Tomorrow is shivratri and for last one week our mornings and evenings are filled with chanting of shlokas and bhajans accompanied by dhol ,majeeras and iktaras .Yes, we are blessed to be in the neighbourhood of a Shiva temple .No ,it is not a sculpture wonder in white marble .Neither it is a magnificent rock cut temple adorned with intricate carvings and filigree.but the moment you come near it, it’s quaint ,almost rustic charm takes you in its deep soothing folds .
The temple is said to be more than 200 years old .Shivaji’s mother Jijabai used to come to worship here . The temple at that era would have been midst thick forest .Though the landscape has changed still there are centuries old tamarind trees lined in the adjacent park .There is no boundry wall between the park and the temple .In fact the park looks like the garden attached to temple .Despite two big spreads of grass and a small area maintained as children’s park with swings ,slides and merry go round ,the natural aura of the place is still intact to a large extant .There is a very big banyan tree near children’s play area .Under it is a small temple of devi .Swinging on those huge roots of banyan tree hanging in the air gives more pleasure to kids than those with iron chains .A narrow sloping way passing midst wild grass and various kinds of trees leads you to the ground of temple complex .
The ground is encircled by a high wall from three sides. Though the wall and other buildings in the temple appear to be of recent times a stretch of wall about three meters in length ,standing on garden side vouch for the centuries old existence of the temple .In dilapidated condition bearing the bouts of time it still stands there as if with sole purpose of testifying to us the grand old heritage .
The door on the western side of the wall leads to the ghats of the river flowing at the back of the temple .stepping down the large covered steps we reach to the jalkund .
Inside are big peepal trees with cemented base around them .Small shrines dedicated to lord ganesha ,lord hanuman ,bhairav are there in the compound .In the center is seat of mahadeva …..a swayambhoo lingam.For reaching garbhgrih we have to go down about ten stairs .Such a pious quiet reign in the garbhgrih that you almost feel like talking one to one with God .
Sitting on the steps ,taking in the earthy smell of ground ,looking at the sky beyond slowly dancing leaves of peepal trees you just come to terms with yourself .The serene calm effect quietens the quibbling of mind and your are transported to the plane of nothingness.
Shivratri is the night of wedding of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiv .Its almost like merger of self with the GOD .Its not the night of only keeping awake but of awakening .The atmosphere has already set the mood .Many devotional singers in groups have started to arrive .One can find the traditional Maharashtrian outfit of white broad pyjama,long kameez with white cap and an iktara all over the place .Though the usual quiet is broken but the celebration of community spirit ,the sheer pleasure of being submerged in devotional rapture is an entirely different aspect of spirituality.
During my various train journey towards different destination whenever I used to see an old temple ,isolated from the humbug of population ,set amid the green foliage .I always wished to have an opportunity to spend few hours there .I never knew that a day will be there when I can walk into that kind of place at my wish .All those times God must have heard me .Now I firmly believe if we wish for something really very sincerely ,the entire cosmic force will work towards its realization ,we are required to have that unwavering faith .
WISHING YOU ALL A VERY FULFILLING MAHA SHIVARATRI
namita
the peepal tree in the temple courtyard
the bhajan mandap and nandi facing garbhgrih .the door leads down to garbhgrih
the deep stambh just after the entrace to the temple
the rangoli made with dry colours inside bhajan mandap by public on
the occassion of kartik poornima all these images are clicked by my son shubham sunder
Written in March 2008,Pune
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