Image credit: Prajna L S

Kailash–Manas Sarovar Yatra is one of the toughest spiritual yatras of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist traditions. The author of this write up has been one of those fortunate pilgrims to accomplish the three day Kailash Parikrama successfully. So, in this series of articles, she would be sharing her experience. She would make an attempt to perceive the significance of this particular yatra.

The present series would introduce the destination by providing useful information and tips concerning the yatra. This series of articles is based on the Kailash Yatra 2013.

I begin by introducing the concept called ‘Yatra’ itself. It can roughly be translated as ‘pilgrimage’, but, a ‘Yatra’ for an Indian has wider implications. It is not just visiting the holy places and sites.

In fact, in Indian way of living a particular term called ‘Yatra’ is used for making a journey. Yatra means journey and it also means a particular kind of procession or gathering at some specific places at some specific time. Roughly, you could term it as ‘pilgrimage’ but no rituals are mandatory in Indian pilgrimages. Yatra is a ritual. A metaphor. A spiritual journey.

A yatra can be done by visiting ancient holy cities, birth places of deities, temples, rivers, lakes and mountains. These kinds of Yatras are usually known as ‘Teertha Yatras’ that means the journey to holy locations. It is a kind of ritual to be performed.

Hindus perform rituals at river banks for their ancestors. However, India consists of various other traditions also. So, ‘Yatras’ are done by devotees following other than Hindu traditions. Char Dham Yatra, Kailas Manas Sarovar Yatra, Amarnath Yatra, Shaktipeeth Yatra, Jyotirling Yatra, Kashi-Rameshwar Yatra…India consists of innumerable ‘Yatra’ locations.

Sometimes at river confluences rituals would be held, and devotes throng at the confluences in huge numbers. This kind of gathering at river banks is called ‘Mela’ and a journey to participate in such Melas is also a part of Yatra tradition. Kumbha Mela and Maha Kumbha Melas are two well known ‘Melas’ in India conducted at river banks.

Most of you must have heard of the Jagannath Ratha Yatra at Puri, Orissa. This unique kind of Yatra is held every year by celebrating a ritualistic journey of the deity. This is a celebration by pulling the Temple Chariot on which the deity will be placed. These ritualistic Yatras will be held in many other places of India.

Kailash-Manas Sarovar Yatra is considered the ultimate among all yatras in India. One needs to be fit both mentally and physically to ‘perform’ this yatra. I have deliberately used the word ‘perform’ since I see this yatra as a kind of ‘ritual’ to be performed.

It was by chance I joined the yatra. Usually the Ministry of External Affairs conducts this tour every year. But, this year due to the havoc created by Monsoon rains in the Uttarakhand region the Government had cancelled the yatra. However, we went by a private tourist agency named Nirmala Travels. This travel agency located in Bangalore has tied up with a Nepali travel agency named Shrestha Travels.

In the next post you would know about the route map of Kailash Yatra and about the things to carry for Kailash Manas Sarovar Yatra!

[To be continued…]

 Bhimashankar temple is a pilgrimage spot in the Khed Taluk of Pune. It is in the village called Bhojgiri which is 50kms from Khed. Bhimashankar temple has one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva. The place is situated in the Sahyadri hills and is the birth place of river Bhima. The temple will be visited by a huge crowd of devotees every year during Mahashivratri festival.  In total the State of Maharashtra hosts four Jyotirlinga sites; the other three are Trimbkeshwar (Nashik), Aunda Nagnath (Parli) and Grishneshwar (Ellora). 

 Devotees come to Bhimashankar to pay obeisance to the Jyotirlinga which is much revered by the Hindus. If one accomplishes the tour of all the twelve Jyotirlingas in his lifetime he would be over joyous. The temple was built around the thirteenth century. It is an ancient temple built in Nagara style. Back in ancient times Lord Shiva seems to have obliged to the request made by other Gods to kill demons. Thus he took the form Bhimashankar to save them from the demons and made this place in the Sahyadri hills as his abode. 

 Bhimashankar offers a soothing experience combined with lofty hill view, green forests and tranquil nature. You can visit a wildlife sanctuary situated nearby, and Bhima River’s place of origin. 

How to reach :

 You can reach Bhimashankar via Pune by air. Pune is the nearest airport to the place. If you are travelling by road then you can start from Pune. It is about 127kms drive from Pune. There are two different routes from Pune to reach the place. If you are coming from Mumbai then take Pune road, go via Chakan. 

Visitors will get minimum luxury at the temple. The temple authorities provide accommodation for the guests. However the trip to Bhimashankar could be accomplished in a day if you start from Pune. So, you can stay at Pune if you want. 

Shani Shingnapur is a popular village located in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra state. The village lies in Nevasa tahsil and is famous for its Shani Temple. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Shanidev, the embodiment of a planet Shani (Saturn).  Shani Shingnapur is famous across the world for an interesting fact that no house in the village has doors. Despite that there is no case of theft in the village. People here believe that Lord Shanidev punishes those people who make an attempt of theft in the village. And therefore no report of theft could be found in the village so far.  In 2011 United Commercial Bank opened its ‘lockless branch’ in Shani Shingnapur. The bank branch is one of its kinds in India. It is different thing that bank administration has now started to take some safety measures after the local police claimed that the bank is breaching the code of safety measures prescribed by the Central Government of India for all banks in the country.   
Five and half feet high black rock symbolizing the god of Shani (Saturn) serves to be the main deity of the temple here. A Trisul (trident) is placed near the deity. An image of Nandi (bull) is also placed there. Small images of lord Shiva and Hanuman could be located there. Shani Shingnapur has become a major pilgrimage centre for Hindus. Every day the village witnesses thousands of devotees thronging the place to seek the blessing of Lord Shanidev. The number of devotees runs into the hundreds of thousand on the day of Amavasya (new moon day). The day of Amavasya is believed to be an auspicious one to appease Lord Shanidev.  The day of Shani Amavasya (the new moon day falling on Saturday) assumes utmost importance here. On the occasion of Shani Amavasya Shani Shingnapur hosts a large fair and witnesses a sea of people coming from different parts of the country.  Samadhi (tomb) of Sant Shri Udasi Baba and Shri Dattatray temple are other religious places situated in Shani Shingnapur.

How to reach:
Shani Shingnapur is just 35 km away from Ahmednagar city, while it is just 84 km away from Aurangabad which serves as the nearest airport to the village. Ghodegaon which is located on Aurangabad- Ahmednagar national highway is just 5 km away from Shani Shingnapur. If you are coming from Nasik by road or railway get down at Rahuri which is 32 km away from Shani Shingnapur. Ahmednagar, Shrirampur, and Belapur are other nearby railway stations to the village. There are services of buses, jeeps, taxis to Shani Shingnapur. Shirdi which is another prominent pilgrimage place is just 65 km away from the village of Shani Shingnapur.