(courtesy -Google)

                                                                                                

Every Horse Thinks Its Own Pack is The Heaviest. :

Animals and beasts too have feelings, though they may have not any language. If a load on horse or a donkey is  too heavy, he just grants or halts in his movements.But Thomas Fuller is not only referring horses .The meaning is wider. Every human being feels that the worries , work loads & responsibilities he carries are much heavier than those of others. Such is human psychology.

We always try to magnify our ailments,work & problems. Whenever some additional is sought to be put on us,we do owe our best to get it shifted to others. On the other hand,we tend to regard our own perks lesser than those of others. Hence, we constantly demand more 'less work and more pay'.It seems to have become everyone's handy slogan.

Basically, we dislike and shirk; we are a nation of shirkers, not of doers.India will go a silent but fateful transformation , if all of us become active and shed our laziness that has brought as much discredit.

In short I would like to conclude with the famous lines of Bollywood song:
"duniya mai Kiana gum Hai mera gum kitana come hai,

logon ka gum dekha to , main apna gum bhool gaya."

Chalo Uthawo Palki .....

(Image taken from Google)

• Palki Festival is 1000  years old tradition of Maharashtra,which has been followed by warkaries-worshipers of Vithoba. (also known as Vitthal-a form of Lord krishna)
• Palkhi Festival, which lasts for 22 days, starts in the month of Jyeshth (June). Every year on the eleventh day of the first half of the month of Ashadh, the Palkhi reaches Pandharpur. Every saint, right from Sant Jyaneshwar to Sant Tukaram was following the wari tradition.
• 
  

• (Image taken from Google)
• Varkari wear tulasi-mala, a rosary made from Ocimum tenuiflorum. They are lacto-vegetarians and follow a sattvic diet. Furthermore, like many other Vaishnava sects, they refrain from using onion and garlic in their cooking. Sect members also refrain from intoxicating substances such as alcohol.
• Pilgrims carry litters of the saints from their places of samadhi (enlightenment or "spiritual birth"). 
• The tradition of carrying thepaduka (sandals) of the sants in a litter was started by the youngest son of Tukaram, Narayan Maharaj, in 1685. 
• Further changes were brought to the pilgrimage by descendants of Tukaram in the 1820s and by Haibatravbaba, a courtier of theScindias who was also a devotee of Dnyaneshwar.

(compiled from Wikipedia)

Jai Panduranga Vitthala!

Mahabaleshawar again ....

“Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.” – Seneca
One more page was added in my Travelogue ,Mhabaleshwar and Panchgani together ,famous hill stations,well known for its strawberry produce, situated in western ghats.
It had been 17 years back we visited earlier.This time also it was short and lovely stay in these twin hill stations.

Mahabaleshwar comprises three villages:malcolm peth,old kshetra and part of shindola village. The literal meaning of Mahabaleshwar is "god of great power".Famous places where we visited, were Mahabaleshwar temple,Venna , Aurthur seat, three monkey point and many more lovely points surrounded by lush green beauty.   
Any hill station without monkeys, is impossible.Activities of monkeys lure tourists.

While returning, we visited

chocholate factory,located in Mapro strawberry farms. 
The word of panchgani is made of panch and ganis,which means five settlements.These five settlements are five hills of Sahyadri.The beautiful views of krishna valley from west to ast with its helmets and picturesque points can be seen.
One of the prominent  things which drew my attention to ponder about is, the fortune tellers.Children of 10-12 years were also involved in this profession,on such tourist places.Can anyone read their mind ??A big question left here........

My Visit To Nasik..

Indian culture has been always inpiring . One more link added to my journey by the blessings of almighty.last sunday I got opportunity to visit Nasik..I had a keen desire to visit Trimbkeshwar ,one of the twelve famous jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord shiva, because that much only I had heard abt nasik.Therefore our first attraction was Trimbakeshwar Temple .
There are two stories related to Trimbakeshwar. One story is about Simhastha Parva according to Padma Puran.

• Centuries ago the gods and goddesses used to roam in India. They helped sages and people living here at the time of various difficulties, especially from the demons who were a nuisance. However, this fight generally caused heavy damages to both, gods and demons. 
• It was decided to settle the issue of supremacy once for all. They agreed that whosoever captures Amritakumbha (immortal nectar) will be the victor. Amritakumbha (pot with immortal nectar) was on the sea bed.
• The gods were successful in getting nectar by fooling the demons. When the demons came to know of this, they launched a violent fight for Amritakumbha (immortal nectar). 
• In process drops of nectar fell at four places – Haridwar, Prayag, Ujjain and Trimbakeshwar. 
• Trimbakeshwar is one of the four places where drops of heavenly nectar fell. At that time was when the planet Jupiter (Guru) had entered the hemisphere of Leo (Simha). And as this same planet enters the hemisphere once in 12 years, the Kumbh Mela is held once in 12 years in the respective areas.
• The other story is equally interesting. Sage Gautam used to live in this area. 
• Once there was severe drought for 24 years. To come to the rescue of people, sage Gautam worshipped Lord Varun (rain god) and the god was pleased. 
• He blessed the sage with the gift of plenty of rains in the area. This made the area lush green and full of water.But this made other sages jealous of Gautam. 
• They sent a cow to destroy the granary of Gautam. When Gautam tried to shoo her away, she was injured and died. 
• Waiting for such an opportunity, other sages charged Gauam of great sin of killing mother cow and made him go for penance.
•  He was asked to worship Lord Shiva and bathe in Ganga.
• Gautam appeased Lord Shiva who in turn asked Ganga to come to Gautam’s place. Gauatm and Ganga prayed to Lord Shiva to come here with Parvati and stay with them. They made Lord Shiva agree to the request and he decided to settle here. Here the river Ganga appeared in the form of river Godavari. Hence it is also known as Ganga Godavari or Gautami Godavari. 
• People here worship the Godavari as Ganga. Lord Shiva also resides here in the form of Trimbakeshwar.

After Trimbkeshwar our main attraction was visiting sita gufa in Panchvati. After Sitamarhi I came to know another information of sita..

The literal meaning of panchvati is 5 (panch) banyan trees (vat tree). these five ancient banyan trees are still situated around the sita gufa and are marked with numbers, so you can easily identify them. 
We are told by our guide  that when laxmana cut the nose of surpanakha then 10,000 demons came to fight lord rama and laxmana.  Panchvati was a dense forest, so to hide  sitaji, Rama andLlaxmana made this gufa in one night. as an identification mark they planted these 5 banyan trees. i don’t know how much this story is true, but if you consider the gufa structure then this story has some validity, because the gufa become narrow as go inside. this must be made this way so that huge demons cannot go inside it.
Tapovan ..There is a place called Tapovan where Lakshmana, the brother of Rama, cut off the nose ofSurpanakhaAranya Kanda (book of the forest) of Ramayana is set in Panchavati.
, the sister of Ravana, when she attempted to kill Sita. 

Our guide told this is the exact  place where people believe Ravan abducted Sita .
I felt so good after visiting such cultural places.But one thing made me really sad.People's faith and religious feelings were being misused . Such places also became centre of earning by following ways...

• VIP culture now a days is common almost everywhere.If we are equal before almighty ,why discrimination is everywhere?
• 'Purchase coupan and get priority' is motto almost most of the temples.
• Devotees are forced to buy the floral offering but they are not allowed to offer ,nor the those were offere by pandits. 
• cutural places were also not maintained properly..Ignored amd neglected attitude was visible everywhere. 
• The Place where lord Rama spent few years of exile was encroched by pandas..,as if still the exile period is going on...

kya kabhi khatm hoga prabhu ka vanvaas???????

A Short Trip of Kanheri Caves...

• Sunday morning, along with near and dear ones ,we started our trip for kanheri caves .Around 8am we started from our place narul.,navi mumbai..
• One of the airiest places in the city, the Kanheri Caves premises offers a pleasant break from the pollution and the noisy, metropolitan life. Nestled in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park at Borivali, the Kanheri Caves are also known as the 'lungs of Mumbai', because this is the only place in the city with the maximum amount of greenery and consequently, a lot of fresh air. 
  
• The caves date back to 1st century BC and are believed to be one of the oldest cave formations of the country. The Kanheri Caves are renowned for their natural Basalt formations, ancient Indian styled architecture and the 109 special entrances to the caves. 
• The word Kanheri originates from the Sanskrit term 'Krishnagiri'. Each cave here, unlike the other caves in the country, is adorned with a 'splinth' or a rock bed. Congregation halls with large stupas also indicate that the caves were Buddhist shrines and a focal point during the Buddhist settlement in the 3rd century. The Kanheri Caves became a distinctive Buddhist institution for congregational worship, study and meditation.
  
• When one visits the Kanheri Caves, there is a lot to see, in terms of what the caves have to offer and even around the caves. There are about 34 unfinished paintings of Buddha within the Caves. Apart from the paintings, one should also visit the 'Vihara' (prayer hall) and the different monasteries around the cave for a glimpse of former Buddhist occupation and life
  
•  The hilly terrain of the caves also creates several, small waterfalls which are beautiful to see. Natural streams and rivers around the Kanheri Caves offer stunning views and beautiful locations for families to enjoy a small picnic while visiting the caves.
• Sanjay Gandhi National Park, with vivid treasury of wildlife, beautifully green landscape, well laid zigzag roads and kind-hearted monkey band is another plus point for making the place such a hotspot for the tourist folk.
  
•  The caves represent a golden beginning and the end of Buddhism in Northern India.

(Information compiled from Internet..)

पितृत्व की गोद में......

सबसे पहले परमपिता इश्वर के प्रति मैं अपनी कृतज्ञता व्यक्त करती हूँ जो मैं इस परिवार का अंग रही हूँ..

 

पिता की क्या परिभाषा दूं.?.यह एक ऐसा भाव है जिसमे कभी कोई दोष या कमी नज़र ही नहीं आती..यह एक ऐसा रिश्ता है जिससे हम ऋण मुक्त हो ही नहीं सकते.। बचपन का आरंभ  ही पिता के संस्कृत श्लोकों से या रामायण की पंक्तियों से होती है. .सुबह उठाने का ये उनका अद्भुत अंदाज़ था ..


दींन दयाल विरद संहारी, हरहु नाथ मम सकटसंकट भारी।

क वन सो काज  कठिन जग माहि,जो नहीं होइ तात  तुम पाहीं।
राम काज लग तव अवतारा ,सुनतहि भयउ पर्वतकारा।
या फिर:
समुद्र वसने देवी,
पर्वता सताना मंडले.
विष्णुपत्नी नमस्तुभ्यं,
पादा स्पर्षम क्षमस्व में।

सुबह हो या शाम जितना योगदान माँ का है हमे रचने में  उतना ही पिता का रहा है। माँ ने अगर सुन्दर सीख दी तो पिता ने उन्हें व्यवहारिकता का लिबास से सजाया और संसार में  निडर हो कर सामना करना सिखाया। जौनपुर में नए पुल  का निर्माण हो या गोमती नदी में नौका विहार या मंदिर का वो प्रांगण सब कुछ का अमूल्य योगदान रहा है हमे ज़िन्दगी के गुर सिखाने मे, कभी बनारस का मानस मंदिर हो या इलाहाबाद का आनंद भवन सब कुछ हमारे सामान्य ज्ञान को बढ़ाते रहे। क़िताबों मे  रट कर याद करना मुश्किल लगता था पर प्रत्यक्ष दर्शन स्मरण शक्ति को दृढ़ता प्रदान करता रहा। . इतना ही नही कभी राजनेताओं का भाषण हो या रैली हर जगह हमे लेके जाते थे। कभी संजय गांधी,इंदिराजी ,राजीव जी या अटल जी सबसे रूबरू करवाया और जिसके पीछे मकसद था देश के सामयिक घटनाओं से परिचित कराना था...

ये सब तो रही ज्ञानवर्धक बाते ,आम ज़िन्दगी के सबक भी साथ चलते रहते थे ,अपने संघर्ष की बाते बता कर ज़िन्दगी कड़वी और मीठी सच्चाई से अवगत करना भी अपने आप मैं प्रेरणादायक रहा। कब बचपन की चचंलता से यौवन के दहलीज़ पे कदम रखा जहाँ कड़वे  अनुभवो के बाद भी हिम्मत नहीं हारी क्योंकि अब तक उनकी माँ उनकी प्रेरणा बन चुकी थी. ।गांधी आश्रम के  एक साधारण से कर्मचारी से जीवन का आरम्भ करते हुए एक प्रतिष्ठित व्यापारी तक का सफर, बिना किसी पूँजी के , तय करना आसान नहीं था फिर भी हमे कभी महसूस नहीं होने दिया कि कब तंगी का दौर रहा। .

गीता का उपदेश समय समय पर एक ऊर्जा का संचार करता था ,उस समय बोर लगता था ,पर जब भी ज़िन्दगी की राहों पर विचलित हुए पिताजी की वही बाते याद आती एक सच्चे कर्मयोगी की तरह फिर ऊर्जा का संचार होता था।
कभी अगर फिल्म भी साथ दिखने ले जाते तो वहां से आने पर भी हर एक दृश्य और हर  अभिनय पर चर्चा करना हम सब की आदत हो गयी थी। इतना  ही नहीं व्यस्तता और उनके भी दिनचर्या को एक कभी कभी विराम देना जरूरी समझते थे कभी कभी रविवार को अपनी पाक कला का परिचय भी देते थे। एक पसंदीदा व्यंजन दो प्याजा याद आता है. .
 हम भाई बहनो को सुबह स्कूल के लिए तैयार करना और साईकिल से स्कूल छोड़ना उनकी दिनचर्या होती थी।
हर इंसान छोटा या बड़ा किसी भी जाति या धर्म का हो सबसे ही कुछ न कुछ सीखते थे और हमे भी प्रेरित करते। मंदिर का भंडारा हो या गुरु का लंगर हमे सबसे परिचित करते। .चर्च  के फादर हो या मौलवी सब से हमे मिलवाते। आज भी मौलवी जी का सबक..भुला नहीं सकते..

"मैं सो जाऊं  या मुस्तफा कहते कहते ,
खुले आँख सल्ले अल्लाह कहते कहते..."

गुरुबानी भी ..
जो मागहि ठाकुर अपुने ते सोई सोई देवै ॥
नानक दासु मुख ते जो बोलै ईहा ऊहा सचु होवै ॥
 
 बचपन में  poem  जो पहली yaad karayi..
All things bright and beautiful ,all creatures great and small ;
all things wise and wonderful ,the good god made them all.

इतना ही नहीं पिताजी ने यार दोस्तों को भी हमेशा महत्व दिया।अपनी  मंडली के साथ यदा कदा घूमने जाते रहना।  धर्म में आस्था रही है परन्तु . अन्धविशवश से कोसो दूर फक्कड़ प्रवृति के इंसान रहे हैं। आज भी उम्र के इस पड़ाव पर भी कठिन श्रम कर रहे हैं जो हमे अभी भी प्रेरणा दे रही है… पिता जी का प्रिय quotation ..रहा है..
"Arise ,awake and stop not till the goal is reached "
--Swami Vivekanand

कितनी बातें याद करे पर ये यादों के पन्ने अनगिनत हैं.
आदरणीय पिता जी ,न सिर्फ आज बल्कि पूरी ज़िन्दगी हम आपके ऋणी रहेंगे और ईश्वर के आभारी हैं की उन्होंने हमे आपकी संतान बनाया ..आप पर गर्व है हम सब को ...शब्दों की कमी हमेशा रहेगी ..आपके अद्भुत व्यक्तित्व को शब्दों में बांधना। । ईश्वर आपकोऔर अम्मा को स्वस्थ रखे बस यही प्राथना करती हूँ !!!

Every Horse Thinks His Own Pack Is The Heaviest..

• Animals and beasts too hav feelings,though they may hav not any language.
• If a load on a horse or a donkey is too heavy,he just grunts or halts in his movement.
• But Thomas Fuller was not only refering horses,the meaning is wider...
• Every human being feels that the worries,workload,and responsibilities he carries are much more heavier than those of others.
• Such is human nature.we are all to magnify our ailments,work and problems,and also those of others.Whenever some additional is sought to be put on us,we do owe our best toget it shifted to others.
• On the other hands we tend to regard our own perks as less as those of otheres,so we constantly demand more..,'less work and more pay'seems to have become everyone's handy slogan.
• Basically we dislike and shirk,we are a nation of shirkers,not of doers.India would undergo a salient but fateful tranformation,if all of us become active and shed all our laziness that has brought much discredit.

A good heart can win many relationships;
A good nature can win many good hearts!
Hv A GooD DaY!