly i made my plans.It so happened that it also coincided with Adi Amavasya.i.e three in one, somwar, amavasya and Adi month.This is stated to be a rare combination.And it seems that the entire world is aware of this except me, with the result, that i have been sucked into a crowd of human sea and the human sea dipped in to the Water sea right from early hours of Monday, the 9th (3.30 am) till late in the evening.

Hindu Religion is said to be the mother of all religions. Its strength remains inits diversity.It is in fact not a religion but a way of life initself. And all that is based on the trust and implicit faith the people have in it. And that is proved by the lacs and lacs of people who toook the dip on that holy day. I subsequently came to know that the number as per unofficial count is 5lacs plus.Think of a place like Rameswaram catering to the needs of 5las people round the clock.

And the expected happened. We had to go with out proper conveyance since morning till evening as all roads to seas has been blocked by the police,no vehicles allowed wiothin a radius of 2 kms.ADDED TO THAT EVERY THING WAS IN SHORT SUPPLY, THE WATER, TIFFIN FOOD ETC. Any way all that is forgotten when all of the pilgrims have onething in common, their absolute trust in Siva and RAMA.

last trip(i.e 20 years back) i was accompanied by my brother, sisiter in law, father and mother, my wife and kids.This trip it is me, my wife, daughter and sister alone.Intervening years have not only consumed memories but also the beloved ones Viz father, mother, sisiterinlaw and brother in that order.

I saluted to them on the daawn of the 9th , calling for their blessings, while having a dip in the sea.AND THE SATISFACTION IS IMMENSE.I HAVE REVISITED THEIR THOUGHTS and along with it revisited the warmth and love of them too.