kasi yatra

this blog again is inspired by a casual conversation with my neighbour mami, who asked me today about kasi yatra, since she knew that we had gone on this pilgrimage a couple of years ago. She wanted to know how arduous it would be and what is the rigour or scheme to be followed. I told her that before embarking on a kashi yarta, one has to go to rameswaram , do pooja there, do shraadh, take a dip in the sea, and worship at the sethu madhav sanctum of rameswaram temple, take the mud of the shiv ling for which you performed pooja and then get ready for the Kashi yatra. In kasi , one has to do all the pitru poojas, go to triveni sangam where we not only collect the holy ganges water, but also do veni daan, immerse the sand from Rameswaram and worship at the veni madhav temple. From there it is mandatory to go to gaya and do shraadh, worship at akshay vata, give up something one likes and then return to Kashi. after return to base camp, the pilgrim has to retun to do abhishekam for ramanatha swamy with the holy ganges water and perform sumangali pooja. Only after this is the circle complete. On hearing this mami was quite daunted with the prospect because mama is quite old and she had her apprehensions about his endurance of the trip and all the attended rituals. I assuaged her doubts and told her that people older go to Kashi and they do get the strength to do this and do come back fresh and stronger..She then asked me.."is it necessary to go as far as kashi  to wash off your sins or will one dip in the Ganges wash them off.?" " Is it not enough to be just good?"That is a debatable point. Nothing prevents anyone being or doing good all their lives. But have we been so? Will we be so in future?The Kashi trip makes us realise a lot of truths. which will surely shake off at a little of our evil thoughts or deter us when we contemplate bad deeds. thats for sure, My experience is tah it ennobles you to some extent. One really appreciates one's mother a lot more after a kashi yatra.because of some sights we see there and also because one sraddam is exclusively for the mother who gave birth to you.Her virtues are extolled as you place one pindam after another...This ritual is soul stirring and heart wrenching.. Whether mami and mama go on a kashi yatra is their decision but the  spiritual good that comes after it are unmatched according to me...Muslims go to Mecca, Christians to Jerusalem and Hindus to Kashi..why?....to feed their souls...Do some soul searching on this, who ever reads this...Ganga ma ki Jai, Kashi Viswanatha and Vishalakshi ko mere hazzaar hazaar pranaam.