(Contd.) An Unforgettable Pilgrimage - Sri Ram Janmabhoomi at Ayodhya

 

     Our rickshaw driver didn’t know the Dharamshala and some persons gave wrong directions.  We had to turn back and reach the Dharamshala; not before thinking whether we would ever reach our destination!

     I was secretly relieved to reach the Dharamshala, because on the way I kept thinking that we would be attacked by bandits (gory scenes from the movies leapt before me, in my mind’s eye); or that we would be banged from either the front or the back, by other vehicles; as the cycle-rickshaw didn’t have head or tail lights and we both wore a black sweater/jacket respectively and it was pitch-dark!

     I had even deliberately kept quiet because I was scared that a lady’s voice on a deserted street at that late hour would attract unwanted elements!

     Though we got an inexpensive room in the Dharamshala, we were informed that we would have to go out and eat our dinner in a dhaba in front of the Dharamshala.  We went there and to our pleasant surprise, we could get hot and fresh meals even at 11 p.m. in the night.  We ate in the dark, joking about the candle-light dinner and teasing each other about our nerve-wracking experience.

     We went back to the Dharamshala and immediately went off to sleep, after thanking Lord Ram for bringing us safely to our destination and providing us shelter and food even late in the night.

     We got up at 4 a.m. in the morning, bathed and set off for Ram Janmabhoomi.  We hired a cycle-rickshaw.  As we reached the temple site, we saw a large posse of policemen on duty there.  The ‘temple’ had not yet opened for the day.  So the rickshaw driver offered to show other interesting places in Ayodhya and then return to the temple.  We readily agreed.

     We saw Hanuman Garhi which has a Lord Hanuman temple, the Sarayu river, the site where building blocks of red sand-stone were being carved, ostensibly for the construction of the new Ram Temple there; the Sant Tulsidas Bagh and other temples.

     Though it was biting cold, we enjoyed the early morning conducted tour (by the driver) through narrow cobbled streets on the wobbly cycle-rickshaw.

     Then we went back to Sri Ram Janmabhoomi.  The rickshaw driver told us that he would meet us on the other side of the temple as we would not be exiting from the entrance. 

     We bought prasad and sacred threads to offer in the ‘temple’.

     The policemen asked us to hand over our camera as photography is not allowed there.  I was checked by lady police and told to keep my hand-bag there itself in their custody and take only my money along with me.  My husband was checked by male policemen. 

     Just as we were about to enter the barricaded entrance, protectively covered on all sides by grills to keep the numerous monkeys at bay, a monkey lunged at me and made off with my prasad.  I was taken aback and dropped my specs’ case which contained Rs.1000/-.  The monkey pulled it into the bushes.

     I was nearly in tears; when the policemen who’d seen everything came to our rescue.  They brought back my case after a short hunt and advised us to keep the remaining prasad packet and other belongings in our pockets and keep our hands free.  I stuffed everything into my husband’s jacket-pocket.

     Two other men who had come from behind joked that though the barricades were not bullet-proof, they were definitely ‘monkey-proof’.

     We were frisked at 3-4 places in the long route to the ‘temple’.  Just as we were wondering whether we were in a war-zone or a temple, we came upon a shrine set on top of a huge mound of flattened earth.  There was mud and rubble all around.  Two priests sat in front of the shrine and two policemen sat on guard, with rifles just in front of them.  There were 2 boxes, one for offerings, and the other for cash-donations.  We asked them where the temple was, and were shocked and surprised to hear that that shrine was ‘the’ Sri Ram Janmabhoomi!  The silver-foil idol was not clearly visible from where we stood.  It was about 15 feet away.  It just shone and showered blessings on us.  After all the trouble we had taken to visit the temple, this surely was an anti-climax for us! The make-shift shrine had caught us totally unawares.

     We made our offerings at the shrine, bowed our heads and felt the ground of Sri Ram Janmabhoomi; constantly feeling the intense scrutiny of policemen and made our way out.

     We had to again go to the entrance from the outer side of the ‘site’ to retrieve our camera and purse from the police.

     Later we noticed that Ayodhya was full of policemen on duty.  Though seemingly peaceful, tension hovered in the atmosphere there.

      Strangely I felt very happy and peaceful in Ayodhya.  We called up our relatives and told them that we were calling from Ayodhya - the land of the historic Sri Ram Janmabhoomi and had visited the make-shift ‘temple’.

     I left Ayodhya, saddened by the thought that we didn’t have more time to spare and explore this enchanting place; but also happy that my wish to see Sri Ram Janmabhoomi was at last fulfilled.  It was truly an unforgettable pilgrimage against all odds; conquered by will-power and faith!        

The copyright of this article is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.

This article was written by Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan in 2005.

When we watched the live coverage of the grand Prana Pratishtha Ceremony of Sri Ram Lalla's idol in the marvellously divine temple, constructed on the venerable Sri Ram Janmabhoomi, at the hands of the Hon'ble Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi; we had goose-bumps reminiscing about our adventurous trip there 19 years ago!