An unusual experience

An unusual experience
Dipika Chakrabarty

Once we went to Trambakeswar. There is a famous Shiva temple. On some
serious business we went to Maharastra .Then we visited that place.
On our bus we met a person who was going to Nasik, he suggested that
we must visit Trambakeswar. There people used to perform Rudravisheka,
a puja to appease the planet Rahu. Sir, Dr. Ramesh Mukhopadhyaya, was
interested to that. At Trambakeswar we first visited the Shiva temple.
Then Sir talked to the pundits there about Rudravisheka . But it was
very expensive. So Sir did not perform that. Then we went to visit the
cave of Gorokshanathji.This was on the top of a hill. One has to walk
at least 2/3 kilometers from the Trambakeswar main town to the feet
of the hillock. Then one has to scale the height of the hill. Of
course there were steps that lead to the mountain top. But at least
300-350 steps are there. We took the steps. These are very steep
steps. Now and then I had to take rest. I took nimbu-pani (fresh lemon
water) that the vendors at the side of the steps were selling. Sir for
this reason could not scale it quickly. However at last we reached
the mountain top and there was the cave of the Gorokshanath , the
founder of the Nath sampradaya, a sect in Hindu religion. Reaching
the mandir/temple I sat outside for a while and took rest. Sir went
inside.He began to talk with the sanyasi (belonging to Nath cult and
staying in that temple to perform puja to the picture of
Gorokshonathji). Within that short time Sir could build a rapport with
that sanyasi with his outlandish Hindi-speaking. (In this context I
cannot deter myself to tell you that Sir claims that he speaks perfect
Hindi!) Be that as it may, Sir convinced that Sanyasi that he would
stay with him (the sanyasi) the whole night there in that cave. And
then I entered there. Sir then asked the sanyasi whether I would also
be allowed to stay there along with them. The sanyasi looked at me and
nodded in the affirmative sense. But we were supposed to leave on
that day. Hence we again came down through all those steps and went to
that place where we stayed in the town and informed others of our
changed travel plan. Then we took some food in a restaurant. There we
met another sanyasi who used to perform puja in another temple on the
hill top of that same mountain range- a little lower height. When Sir
told that sanyasi about our plan, he seemed to be very much surprised.
He said that generally none used to stay there at night in the cave of
Gorokshonath, not even the pujari sayasi. And in the different caves
there on different hill-tops as a whole pujaris had to come down at
night. But as the sanyasi of Gorokshanath allowed sir and me to stay
there,he himself would stay in the night at his guha turned into a
temple. This sanyasi also assured us if situation became queer we
might come to his cave.

However we started early much ahead of Sun set because there was no
light on the hill. The ladies who were vending lemon water became
quite surprised to see us to go upstairs again. And when they heard
our plan they tried to deter us and said-Don’t go for such risky
venture as because there are ferocious animals to harm you. None of us
used to stay here after sun set in the night. But sir did not pay any
heed and I had no other alternative but to follow him.


At last we reached the cave of Gorokshanathji. I was dogged tired.
Hence as soon as I reached the temple I could not but lie there
straight on the stone slab just in front of the temple. Sir went
inside and started discussion with the sanyasi. I within some time
began to start snoring surely. ( I am famous for that!). Suddenly I
in my trance like situation heard the sanyasi to say sir that he
would be visiting someone but let us wait there. We should be cautious
of only one thing that the diya or the lamp in front of the picture of
the idol should always remain a-burning and we should not cover the
temple door/entrance ( there was only once entrance of the guha turned
into a small temple with two separated portions) as because the chitas
used to come there to pay their homage or to do the namaskara every
day to the deity from a distance. If they did not find it they would
be anxious and might come nearer. Think of the situation! There was no
light visible on that mountain. I was sleeping alone or in a half
recling posture totally shrouded in the darkness. Below the entire
Trambakeswar town was visible with its streets along with the
different type of vehicles with their head- lights on. The Godavari
river was shining here and there with the reflection of the
neon/electric lights coming from the houses, shops and street lights.
And then the sanyasi went off the sight and vanished within that
engulfing visible darkness. His words rang within my ears but with no
tangible effect. Because I did not have the strength to move an inch.
Sir was inside the cave and I remained there outside .Come what may I
should not move an inch rather I did not have the strength to do so.
Silence pervaded everywhere. I could not chant God’s name even
silently. Simply in a vacant mood I was looking at the moving and
enlightened Trambakeswar city below.
After some time the Sanyasi came back. Both Sir and the sanyasi lay
outside on the other side of the slab. In between myself and them
there was the door of the cave. And the light of the cave that was
always burning within the cave came out faintly. I again fell fast
asleep.


It was perhaps midnight. Suddenly I got up. And I heard a sound. A
buzzing sound as if some ferocious type of bees was moving around. I
was scared of that but I could not have the power to call either Sir
or the sanyasi. I began to chant god’s name in that dire need. After
some time it went away and I again started sleeping.


The next day early in the morning I got up. What a sight was there! It
seemed as if we were in Kailasha, the abode of Lord Shiva! My senses
fail to describe it. However much I felt like staying there and
enjoying the sight we have to go back to the humdrum of the city life
with all its paltry getting and spending ,so we started. After coming
down some 100 steps perhaps we met the other sanyasi at his temple. In
fact he was waiting for us. He asked us that surely we had any unusual
experience that night. Because the cave of Gorokshanathji is a holy
place and that night the other sanyasi visited him after we reached
there. And he expressed his feelings to this sanyasi. In fact when sir
requested him for such unusual thing he could not but allowed him.
There was no tangible reason behind it. Might be it was god’s or
Gorokshanathji’s desire that sir should remain there. To me it was
simply the Bengali saying -Sat sange swarga bas-that is in a good
company you will be benefited.
However then I said him my experience about the sound of bees or bee
like insect he said that it was impossible for any such insect to go
that height. But I am sure that I heard that sound clearly and was
horrified. Did Gorokhonathji not like my presence? I do not know. But
I had an unique experience that night. About Sir’s experience? I am
sure that he is the right person to dwell it on. I restrict myself to
do that.
As per sanyasiji’s request I then cooked food there in his guha and
happily we three had enjoyed the hot khichri along with pure ghee like
amrita/ necter.


After long 7/8 years we again visited that sacred guha of
Gorokshanathji during the Kumbha mela ( the Kumbha mela bathing along
with the procession of the sanyasis and all elaborate rituals used to
be there both in Nasik and Trambakeswar). Interestingly that very
sanyasi was there and among so many people he cold easily recognized
us(sir and myself). Might be that was an unusual experience to him
also.