Snana and Darshana (Chap 5)

Early morning we left ‘Balananda Ashram’ to the river. The distance was just about 100 mtrs. Water was flowing well and it was very clean. Firstly, parents took bath. Mother finished quickly while Father took more time. He was visibly contented on fulfilling heart’s desire. Thereafter, it was the turn of daughters to take plunge. They chanted the stotra “Devi sureshwari bhagavathi Ganga….”. I joined them and later my wife. We took dips for ourselves and all near and dear ones. Certainly it was ablissful experience. The worldly things do not come to our mind at all. After changing over, we were to visit the Vishwanatha Mandir, nearly 2 km away. We took an auto.

The Mandir is a highly protected area with screening by security at every stage. Mobiles, Pens and Camera’s are not allowed inside the temple. We can keep our belongings and chappals in any of the shops which are lined up on either side of the narrow lanes leading to the temple. If you enquire as to what the charges are for the safe custody of your belongings, the shop keepers generously announce that there are no charges and is free! The only hitch is that they force us to buy flowers or sweets or whatever the shop sells at exorbitant rates. There was lengthy que for the Darshan of Jyothirlinga. Thorough personal search was there in 2-3 points with cops totting with assault rifles. Lady visitors were also thoroughly frisked. Though the lady officers search for any weapons etc, they minutely observe whether the visitor has hidden a purse or not at vantage points. So intense would be the frisking. If some male readers desire to get immense job satisfaction by joining police force and relish the prospect of frisking women visitors, I must disappoint them. Only lady officers are allowed to do so, that too within an enclosure! Though the que moved slowly, we kept ourselves occupied by chanting stotras and also by watching the wholesome entertainment provided by the monkeys who were plenty in number. Once inside the ‘Garbha Gruha’, the feeling we get is beyond description. A sense of satisfaction encompasses. The reality soon dawns as we are pushed out. There are no special poojas or Seva’s to the best of my knowledge which are typical of South Indian Temples. Generally it takes 2 hours once you stand in que to visit the deity and come out. We collected our belongings and came to lodge.

Food on the previous day and instant day’s breakfast was not up to the mark. I made by displeasure known to Jagadish, our guide, in no uncertain terms for taking to such mediocre hotels and insisted for better place. Hence, for lunch, we were taken to Mr.Vadiji’s house{Address: B-4/20, Purnananda Math, Hanuman Ghat. Phone:097933 31480} who is a priest in one of the temples. The lunch was homely, very good and served in a traditional way. We decided to visit him for supper and also next day’s lunch. However, Vadiji was not much enthused by our mere readiness, but promptly collected advance for supper and next day’s brunch!. His eating joint was just 2 min walk from Balanand Ashram.
Afternoon, our guide arranged a Maruti Omni for the city tour. We visited Kala Bhairav Temple. Lord Kala Bhairav is considered as the protector of Kashi and belief is that his consent is needed for anybody’s stay in Kashi. It is also the place where the famous Kashi threads or wrist bands are sold. Daughters dutifully chanted the ‘Kala Bhairavashtaka’ which they had learnt in Chinmaya Balavihara classes. Later we visited Benares Hindu University and the Birla Mandir situated in the campus. I was greatly elated to see the Sanskrit department in the University campus. Therafter, we went to Sankata Mochana or Hanuman Temple. Here also the security is very tight. Plenty of monkeys were freely roaming and parading their acrobatic skill with gay abandon. We wanted to chant the ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ but had forgotten to carry the books. Luckily we saw heaps of books kept near by and pulled a few and started chanting the Hanuman Chalisa wth all the devotion, we could summon. Soon a big monkey came very close, stood within a meter distance from us, observed our chanting for a while and majestically moved away.
Though we were supposed to see few other temples, we decided come back and take rest for the day.
असारे खलु संसारे सुखभ्रान्तिः शरीरिणम् ।

लालापानामिवंगुष्ठे बालानां स्तन्यविभ्रम: ॥
{People look for peace in the worldly affairs forgetting the divinity elsewhere just like infants suck the thumb believing it to be breast milk.}