Shirdi trip - Aug 2010

3:15 pm 8th Aug 2010 -- Kopargaon Railway station


Waiting for the Karnataka Express train to come. It is on time and will come around 4:45 pm. Sitting in the waiting room reminds me of the train journeys taken as child. I think I should do it more often. It is seldom that I travel with train these-days. Sitting here made me realize that some people are not so privileged and I should not be taking my lifestyle for granted. Should be grounded and appreciate the big and small things God has given us.

Had a very good and fulfilling Baba darshan and Shirdi trip. Left Bangalore on Friday, 6th Aug 2010. Caught Karnataka express, the departure time being 7:20 pm. I reached Kopargaon next day around 2:00 pm. The train journey was very comfortable. It was raining in Kopargaon when we reached there. Though it was not pouring, but good enough to drench someone if exposed for some time. Because of rain, it was difficult to get the transport to Shirdi. Finally got one auto on sharing which dropped me to Hotel. There were two passengers with me. Both guys from Bangalore, whose parents had already arrived in Shirdi and waiting for them. In the route of around 40 - 50 mins, they received so many calls from them :-) Thanks to technology. Life has become so easy and comfortable. For me too, I was always in contact with my family throughout the trip. I think it made them comfortable, knowing about my whereabouts and well being. Since I was traveling alone. My booking was in Hotel Goradia, though found it little expensive. Think they are quoting the prices due to the proximity to Temple. I decided in favour of it, since I had stayed here before, it being in walking distance to temple and I had stayed there before.

On reaching there, freshened up, ordered sandwich and coffee. Then left for Darshan. It was still raining. Luckily the shop in the hotel was selling an umbrella. It was around 4:00 in the evening and was not that crowded. My first Darshan was very good and I did not have to wait long. As soon as I came out, I saw the donation counter. Decided to go there and deposit the money given by relatives and friends. Collected Udi and parshad from there. Then visited the 3 adjacent temples - Hanuman ji, Shani dev and Shiv ji. Took a round around the neem tree and went to Dwarika Mayee and Chowdi coming out of gate 3. Reaching Dwarika Mayee, I was remembering my initial visit to Shirdi when I was in college. That time there was no enclosure for Dearika Mayee and demarcation. It was one open space for templae and Dwarika Mayee. I also remember seeing the open dhooni. Now it has all changed. Then went for Mukh Darshan. Here one can sit/relax/medidate/do pooja, at the other end of the Samadhi temple. You get the view of Sai Baba Samadhi from far off. Later guard asked us to vacate that place, as evening 7:00 aarti was about to start. Again went to stand in the Queue. Went out from gate 3 and entered from gate 2. Got a very good place to sit for the Aarti. Then collected my slippers and went back to hotel. Ordered veg noodles and gulabjamun from room service.

Had planned to go for Morning Aarti on Sunday, but lazy me could not make it. Inspite of the fact that I could hear the bhajans on my bed. Finally got up at 7:00. Got ready, finished breakfast and left for Darshan around 8:00. Today the queue was very long in the Samadhi temple. After darshan, went around the temple. Went again for Mukh Darshan. I found that place very good and peaceful. There overheard people talking about SatyaNarayan pooja being conducted. Decided to attend it from 10:30 to 11:30. Had to pay Rs. 100 at the donation counter for that. After that sat outside the temple, since could not muster courage to stand in the queue again. Sat outside the donation counter,during the 12:00 noon aarti. In the morning I had bought the bhajan booklet, which I read along. Then went out from gate 4 to buy something for Navya and Tia. Before leaving back to hotel, went for Mukh darshan to take baba's blessings. Reached my room - 309, had coffee while packing. Checked out around 2:00. Hotel people called an auto for me, who dropped me here. Thanks to Baba for calling me here and grounded me back to reality.