774. As A Man Thinks! Poem by Raman Savithiri

Though I am unable to see Your face,
Though I am unable to hear Your voice,
You always take care of me;
As a mother unto womb baby!

Though there are evils in the world,
Though I am vulnerable, not bold,
Your powerful auras surround me;
Attracting good people around me!

Though I use to feel weak and meek,
Though I waste time in material-seek,
Your hidden hand brings me strength
And feeling worth living this life-length!

Though anger, revenge and jealousy ripple,
Though selfish thoughts I can not repel,
Your name dwells deep in my heart,
Dragging gentle people near is Your art!

Oh mind! at least once think His name!
Oh Tongue! at least once sing His fame!
He will make a heaven on this very earth.
What else is worth to do in this birth? 09/08/09

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This happened during the Kailash-Manasoravar Yatra. On the first day stay at Kathmandu we went to Pasupathinath temple. It was Saturday. Too much crowd. So we could not go near the inner sanctorum. After return from Kailash we stayed again in Katmandu. About 18 members of our group wanted to take Everest-Flight trip. Though I had a strong desire to take that flight the desire to see again Pasupathinath was more. So I decided to go to the temple. Nobody from my group to accompany me.

Early morning before dawn I started from Hotel Shankar. I asked a lady the direction to the temple. I wanted to go by walk. Since early morning I felt taking a taxi is not that safe. Being a lady I had my own fears.She told to wait in the near by bus-stop and to catch a bus. I thought it was also ok. I waited.

About 20/30 minutes passed. No sign of bus. I got frustrated. Then an aged man came to the stop chanting loudly ‘Om nama Shivaya! ’ He talked freely with other few people at the stop greeting ‘Om nama Shivaya! ’ I asked him if I could get bus to Pasupathinath temple. Though he could not understand English and I could not understand Hindi we spoke! He told me, ‘come I am going there only by walk’. I followed him with much trust on him.

Two other gents also joined with him. They were also of his age.

While we passed through main roads I could remember my way. But after half an hour the path became narrow and much complicated. He took me through the ups and downs of Nepal hilly lanes. I was sweating. I started doubting if he was taking me to temple or somewhere else. I asked, ‘When will we reach the temple? ’ He must have read my mind.
He gave a comforting smile and told, ‘in 10 min we will reach.’

When I was exhausted in next 15 minutes to my relief the temple bell rang. Finally we reached the temple after about 45/50 minutes brisk walking. I thought hereafter I could make my way. But that Nepali did not leave me. His friends went on their own way.

He accompanied me to the temple and took me to the chapel-stand asked me to leave my footwear. He took the token. He entered the temple asking me to follow and offered prayers with Nepali methods at each sanctorum. Sometimes he paid money too. I wanted to go alone in the temple. My aim was to sit silently and do meditation in that thousands of year old temple. He didn’t leave me. He took me straight to the entrance of inner sanctorum first and then a circumspection around Lord Pasupathinath.

I thought he must be of some priest caste aiming big amount of money from me for doing all rituals for me. I took hundred rupees and gave him telling, ‘enough of guiding. I want to sit alone! ’. He refused to take the money. I wondered how much more he wanted. When we came near the ‘Bhajan mandapa’ a glance at Shiva’s picture deeply moved me. I was about to cry. But this man did not leave me anywhere to keep open my Bhakthi.

After finishing the circumspection I sat in a place and closed my eyes. That man also sat and waited.

It was a nice experience to sit in place full of Bhakthi vibrations. I could hear devotional songs one side with deep feelings. Another side the mantras in inner sanctorum. Noise of devotees in the temple from all sides. Bell sound. Aroma invoking the feeling that Lord Shiva is right there. Oil lamps and other good fragrances took me to some other world.

I sat letting my mind to depths to mingle with divine names. For about half an hour. The man told ‘enough. Come we will go’. I got up slowly and followed him. He showed me another near by ‘Ma Bhuvaneshwari temple’ and again did few rituals for me.

I wanted to return back to hotel. After drinking the nectar of Lord’s Divine name I was not interested in anything else.

He showed me a taxi stand. I asked him to come with me so that at leaste I can help him back in reaching his place easily. He joined me in the taxi trip too. Now again in a thankful mind I tried to give him money. But again he refused, telling me, ‘I don’t need money, I am a rich man owing 4 buildings in Kathmandu’. I asked him if he was a Brahmin. He said he was a Kshathriya.

He left me near Hotel Shankar. The impression created by this good man was deeper than impressions of Manasoravor Bank and Kailash foot meditations.

In this kali-yuga people like him are real miracles to me. Whenever I had taken travels alone from my young age God comes with me in the form of such good people except one or two minor hurting incidents. Compared to the few hurting people, the soothing people who touched my heart-core are many.