tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64717048822653244982024-03-12T16:45:12.159-07:00River Saraswati and GujaratRiver Saraswati and Gujarathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877714678659014910noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6471704882265324498.post-20878569598959557452011-08-21T02:03:00.001-07:002012-04-13T05:36:40.247-07:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IpJ5omZTopk/TlDKULi_KII/AAAAAAAAALY/st9rnQy9XUY/s1600/rishis.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 233px; height: 216px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IpJ5omZTopk/TlDKULi_KII/AAAAAAAAALY/st9rnQy9XUY/s320/rishis.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643232781140961410" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold","sans-serif"; color:red">Konkani Anthem<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">For 3000 years we lived in peace, by the banks of river Saraswati.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Known as the Saraswats we came to be, that’s how we lived till 1000 A.D.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt; font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Known as the Saraswats we came to be.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"">96 families who came to be known as the Shenvis.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"">Moved to the Konkan by the sea, that time we came to be the Konkanis (how we came to be Konkanis)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"">(Proud to be a Konkani, we’re everywhere we Konkanis,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"">We never die, we Konkanis, proud to be a Konkani.) …… 1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"">In 1500’s came the Portuguese that drove away some Konkanis along the coast we came to live, (this is the gist of our history) …2<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"">(Proud to be a Konkani, we’re everywhere we Konkani’s,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"">We never die, we Konkani’s, proud to be a Konkani.) …… 1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"">Bharadwaj, Kowshik, Vatsa, Kaundinya, Kashyap, Atri, Vashisht, Jamadagni, Gautam, Vishwamitra <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"">From (10 great Rishis came our Gotras) ……2 <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"">(Proud to be a Konkani, we’re everywhere we Konkani’s,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"">We never die, we Konkani’s, proud to be a Konkani.) …… 1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"">Konkani bhaas uleytati, ani parba sakar ami kartati <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"">Vhardik, munji, chudi, chavati, ami (ulonchye bhaash Konkani) ..2<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"">(Proud to be a Konkani, we’re everywhere we Konkani’s,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"">We never die, we Konkani’s, proud to be a Konkani.) …… 1<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"">Ami mast randap kartati<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"">Ani manaiyeri baisunu sama jevtati<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"">Jitli ruche amka masti, (taj khatir jiva ami sodtati)…2<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"">Proud to eat phodi, talasani<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"">Bendi, patoli, surnoli, upkari ani tamboli<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"">Proud to eat anyone of these <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"">Proud to be a Shenai, Hattangadi, Kamati, Nagarkatti, Kini Nayampalli, proud to be a Konkani<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"">(Proud to be a Konkani, we’re everywhere we Konkani’s,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"">We never die we Konkani’s, proud to be a Konkani.) …… 3 <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>River Saraswati and Gujarathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877714678659014910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6471704882265324498.post-76718480913251445122009-03-07T03:50:00.000-08:002009-03-07T05:47:03.051-08:00Ambi Tame Nadi Tame Devi Tame Saraswati<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SbJhmatV4YI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/D6zlvviOOYQ/s1600-h/P.P.+at+Triveni+Sangam.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SbJhmatV4YI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/D6zlvviOOYQ/s400/P.P.+at+Triveni+Sangam.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310414223255658882" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:Verdana;font-size:48px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:Verdana;font-size:48px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:Verdana;font-size:48px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family:Verdana;font-size:48px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Param Pujya Sadyojat Shankarashram Swamiji in 'Dhyan' at Triveni Sangam, where River Saraswati meets Sindhu Sagar, Prabhas Patan, Somnath - 29th January 2009 -</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo credit - Shri Dhiren Vyas PTSSY Yatri </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;">Ambi Tame Nadi Tame Devi Tame Saraswati</span><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="color:blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">By Vivek Hattangadi</span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="color:blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ambi Tame Nadi Tame Devi Tame Saraswati sang the Vedic seers! This means</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> that:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“You are the mother, You are the river, You are the goddess, oh Maa Saraswati”</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=" ;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Very aptly, the Tercentenary Commemoration of Shri Chitrapur Math began with the Kurukshetra Saraswati Yatra to Adi Badri, the Udgam Sthal of River Saraswati Yatra and one of the concluding events was the Prabhas Teerth Somnath Saraswati Yatra where River Saraswati meets Sindhu Sagar (</span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Indian Ocean</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) at Prabhas Patan near Somnath.</span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Param Pujya Sadyojat Shankarashram Swamiji reached Ahmedabad on the evening of </span></span><st1:date month="1" day="23" year="2009" st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">23</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">rd</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> January 2009</span></span></st1:date><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> for an exclusive interface with the Ahmedabad Sabha. It was a spiritually scintillating experience not only for the bhanaps of Ahmedabad and Gujarat but also for the local Ahmedabadi devotees who turned up to take darshan of Param Pujya Swamiji – and more so to witness the poojas being performed by Param Pujya Swamiji.</span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Come 26</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> January, and the Yatris started arriving. Dr. Jagdish Gandhi, the well known ‘Saraswatilogist’ spoke to the Yatris, and showed a film on River Saraswati.</span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The next day the Yatra began with a visit to Rani-ki-vav or the Queens Step Well. It lies on the left bank of River Saraswati near Anahilwad-Patan, the ancient capital of </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Gujarat</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. The architectural brilliance and elegance of this vav, is represented in its pristine glory in the ornamental work</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.</span></span></span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The step well was buried for centuries and suffered damage in past due to neglect and floods of River Saraswati. Till 1970's nobody knew that there existed the most ornate and highly sculptured vav. At this time, the vav was completely filled up except the top most portion of the well. Rani-ki-vav is now into the custody of Archaeological Survey of India as a protected monument of national importance. This buried beauty is expected be enlisted as an UN heritage monument by 2010. </span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">At Rani-ki-vav there is a small gate below the last step of the step well which has a 25 kilometer tunnel built (</span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Now it is blocked by stones and mud</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) which leads to Rudra Mahalaya in the town of Sidhpur which was the next destination for the Yatris.</span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Sidhpur is one of the holiest places in </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">North Gujarat</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> for the Hindus. Here at the banks of River Saraswati, Vishnu Avtar Bhagwan Parshuram (</span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">also known as the protector of Saraswats</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">) first performed Matru Shraddha and every year thousands gather here to perform Matru Shraddha.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A very special visit was arranged for Param Pujya Swamiji to Rudra Mahalaya, another protected monument under ASI. As mentioned in Param Pujya Swamiji’s address later on, Rudra Mahalaya was eleven storeys high and stood on 1600 pillars. Rudra Mahalaya had 108 Shiva Temples of which only two exist now – one being of our Aradhya Daivat, Lord BhavaniShankar.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Param Pujya Swamiji spoke to the people of Sidhpur and also the Yatris in a mix of four languages – Gujarati, English, Hindi and Konkani!</span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Yatris returned to Ahmedabad for a strenuous journey the next morning to Somnath via Nal Sarovar. Believe it or not – even senior Yatris started waking up enthusiastically at </span></span><st1:time minute="30" hour="2" st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">2.30 am</span></span></st1:time><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> to get ready for the journey which was to commence at </span></span><st1:time minute="0" hour="4" st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">4.00am</span></span></st1:time><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">! And by </span></span><st1:time minute="10" hour="4" st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">4.10am</span></span></st1:time><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> all the buses departed for Nal Sarovar! The traditional discipline of Chitrapur Saraswats was loudly visible.</span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Nal Sarovar, a repository of River Saraswati was like a fairyland out of a story book - lit with stars. A clear sky enhanced the beauty of Nal Sarovar. Appreciation of one of nature’s grand spectacles, of the early morning scene at Nal Sarovar only comes to sensitive souls - like those of the Yatris. Yatris who were requested to maintain pin drop silence savored the lovely noises of the chirping birds which gather at Nal Sarovar to escape the extreme winters of the European countries. Maa Saraswati, like a loving mother, ecstatically gives them shelter during these harsh months!</span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">An informal talk by Dr. Jagdish Gandhi in the mini-amphitheatre threw a lot of light on Nal Sarovar. A large array of birds perched on the trees also patiently listened to Dr. Gandhi! </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Possibly they have a story to tell after their return to Europe and </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Siberia</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">After this grand display of nature, the Yatris proceeded to their final destination – Prabhas Patan and Somnath. According to legend, Somnath is as old as creation, built by none other than the Moon God himself. The remains of the </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">temple</span></span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> of </span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Somnath</span></span></st1:placename></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> withstood the shocks of time and survived the attacks of destroyers. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Early morning on </span></span><st1:date month="1" day="29" year="2009" st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">29</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> January 2009</span></span></st1:date><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, at </span></span><st1:time hour="5" minute="45" st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">5.45 am</span></span></st1:time><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, the Yatris started assembling at New Somnath Mandir, impatiently waiting for the doors to open. The entry into the temple was amazing. The Yatris squatted in the Sabha Mandap and started resonating melodious bhajans (initiated by Meera Balsavar and Dr. Chaitanya Gulwady) praising the Creator of Universe and awaiting the arrival of His Representative-on-Earth, Param Pujya Sadyojat Shankarashram Swamiji.</span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">No sooner Param Pujya Swamiji entered the </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Temple</span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> precincts, a hush silence of reverence fell and the </span></span><st1:time hour="7" minute="0" st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">7.00 am</span></span></st1:time><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Maha-Arti commenced. Param Pujya Swamiji later visited the Old Somnath temple to pay obeisance. This temple built by the Maratha Queen, Rani Ahilyadevi has the Shiva Linga underground as if to keep it in safe custody from future marauders.</span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Later Param Pujya Swamiji along with the Yatris visited Bhalka Teerth. Bhalka Teerth is a sacred spot situated between </span></span><a href="http://www.india9.com/i9show/-Gujarat/Dwarka/Somnath-25104.htm"><span style="text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonecolor:windowtext;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Somnath</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> and the </span></span><a href="http://www.india9.com/i9show/-Gujarat/Dwarka/Veraval-Port-52359.htm"><span style="text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonecolor:windowtext;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Veraval Port</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. It is believed that this is the place where </span></span><a href="http://www.india9.com/i9show/-Gujarat/Dwarka/Lord-Krishna-32553.htm"><span style="text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonecolor:windowtext;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Lord Krishna</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> was mistaken for a deer and shot by an arrow</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> in the foot by Jara the Bhil hunter,</span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> while Lord Krishna was sleeping. The temple depicts this scene accurately. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The highpoint of the Yatra was the visit to Triveni Sangam at Prabhas Patan, where Rivers Hiranya and Kapila from the surface and River Saraswati from beneath the ground meet Sindhu Sagar (</span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">wrongly known as </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Arabian Sea</span></span></st1:place></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">). Soma, the moon, the first builder of the golden </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">temple</span></span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> of </span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Somnath</span></span></st1:placename></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, is said to have bathed in this Triveni Sangam and then worshipped Shiva to get his release from the curse of Daksha. These waters are considered holy from Vedic times and continue to attract thousands of devotees every year. Param Pujya Swamiji sat in meditation praying to Maa Saraswati for the well-being of the human race in general and the Chitrapur Saraswats in particular. It was as if heaven had descended on earth while Param Pujya Swamiji was meditating at the Triveni Sangam.</span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The next destination was Gita Mandir.</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Located very near Triveni Sangam, Gita Mandir is about 1 km south of the </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Somnath</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Temple</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> by the sea. It is said that Lord Krishna walked about 4 km from Bhalka Teerth to this place after he was shot by Jara, and left the earth at this point. The divine message of Shrimad Bhagvad Gita is carved on eighteen marble pillars at this </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Temple</span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.</span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">In the temple cluster here is also the 'Balaram Gufa' the place from where Shri Krishna's elder brother Balaram is said to have taken the journey to patal assuming his original form.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It is said that </span></span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">after Balaram witnessed the disappearance of Lord Krishna, he sat down in a meditative state and departed from this world as Shesh Nag.</span></span></span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Param Pujya Swamiji spoke to Yatris here while Dr. Gandhi continued his description of this place.</span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Shri Shiv Pujan and Dharma Sabha followed the visit to Gita Mandir. Personalities who contributed to the Prabhas Teerth Somnath Saraswati Yatra were felicitated and honored by Param Pujya Swamiji.</span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Later once again, the Yatris proceeded to </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Somnath</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Temple</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> for the ‘Light and Sound’ show – ‘Jay Somnath’. The show is held every night from </span></span><st1:time hour="20" minute="0" st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">8.00</span></span></st1:time><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> to </span></span><st1:time hour="21" minute="0" st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">9.00pm</span></span></st1:time><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. It showcases the majesty of the Somnath temple and is a pleasant and unique experience.</span></span></span></span><span style=" mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;color:navy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It begins with the Sagar (ocean) establishing its identity as the narrator of the show. With its obvious turbulence on the surface and its soundless depths (which can be likened to the mind and soul of a human being), which hold the very secret of life; the ocean tells the story of the birth of Somnath up to the time when </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">New</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Somnath</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Temple</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> was rebuilt.</span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">On 30</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> of January, the Yatris left for Ahmedabad via </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Gir</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Forest</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. Although the official Pratyushutsov begins on </span></span><st1:date month="2" day="11" year="2009" st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">11</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> February 2009</span></span></st1:date><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, for the Sadhakas of Ahmedabad Local Sabha and the Prabhas Teerth Somnath Saraswati Yatris, the Pratyushutsov had already begun on </span></span><st1:date month="1" day="30" year="2009" st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">30</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> January 2009</span></span></st1:date><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> itself.</span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The convener of Prabhas Teerth Somnath Saraswati Yatra (and the owner of this blog), Vivek Hattangadi is greatly indebted to the over 25 Yatris from outside Ahmedabad who made a significant contribution to this Yatra and without whom the Yatra could not have been even thought of. Their names have been acknowledged elsewhere in this blog.</span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Vivek Hattangadi is also deeply indebted to the following non-bhanap Sadhakas who complemented the activities of the core team:</span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.75in;text-align:justify;text-indent: -.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .75in"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=""><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">o</span></span></span></span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Dhirenbhai Vyas – who was in charge of emergency medical facilities.</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.75in;text-align:justify;text-indent: -.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .75in"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=""><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">o</span></span></span></span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Shri Kishorebhai Kotak – Secretary, </span></span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Shri</span></span></span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Somnath</span></span></span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Temple</span></span></span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Trust</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.75in;text-align:justify;text-indent: -.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .75in"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=""><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">o</span></span></span></span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Shri Kamlesh Vyas – General Manager, </span></span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Shri</span></span></span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Somnath</span></span></span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Temple</span></span></span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Trust </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.75in;text-align:justify;text-indent: -.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .75in"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=""><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">o</span></span></span></span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Shri Vijaysingh Chawda – Dy. Gen. Manager, </span></span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Shri</span></span></span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Somnath</span></span></span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Temple</span></span></span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Trust </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.75in;text-align:justify;text-indent: -.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .75in"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=""><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">o</span></span></span></span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Shri Tharubhai Manjeria – Retd. PSI, Junagadh </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.75in;text-align:justify;text-indent: -.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .75in"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=""><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">o</span></span></span></span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Dr.(Mrs.) Hiraben and Dr. Nishith Ajani, Sidhpur</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And lastly to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Shri Kishore Shashital, Pune Region Sangahachalak, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh </span></span>whose behind the screen activities helped us greatly in conducting the Yatra in the Somnath leg of the PTSSY.</span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Vivek Hattangadi</span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">7</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> March 2009 </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>River Saraswati and Gujarathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877714678659014910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6471704882265324498.post-50256072712403293872009-02-11T04:53:00.000-08:002009-02-11T05:14:14.026-08:00A Memorable Voyage along the River Saraswati in Gujarat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SZLMLbslGQI/AAAAAAAAAIY/1PG4bi21LjM/s1600-h/DSC01804.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SZLMLbslGQI/AAAAAAAAAIY/1PG4bi21LjM/s400/DSC01804.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301524208153860354" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Yatris at Chotila- the place we halted for lunch on way to Somnath </span></span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SZLMLOCtwdI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/ioRUoZzEe8M/s1600-h/P.P.+at+Sahastraling+Talav.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SZLMLOCtwdI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/ioRUoZzEe8M/s400/P.P.+at+Sahastraling+Talav.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301524204488606162" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Param Pujya Swamiji at Sahastraling Talav - Rani-ki-vav, Anahilwad Patan </span></span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SZLMK8mcMrI/AAAAAAAAAII/ob-kBVYBXEw/s1600-h/DSC01801.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SZLMK8mcMrI/AAAAAAAAAII/ob-kBVYBXEw/s400/DSC01801.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301524199806612146" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">P.P. Swamiji at the banks of River Hiranya, Prabhas Patan, Somnath </span></span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SZLMK8rMYGI/AAAAAAAAAIA/RXFYbR-74U0/s1600-h/Sapna+Ullal+at+PTSSY.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SZLMK8rMYGI/AAAAAAAAAIA/RXFYbR-74U0/s400/Sapna+Ullal+at+PTSSY.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301524199826546786" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Sapna Ullal (in blue) - the author of this article alongwith Yatris at Chotila </span></span></span></span></div><p align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">A Memorable Voyage along the River Saraswati in Gujarat </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style=" ;color:#993366;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">By PTSSY Yatri - Sapna Ullal (18 years)</span></span></span></b><span style="color:#993366;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">In October 2007, Param Pujya Swamiji visited Adi Badri, the Udgam Sthal of the River Saraswati along with a group of 250 Yatris. This was the initiating event of our Tercentenary Year. From 26</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> – 31</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">st</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> January 2009, we undertook the Prabhas Teerth Somnath Saraswati Yatra that traces the path of Saraswati in Gujarat right up to the Triveni Sangam, where she converges with the Sindhu Sagar. Thus during the Tercentenary Year, we have symbolically traversed the path of the Vedic Saraswati. </span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">From where does the word ‘Saraswat’ originate? Our forefathers resided on the banks of the River Saraswati and were nurtured by her. They came to be known as the sons of Saraswati or the ‘Saraswats’.</span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">On the banks of the Saraswati, inspiration met creation and there emerged poetry and literature, art and music, medicine, astronomy, architecture and engineering. Rishis taught the message of the Vedas to the common man. The religion and culture that we have today are the direct descendants of the Sindhu-Saraswati culture.</span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">From 4.00 am on 26</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> January, 2009, over 400 Yatris from all over the world started arriving at Ahmedabad as the Prabhas Teerth Somnath Saraswati Yatra was to commence the next day. At 5.00 pm we assembled in the auditorium to get a briefing on the Yatra by Shri Vivekmam Hattangdi. This was followed by a presentation by Shri Mahesh Kalyanpur on Pratyushotsava scheduled to be held in Talmakiwadi, Mumbai from 11 to 20 February 2009.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Later we had the opportunity of watching a film and presentation by a research scholar, Dr. Jagdish Gandhi who has worked extensively on River Saraswati. His studies have revealed that it is possible to resurrect Saraswati along her Vedic path- he has accordingly prepared a blueprint and presented it to the Central Government and the governments of Haryana, Rajasthan and </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Gujarat</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">. He said that Saraswati is not a dead river but a lost river because she still has a functional source in the </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Himalayas</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">. Dr. Gandhi’s film on his expedition from Yamadhara, </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Himalayas</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> to the Triveni Sangam along the banks of Vedic Saraswati was an eye-opener for all of us. We left the Hall, considerably enlightened on the River Saraswati!</span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">After Deep Namaskar, Param Pujya Swamiji blessed the Yatris.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">The next day at 6.00 am, the Yatris boarded ten buses, each named for a river from </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Gujarat</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">. Three hours later, we reached Rani-ki-Vav at Anahilwad-Patan, 135 km from Ahmedabad. As we stepped onto the lush green lawns surrounding this magnificent heritage, the view from the top revealed a breathtaking subterranean passageway with stone steps leading to the bottommost (seventh) storey. Tall pillars enhanced the charm of the sunlit brown monument. As we approached nearer, we could appreciate the intricacies on the brackets and columns. Each wall boasts of numerous niches with delicately sculptured figures of Hindu deities- especially of the Avatars of Lord Vishnu (Varaha, Vaman, Ram, and </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Krishna</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">). A secret passageway of 25 km leads from Rani-ki-Vav to Sidhpur that served as an escape route for the royal family. The visit reinforced our pride for </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">India</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">, advanced in architecture and engineering right from the Harappan days. Breakfast was served here which was sponsored by Shri Narmada Shankar Sharma, Managing Director, GUJCOT.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Next we left for Sidhpur where a comfortable guest room awaited us. After freshening up, we reached the Bindu Sarovar encircled by temples. This is the location where Rishi Kapila preached the Sankhya philosophy to his mother Devruti; Bhagwan Parashuram performed Pind daan for his mother Devi Renuka. It is believed that Kardama Muni, (son of Manu) had made this spot his Karma Bhoomi. Param Pujya Swamiji meditated on the banks for some time before proceeding to the next location.</span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">A special visit was arranged for Param Pujya Swamiji to the banks of River Saraswati and Rudra Mahalaya, an ancient </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Shiva</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Temple</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> which now stands in ruins. The roads being very narrow buses could not be taken to this location. Rudra Mahalaya encompasses a </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">temple</span></span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> of </span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Lord Bhavanishankar</span></span></st1:placename></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Some locals turned up to meet Swamiji. We had the delight of hearing Param Pujya Swamiji converse with them in fluent Gujarati effortlessly! While addressing His Pravachan, Param Poojya Swamiji spoke fluently in four languages- Konkani, Hindi, English and Gujarati.</span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Sidhpur presented us with a taste of authentic Gujarati food - scrumptious Undiyo, Masala Papad, bhakris and chaas; complete with a mixed fruit ice-cream (sponsored by Shri Nalkur Sripad Rao)!</span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Before the crack of dawn, we left for Nal Sarovar. The discipline of the Yatris was incredible! They began waking up at 2.30 am to be on time for the scheduled departure of 4.00 am. Barely had we reached Nal Sarovar when the rising Suryadev cast his golden rays on this only repository of Saraswati. We walked the marshy ground along a vast expanse of water with bouts of seaweeds and moss spread like a mat; faraway one could glimpse fishermen rowing boats. More species of birds than you can possibly imagine perched on trees or flew in a beautiful V- formation. Every year, it is estimated over 2 lakh birds from chilly </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Siberia</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> and other cold European countries seek refuge at Nal Sarovar asking Maa Saraswati to protect them from harsh winters – Maa Saraswati welcomes them. We spotted various species of ducks, dartars, red wattled lapwings, the Purple Moore hens, sandpipers, herons, storks and cattle egrets.</span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">At 7.00 am we proceeded to an amphitheatre for Dr. Gandhi’s talk. He emphasized that the knowledge that we imbibe during the Yatra must be passed on to the future generations so that they may be proud of their origin and also help in the revival of River Saraswati. </span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">We started from Nal Sarovar and reached Somnath by nightfall. Enroute lunch was served at Chotila.</span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Trustees of Shree Somnath Trust had reserved their VIP Guest House for Param Pujya Swamiji. The General Manager and Deputy General Manager of the Trust welcomed Swamiji and accorded Him with customary honors.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">On 29</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">, at 5.45 am, we waited breathlessly in a serpentine queue in the sprawling </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">New</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Somnath</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Temple</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> premises for the darshan of the oldest Jyotirlinga. Constructed from limestone, the temple stands tall with an intricately carved dome bearing a flag, Trishul and damru. A huge stature of Nandi stands in front of the Shiva Lingam. The main entrance of the Garbha Griha (sanctum sanctorum) faces the east. As soon as the temple gates opened, we rushed inside and occupied our places in the Sabha Mandap. The Sabha Mandap started reverberating with bhajans praising Lord Shiva. The regular visitors declared that never before have they heard such melodious bhajans!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">We were over-awed in the divine presence of the Lord of the Universe and eagerly awaited the arrival of Param Pujya Swamiji. The pooja was performed in the presence of Param Pujya Swamiji from 6.30 a.m. Swamiji performed the abhishek of the Holy Lingam followed by Maha-Aarti. We were thrilled to receive a close-up darshan of the Lord as well as Prasadam at the end of the Maha-Aarti.</span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">The unique feature of the shrine is a pillar that points towards the South Pole. This is a continuous line of water till the South Pole without any land mass in between.</span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Param Pujya Swamiji and the Yatris then proceeded to the </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Old</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Somnath</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Temple</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> built by Rani Ahalyabai and performed pooja at this ancient temple. </span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">After breakfast, we advanced to Bhalka Teerth where Lord Krishna was killed by a hunter who mistook him for a deer. Here we have a vigraha of Lord Krishna in the same position as he was shot. We enquired as to why </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Krishna</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">’s vigraha is in white marble. The poojari replied that after bleeding Lord Krishna’s body had turned pallid– and therefore the Vigraha is in white marble. </span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">We moved on to Triveni Sangam, where the Rivers Kapila and Hiranya meet River Saraswati to eventually surge into the Sindhu Sagar (</span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Indian Ocean</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">). At 11 am, at the sanctified Triveni Sangam, Swamiji sat deeply absorbed in meditation and performed pooja on behalf of the entire community. The sight of Swamiji performing pooja and Sadhana against the backdrop of the deep blue water lifted our hearts to new levels of serenity. </span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Our next destination was the Gita Mandir, where the 18</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> Adhyaya of the Bhagwad Geeta has been inscribed on the pillars of the temple.</span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">At 4.30 pm, Dharma Sabha commenced with a round of Bhajans. We were immersed in the Lord as Swamiji performed Shiva Pooja. After the vote of thanks, Vaidik Sambhavana and Kshamayachana, we were blessed to hear Swamiji’s Ashirvachan. Trustees of Somnath Trust and other members who had helped Ahmedabad Sabha in organising the Yatra were felicitated by Param Poojya Swamiji.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">The grand finale was the Sound and Light show at the </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Somnath</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Temple</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> revealing the history of Somnath right from its construction by Somaraja (Moon God). Its long history of destruction and reconstruction were depicted through the voice of the Sagar Dev.</span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">On the way back to Ahmedabad, we took the route through </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Gir</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Forest</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> but couldn’t see the Asiatic Lions in their natural environment as there was a breakdown of buses of the forest department. </span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Thus ended a long but unforgettable journey to our very roots! Volunteers from Ahmedabad Sabha require to be complimented for organizing this memorable Yatra. Few in number they astonished every Yatri with their meticulous planning. </span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Over 30 volunteers from outside Ahmedabad Sabha and a score of doctor-Yatris rendered their services to make the Prabhas Teerth Somnath Saraswati Yatra a memorable experience!</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Sapna Ullal, PTSSY Yatri (18 years)</span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="NoSpacing"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="color:maroon;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Santa Cruz</span></span></span></b></st1:place></st1:city><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="color:maroon;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> Sabha, Mumbai. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="NoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="color:maroon;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Email id: </span></span><a href="mailto:sapnaullal@indiatimes.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:maroon;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">sapnaullal@indiatimes.com</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>River Saraswati and Gujarathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877714678659014910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6471704882265324498.post-2973567328003207882009-02-11T03:41:00.000-08:002009-02-12T05:18:15.602-08:00A Virtual Voyage on the River Saraswati<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SZQfzUdasuI/AAAAAAAAAIg/3KS53GRtfkY/s1600-h/P.P.+Swamiji+releasing+boolet+designed+by+Komal.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SZQfzUdasuI/AAAAAAAAAIg/3KS53GRtfkY/s400/P.P.+Swamiji+releasing+boolet+designed+by+Komal.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301897627847799522" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">P.P. Swamiji releasing the information booklet designed by Komal Patel, a non-Chitrapur as seva towards Lord BhavaniShankar and Maa Saraswati - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Photo: Kishan Kallianpur </span></span></span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SZK-Hz_PbtI/AAAAAAAAAH4/LtQWmqievq8/s1600-h/VV+with+Dhiren.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301508752792317650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SZK-Hz_PbtI/AAAAAAAAAH4/LtQWmqievq8/s400/VV+with+Dhiren.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(102,0,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Veena and Vivek Hattangadi with Dhiren Vyas, another non - Chitrapur volunteer who was in charge of Medical Van for all 5 days of PTSSY </span></span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SZK-HuUqrMI/AAAAAAAAAHw/1HxNRWWgYSQ/s1600-h/Bhalka+Teerth.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301508751271570626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SZK-HuUqrMI/AAAAAAAAAHw/1HxNRWWgYSQ/s400/Bhalka+Teerth.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(102,0,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Bhalka</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Teerth, where Lord Krishna was shot on the fe</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">et by Jara, the Bhil hunter - Photo, Dhiren Vyas</span></span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SZK-HduXE8I/AAAAAAAAAHo/FwFtx5qpuOE/s1600-h/Rani-ki-vav+1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301508746815935426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SZK-HduXE8I/AAAAAAAAAHo/FwFtx5qpuOE/s400/Rani-ki-vav+1.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(102,0,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Rani-ki-vav - Photograph: Dhiren Vyas </span></span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SZK-HBSbwpI/AAAAAAAAAHg/Nwhi8evUnYY/s1600-h/P.P.+at+Nal+Sarovar.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301508739182609042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SZK-HBSbwpI/AAAAAAAAAHg/Nwhi8evUnYY/s400/P.P.+at+Nal+Sarovar.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(102,0,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Param Pujya Swamiji interacting with Yatris at Nal Sarovar - Photograph: Dhiren Vyas </span></span></span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SZK-G0HIwLI/AAAAAAAAAHY/Wd_t3rXP51Y/s1600-h/P.P.+at+Rani-ki-vav+Baoli+1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301508735645565106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SZK-G0HIwLI/AAAAAAAAAHY/Wd_t3rXP51Y/s400/P.P.+at+Rani-ki-vav+Baoli+1.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(102,0,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">P.P. Swamiji watching the baodi at Rani-ki-vav- Photograph: Dhiren Vyas</span></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-size:13;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The author of this blog, Vivek Hattangadi (Sr.) had the continuous blessings of his Ishta Devata, Lord Ganesh, our presiding deity of the Shri Chitrapur Math, Srivalli, Lord BhavaniShankar and his Kul Devata Shri LaxmiNarayan Mahamaya (Ankola) which made PTSSY a grand success. Whenever there were obstacles, the author prayed to them and believe it or not - the solutions came in minutes! </span></span></span></span></span><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">A Virtual Voyage on the River Saraswati</span></span></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,0,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">By- Vivek Hattangadi (Sr.) – Ahmedabad</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,0,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:0;"><a href="mailto:vivekhattangadi@yahoo.co.in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">vivekhattangadi@yahoo.co.in</span></span></a></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Shri Ganeshaya Namah</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><st1:place st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Om</span></span></span></span></b></st1:place><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Shri Gurubhyo Namah</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Shri Bhavanishankaraya Namah</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Kurukshetra Saraswati Yatra organized by the Delhi Sabha in October – November 2007, marked the inaugural event of the Tercentenary Commemoration. Inspired by this, the Ahmedabad Sabha felt that it too must do something during the Tercentenary Year. During the Devi Anushtan Pooja in August 2007, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)">Shri Shashimam Stalekar</span> put forward the idea of similar Yatra to Sidhpur where River Saraswati is revered. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(153,0,0)">Shri Sureshmam Bankeshwar </span>suggested we carry this Yatra forward to Somnath where River Saraswati meets the Sindhu Sagar (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">wrongly called as Arabian Sea</span></span>) and thus a Yatra along the route of River Saraswati in </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Gujarat</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> was conceived. The idea of the Concluding Saraswati Yatra was put forward to the Tercentenary Commemoration Committee and a presentation was made to P.P. Swamiji on 16</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> March 2008 at Killa Pardi. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">Param Pujya Swamiji</span></span> gave consent. This Yatra was later nomenclatured by <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">P.P. Swamiji</span></span> as the concluding ‘<span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">Prabhas Teerth Somnath Saraswati Yatra</span></span> (PTSSY)’.</span></span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">Kurukshetra Saraswati Yatra to Prabhas Teerth Somnath Saraswati Yatra thus </span></span>symbolically represents that we Chitrapur Saraswats have undetaken a virtual voyage on the River Saraswati during the Tercentenary Year of our <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">Shri Chitrapur Math</span></span>. </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A tiny Sabha like the Ahmedabad Sabha could not have undertaken this mammoth task on hand without help from the other Sabhas. I approached around 30 volunteers from outside Ahmedabad and all of them readily and happily agreed to render Seva during this Yatra. Only after this, the real planning began. </span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">26</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> to 31</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">st</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> January 2009 were planned and confirmed by <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">Param Pujya Swamiji</span></span> as the most suitable dates for the Yatra.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Shri Swaminarayan Wadi at Maninagar, Ahmedabad and Shri Somnath Temple Trust Blocks at Somnath were identified as venues for the Yatra. The Yatra route was from Ahmedabad to Rani-ki-vav (Anahilwad-Patan), Bindu Sarovar and Rudra Mahalya (Sidhpur), back to Ahmedabad; the next day to Nal Sarovar – a repository of River Saraswati and then to Prabhas-Patan and Somnath. The return journey was planned via Sasan-Gir Forest.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">Param Pujya Swamiji</span></span> arrived at Ahmedabad three days prior to the PTSSY, i.e. on 23rd Jauary 2009 evening.</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">On the evening of 24th Janaury, <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">Param Pujya Swamiji</span></strong> released a booklet compiled by me titled <strong><span style="color:#000099;"><em>"River Saraswati and its Relation with Gujarat"</em></span></strong> which was later given to all the Yatris in their welcome kit. The booklet was designed by a well known designer and visualizer from Ahmedabad, <span style="color:#660000;"><strong>Ms. Komal Patel, as a seva towards Lord Bhavanishankar, Shri Chitrapur Math, Guru Parampara and Maa Saraswati. </strong></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;color:#660000;"><strong></strong></span></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The Yatris started arriving on 26</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> January 2009. From 4.00am, over 370 Yatris from all over the world (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">including </span></span></span></span><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">UAE</span></span></span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">, </span></span></span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">US</span></span></span></span></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">, </span></span></span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">UK</span></span></span></span></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"> and </span></span></span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Canada</span></span></span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">) started arriving at Ahmedabad as the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">Prabhas Teerth Somnath Saraswati Yatra</span></span> was to begin the next day. At the age of 88, the senior most Yatri was Shri Umanathmam Bailur from Mumbai. In fact, we had over 112 Yatris between the ages of 65 and 88 years!</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">At 6 pm Yatris assembled in the auditorium to get a briefing from me on the Yatra.</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Later there was a presentation on ‘River Saraswati’ by a research scholar and renowned ‘<span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)">Saraswatilogist’, Dr. Jagdish Gandhi</span></span>. He has done a lot of work on River Saraswati. Dr. Gandhi also showed a video of his journey from Yamadhara, </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Himalayas</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> to the Triveni Sangam along the banks of Vedic Saraswati. The Yatris left the auditorium considerably more enlightened on the River Saraswati.</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">On 27</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> January 5.45 am, the Yatris boarded ten buses assigned to them. Every bus was named after a river from </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Gujarat</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> and of course <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)">Bus No.1 was naturally ‘River Saraswati’.</span></span></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">At 9 am, the Yatris reached the 1100 year old Rani-ki-Vav at Anahilwad-Patan, 140 km from Ahmedabad. The Yatris stepped out onto the lush green lawns surrounding this magnificent heritage. Rani-ki-vav was earlier fed by River Saraswati and later was buried due to nature’s fury. It resurfaced once again only in the 1970’s. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Rani-ki-vav is 7 storeys deep. The view from the top revealed a breathtaking subterranean passageway with stone steps leading to the bottommost (seventh) storey. Tall pillars added charm to the sunlit brown monument. As Yatris approached, one could appreciate the intricacies on the brackets and columns. Each wall has numerous niches with delicately sculptured figures of Hindu deities- especially of the Avatars of Lord Vishnu (Varaha, Vaman, Ram, and </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Krishna</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">). The visit reinforced our pride of </span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">India</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> which was advanced in architecture and engineering right from the Harappan days.</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">A secret passageway of 25 km leads from Rani-ki-Vav to Sidhpur that served as an escape route for the royal family. Next we left for Sidhpur also known as Siddhakshetra or Siddhasthal.</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">A comfortable guest room awaited the Yatris. After freshening up, the Yatris reached Bindu Sarovar surrounded by temples. This is the place where Shri Kapila preached the Samkhya philosophy to his mother Devruti; Bhagwan Parashuram performed Pind daan for his mother Devi Renuka. It is believed that Kardama Muni, (son of Manu) had made this spot his Karma Bhoomi.</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="color:red;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">A special visit was arranged for <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">P.P. Swamiji</span></span> to the Rudra Mahalaya, an ancient </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Shiva</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Temple</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> which is now in ruins. Rudra Mahalaya has a </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">temple</span></span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> of </span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Lord BhavaniShankar</span></span></st1:placename></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">. Being a restricted place, Yatris could not visit Rudra Mahalaya.</span></span><span style="color:red;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="color:red;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Some locals came to meet P.P. Swamiji. We had the delight of hearing P.P. Swamiji converse with them effortlessly in fluent Gujarati. In his Pravachan, P.P. Swamiji made use of four languages- Konkani, Hindi, English and Gujarati.</span></span></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Sidhpur gave us a taste of real Gujarati food - scrumptious Undiyo, Masala Papad, bhakris and chaas; complete with a mixed fruit ice-cream.</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="color:red;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Early next morning, i.e. 29th January 2009, at 4.10 am we left for Nal Sarovar. The discipline of the Yatris was incredible. They started waking up at 2.30 am to be on time for the scheduled departure at 4. 00 am. Barely had we reached Nal Sarovar when the rising Suryadev cast his golden rays on the repository of Saraswati. Walking on the marshy ground, a vast expanse of water with bouts of seaweeds and moss spread like a mat; faraway one could see fisherman rowing boats. More species of birds than you can possibly imagine perched on trees or flew in a beautiful V- formation. Every year, it is estimated over 2 lakh birds migrate from chilly </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Siberia</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> and other cold European countries refuge at Nal Sarovar asking Maa Saraswati to protect them from harsh winters – Maa Saraswati welcomes them.</span></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The Yatris spotted various species of ducks, dartars, red wattled lapwings, the Purple Moore hens, sandpipers, herons, storks and cattle egrets.</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">At 7.00 am all proceeded to an amphitheatre for Dr. Gandhi’s talk. He emphasized that the knowledge that we imbibe during the Yatra should be passed on to the future generations so that they may be proud of their origin and also help in the revival of River Saraswati.</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">We started from Nal Sarovar and reached Somnath at 8.00 pm.</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Early next morning, i.e. on 28</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">, at 5.45 am, we waited breathlessly in a serpentine queue at the sprawling </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">New</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Somnath</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Temple</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> premises for the darshan of the oldest Jyotirlinga. Constructed from limestone, the temple stands tall with an intricately carved dome with a flag, Trishul and a damru. A huge figure of Nandi faces the Shiva Lingam. The Jyotirlinga is installed in Garbha Griha (sanctum sanctorum) and it faces the east. As soon as the temple gates opened we went inside and occupied our places in the Sabha Mandap. While the Yatris were all eagerly awaiting the arrival of P.P. Swamiji, the Sabha Mandap reverberated with bhajans led by Meerupachi Balsavar and Chaitanyamam Gulwadi in synchronous manner as if they had practiced for months together. The reality however it was spontaneous! The regular visitors and the locals said that never before they have heard such melodious bhajans.</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="color:red;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The Yatris were over-awed in the holy presence of the Lord of the Universe. The Maha-Aarti began at 7.00 am and we received a close-up darshan of the Lord as well as Prasadam at the end of the Maha-Aarti.</span></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">P.P. Swamiji and the Yatris next proceeded to the </span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Old</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Somnath</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Temple</span></span></st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> built by the Maratha Queen of </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Indore</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> - Rani Ahliyabai.</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">A unique feature of the temple is a pillar that points towards the South Pole. This is a continuous line of water till the South Pole without any land mass in between.</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">After breakfast, all proceeded to Bhalka Teerth where Lord Krishna was shot by a hunter mistaking him for a deer. Here we have a vigraha of Lord Krishna in the same position as he was shot. The Yatris enquired as to why '<span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Savlya</span>' </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Krishna</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">’s vigraha is in white marble. The poojari said that after bleeding Lord Krishna’s body had turned pale white – and therefore the Vigraha is in white marble.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The Yatris then proceeded to Triveni Sangam, where Rivers Kapila and Hiranya meet River Saraswati to flow into the Sindhu Sagar (</span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Indian Ocean</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">). At 11 am, at this holy Triveni Sangam, Swamiji sat deeply absorbed in meditation. The sight of Swamiji performing Sadhana against the backdrop of the deep blue waters lifted the hearts of the Yatris to new levels of tranquility.</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The next destination was Gita Mandir. At the Gita Mandir, we had the darshan of Muralidhar with his bansuri. The 18</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> Adhyaya of the Bhagwad Geeta has been inscribed on pillars of the temple.</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">At 4.30 pm, we began the Dharma Sabha preceded by a round of Bhajans. The Yatris were deeply immersed in the Lord as Swamiji performed Shiva Pooja. After the vote of thanks, Vaidik Sambhavana and Kshamayachana, we were blessed to hear Swamiji’s Ashirvachan.</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The grand finale was the Sound and Light show at the </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Somnath</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Temple</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> brought to light the history of Somnath right from its construction by the Somaraja (Moon God). Its long history of destruction and reconstruction were depicted through the voice of the Sagar Dev who has been a witness to all since time immemorial.</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">On 30</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> January the Yatris took the route through </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Gir</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><st1:placetype st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Forest</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> for Ahmedabad. A physically tired but the spiritually charged Yatris reached Ahmedabad at 9.00pm</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The high spot of the Yatra was the time discipline maintained by all the 400 Yatris, whether getting up at 2.30 am in the morning to start by 4. 00 am or adhering to time schedules during journey breaks.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)">The following Yatris from outside Ahmedabad Sabha joined as volunteers: </span></span></span></span></o:p></span></p><ol style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Shri Vivekmam Katre – </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Bangalore</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Smt. Shyamalpachi and Nageshmam Heble - </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Bangalore</span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></strong></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><span style="color:#006600;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Smt. Vrindapachi and Vivekmam Kallianpur - </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Bangalore</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;color:#993399;">Smt. Priti Panemanglor – Pune</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Smt. Sheelu and Vivek Bijur – Pune</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></strong></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Smt. Vaishali and Smt. Rupali Heblekar – Pune</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></strong></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span style="color:#006600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Smt. Bharati and Bhalchandra Karpe – Pune</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></strong></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span style="color:#993399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Smt. Sabita Harite – </span></span><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Goa</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></strong></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;color:#cc0000;">Smt. Radhika and Dr. Praful Ray – Mumbai </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span style="color:#000099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Smt. Subbhalaxmi and Satish Hattangadi </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">– Mumbai</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></strong></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">Shri Ravi Katre – Mumbai </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span style="color:#993399;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Shri Chidanand Kallianpur – Mumbai</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></strong></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;color:#cc0000;">Ms. Vidya Aldangadi – Mumbai </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span style="color:#000099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Ms. Nirmala Rao – Mumbai</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></strong></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">Smt. Meena Baljekar - Mumbai</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;color:#993399;"><strong>Smt. Smita and Shri Anirudh Baljekar – Bangalore</strong></span></span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Smt Vinati and Kedar Udiaver – </span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Hyderabad</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></strong></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">Ms. Alka Lajmi - New Mumbai</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span style="color:#000099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Smt. Asha Awasthi – </span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Bangalore</span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></strong></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;color:#993399;">Ms. Shivani Haldipur-Kallianpur - Bangalore</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">Ms. Urmillapachi Kutty- Mumbai</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span></span></strong></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;color:#ff0000;">Ms. Ankita Bantwal - Hyderabad </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">The services of the following doctor-Yatris also rendered a lot of help to the Yatris:</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)"> </span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></p><ol style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type="a"><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;color:#990000;">Dr. Rajendra Kaikini – Ahmedabad </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Dr. Vandita Kallianpur – Mumba</span></strong>i </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">Dr. (Mrs.) Minal and Dr. Anand Wagle – Roha</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;color:#993399;">Dr. Chaitanya Gulwadi - Mumbai</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;color:#990000;"><strong>Dr. Kishore Nadkarni - Killa Pardi</strong></span></span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">Dr. Ravindra Bijur - Mumbai</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">Dr. Vrinda Trikannad - Mumbai </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in"><span style="font-size:0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;color:#993399;"><strong>Dr. Mohan Mankekar - Mumbai</strong></span></span></span></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The host Yatri-volunteers included Satish Kabad, Kalpana and Sanjay Kabad, Hemant Kaikini, Veena Hattangadi, Mohanmam Kabad, Arun Rao, Vivek Hattangadi (Jr.), and Shashimam Stalekar. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(153,0,0)">The work particularly of <span style="color:#000099;">Arun Rao</span> and <span style="color:#000099;">Hemant Kaikini</span>, who went into the smallest of the details to make the Yatris comfortable, was appreciated by all Yatris.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(153,0,0)"> </span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Archana Rao - who was in charge of MIS - ensured that there was smooth check-in of Yatris.</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Timely help from Siddhanand Padukone and Dinesh Panje is also valued.</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">We are also grateful to </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">S</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">hri Kishoremam Sashital</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> who along with </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Shri Kishorebhai Kotak </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">(</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Secretary - Somnath Trust</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">)was responsible for helping us out for the wonderful arrangements at Somnath. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Shri Tharubhai Manjeria</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> helped us at Sasan-Gir. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">And of course, the continuous help and guidance we received from </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Gen. Prakash Gokarn</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Shri Maheshmam Kalyanpur</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> of the Tercentenary Committee cannot be forgotten. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The scores of e-mails, letters and telephone calls being received is testimony enough of the successful execution of the meticulous plan made for the Yatra.</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,153,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Namah Parvate Pate Har, Har Mahadev</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,153,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(255,153,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="font-size:0;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Vivek Hattangadi </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="font-size:0;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Ahmedabad </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="font-size:0;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">vivekhattangadi@yahoo.co.in </span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(0,0,153)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:0;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span></o:p></span></p>River Saraswati and Gujarathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877714678659014910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6471704882265324498.post-36421709913914893102008-09-02T23:17:00.000-07:002008-10-18T08:42:42.813-07:00This is not from Ripley’s Believe It or Not<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SPoD0XDgmDI/AAAAAAAAAGU/63jVGOaqPcs/s1600-h/Lord+Bhavani+Shankar+Sidhpur+3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SPoD0XDgmDI/AAAAAAAAAGU/63jVGOaqPcs/s400/Lord+Bhavani+Shankar+Sidhpur+3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258519712985290802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SPm1z1t8SVI/AAAAAAAAAGM/ZiE8-DWLGaQ/s1600-h/Lord+Bhavani+Shankar+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SPm1z1t8SVI/AAAAAAAAAGM/ZiE8-DWLGaQ/s400/Lord+Bhavani+Shankar+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258433942129494354" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SPmxF1KdbyI/AAAAAAAAAF8/C76SCmbDLcw/s1600-h/Lord+Bhavani+Shankar+Sidhpur+1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258428753660178210" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SPmxF1KdbyI/AAAAAAAAAF8/C76SCmbDLcw/s400/Lord+Bhavani+Shankar+Sidhpur+1.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Photographs of Lord BhavaniShankar, the presiding deity of Shri Chitrapur Math, Srivalli, found in the ancient ruins of RudraMahalaya, the magnificent Temple of Lord Shiva at Sidhpur -</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Photographs: Hemant Kaikini</span>.</span></span></span></span></span><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;">Rudra Mahalaya a massive <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Shiva</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Temple</st1:placetype></st1:place> at Sidhpur (<i style=""><span style="color:red;">Yatris would be visiting Sidhpur during Prabhas Teerth Somnath Saraswati Yatra on 27<sup>th</sup> January 2009)</span></i>, was built more than a 1000 years ago. King Mulraj of the Solanki dynasty started its construction in 983 AD and was completed by King Jaisingh Sidhraj!</span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:16;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;color:black;"></span></span></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:16;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;color:black;">When Rudra Mahalaya was standing in all its glory it is believed that </span><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;color:red;">it rested on 1600 pillars and had 12 entrance doors and covered almost half of the total area of Sidhpur</span></b><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;color:black;">. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;"><span style=""></span>The eastern gate was adorned with beautifully carved 'Toran', <b style=""><span style="color:red;">with a flight of steps leading to the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Saraswati</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">River</st1:placetype></st1:place></span></b>.</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;color:black;"> The unique geographical feature of the Saraswati stream turning eastwards lends special sanctity to this</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;"> </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;">place</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;">.</span></span></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;color:black;"><o:p>Ulugh Khan and later Ahmed Shah of Ahmedabad ruthlessly destroyed this magnificent <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Shiva</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Temple</st1:placetype></st1:place>, in the late 13th century or early 14th century. The cells on the surrounding walls were converted in to a mosque.</o:p></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;"><o:p>Today (18<sup>th</sup> August 2008) the Core Team of PTSSY from Ahmedabad Sabha, along with Gen. Prakash Gokarn, Maheshmam Kalyanpur of the Tercentenary Committee and Vivek Kallianpur (<st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><i style="">Bangalore</i></st1:place></st1:city>) were on a Pilot Trip to this place and what we saw amazed all!</o:p></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;"><o:p>Rudra Mahalaya is in the itinerary of the Prabhas Teerth Somnath Saraswati Yatra and the Yatris are scheduled to visit Sidhpur on 27<sup>th</sup> January 2008.</o:p></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;"><o:p>Rudra Mahalaya is under the Archeological Society of India and is closed to the general public. When we reached there the security person was fast asleep (at 1.30 pm!) and we miraculously could get unhindered entry.<span style=""> </span></o:p></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;"><o:p>No sooner we reached one of the Shiva Linga, Nagdevata gave an exquisite darshan to Maheshmam Kalyanpur.</o:p></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;"><o:p>He excitedly called all of us, but before we reached, Nagdevata had disappeared.<span style=""> </span>Possibly he wanted to give darshan only to Maheshmam.</o:p></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;"><o:p>And what we saw next amongst these ruins was something amazing and unbelievable – it left us dumbfounded! It was a beautiful but slightly mutilated marble statue of Lord Bhavanishankar about 2.5 feet tall. Truly a feast for our eyes and our spirits! And please do remember - Rudra Mahalaya is over a thousand years old!</o:p></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;">Were our forefathers great travelers? Did some of our ancestors migrate to <st1:place st="on">Gujarat</st1:place>? Do we have our roots in <st1:place st="on">Gujarat</st1:place>? Well at least I do not have the answers to these questions which come to my mind.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;">But personally I would like to believe that Lord Bhavanishankar is showering His blessings on Chitrapur Saraswats during the Tercentenary Year! <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Vivek Hattangadi18<sup>th</sup> August 2008</span></o:p></span></b></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>River Saraswati and Gujarathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877714678659014910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6471704882265324498.post-24287564844745808372008-06-22T04:21:00.000-07:002008-06-24T01:24:40.014-07:00River Saraswati and Sasan-Gir Forests<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary (also known as Sasan-Gir) is the one and only home of the pure Asiatic Lions (Panthera leo persica). It is around 45 kms from Somnath. Gir Forest measures about 260 km² for the fully protected area (the National Park). The Sanctuary is around 1150 km². It is one of the most important protected areas in Asia due to its supported species. Gir has a weird but wonderful beauty in its severity.</span> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214665891376651074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 553px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 408px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="367" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SF42_-3Z20I/AAAAAAAAAEo/IjHUho2KVFI/s400/Gir+2.jpg" width="496" border="0" /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#006600;"></span></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#006600;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#006600;">Gir Forest in its full splendour </span></strong><br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The ecosystem of Gir has varied flora and fauna. Due to the efforts of the Government forest department, wildlife activists and NGOs it is protected reserve. In fact, the forest area of Gir and its lions have been declared as "protected" as early as the 1900's. At one time, the population had declined to just 25 lions but concerted efforts to save the species have borne fruit. The April 2005 census recorded the lion-count in Gir at 359, an increase of 32 compared to 2001. The lion breeding programme covering the park and surrounding area has bred about 180 lions in captivity since its inception</span> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214665887549371042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 505px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 333px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="330" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SF42_wm6MqI/AAAAAAAAAEg/2pTlxuCQs2M/s400/Gir+1.jpg" width="457" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#006600;">Rarest of the rare species - let him live in peace </span></strong></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Gir forms the catchments' of seven perennial rivers viz Hiran, Saraswati, Datardi, Shingoda, Macchundri, Ghodavadi and Raval. All these major rivers of Gir have perennial water supply except during severe drought. In order to tap the water resources four dams have been constructed, one each on Hiranya, Machhundri, Raval and Shingoda rivers, including the biggest reservoir in the area, the Kamleshwar Dam, nicknamed 'the lifeline of Gir'. </span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214667845809076706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 551px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 343px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="307" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SF44xvsZ-eI/AAAAAAAAAFA/4L7gdCncaeE/s400/Gir+3.jpg" width="486" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong><span style="color:#006600;">Unlike humans, these gentle lions do not kill the deer and other cattle for pleasure, jealousy or to demonstrate power! Truly, they are the Kings of the Jungle</span></strong><br /></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">In the heart of the Gir Forest 165 Kms. from Junagadh is the scenic spot of Tulsi Shyam with its hot springs, said to originate from River Saraswati. Tulsi Shyam has also a mythological story. Krishna seduces Vrinda, the wife of a demon named Jalandhara. Vrinda sacrifices herself and becomes a sati. She curses Krishna and converts him into a stone, a Shaligram. Krishna had vowed to marry Tulsi. He converts her hair to a Tulsi plant. Hindus still give Tulsi in marriage to a Shaligram. Tulsi Shyam is considered very holy by the Hindus. There are seven hot springs and the temperature varies from 70 to 80 degrees F. </span></p><br /><div align="justify"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214665889167922274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SF42_2ozVGI/AAAAAAAAAE4/O_78s72qYWg/s400/Gir+4.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><strong><span style="color:#006600;">We will protect you and let you live in peace!</span></strong></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;">Posted by:</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">Vivek Hattangadi - Ahmedabad </span></p><p align="left"><a href="mailto:vivekhattangadi@yahoo.co.in"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;">vivekhattangadi@yahoo.co.in</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"> </span></p><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#006600;"></span></strong></p>River Saraswati and Gujarathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877714678659014910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6471704882265324498.post-14416208197328918752008-06-22T02:09:00.000-07:002008-06-24T03:57:31.148-07:00River Saraswati, Prabhas-Patan and Somnath<div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Somnath has inspired many poets and writers. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;">Jai! Jai! Garvi Gujarat!<br />Uttarman Amba maata<br />Puravaman Kali Maata<br />Chhe Dakshin Disaman Karant raksha Kunteshwar Mahadev,<br />Ne Somnath ne Dwarkesh ae Pachcim Kera dev<br />Chhe Sahayamanb Sakshaat<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;">Jai! Jai! Garvi Gujarat!<br /></span></strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>Wrote </strong></span><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Kavi Narmad, the poet saint of Gujarat</span>.<br /></div></strong></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214635566658755602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 672px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 391px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="340" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SF4ba2fQHBI/AAAAAAAAAD4/x5a8VH_kQLg/s400/Somnath+4.jpg" width="564" border="0" /> <p align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;color:#006600;">New Somnath Temple<br /></p></span></strong></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Somnath Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga’s of Lord Shiva. It is 79 kms. from Junagadh and 450 kms from Ahmedabad.<br />According to legend, Somnath is as old as creation, built by none other than the Moon God himself, Somaraj hence the name Somnath. Somnath has withstood the shocks of time and survived the attacks of Muslim invaders. The construction of the existing temple was initiated by Sardar Vallabbhai Patel. It now has an arresting Chalukya architecture and is a stunning sight facing the blue vastness of the <strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">Sindhu Sagar</span></strong> (Arabian Sea) a part of the Indian Ocean. The spire of the temple is 150 feet high and the flagpole is 27 feet tall and 1 foot in circumference. The Somnath Temple was destroyed five times and built seven times during the last 2000 years; the temple of Somnath has been rightly called the Shrine Etenal </span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214635575814004754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 568px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 382px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="335" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SF4bbYmCIBI/AAAAAAAAAEY/lcOlcpOlBDc/s400/Triveni+Sangam+Somnath+2" width="494" border="0" /> <p align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;color:#006600;">Triveni Sangam (of Saraswati, Hiranya and Kapila) at Prabhas Patan<br /></span></strong></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">From the early days Prabhas-Patan, Somnath is a pilgrim place. It is the confluence of mythological <strong><span style="color:#006600;">Saraswati</span></strong>, Hiranya and Kapila. About 5000 years ago, <strong><span style="color:#006600;">River Saraswati</span></strong> traversed a distance of over 1600 km., through Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat, to reach Sindhu Sagar at Prabhas-Patan, Somnath. This is emphasized in the Mahabharata and other ancient texts. </span></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214635572677917842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="351" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SF4bbM6VPJI/AAAAAAAAAEA/A6pE50StJvs/s400/Somnath+Temple+1869.jpg" width="533" border="0" /> <p align="center"><br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color:#006600;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Photograph of Somnath in 1869</strong> </span></span></span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">A river is always holy in Hinduism. And the place where all the three rivers - Hiranya, Kapila and mythical <strong><span style="color:#006600;">Saraswati</span></strong> - come together and meet Sindhu Sagar, is thirty times more important! The Triveni Teerth at Prabhas-Patan is an important place of pilgrimage,<br />A short distance from the Somnath temple is Balkha Teerth, where Lord Krishna was struck by the stray arrow of a Bhil tribal. The Mahabharata says that the entire Yadav clan went on a drinking spree near Hiranya River at Prabhas Patan. They drank merrily and destroyed each other. Only two Yadavas and Sri Krishna survived. The Pandavas are reported to have performed penance at Prabhas Patan. It is on account of all these reasons that the Mahabharata and the Puranic literature speak of Prabhas-Patan with great reverence.<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#000099;"></p><p><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214635569508568146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 468px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 393px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="309" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SF4bbBGszFI/AAAAAAAAAEI/TGEsB6L8NWk/s400/Somnath+Balka+Teerth+Temple.jpg" width="412" border="0" /><br /></strong></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Mythology</span></strong> : </span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">Somaraja is the Moon God. Somaraja is the son in-law of Daksha (son of Brahma). Daksha had 27 daughters, who were the 27 Nakshatras, married them to Somaraja. Daksha had asked Somaraja to treat all his daughters alike. Somaraja, however, was giving special treatment to his ‘favorite’, Rohini. Daksha was enraged. He put a curse on Somaraja, saying, "You shall wane into nothingness!" The moon, which used to shine in full splendor every night till then, started to shrink. However, before the curse brought about an absolute end to the moon, the other daughters of Daksha pleaded with him to revoke his curse. Daksha then asked Somaraja to take a bath in the sea at the mouth of the <strong><span style="color:#006600;">River Saraswati</span></strong> and then to pray to Lord Shiva. The intenseness of the curse was reduced and we now see the periodic waning and waxing of the Moon.<br />Brahma then asked Somaraja to construct a temple and dedicate it to Shiva at the spot where he had prayed. Hence at Prabhas Patan, Shiva Temple is known as Somnath, the Lord of the Moon. Since Somaraja once again regained his light and brightness at this place it is known as ‘Prabhasa’ meaning light. Somnath is also known by several other names - Deo Patan, Prabhas Patan or Patan Somnath, which it acquired during its long and eventful history.<br />It is said that Somaraja originally built this temple in gold. Ravana, a passionate bhakta of Lord Shiva built it in silver and later Lord Krishna who ruled Dwarka built it with sandalwood.<br />The Somnath temple has been destroyed several times, mainly by the barbaric Muslim invaders. It had to be rebuilt several times from scratch. Each time the community of architects who designed and constructed the temple were the Sompura Shilpakar Brahmins. Prabha Shankar Sompura designed the present temple and his descendents are still building temples in India.</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;"></span></strong></span><br /></span></p><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#ff6600;">ll Yatra gangach, yamunach l<br />Yatra prachi saraswati l<br />Yatra someshwarach devah: tatra mamarut kaddhi l<br />Indrayendo paristrava ll</span><br />Posted by: Vivek Hattangadi </span></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="mailto:vivekhattangadi@yahoo.co.in"><span style="font-size:130%;">vivekhattangadi@yahoo.co.in</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div></span>River Saraswati and Gujarathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877714678659014910noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6471704882265324498.post-39234959241597096272008-06-21T20:05:00.000-07:002008-06-24T04:02:53.986-07:00River Saraswati and Sidhpur (ShreeSthal)<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Sidhpur or ShreeSthal as it was known in the Skanda Puranas is situated on the banks of the Vedic Saraswati. Sidhpur is considered to be the ‘Kashi’ of North Gujarat. Sidhpur has also been described in the Rig Vedas. Sidhpur is also known as ‘ShreeSthal’ or a "pious place" finds a place in the Rig Veda and was then known as Dashu village.<br />Modern Sidhpur is in Patan district in North Gujarat, India. Sidhpur and neigboring Unjha are now well known for cultivating 'Jeera' and 'Isabgol'.<br />About the 10th century, under Solanki rulers, the city was at the peak of fame and magnificence. The ruler Siddhraj Jaisingh built his capital at Sidhpur, thus the name Sidhpur which literally means the town of Siddhraj. He built a temple dedicated to Shiva, Rudra Mahalaya. Rudra Mahalaya was a magnificent Shiva Temple with a three-storeyed 'shikhara', 1600 pillars, 12 entrance doors, central 'mandapa' and porches on east, north and south and sanctum in west. Around the temple, there were 11 shrines of Rudra. The eastern gate was adorned with beautifully carved 'Toran', with a flight of steps leading to the <strong><span style="color:#006600;">Saraswati River</span></strong>.<br />During the 12th century Mohammed Ghori destroyed the town Sidhpur on his way to Somnath. Around 30,000 people were killed in the raid, and the Solanki Empire <span style="font-family:arial;">was </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">destroyed. Later Ulugh Khan and Ahmed Shah of Ahmedabad ruthlessly destroyed this magnificent Shiva Temple, in the late 13th century or early 14th century and converted the grand temple into a mosque.<br />The ruins of Rudra Mahalaya in the shape of a column here or a platform there stand as mute witnesses to the insensitivity, cruelty and heartlessness of the Muslim invaders who destroyed this magnificent Shiva temple</span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214540852862260450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SF3FRyGeFOI/AAAAAAAAADg/zvfaTUnHqO8/s400/Rudra+Mahalaya.jpg" border="0" /></span> <p align="center"><strong><span style="color:#006600;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color:#ff6600;">The remnants of the once magnificent Rudra Mahalaya destroyed by Muslim invaders</span><br /></span></span></strong></p></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The Puranas regard ShreeSthal as the most sacred spot in the ‘Saraswat-Mandal’ of Gujarat. The Bhagvata Purana associates it with Kardama rishi, (son of Manu) who had his hermitage here, and also with Kapila Muni who was born in this place on the bank of the sacred Saraswati River. It is said that Anahilwad-Patan (Anahillapataka or Anahillapattana), the capital of medieval Gujarat was founded where it is now, because of its closeness and proximity to ShreeSthal.<br />Sidhpur is the only place in India where matru-shradh is being carried out. At the banks of <span style="color:#006600;">River Saraswati</span>, thousands of people come here annually to perform the rituals for their mothers who are in heavenly abode. This tradition was started by Bhagwan Parashuram, also known as the protector of the <span style="color:#006600;">Saraswat Brahmins</span>.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#006600;"><br /></span>Sidhpur is also known as Matrugaya Koshers. Bhagwan Parashuram, the sixth avatar of Vishnu (Parashu = axe and Ram i.e. axe wielding Shree Ram) had performed ‘Pind dan’ dedicated to his mother Devi Renuka at Sidhpur on the banks of <span style="color:#006600;">River Saraswati</span>. Now, pilgrims from all over India come to Sidhpur for performing this pooja.<br /></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Today, this ritual is performed at Bindu Sarovar. Learned Brahmins who have been educated and trained to perform this special type of pooja are always available in Sidhpur</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214540854217421634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SF3FR3JkM0I/AAAAAAAAADo/knWtp616QOQ/s400/Bindu+Sarovar+1" border="0" /><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ff6600;"><strong>A Brahmin performing Pooja at Bindu Sarovar<br /></strong></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The five most holy and ancient lakes of India renowned for their sacredness are: (1) Manas Sarovar (Tibet) (2) Pushkar Sarovar (Rajasthan) (3) Bindu Sarovar (Gujarat) (4) Narayan Sarovar (Kutch, Gujarat) (5) Pampa Sarovar (Karnataka). The Bindu Sarovar has its special sanctity and glory due</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">to it being the Tapobhumi of Shri Kapil Dev - an incarnation of God and founder of Samkhya philosophy. It was on the banks of the Bindu Sarovar that Kapil Dev preached the essence of attaining Moksha to his mother. Bhagwan Swaminarayan had also sanctified the Bindu Sarovar.<br />Posted by Vivek Hattangadi</span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Ahmedabad </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="mailto:vivekhattangadi@yahoo.co.in"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">vivekhattangadi@yahoo.co.in</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"> </span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214540858202335378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SF3FSF_pKJI/AAAAAAAAADw/djwJsv3MXRA/s400/Bindu+Sarovar+2.bmp" border="0" /> <p align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">A</span></strong></span><span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong>nother view of Bindu Sarovar</strong> </span></p>River Saraswati and Gujarathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877714678659014910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6471704882265324498.post-4299278625555109732008-06-18T07:07:00.000-07:002008-06-24T04:05:39.501-07:00Nal Sarovar and River Saraswati<p align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213230543687061154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="66" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFkdjwCvDqI/AAAAAAAAADA/DlwG33VmsGE/s400/Nal+Sarovar+6.jpg" width="96" border="0" /></p><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Nal Sarovar is the original remnant of <span style="color:#006600;"><strong>River Saraswati</strong></span> flowing from the Himalayas to Gujarat</span>.</span> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213230552362673026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 554px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 358px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="315" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFkdkQXKY4I/AAAAAAAAADQ/xMBMRXJHMAE/s400/Nal+Sarovar+11.jpg" width="489" border="0" /> <p align="center"><strong><span style="color:#006600;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Sunrise at Nal Sarovar<br /></span></p></span></strong><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Nal Sarovar could be a relic of the <strong><span style="color:#006600;">River Saraswati</span></strong> which might have flowed through the funnel of the Little Rann of Kutch into Saurashtra. There are about 100 archaeological sites around this Sarovar region. The shortest riverine route between Dholavira, Surkotada and Lothal could have been through a possible ancient river course which existed through the Nal Sarovar. </span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213229899875601394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="230" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFkc-RqHy_I/AAAAAAAAACI/HyAvLNQPJzY/s400/Nal+Sarovar+2.jpg" width="440" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="color:#006600;"><strong><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Flamingos enjoying the hospitality of Gujarat<br /></span></p></strong></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary is a charming tourist attraction which people should not miss while on a pleasure trip to Ahmedabad. Nal Sarovar is 62 km to the West of Ahmedabad, in the state of Gujarat, India. Nal Sarovar is a delightful bird sanctuary. It is principally is a huge lake with a relaxing atmosphere amongst the marshes. It is inhabited by over two lakh migratory birds from Siberia in winters; it is the largest wetland bird sanctuary in <strong><span style="color:#006600;">Gujarat</span></strong>, and one of the largest in India</span>. </span></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213229908138894290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="310" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFkc-wcPo9I/AAAAAAAAACY/1Qkh9eYn8DE/s400/Nal+Sarovar+3.jpg" width="590" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#006600;"><strong></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#006600;"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;">White winged ducks at Nal Sarovar<br /></span></div></strong></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Nal Sarovar is 18 miles long and 4 miles wide and measuring 75 square miles. The lake is shallow and its depth does not exceed 2 meters any where in the lake. There are around 300 Islands situated in the lake. Panvad is the biggest Island</span>. </span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213230550215141554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 365px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="165" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFkdkIXJqLI/AAAAAAAAADI/LK8gUBLZwyk/s400/Nal+Sarovar+10.jpg" width="285" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>Our guests in a playful mood</strong><br /></span></p><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Nal Sarovar attracts over 250 species of birds in the winter. It harbors a variety of flora and fauna. Thousands of migratory waterfowl flock to this sanctuary just after monsoon. Greater flamingoes migrate here from Kutch every year and one can find tall standing birds like painted and black-necked storks. T</span><span style="font-family:arial;">he shallow area and ponds on the outer reaches of the lake attract the wading birds that feed in the shallow waters. Its migratory bird population, which visit Nal Sarovar between November and February include Rosy Pelicans, Flamingoes, White Storks, Brahmany Ducks and Herons. Ducks, geese, pelicans and flamingos are best seen early in the morning and in the evening. Nal Sarovar probably is a fantasy land for birds! It is estimated that over two lakh migratory birds from Siberia make Nal Sarovar their home every winter</span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213229919466517794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 519px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 385px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="349" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFkc_ao9dSI/AAAAAAAAACo/x4bZ55kC6fA/s400/Nal+Sarovar+5.jpg" width="473" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#006600;"><strong>Gulls at Nal Sarovar </strong></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Besides a few mammalian species including the endangered wild ass and the blackbucks also reside here.<br /></span></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213229907011379026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 469px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 271px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="239" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFkc-sPbH1I/AAAAAAAAACQ/05CCvEjNPE8/s400/Nal+Sarovar+1.gif" width="386" border="0" /> <p align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#006600;">Our guests in a holiday mood!<br /></span></strong></p><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The islands within the lake are populated by migrating Bharwad shepherds. On the banks are the Padhars, who are excellent folk dancers, artisans and boatmen. One can hire country boats on the lake for bird viewing, and picnic at shacks the on the islands. It is best to make the trip to Nal Sarovar in your own or private hired vehicle. Eight routes have been fixed where bird watchers can spend one to six hours</span>.</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213229916473244258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 421px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="242" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFkc_PfTumI/AAAAAAAAACg/4lsgDjedUCE/s400/Nal+Sarovar+4.jpg" width="336" border="0" /></div><p align="center"><strong><span style="color:#006600;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Come again next year - Phudchya Varshi Lavkar Yaa!!!<br /></span></p></span></strong><p align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary offers opportunities to visitors to spend some quality time in the lap of Mother Nature. Its beauty and tranquility is surely going to steal your heart.</span> </span></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213230543829414882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFkdjwkrM-I/AAAAAAAAAC4/YqtiB9nmsqo/s400/Nal+Sarovar+7.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="color:#006600;">A boatman at Nal Sarovar<br /></span></strong></p><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#006600;"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#3333ff;">Thank you River Saraswati for your wonderful gift to Gujarat!<br /></span><br /></span></strong></span></div>River Saraswati and Gujarathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877714678659014910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6471704882265324498.post-73490195773354021832008-06-14T09:28:00.000-07:002008-06-14T09:59:01.330-07:00Dr. Jagdish Gandhi’s presentation in ‘Divya Bhaskar’, # 1 Gujarati newspaper in Ahmedabad<span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;">Dr. Jagdish Gandhi the well known "Saraswatilogist", had made a presentation on River Saraswati before P.P. Sadyojat Shankarashram Swamiji, Mathadipati of Shree Chitrapur Math, Srivalli, N.Kannada District, Karnataka, India. The presentation was at Killa Pardi, South Gujarat. </span><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;">In May 2008, he made a presentation before the scientists of ndian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Ahmedabad. The report appeared in the "Divya Bhaskar". The English translation and a scanned copy of the original news are presented in this weblog. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#006600;"><strong>Dr. Jagdish Gandhi's report in "Divya Bhaskar", the # 1 Gujarati newspaer in Ahmedabad (English Translation)</strong></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">The Himdhar glacier in the Himalayan Mountain Range was the source of the Vedic River Saraswati, which has now disappeared. River Saraswati once flowed through Rajasthan, now a desert. This river can now be revived through modern science and technology. The enormous mass of water can now be brought from the Himalayas to arid Kutch. Jagdish Gandhi disclosed this while showing a film “The Lost River Saraswati” at the LD Institute of Indology, Ahmedabad. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211778706595977586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 341px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 332px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="365" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFP1HtaZGXI/AAAAAAAAABY/uNIpus8dx60/s400/Dr+Jagdish+Gandhi+presentation+in+news+.jpg" width="499" border="0" />On this subject, Jagdish Gandhi said, that he has prepared a blueprint to show that the waters of the River Saraswati flowing through the Himalayas can now be brought to Kutch (a desert area) through a system of canals. He said he has presented these blue prints to the Central Government and the Governments of Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Jagdish Gandhi further said that enough water is available in the Himalayan glaciers to revive River Saraswati. Through his film, he showed that River Saraswati still flows in the Himalayas. River Saraswati now joins the River Yamuna. The waters of River Saraswati can now be diverted to the original Vedic Saraswati River route through canals and water can brought to Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Kutch. <strong><span style="color:#006600;">Jagdish Gandhi clarified and emphasized that drawing water by digging bore wells and capturing water from the original path of River Saraswati should be avoided at any cost. </span></strong></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Dr. Jagdish Gandhi has provided the Central and State Governments details of the maps on this subject.</span></strong> </span></div>River Saraswati and Gujarathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877714678659014910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6471704882265324498.post-27359597562209117742008-06-14T07:47:00.000-07:002008-06-24T04:15:28.745-07:00Rani-ki-Vav - The Queen's Stepwell<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#006600;"><strong>Rani-ki-Vav – Patan </strong></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#006600;"><strong><div align="justify"><br /></strong></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Water has played an important role in the architectural heritage of Western India from the earliest times. It has been historically confirmed that the early Harappan towns (3000 BC) had a highly developed system of drains, wells and ta<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFPbid3TLiI/AAAAAAAAABQ/sUVTh0FX5OU/s1600-h/Rani+ki+vav+1+15+June+2008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211750578976402978" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 660px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 425px" height="337" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFPbid3TLiI/AAAAAAAAABQ/sUVTh0FX5OU/s400/Rani+ki+vav+1+15+June+2008.jpg" width="262" border="0" /></a>nks. </span><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#006600;"><strong>Rani-ki-Vav is almost 5-6 storeys deep </strong></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The vavs or baolis (step-wells) of Gujarat consist of two parts: a vertical shaft from which water is drawn and the surrounding inclined subterranean passageways, chambers and steps which provide access to the well. The galleries and chambers surrounding these wells were often carved profusely with elaborate detail and became cool, quiet retreats during the hot summers.<br /><br /></div></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211993205609821474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 656px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 382px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="305" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFS4NMgfdSI/AAAAAAAAACA/WfIuW7aeUvs/s400/Rani-ki-vav+7+14+June+2008.jpg" width="430" border="0" /><span style="font-family:georgia;"> <strong><span style="color:#006600;">The ornated walls at Rani-ki-Vav</span></strong></span></p><p></span></p><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Step-wells are unique to India and are repositories of architecture. Such step wells are not known anywhere outside the Indian sub-continent. </span><span style="color:#006600;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">It appears that the vavs were designed to bring the people and Gods together. Vavs were probably attempts to entice Gods to leave their abodes for a cool drink of water - the elixir of life.</span> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211993196568265714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 593px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 507px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="407" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFS4Mq00Q_I/AAAAAAAAABw/c784DOPA15M/s400/Rani+ki+vav+4+14+June+2008.jpg" width="351" border="0" /></strong></span></span> <div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#006600;">Rani-ki-Vav viewed from ground level</span></strong></div><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">of Gujarat under the Solanki kings is the Rani-ki-Vav, the oldest and grandest step well of all the 120 step wells built in Gujarat. It is said that Rani Udaymati played a vital role in its construction, hence known as Rani-ki-Vav (Queens Step Well).The Rani-ki-Vav is on the eastern banks of River Saraswati, at Patan, built somewhere during the eleventh century, during the period of the Solanki reign [The Solankis ruled over Gujarat till 1143].Rani-ki-Vav is probably the most magnificent step-well in Gujarat. Throughout, the ornamentation is splendid. Columns, brackets and beams are covered with scrollwork and the wall niches are carved with figures. Hindu deities on the walls flank the staircase. Its monumental construction and ornate treatment suggest that it also served a ritual ceremonial purpose. Most of the sculpture is in devotion to Vishnu, in the forms of his Avatar as Krishna and Ram, representing their return to the world<br /><br /></p></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211993195881563202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 295px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="135" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFS4MoRGBEI/AAAAAAAAAB4/8RCkXc0mXE4/s400/Rani+ki+vav+5+June+14+2008.jpg" width="265" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#006600;">Another view of Rani-k-Vav from ground level . </span></strong></p><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#006600;"><p align="justify"></span></strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Rani-ki-Vav is almost five to six storeys deep. Builders and masons dug deep trenches into the earth for dependable, year-round groundwater drawn from River Saraswati. There is also a small gate below the last step of the step well which has a 30 kilometer tunnel built (Now it has been blocked by stones and mud) which leads to the town of Sidhpur near Patan. It was to serve as an escape gateway for the royal family in the times of defeat in a war.<br />To escape the tortuous heat of the summers the royal family rested in the cool pavilions of Rani-ki-Vav – probably the earliest water cooler!<br /></span><strong><span style="color:#006600;"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></span></strong></p><p align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#006600;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Rani-ki-Vav is rightly described as a Temple for the waters from the River Saraswati. </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;">A Grand View of Rani-ki-Vav </span></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211993184370201234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 634px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 347px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="285" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFS4L9YkkpI/AAAAAAAAABg/fKtsdz2rFT4/s400/Rani+ki+vav+2+14+June+2008.jpg" width="436" border="0" /></span></strong></span></p>River Saraswati and Gujarathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877714678659014910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6471704882265324498.post-83200398663149096962008-06-13T07:25:00.000-07:002008-06-21T20:40:22.352-07:00Letter to Editor, Kanara Saraswat<strong><span style="color:#006600;"><span style="font-family:arial;">(</span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;">This letter was published in the December 2007 issue of Kanara Saraswat)</span></span></strong><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">To,<br />The Editor,<br />Kanara Saraswat</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Mumbai<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Dear Editor,<br />The article, ‘River Saraswati – a Myth or Reality’ by Ms. Yamini Bellare in the October 2007 issue was very interesting and threw light on our origin.<br />While studying this subject for an event planned in Ahmedabad in connection with the Tercentenary Celebrations, I came across some very interesting information on internet, which I reproduce below:<br />1. “Saraswati is believed to have originated from the Har-ki-Dun glacier in West Garhwal, flowed parallel to the river Yamuna and later joined it, proceeding south as the Vedic Saraswati. The perennial rivers Sutlej and Yamuna were once the tributaries of the Saraswati. It is believed that subsequently some tectonic movements may have forced the Sutlej and Yamuna to change course and hence Saraswati dried up in a period spread over a few hundred years possibly between 2000 and 1500 BC.” (1)<br />2. “The Indus-Saraswati Valley civilization is now found to be a collection of nearly 2,500 settlements of various periods along the Saraswati and other rivers, some of which date earlier than 6000 B.C.” – Rithvik S. Vinekar (2)<br />3. “Education was of great importance to the Saraswats and so they taught their young the Sanskrit and enlightened themselves from the Rig Veda. Although they spoke Sanskrit in public, they innovated a simplified version of Sanskrit called Brahmani which they spoke only at home. This language was the grass-root for the present day Konkani language”.(3)<br />4. “V.N. Misra, director of the Department of Archaeology in the Deccan College, Pune, recently concluded that the Ghaggar-Hakra River was the Vedic Sarasvati and existed when the Indus civilization flourished. Misra is now among the growing band of archaeologists demanding that the Indus Valley Civilization be renamed the Saraswati Valley Civilization”. (4)<br />It is also believed there was once a “Saraswat Desh” - the land between the rivers Saraswati and Drishadwati (near the present day Kurukshetra). <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFKF1IQUyiI/AAAAAAAAABI/wEI0dNJeRzs/s1600-h/Saraswat+Desh.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211374866616601122" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFKF1IQUyiI/AAAAAAAAABI/wEI0dNJeRzs/s400/Saraswat+Desh.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Thanks a lot Ms. Yamini for this enlightening article.<br />Vivek Hattangadi<br />Ahmedabad </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">10th October 2007<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#006600;">References</span>:<br /></span></strong><span style="color:#006600;">1. (</span></span><a href="http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2002/04/05/stories/2002040501110600.htm"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#006600;">http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2002/04/05/stories/2002040501110600.htm</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#006600;">)<br />2. (</span><a href="http://images.google.co.in/imgres?imgurl=http://www.theosociety.org"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#006600;">http://images.google.co.in/imgres?imgurl=http://www.theosociety.org</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#006600;">)<br />3. </span><a href="http://www.gsbkonkani.net/OurHistory.htm"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#006600;">http://www.gsbkonkani.net/OurHistory.htm</span></a><span style="color:#006600;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#006600;">4. (http://www.india-today.com/itoday/26011998/indus.html)<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#006600;"></span>River Saraswati and Gujarathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877714678659014910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6471704882265324498.post-90073537128300490412008-06-13T06:31:00.000-07:002008-06-24T04:32:59.450-07:00River Saraswati and its Relations with Gujarat<div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;">River Saraswati and its Gujarat-Connections<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;color:#006600;"><strong>Vivek Hattangadi, Ahmedabad </strong></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><br /></div></span><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ff6600;"></span><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ff6600;">II Rudravarte Kurukshetre Pushkare ShriSthale tatha<br />Prabhase Panchame Teerthe Panch Prachi Saraswati II<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">This verse is from the Rig-Veda. It means one ‘swaroop’ of Saraswati is Rudravarta; the second is Kurukshetra, the third Pushkar, the fourth Siddhakshetra (ShreeSthal, Sidhpur) and the fifth Prabhas (Somnath) (1).<br />The discovery of the course of Vedic <strong><span style="color:#006600;">River Saraswati</span></strong> traversing a distance of 1,600 kilometers from the <strong><span style="color:#006600;">Himalyas to Gujarat</span></strong> is an unparalleled discovery in the history of human civilization. Carrying the waters of River Sutlej and River Yamuna, the mighty river had drained most of North-west India for thousands of years prior to 3500 BC.<br />Today it is believed that the <strong><span style="color:#006600;">River Saraswati</span></strong> flows underground as detected by the remote sensing satellites. The river can also be seen in parts near the Lake Pushkar in Rajasthan, Sidhpur in Northern Gujarat and Somnath in Saurashtra, Gujarat.(2)<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">Gujarat and River Saraswati are inseparable.<br /></span><span style="color:#006600;">Sidhpur</span></strong> in North Gujarat is an historical place. It is located on the banks of the <strong><span style="color:#006600;">Vedic River Saraswati.</span></strong> It is a taluka of Mehsana district in North Gujarat.<br />Sidhpur derives its name from the great ruler of Gujarat, Siddhraj Jaisingh, who constructed a magnificent Shiva Temple in 12th Century AD, Rudra Mahalaya, at this town. The entire townscape of Sidhpur is dotted with temples, kunds, ashrams and sacred buildings along the banks of the <strong><span style="color:#006600;">Saraswati River</span></strong>. </span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;">In ancient times, two significant aspects - the natural features of the <strong><span style="color:#006600;">Saraswati River</span></strong> and the man-made feature of the Rudra Mahalaya - influenced the urban structures of Sidhpur.<br />Sidhpur has many places to see,<br />Rudra Mahalaya: It is an old Shiva temple built by Siddhraj Jaisingh in 10th century A.D. Today it is mostly in r</span><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFJ9EmPuMMI/AAAAAAAAAAg/-dAqge_g-JI/s1600-h/Rudra+Mahalaya.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211365236760522946" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFJ9EmPuMMI/AAAAAAAAAAg/-dAqge_g-JI/s400/Rudra+Mahalaya.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">uins. The structure is said to have had 1,600 pillars with 12 grand entrance doors, spread over half of the present day Sidhpur and six storeys high.<br />Bindu-Sarovar: It is a small artificial tank, even mentioned in Rig-Veda and considered pious by Hindus.<br />Saraswati bank: Sidhpur is the only place in India where matru-shradh is being carried out. Thousands of people come here annually to perform the rituals for their mothers who are not on earth. This tradition was started by Bhagwan Parashuram, also known as the protector of the </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#006600;">Saraswat Brahmins.<br /></span></strong>About 25 km away from Sidhpur is Patan (<strong><span style="color:#006600;">Anahilwad-Patan</span></strong>). Patan was the ancient capital of Gujarat and is situated on the banks of River Saraswati. Rani-ki-Vav (The Queens Step Well), on the eastern banks of <strong><span style="color:#336666;">River Saraswati</span></strong> was built by the Solanki kings who ruled Gujarat during that period. Rani-ki-Vav was constructed about a thousand years back somewhere in 1050 AD. Sculptures of deities and other images adorn the walls flanking the steps. (3) Rani-ki-Vav is a magnificent contribution to architecture. In essence, Rani-ki-Vav is a storage tank developed for irrigation purposes. The waters could be reached by descending an array of steps. Rani-ki-Vav also served as a resting place for the royals to escape the tortuous summers. Rani-ki-Vav is connected to Sidhpur through a 25 km long tunnel and was to serve as an escape route for the royal family in case they </span><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFJ9ExBV_MI/AAAAAAAAAAo/s5R-D4_xC04/s1600-h/Rani+ki+vv.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211365239653006530" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFJ9ExBV_MI/AAAAAAAAAAo/s5R-D4_xC04/s400/Rani+ki+vv.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">were defeated in a war.<br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;">Rani-ki-Vav</span></strong> was buried for centuries and suffered damage in past due to neglect and flood of the <strong><span style="color:#006600;">River Saraswati.</span></strong> After independence, the Rani-ki-Vav came into the custody of archaeological survey of India as protected monument of national importance. Till 1960's nobody knew that there existed the most ornate and highly sculptured vav. At this time, the vav was completely filled up except the top most portion of the well.<br />The <strong><span style="color:#006600;">Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary</span></strong> near Ahmedabad is one of the premier attractions of the diverse wildlife in Gujarat. Nal Sarovar is a natural lake, spread across a sprawling area of over 116 sq. km. It is 62 km from Ahmedabad and is famous for housing vivid migrating birds from Siberia. One estimate is that over two lakh migratory birds from Siberia visit this place every year.<br />Flocks of flamingos, a great variety of ducks, geese and pelican are some of the major attractions of the pla</span><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFJ9EyCEigI/AAAAAAAAAAw/PwXH9bFb5-A/s1600-h/Nal+Sarovar.gif"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211365239924492802" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFJ9EyCEigI/AAAAAAAAAAw/PwXH9bFb5-A/s400/Nal+Sarovar.gif" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">ce. This water bird sanctuary is like a fairyland for birds here.<br />Nal Sarovar could be a relic of the <strong><span style="color:#006600;">River Saraswati.</span></strong> There are about a 100 archaeological sites around this Sarovar region. The discovery of over 500 archaeological sites along the coastline of Gujarat, south of Dholavira, the existence of Nal Sarovar which links up Little Rann of Kutch with Gulf of Khambat (Cambay) during monsoon periods when the Nal Sarovar expands, point to the possibility that <strong><span style="color:#006600;">River Saraswati</span></strong> had coursed beyond Rann of Kutch into Saurashtra through Nal Sarovar, Lothal, Padri, Rangapura and up to Prabhas Patan (Somnath). It is also likely that the ancient courses of Rivers Narmada and Tapti had also coursed through the present day Saurashtra which has uplifted regions caused by recurrent</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">plate tectonic events.(4)<br /><strong><span style="color:#3333ff;"><span style="color:#006600;">Prabhas </span></span><span style="color:#006600;">Patan (Somnath)</span></strong> is a small town on the south-western coast of Gujarat. It is four kilometers - from Veraval railway station and 93 kilometers from Junagadh. This is a place of pilgrimage of the popular </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Jyotirlinga</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> of Lord </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Shiva</span><span style="font-family:arial;">, i.e., </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Somnath</span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">.<br /></span><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFJ9FJCRo3I/AAAAAAAAABA/xjtSDNs7eEI/s1600-h/River+Saraswati+at+Somnath.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211365246099366770" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFJ9FJCRo3I/AAAAAAAAABA/xjtSDNs7eEI/s400/River+Saraswati+at+Somnath.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">The literal meaning of Somnath is Lord of the Moon. According to Puranas, Shiva has made Prabhas Patan his abode since the beginning of the creation and will continue to abide here for ever. Prabhas Patan has also a number of places associated with Sri Krishna. One of them is Balka Tirth and the other is Dehotsarga. Sri Krishna is said to have been mortally wounded by the arrow of a hunter while reclining under a tree in Balka Tirth. His body was cremated at Dehotsarga, which is the place where three rivers — <strong><span style="color:#006600;">Saraswati</span></strong>, Kapila and Hiranya — unite to form a Triveni before joining the sea.<br />According to Hindu mythology, Balram, the elder brother of Sri Krishna, was an incarnation of Seshnag. There is a cave near Prabhas Patan called Balram Guha. It is believed that Balram passed to the netherworld (patal) through this cave. (5)<br />Veda Vyasa who wrote the Mahabharata observed the sky inscriptions from the banks of <strong><span style="color:#006600;">River Saraswati</span></strong>. “The epic describes a pilgrimage of Balram from Dwarka-Somnath (Prabhas Patan) to Mathura along the banks of River Saraswati in 200 shlokas in the S'alya Parvan. In the epic, Veda Vyasa himself says that day in and day out he is watching the planetary positions on the skies. His recording of over 70 such planetary events are almost like a record of celestial inscriptions within the</span><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFJ9FB1OfwI/AAAAAAAAAA4/xRRHfZgTSOY/s1600-h/Sasan+Gir.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211365244165586690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_MycPH_1Z-pM/SFJ9FB1OfwI/AAAAAAAAAA4/xRRHfZgTSOY/s400/Sasan+Gir.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> text. These celestial events are used to date the events which occurred on the banks of <strong><span style="color:#006600;">River Saraswati</span></strong></span> <span style="font-size:130%;">- events which are described in the epic poem. Since the planets on the sky and the celestial events are remarkably accurate and follow a precise pattern of cyclical movements, to a rhythm of time, the determination of planetary positions as observed by Veda Vyasa will help determine the date of events described in detail in the shlokas of Mahabharata”.(6)<br />The <strong><span style="color:#006600;">Gir Forest National Park</span></strong> and Wildlife Sanctuary (also known as <strong><span style="color:#006600;">Sasan-Gir</span></strong>) is the sole home of the pure Asiatic Lions. The fully protected National Park measures about 258 km² and the Sanctuary is 1153 km². The seven major perennial rivers of the Gir region are Hiran, <strong><span style="color:#006600;">Saraswati</span></strong>, Datardi, Shingoda, Machhundri, Ghodavari and Raval. The four reservoirs of the area are at four dams, one each on Hiran, Machhundri, Raval and Shingoda rivers, including the biggest reservoir in the area, the Kamleshwar Dam, dubbed 'the lifeline of Gir'.<br />Rishi Gritsamada calls <strong><span style="color:#006600;">River</span></strong> <span style="color:#006600;">Saraswati</span> <span style="color:#ff0000;">“Ambitame, naditame, devitame Saraswati”:</span> i.e. best of mothers, best of rivers and best of goddesses.<br />Can <strong><span style="color:#006600;">River Saraswati</span></strong> be revived? <strong><span style="color:#006600;">Dr. Jagdish Gandhi</span></strong> (who had made a presentation before P.P. Swamiji in March 2008 at Killa Pardi) told a gathering of scientists from Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) at Ahmedabad, that he has prepared a blueprint to show that the waters of the <strong><span style="color:#006600;">River Saraswati</span></strong> flowing through the Himalayas can now be brought to Kutch (a desert area) through a system of canals. He said he has presented these blue prints to the Central Government and the Governments of Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Dr. Jagdish Gandhi further said that enough water is available in the Himalayan glaciers to revive River Saraswati. Through his film, he showed that <strong><span style="color:#006600;">River Saraswati</span></strong> still flows in the Himalayas. River Saraswati now joins the River Yamuna. The waters of River Saraswati can now be diverted along the original <strong><span style="color:#006600;">Vedic Saraswati River</span></strong> route through canals and water can brought to Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Rann of Kutch. Jagdish Gandhi clarified and emphasized that drawing water through bore wells and capturing water from the original path of <span style="color:#006600;"><strong>River Saraswati</strong></span> should be avoided at any cost. Dr. Jagdish Gandhi has provided the Central and State Governments details of the maps on this subject.(7) </span></span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ff6600;"><strong>II Ambitame, naditame, devitame Saraswati II</strong></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#006600;"><strong>Bibliography<br />1. Babubhai Panchal: ShreeSthal Saraswati Mahima, </strong></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"><strong><span style="color:#006600;">2. http://www.gsbkonkani.net<br />3. UNESCO World Heritage Center, Updated 11th June 2008<br />4. River Saraswati: Bharatiya civilization; Dr. S. Kalyanaraman Babasaheb (Umakanta Keshav) Apte Smarak Samiti, Bangalore 2004<br />5. GP Nagar http://www.lym.org.za/somnath.htm<br />6. Dr. S. Kalyanaraman: in Saraswati nadi shodh prakalp - Akhil bharatiya itihaasa sankalana yojana<br />7. Report from “Divya Bhaskar” , 22nd April 2008, Ahmedabad Edition<br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Posted by </span></span></strong></span></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#006600;">Vivek Hattangadi- Ahmedabad </span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;"><strong><span style="color:#006600;"><a href="mailto:vivekhattangadi@yahoo.co,in"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">vivekhattangadi@yahoo.co,in</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div></span></strong></span>River Saraswati and Gujarathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02877714678659014910noreply@blogger.com1