03.02.2012 ►Amet To Dhelana

2012 Karuna's Mewar Tour

Early this morning, before breakfast we started to Terapanth Bhavan. HH Acharya Mahashraman was supposed to walk from Amet to Dhelana, a distance of approximately 7km. Akruti and I had agreed to go with the saints. We hurried to Terapanth Bhavan. Departure was announced for 08:00am. When we reached there, a group of Munis already had gathered in front of a building beside Terapanth Bhavan, where they were accommodated. I immediately took some photos, not a minute too early. The small group of Munis set into motion exactly thereafter. They went to join HH Acharya Mahashraman and the Munis accompanying him on the walk to the small village of Dhelana.

The lay followers gathered in the inner courtyard of Terapanth Bhavan, waiting for HH Acharya Mahashraman. The first to come out was the Muni ordained the day before. He talked to some people standing in a small group together. While waiting we started talking, and after some time a movement in the crowd gave the information that the saints were about to start. We left the courtyard at the backside of Terapanth Bhavan and approached to the rails. I was surprised in what a speed the group of saints moved forward.

After some time we reached the outskirts of Amet. There were only a few more houses, when HH Acharya Mahashraman entered the terrace of one of them. Someone hurried for a chair, and Acharya Mahashraman sat down. He took out a small pad of notepaper and started writing. He sat there in the morning sun and very accurately wrote down something. From time to time he looked up when he obviously was following a thought. Now he took all his time, in contrast to the speed of his walk. I could have read what he had written down, if I only had known the language! After quite some time he went inside the house, came back very soon, and continued his breathtaking speedy walk.

He and the monks maintained the celerity until they reached the Dhelana! None of them stayed behind, but I did. Fortunately Akruti organized a seat for me in the car driving slowly in front of the saints. There I regained breath and strength. After some time I got down again, took some photos of the group, and succeeded for some time to keep step with them. But again I dropped behind. Suddenly someone came out of a field and went to a bike leaned against a bush in the field. I had seen the bike and fostered some hope of being picked up, but called myself a dreamer. When the owner of the bike invited me with a gesture to mount, I hardly believed my eyes. So I was in Dhelana to take photos of the arrival of the saints.

School children were waiting with their educators for the highly appreciated visitors. When the latter approached, they jubilated and jumped for joy. In a nearby courtyard the lay followers, having walked with the saints or just waiting for their arrival, were awarded with a delicious buffet. It was an atmosphere of joy and happiness when the inhabitants of Dhelana and their visitors took breakfast together.

After this, Acharya Mahashraman addressed the gathering in an amusing way, according to the reactions of the audience. I admired the colourfulness of the latter, the joyful atmosphere, and the precise organization of this visit. Then the Acharya and the monks went back the same distance to Amet, and as I heard from someone, in the same speed!

Ashok and Shamtu Dak had come to Dhelana by car. After the meal, when the gathering was over, we all went to the wonderful Gangadhar Shiva Temple. It is situated between Amet and Dhelana at the bank of a river. In a cave nearby the temple, legend has it that a saint had lived until he had left his body. His ashes still are kept there. Ashok Dak told me that no wonder! very often Shiva Temples are situated at the bank of a river. He compared the meandering river with Shiva’s snake curling around his neck, and the blackish carpet of the river’s vegetation with his hair.

Two school boys were lost in dreamily looking on the river and inspected the forms of life in it. They bowled some pebble, but took care not to harm any fish or other forms of life. Their gesture was like a gift to the river. They seemed to be used to be at the banks of the river after school.  They have left a strong impression on me, like a symbol of the two realities man lives in, the immaterial and the material, Shiva and the river.

Monks gathering in front of the building where they were accommodated Monks and lay follwers Muni Mohjeet Kumar giving blessings Akruti with other lay followers in the courtyard of Terapanth Bhavan Ladies waiting for the saints Gents waiting for the saints Muni ordained the day before Akruti & friend HH about to come Acharya Mahashraman starts Acharya Mahashraman accompanied by Munis Jitendra Kumar (r) and Anushasan Kumar Crowd surrounding Acharya Mahashraman and his monks Muni ordained the day before Acharya Mahashraman sitting on the terrace of a house & writing some lines, surrounded by some monks Acharya Mahashraman writing on a note pad Acharya Mahashraman writing, Munis Jitendra Kumar & Anushasan Kumar watching Acharya Mahashraman entering the house Acharya Mahashraman leaving the house Anuvrati with whom I had an interesting conservation on Anuvrat movement Saman Siddh Pragya Road in direction to Dhelana with view on mountains Landscape seen from car Villagers getting water from a hand-operated dwell beside the road Farmers on a trekker Landscape beside the road Small settlement Villagers travelling on the clinger of a trekker Brother and sister in front of their parental home Green landscape is an exception here Acharya Mahashraman, the monks, and lay followers The group of saints is accompanied by two policemen Group of walkers, back view Typical rural road School boys awaiting the saints School children and villagers on their way to the location where the saints will address the gathering View on a village road Village children An author of many articles on Anuvrat movement who kindly had picked me up on his bike Muni Jitendra Kumar reciting Mantra before addressing the gathering Villager and relative from town Village lady & her family in front of her house Breakfast at Dhelana Delicious items! Queuing for breakfast Eating together is wonderful! This happy and healthy man is 83 years old! Acharya Mahashraman, Muni Jitendra Kumar on stage Acharya Mahashraman under a poster depicting him in the middle of all Terapanth Acharyas Colourful audience Acharya Mahashraman in his speech Audience Acharya Mahashraman Acharya Mahashraman Beautiful turbans School children in the audience Acharya Mahashraman leaving the location Shamtu & Akruti Dak with a friend of the latter Saman Siddh Pragya leaving the area Traditional villagers surrounding a modern dressed Shri Mohanlal Dak from Amet Shri Ashok Dak from Amet with his best friend, Smt. Shamtu Dak (behind l) Dhelana landscape Fertile area Group of walkers on their way home View on temple from the opposit shore View on river Entrance of temple Characteristic tree Three members of the Dak family honoring Shiva Blossom decorated lingam inside the temple Temple bells Depiction of Lord Hanuman Silver statue of Lord Hanuman View from characteristic tree on river Cave where the saint is said to have lived and then left his body Man with writing on his forehead View on river from temple terrace, two boys playing at the bank of the river Shiva's tricorne The two boys still playing at the bank of the river Ashok, Akruti & Shamtu Dak (f.l.) talking to a friend Akruti on swing Shamtu Dak (r) & Karuna Jain on swing Karuna Jain on swing