Goverdhan Parikrama

“Enervating” is an adjective, which I think, will aptly describe my parikrama around the Goverdhan Hill on the eve of Janmastami. I have trekked 36 kms in 30 hrs (to Gomukh from Gangotri & back), cycled 22kms in 40 minutes (ring road of Rourkela) but never ever I experienced this type of physical exhaustion like I did yesterday. But I must say it was worth going. When Datta asked me on Saturday afternoon if I were interested in coming for Parikrama, “Yes” was my immediate reply. I was more excited about the adventure part rather than the spiritual part. Although the old cliché says that “Two is a company and three is a crowd” I asked Praveen if wanted to come. Surprisingly he replied in the affirmative. So the regular Sunday Cricket match of our department was cancelled with immediate effect and was communicated to concerned persons. After dinner, we started out around 8.30pm from Refinery Township. Datta was in his own bike while I rode pillion to Praveen’s. It was the very first time I was visiting Goverdhan. Looking at the traffic on the link road to Goverdhan from NH-2, we could guess that it will be crowded night. We started our parikrama with a visit to the Girraj Temple. The parikrama path starts just in front of this temple. The path was full of devotees. Some were walking, some were rolling on the ground (People say it takes months to complete the 21 km stretch like this.) Along the road you will find a lot of beggars asking you for money, food and what ever you could afford to give. There are also a lot of small shops along the roads selling coins (People may not use 25 paise coins any where else but here it sells like hot cake.) Along the path you will meet a wide variety of people some very old and some very young all walking with the same aim to complete the parikrama. Those who couldn’t walk used rickshaw trolleys for their journey. Couples were walking hand in hand (hopefully promising each other their company till death). There are a number of tea stalls along the path to provide refreshments if necessary. Tired people rest and some even manage to sleep on the chairs. The whole parikrama path is in the shape of the number 8. The first circle is of the circumference 12kms and second one is about 9kms.We completed the first 12kms quiet easily in 2.5hrs without any stoppages. The first circle will bring you back to Goverdhan town, where you started. We decided to take a break get refreshed and start again. By then aching on feet and leg had already started (it has been years I took a walk on naked feet). After taking some tasteless tea and a break of 45 minutes we decided to start again. The moment I stood up I knew that the next 9kms will not be easy. It was already 1 o’clock in the early hours of Sunday. Anyhow we managed to start. Dutta was faster then I and Praveen. After walking for another 1 hours we couldn’t take it anymore. We took another brief rest near a temple just before Radhakund. I felt like sleeping on the floor of the temple. The empty trolleys and vehicle were very tempting. I even suggested to Praveen that we should ride back to Goverdhan on one of the tractors. He said we should finish by walking only. 15-20 minutes later we started again. On the way we luckily found a Paanwala, chewed a few pieces of paan to keep us engaged along the way. After another 1 hour we rested again in Radhakund. Walking after that caused unbearable pain. But I realized that devotees who were chanting God’s name some how generated more enthusiasm to walk and bear the pain. Anyhow we managed to complete the parikarma. It ended with a Darshan to a temple (not the one where we started). There was a huge pool of water. Devotees took bath before visiting the temple. After that we rested in Goverdhan for about an hour before starting for Mathura at around 5 AM. The ride back to Mathura was horrible. I almost slept riding pillion to Dutta. All along the way he kept waking me up from my sleep. When we reached Mathura people had already started coming for Janmastami. Back in my room I slept like a log, till a phone call from a friend woke me up.

In retrospection I found the whole Parikrama had a striking similarity with our lives. We all live our lives with different goals but same destination. We meet different types of people along the way, some stays with us forever, some meet us for a few moment. But each of them leaves behind their impressions on our lives. The small shops along the path selling refreshments are like short term success. It surely gives us relief and happiness but that is not our goals. We have to keep on working hard to achieve our ultimate goals. The pains we bear are like difficulties in our lives. The certainly will cause uneasiness but it will make us stronger. The trolleys pulling people around the parikrama path, may be analogous to the shortcuts we take in lives to avoid problems. They will no doubt get things done easier but ultimately you miss the experience which could make you a richer person. Moreover chanting Almighty’s name eases your pain, same is the case in our lives. It gives you immense strength to carry on.

Ironically, at the end of the whole affair, I enjoyed the spiritual part more than the adventure part.

Happy Janmasthami.

rabindra-

24-Aug-2008
Note: Goverdhan is the mythological hill that lord Krishna carried on his finger tip to save Mathura from incessant rain.