'Sabari Malai’, where there is a temple dedicated to Lord Iyappa, situated on the hilltop is a very important pilgrim centre in Kerala. Lakhs of pilgrims visit this temple after observing spiritual austerities for 41 days. The significance of the pilgrimage, covered mostly on foot to this holy shrine is that it is symbolic of the journey of the Jivatman towards its merger with the Paramatman. I was a regular pilgrim to Sabari Malai, prior to my joining the Kendra, either on the occasion of Mandala Puja or on Makara Sankranti day. The pilgrimage to the shrine is an unforgettable lifetime experience.
During my training in 1973, when the time fast approached for my annual sojourn to the temple at Sabari Malai, I went to Shri Eknathji to get his permission to undertake the pilgrimage. I, with lot of hesitations, approached his room and knocked at the door. As the door was not bolted from inside, I dared to open and peeped inside. Eknathji was sitting on the ground taking support of wall and stretching his legs. He was going through the editorial of the ‘Yuva Bharati’ written by him. When I opened the door he saw me and asked me to come inside and take the seat. After he completed reading the draft article, he asked me what brought me to him. Meanwhile I collected myself and ventured to speak to Eknathji, in spite of hesitations from within. He kept on asking me again and again what brought me to him. With all humility I told him that I came to seek his permission and also his blessings for going to Sabari Malai, on the occasion of the Mandala Puja.
I found him closing his eyes for a couple of minutes and after that he opened his eyes and gave a piercing look at me. Then he smiled and asked me “why do you want to undertake a pilgrimage to Sabari Malai, when you have chosen your life journey itself as a pilgrimage?” He further said, “you have already dedicated your life for the cause of Dharma and Nation and therefore what is the need for a short pilgrimage?” “There is nothing wrong in undertaking momentary and short term pilgrimages by ordinary people who are in the shackles of “Samsara”. But it is definitely not necessary to those people who have chosen a life mission and have “burnt their boats.” “One life- one mission” is highly ennobling; concentrate on that and do not waste your time and energy by entering into the bye- lanes.” He said, “the life of a dedicated worker must be smooth, flowing like oil falling into a pot. It is a life of absolute silence and at the same time, of high state of activity. A dedicated worker need not undertake fasting, pilgrimages, wanderings etc. as he has offered himself as ‘Naivedyam’ to God. Therefore, once a precious thing is already offered to God as Naivedyam, then what is the necessity again to run after this and that? It only shows one’s inner waverings and thereby one’s unsteadiness in the chosen work.” Finally he said to me, “I leave it to you, you may take a suitable decision.” I returned from his room and went straight to the beach. I sat there for an hour or so, brooding over what Eknathji told me. I took a firm resolution then and there. I never undertook any pilgrimage thereafter, because I realized that Kendra work itself was .a Sadhana and the life in Kendra was a pilgrimage towards the Ultimate. “There is no need for anyone to run inside a fast moving train to reach the destination early.”
During my training in 1973, when the time fast approached for my annual sojourn to the temple at Sabari Malai, I went to Shri Eknathji to get his permission to undertake the pilgrimage. I, with lot of hesitations, approached his room and knocked at the door. As the door was not bolted from inside, I dared to open and peeped inside. Eknathji was sitting on the ground taking support of wall and stretching his legs. He was going through the editorial of the ‘Yuva Bharati’ written by him. When I opened the door he saw me and asked me to come inside and take the seat. After he completed reading the draft article, he asked me what brought me to him. Meanwhile I collected myself and ventured to speak to Eknathji, in spite of hesitations from within. He kept on asking me again and again what brought me to him. With all humility I told him that I came to seek his permission and also his blessings for going to Sabari Malai, on the occasion of the Mandala Puja.
I found him closing his eyes for a couple of minutes and after that he opened his eyes and gave a piercing look at me. Then he smiled and asked me “why do you want to undertake a pilgrimage to Sabari Malai, when you have chosen your life journey itself as a pilgrimage?” He further said, “you have already dedicated your life for the cause of Dharma and Nation and therefore what is the need for a short pilgrimage?” “There is nothing wrong in undertaking momentary and short term pilgrimages by ordinary people who are in the shackles of “Samsara”. But it is definitely not necessary to those people who have chosen a life mission and have “burnt their boats.” “One life- one mission” is highly ennobling; concentrate on that and do not waste your time and energy by entering into the bye- lanes.” He said, “the life of a dedicated worker must be smooth, flowing like oil falling into a pot. It is a life of absolute silence and at the same time, of high state of activity. A dedicated worker need not undertake fasting, pilgrimages, wanderings etc. as he has offered himself as ‘Naivedyam’ to God. Therefore, once a precious thing is already offered to God as Naivedyam, then what is the necessity again to run after this and that? It only shows one’s inner waverings and thereby one’s unsteadiness in the chosen work.” Finally he said to me, “I leave it to you, you may take a suitable decision.” I returned from his room and went straight to the beach. I sat there for an hour or so, brooding over what Eknathji told me. I took a firm resolution then and there. I never undertook any pilgrimage thereafter, because I realized that Kendra work itself was .a Sadhana and the life in Kendra was a pilgrimage towards the Ultimate. “There is no need for anyone to run inside a fast moving train to reach the destination early.”
--
KATHA : Vivekananda Kendra
विवेकानन्द केन्द्र कन्याकुमारी (Vivekananda Kendra Kanyakumari)
Vivekananda Rock Memorial & Vivekananda Kendra : http://www.vivekanandakendra.org
Read n Get Articles, Magazines, Books @ http://prakashan.vivekanandakendra.org
Landline : Himachal:+91-(0)177-2835-995, Kanyakumari:+91-(0)4652-247-012
Mobile : Kanyakumari:+91-76396-70994, Himachal:+91-94180-36995
Let's work on "Swamiji's Vision - Eknathji's Mission"
Follow Vivekananda Kendra on blog twitter g+ facebook rss delicious youtube Donate Online
KATHA : Vivekananda Kendra
विवेकानन्द केन्द्र कन्याकुमारी (Vivekananda Kendra Kanyakumari)
Vivekananda Rock Memorial & Vivekananda Kendra : http://www.vivekanandakendra.org
Read n Get Articles, Magazines, Books @ http://prakashan.vivekanandakendra.org
Landline : Himachal:+91-(0)177-2835-995, Kanyakumari:+91-(0)4652-247-012
Mobile : Kanyakumari:+91-76396-70994, Himachal:+91-94180-36995
मुक्तसंग्ङोऽनहंवादी धृत्युत्साहसमन्वित:।
सिद्धयसिद्धयोर्निर्विकार: कर्ता सात्त्विक उच्यते ॥१८.२६॥
Freed from attachment, non-egoistic, endowed with courage and enthusiasm and unperturbed by success or failure, the worker is known as a pure (Sattvika) one. Four outstanding and essential qualities of a worker. - Bhagwad Gita : XVIII-26
No comments:
Post a Comment