Lord Somnath - Keeping the word. There is something about Somnath that keeps sending reminders that I need to keep my word. A word to Lord Somnath. A word to the entire confluence of thoughts that grip me when I am on a pilgrimage. This time round I was there for six days, each taking in its stride the highs and lows of life. A day in Dwarka ( Aug. 10th) where the mood had yet to set in for Janmashtami celebrations, the commute to Somnath was via Porbandar.
Somnath has a history replete with episodes of battle won and lost. Innumerable tales come rushing in if one tries to peek into the past. The documented reality is : the hope continues to manifold itself; the temple’s tryst with challenges, umpteenth in nature (built, rampaged and rebuilt cycle), underlines the ever-growing sanctity and resurgence of believers. A visit during a June scorcher three years ago followed by another one last year, and the one in a rain-lashed August (the sun hadn’t come out for days together) this year, has a tale raised with some degree of contrast. An upgraded security structure this time and the emergence of prying eyes is enough to tell you that the place is not aloof from the convulsions of the outside world. Those used to moving with seamless ease in the past have to be prepared for some tough posturing from the cops if their actions are found to be suspect.
There are three gates that finally lead you to the sanctum sanctorum.
The first gate is right at the entrance followed by the one past the Hanumam Idol (reciting Hanuman Chalisa here takes you to a different plane altogether) and the final one, comprising small steps up and down, take you right opposite the Shiva idol from where one is supposed to take a u-turn (here the overwhelming connect with the Lord is the defining emotion and the interaction with the priest if need be begins and ends on a short notice). More so, a stay longer, if possible, one is privy to the rituals going inside. The wait here is momentary and you are shoved to the other side if it gets longer. Having seen the Shiva idol, there is a sudden rush of emotions that begin to reverberate for a longer duration. Once away from the priest-interacted spot, the natural intent is to look back again and again to discover if you are lucky enough to catch another fleeting glimpse. Past this tryst with the lord, the aarti during different points of a day is enough to take you to a higher spiritual pedestal. Right through the aarti session the priest rotates the aarti flame in a slow and steady pace in deep reverence to the Lord amidst beating of drums and playing of flute. This session (three times in a day) lasts 20 minutes and the aarti flame is carried to different points before coming back to the sanctum sanctorum. Those in attendance have been in the queue for a much longer period, not for a moment looking to be an exhausted tribe.
All in all, a feast for the eyes and a treat for all those whose faith hasn’t been shaken and stirred by the unforeseeable events in their life.
As and when the Lord Somnath wills it I would be there. This is my word.
As for the commute from Ahmedabad to Dwarka, the ride would have taken close to 11 hrs. But the one from Somnath to Ahmedabad (through Junagad and Rajkot) took just seven hrs.
The best part was the Rajkot-Ahmedabad stretch (i have lost count of the number of times i have taken this route in the past ) with the vehicle doing close to 120kms an hour.
Mission Istanbul was the flick I was able to see in that two hrs duration. Not at all a bad one with pacy notes thrown here and there enough to keep you engaged.
Puneet Rajhans
Ahmedabad
August 18th, 2008