Excerpts from the book of Vivek ji: Narmada Parikrama -Walking the 3,000 kilometres of sacred Riverbanks of holy Narmada
Amongst all the places, I stumbled upon the Vishokeshwar Mahadev site, and its name piqued my interest. Vishok, a term denoting the absence of sorrow. Interestingly After embarking on a three to four day journey into parikrama, one will eventually stumble upon this fascinating place. The name of this place holds a powerful meaning - it symbolises the act of leaving behind all pain and suffering when coming here to pray. As I stood amidst the Teerthas, I couldn't help but ponder the ancient tales of pain and suffering that these sacred sites hold. Countless pilgrims before me have walked the path of circumbulation, each one experiencing their own unique struggles. Yet, in the embrace of these Teerthas, they found solace and comfort. Vishokeshwara Mahadev is situated on the banks of the revered Narmada River, boasting a picturesque location with vast, unencumbered grasslands where cows graze freely. During our parikrama, we spent a significant amount of time admiring the stunning landscapes and contemplating the beauty of this sacred site where Lord Shiva is believed to alleviate the suffering of parikramavasis.
During our parikrama today, we encountered an individual who was performing parikrama while carrying a substantial amount of luggage. Upon observing that our luggage had been transported by trucks, he appeared to be perplexed and disheartened by the sight of young men enjoying themselves during their parikrama. In a fit of anger, he angrily asked the group of these young man to step away from the path, instead of politely asking to give him the way. I saw this happening and couldn't help but think that this man could benefit from visiting Vishokeshwara Mahadev to alleviate his distress, but unfortunately, he did not enter the temple. This individual frequently encountered our group at various locations and later expressed a desire to join us. However, I declined his request as it became apparent that his motives were not aligned with our group's religious objectives, but rather centred around having his belongings transported - a self-serving agenda.
Excerpts from the book of Vivek ji: Narmada Parikrama -Walking the 3,000 kilometres of sacred Riverbanks of holy Narmada
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