Dr. Rahalkar's thoughts...

A Cool Pilgrimage 

We had a cool, satisfying and extremely rewarding pilgrimage into Konkan during this week. In fact, entire Maharashtra is being literally roasted for the last couple of weeks, temperatures shooting past forties.

We were advised not to undertake this journey in view of extremely hot weather. However, my young and energetic Mama (just eighty-six years in age !) arranged a seven-seater brand new car with owner himself as Chauffeur and six of us ‘elderly’ citizens embarked on our ‘adventure’ one fine (sic. Hot and humid) morning. 

The drive was indeed comfortable, quite cool and cozy within the car. We reached our destination well in time, much before sunset. Paavas near Ratnagiri happens to be located just in the heart of Konkan. It’s indeed beautiful, tranquil, rich in flora and fauna and most importantly inhabited by simple, pious, hard working village folk. Moreover, it has been the very abode of a great enlightened Saint, Swami Swaroopananda. 

An active freedom-fighter during his youth, Swamiji spent over forty years confined in a small room practicing Yoga and ‘So-ham sadhana’. He wrote scores of books on spirituality, Dnyaneshwari and Amrutanubhava in particular, which he translated into simple lyrical Marathi. 

A very sacred and pious ambience fills entire environs of the region. Entire milieu cannot be adequately described in words; it is indeed a divine experience everyone visiting the place would wish to undergo oftener. Swamiji passed away during the eighties and his followers erected a grand Samadhi Mandir where his mortal remains were put to rest. 

Oh ! I have  yet to see such a beautiful, tranquil, spiritually charged place (of course apart from Prasanthi Nilayam !) that cools, drenches and invigorates ones’ very being ! Although I have visited this place more than a dozen times, visiting yet again and still again remains on my wish list ! 

Well, what really pulls me to that ambience ? Is it only the scenic beauty, cool tranquil aura of the place ? Yes of course, something much more nevertheless. I feel engrossed, literally one with the entire landscape. Although visiting this place as a tourist with all sorts of likes and dislikes, it turns out to be a holy pilgrimage in retrospect. My own Sadguru was initiated here into ‘So-ham Sadhana’ by Swamiji, which perhaps makes it all the more nearer to my heart. Besides, it was Swamiji’s “Abhanga-Dnyaneshwari”that was reproduced into English by this humble servant.

Whatever the reason, I feel blessed while gingerly spending every moment here undoubtedly. The Samadhi Mandir precincts are heavily surrounded by umpteen variety of flower bushes such as Jai-Jui, Mogaraa, roses, Kailaspati, Sonchapha and so on. There is also a pond full of Lotuses with different hue and colour. Therefore entire atmosphere is pleasant and mildly fragrant, without need to burn artificial incense sticks or the likes ! 

Entire portico is made of white granite adorned by marble statues of eminent personalities belonging to the Naath Sect. There are huge portraits of distinguished Saints and Sages. Entire campus is spic and span, clean and pleasant. Sanctum Santorum of the Mandir houses bewitching sculptors of Vitthal Rakhumai just behind the nicely decorated slab adorning bust of Swamiji. 

Swami Swaroopananda was a man with few spoken words and therefore there used to be a peculiar practice prevailing during those days. The visitor would be asked to open any book kept there and browse any page he or she would like to and on most occasions the visitor would get clarifications of his unspoken doubts, queries or worries ! There was no need to ‘ask’ for Swamiji’s counsel or guidance as such !! (We are welcome to browse through any book kept in the hall and most earnest seekers do find solutions on the spot ; however, one needs to be earnest and inquisitive enough !!) 

There is no limit to this entire narration. Suffice it to say that we enjoyed this supremely cool, pleasant, invigorating excursion in spite of inclement weather conditions. 

We also visited Ganapati Pule and passed through our ancestral village “ Nevre” en route. More of it later. 

Dr. P. S. Rahalkar

Pune.      1st April 2017