: emotional conviction , the Impact of spiritual force

 

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

                                                      Class of 75  NIE(  mechanical)

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.

                                                      on the road .....padayatris

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.

                                            welcome   buntings for padayatris

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 4^th 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.    

                                                                    The benefactors

                                                                                

“ 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.”