I had heard several stories about the
Popular Mahashivaratri Padayatra to Dharmasthala.
Piligrims from all walks of life embark on this holy Padayatra from far off places like Bangalore, Chikballapur,Chintamani Mulbagal,Kolar,
Bellary, Mysore and other towns. Years ago I had even
secretly harboured a wish to do this “trek:” But till date the opportunity
has never presented itself.
However, I travelled to Horanadu last
month to partiucipate in a re-Union
of Classmates from Engineering College
Passing Hassan I saw an endless stream of Devotees walking on either side of the Road. I realized that Mahashivaratri was only a few days away and the Padayatris were among thousands of people who had ventutred into the Famous Shree Kshetra Dharmastala Shivaratri Padayatra.
Many were walking barefoot braving the scortching summer heat chanting praises in honour Lord Shiva.. Their
reverberating voice filled the air with devotion for Lord
Manjunatheshwara, the deity.
I seized the Opportunity to chat with a
number of Groups.
A dozen young men in Saffron Tee Shirts
Emblazoned with the Words “ Shri Manjunatha Padayatra Yuvakara Sangha” were resting under a roadside tree I I learned that they began
Padayatra from Kolar , some 370 Kms! Away. Asked what motivated them , the
leader replied ” We believe it is our duty to visit Dharmasthala at least once in our lifetime as it washes away our sins, from not just this life but also previous lives too. & this is our 4th
Yatra..”
The padayatra consisting mainly of common folk also included children , women , the Middle aged,elderly ,students,soft ware
professionals,engineers,Doctors & people
from every section of Society . . The Seva Samitis are represented by a
minimum of 100 and maximum of 700 persons
A striking feature of the padayatra is the determination, and discipline that every yatri showed enroute , incessantly reciting the name of Lord Shiva …
mountain stream on the way
Nearing Mudigere the surge of devotees had swelled . All the hospitality Shacks and Pandals put up by local benefactors were packed.Volunteers were busy offering
Buttermilk, tender coconut,packed food packets & other refreshments and tending
to every requirement of the Yatris. Stopping briefly, I managed to
converse with a group of students: young men & women rigged in professional
trekking oufits & gear who were walking from
Mandya.
“We want to be in Dharmasthala and have darshan of Lord Manjunatha on
Shivaratri day. It needs a strong will to take up padayatra. We carry a bottle of water and start walking at around 3.30
a.m., take a break at around 830 a.m. for breakfast and continue the journey till
11.00 a.m. Later, we rest for a couple of hours and start walking again.We
cover about 20 to 25 Kms a day but there are some who can walk upto 35 Kms a
day.Food , water & night rest is no Problem. All along the way donors & local inhabitants have
arranged for food and shelter …..but, Walking on the highway has its own risks,
due to the heavy traffic.” they said
At Kottigehara, the road
,shops,eateries and pandals were overflowing with Padayatris and devotion ,religious
fervor and gaiety had turned into a frenzy..The final leg of the pilgrimage
commences from here. Navigating carefully through the crowd, we took the
deviation towards Kalasa and Horanadu. But for a few piligrims, the ghat road was deserted which made our travel
easier.
one of the many Road side hospitality shacks
Settling down at the beautiful Homestay, I gathered more information about the Dharmastala Padayatra.
“ Despite its hardships,the traditional
pilgrimage has continued to grow in
popularity , especially among the youth from towns & cities.
More adventurous Piligrims trek cross country barefoot,through the forest ! on paths full of thorns and stones, sometimes encountering wild animals.But this is certainly not for the faint-hearted as it is mentally and physically challenging. Sometimes,sleeping under the stars at night and depending on the generosity of local villagers for their sustenance, which they accept with humility,and learn to trust in Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala Manjunatha’s mysterious ways. It is said that devotees get a ‘call from the divine’ to take part in this padayatra. Some pilgrims may not even make it to the final Destination. But for those who manage to finish this grueling pilgrimage, it becomes a journey of a lifetime filled with life lessons, wisdom, and liberation.” Our host said
And yes, the pride in their heritage & belief was very evident in the Padayatris , Everyone of them proudly flaunted their religious identity in one form or the other; Vermillion smeared foreheads, tilaks,Saffron Tee Shirts, sarees Scarves,head bands, caps….It was a sea of Red & saffron.out there. And the general mood suggested that they did not want even remotely to be seen as self-effacing .
So, what is it that motivates people from every strata of society to leave the comfort of their routine life and do this pilgrimage? Is it the beautiful cultural and natural landscape which attracts the pilgrims.? Or is it the several beliefs associated with the trek?. Is it the hope of possible enlightenment, Or is it that . popular belief about the tortured souls of deceased family members attaining peace if one completes the pilgrimage?
I recalled the words of an elderly couple
on why they embarked on this challenging walk
“Walking not only sharpens introspection and
mindfulness but also drives the individual
to go beyond physical limitations. Perhaps, this is why our religion has stressed the importance of padayatra
(pilgrimage on foot). But, we don’t really know. We are just doing it because we’ve always been like this .
That’s what our tradition is all about.”
