Om Namoh Narayanaya
TEERTHAYAATRA TO PANCHA DWARAKA
(2nd to 12th Aug 2023)
Author: Sindhu Satish (Architect & Professor)
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Every inch of my Bhaarat is a Teerthabhumi!
- Swami Vivekananda
DAY 6 - AUG 7th, 2023
Nathadwara
We reached Nathadwara at 4.30 am. With heavy drooping eyes I managed to drag myself and handbags to our allotted room at Swagat Hotel. We slept till 6.30 am when they called us for hot coffee. After getting ready by 8.45 am we had breakfast and soon were proceeding to temple for Divya darshanam of Srinathji. Grouped into 6 or 7 we climbed into ubiquitous JUMBO (I call it so for these are big in size) rickshaws and quickly made our way through the winding narrow gallies of Nathadwara and reached the main gate of temple 9.45 am. This was my second time here. Seven years back I had come with my parents and sibling. However, I just could not recollect anything. As we moved in the maze of narrow streets fogged memory of mine started to clear. I could remember few things here and there when my husband made a sincere effort to remind me of the time we were here. I could remember these buzzing shopping streets which led to the open precinct of the temple so suddenly.
This time there stood a modest but fine Gateway still to be finished to its detail.
AT SRINATHJI TEMPLE
As We entered the temple following Ravi Maama who led us into the sanctum where Laddu Gopalan was resting behind the screen. This meant that we would get Darshana again only after 11.30 am. As we stood in the group wondering what to do, we were approached by one of the local priests who offered to help us get tickets for the Rajbhog (Divine offerings of various dishes) darshan. This would get us the darshan much sooner than the general queue at Rs. 350/- per person. We bought the tickets and stood in the queue. In fact we were the first for this short route darshan line. We were joined by another couple who told that they were regular visitors to the temple. They told us about the evening Arathi and that we should come for evening darshan insisting that we should not miss it. We reached the entrance closer to the main hall quite early and joined the other long queue people at almost the neck of the entrance. Once inside it was a super chaos with everyone pushing and pulling. Fortunately, we were moving almost close to the front line and got a wonderful Darshan of SrinathJI all decked up and stunning. Mesmerised with the entire setting I do not know how long I managed to stay for I remember not being shoved or urged by the temple people to move although there was a huge moving crowd. I stumbled out of the hypnotic trance suddenly as one of my group mates urged me to move. Following the crowd swiftly we saw Laddu Gopalan and came out of the temple. We did not shop but made our way into different lanes and got acquainted with the streets and the shops. I made a keynote list of items that I would like to buy later in the evening. We caught rickshaws and made our way back to the hotel for lunch. After fulfilling Darshan & good meal we caught on to a quick siesta.
Evening was very exciting. We planned a lot as to how to manage shopping eating etc after the evening Aarthi. I so longed to drink masala chai and have Malpua, 8,000 years old Indian sweet dish. We caught rickshaws and headed towards temple by 4.30pm. Temple was bursting with people. This time we decided to join in the general queue which took us in a different route. We stood in the queue for a long time. I somehow did not feel bad or irritated because the beautiful part of the palatial temple building around kept me occupied. There were large colourful paintings on the walls of the temple mostly of elephant chariots and royal processions. The vernacular architecture with stone window (Jharokha) projecting from the wall face of a building, in an upper story, overlooking the open court where we stood was intricate and gorgeous. A common feature in classical Indian architecture, most prominent in Rajasthan. Although the constant loud chatting noise emerging out from the static crowd hit my ears, I slipped into my architecture world buffering from sound from all sides. I cannot recollect for how long we stood. After what seemed eternity, we started to move and soon ended up in the same chaotic lines inside. I managed to tear trough the crowd to put myself at best position to witness the enchanting Arathi to Srinathji. I was almost blinded for a moment of flashy baby pink stage and every single deity there including Srinath ji in baby pink with silver border attire. His Sakhis, bed seating, curtains, everything was made of the same cloth material. But what startled my amused mind was that the entire setting was so breathtaking despite this monochrome. It was indeed a moment of bliss. Perhaps I cannot find right words to explain the experience. With a heavy heart I had to force myself to move out to make way for the incoming devotees. I followed the crowd to see Laddu Gopala. This was yet another heartening scene of delight. Evening attire with such flashy decorations contrasting to that of decorations and ornamentation of south Indian temple deities so different yet such a divine experience. A majestic spectacle in its own right. As I was walking towards the other end of the stage, I located all our group members with Ravi Maama sitting next to the musicians who were offering sangeet seva to the lord. It was very divine rendering. We sat there for a long time and came out in daze. It took several minutes for all of us to gather ourselves to come to our senses. Mind now so relaxed feeling elated we were charged to the most awaited part of the day. Shopping!!!
It was almost 6.30 pm. Yet it was bright like early evening. We now spread ourselves into different lanes in search of things that we hoped to buy. I walked happily with Satish (my husband) who already had charted our route based on my list. We started with Masala chai and Malpua. With our belly full and happy I could focus on my shopping. Several silver jewellery shops were now flashing lights as darkness descended slowly. Streets lit Brightly from the lights from each shop. At this point murky realm of my memories from the previous visit to this place peeped into my head. As though discovering a fleeting moment of joy I shrieked in delight. My husband sighed in relief. His efforts to remind me of the streets, temple, and hotel we stayed back then perhaps did not go waste. I could not help but Succumb to the attractions that gaped at me from each shop. Since Krishna Janmastami was near, I bought a lot of things for the same. Despite long shopping time I realized that there is no fatigue when it comes to shopping. This shopping at Nathadwara particularly was one of the best for me. Perhaps so because it was unique and exclusive. (Krishna Janmastami related).
All of us met eventually by 8.30pm and decided to catch rikshaws and head back to the hotel. Dinner was hot soothing and what more does one need after feasting eyes, stomach, and lightened pockets? I slipped into a good night sleep like a baby.
HISTORY & ARCHITECTURE: https://myoksha.com/nathdwara-shrinathji-temple/
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| Srinathji Temple at Nathadwara |
Day 7 : To be continued ... click here
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