In our eighth sojourn of spirituality, it was time to head for sacred Sri Somnath Jyotirlinga, the first amongst the twelve jyotirlingas. We decided to seek the divine shelter of the mighty Shiva in the eternal cultural pilgrim of Saurashtra in Gujarat. The 800 km stretch from Bhopal to Rajkot(SH-18/NH-47) required 13 hours to complete, thus we commenced the journey early in the morning. The Start The sight of the scorching summer sun started showing its effect early. As we left Ujjain, situated in the heart of the Malwa Plateau, the gawky rock garlands in the tribal region of Jhabua …
Parli Vaidyanath- The fifth in the series of 12 jyotirlingas
On our way to the Parli tehsil of Aurangabad District of the Marathwada region, we felt that the prince of the sky has hit the streets donning a tie of yellow-white flowers and a suit of sunlight.In the seventh phase of our spiritual journey, Sri Parli Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga Shiv Dham was our next destination, the fifth in the series of 12 sacred jyotirlingas. On the 212 km long journey from Aurangabad to Parli, on the Parli-Beed NH-82 highway, we were gazing the earth blossoming with the advent of spring, seasonal cotton, saplings of Jwaar-Baajra and lush sugarcane fields. As we …
The Pristine Jyotirlinga of Nageshwar
As the day broke, the jasmine flowers falling with the dawn and the droplets of dew on the grass, hued with grey and blue, seemed to offer themselves while welcoming the slowly incarnating chariot ridden Sun, opening the gates of the eastern horizon. In Aurangabad, the adventing lord Sun seemed captivating while taking a stroll in the garden of hotel Rama International, affiliated to the Welcome Group. However, it was time to resume our journey towards the celebrated Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva, the eighth in our journey of the 12 divine jyotirlingas. We started sharp at 7 in the morning, …
Sri Triyambakeshwar- A Place Blissfully Blessed
As the serene sky of Aurangabad illumined with the rise of the universe’s supreme regulator, we were all ready to take on the next destination of our spiritual journey. Our next stoppage was Sri Triyambakeshwar Jyotirlinga, the tenth of the 12 divine Jyotirlingas of the supreme god. The Journey Begins Knowing that Nasik is 182 kms from Aurangabad, from where the eternal adobe of Sri Triyambakeshwar lies at around 30 kms, we commenced the 3 hour journey in our Audi at around 8 in the morning. As the morning mist and the soothing sun charged our senses, we were welcomed …
Shiva’s sixth divine abode – Shri Bhimashankara
After a night halt at Aurangabad, we were ready to imbibe the serenity of the one who is omnipresent. The one, whose name resonates divinity, translates Moksha and accommodates safety. Our next destination was Bhimashankara, the sixth of the 12 holy Jyotirlingas of Shiva. Shiva’s sixth divine abode – Shri Bhimashankara Shiva’s sixth divine abode – Shri Bhimashankara If you are a keen devotee of Shiva, like all of us, then you must take a trip to Shri Bhimashankara, situated amidst the beautiful landscapes of Central Maharashtra. Right there, at the focal point, one can sense the divine aura of …
The road diary unfolds – Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga
All human beings are two segmented personae – The inner one denoting the deep-rooted culture and the outer one implying our civilized self. To explore the undiscovered is an innate personality trait all humans imbibe at some level. No wonder, this strong urge to connect with the cultures and the civilizations turns into wanderlust. Travelling gives us a way to connect to something greater than ourselves, within ourselves. Another weekend… another journey… It was yet another weekend and this time we decided to head for the divine Jyotirlings, all situated in Maharashtra. Shri Ghrishneshwar, Shri Bhimashankar and Shri Triyambakeshwar were …
The Om which sediments on an Island – Omkareshwar
Travelling definitely makes you a lot wiser and quite a visionary. With each passing mile, you emerge a little more experienced and thoughtful than the last one. Although, every road is bound to have obstacles but, interestingly, these hurdles, which might irritate you a bit during any normal expedition, never seem to bother you on spiritual peregrinations. The best part about a spiritual voyage is the purity in one’s thoughts and the natural scenic surroundings which intrigues you to acculturate the traditions and local civilities. …And the voyage begins All said and done, this weekend, we way-fared the road leading …
Road to the divine – Bhopal to Sri Mallikarjuna
Work or leisure, journeys always contribute to augment our knowledge and experience. But the most cherished ones are the journeys etched in our memories with innumerable unforgettable moments that stir our souls for a long time. One may find Air or Rail travel much more convenient and comfortable to enjoy a sojourn but it’s difficult to beat the thrill and excitement of trailing the tantalizing strip of tar and perceive nature up, close and personal. And I love road journeys. No wonder, this time we chose to go on long weekend drives to experience the thrill of unknown and explore …