Vaishno Devi

My recent visit to Vaishno Devi taught me some important lessons. It's needless to say that the picturusque mountains and the location of the deity are a real treat to the eye. The visit also was a show case of the faith that Indians have in Vaishno Devi and indeed, it taught me that there is trmendous power in faith. But above all, an important question that I have been asking many is the difficult terrain that one has to pass through to get 'darshan'. It's not just Vaishno Devi, but there are several holy places in India which are located in places that pose a great difficulty in reaching them. The answer to this question occured to me during the long trek that took me to feet of the Lord.
We started our ascent sometime at 9.00 p.m. Five of us we were, all eager to reach the top of the hill, started are journey talking to each other, looking at passers by, palanquins and horses straddling ahead, helpers carrying kids on their shoulders, groups of devotees chanting Jai Mata di amidst the hustling pathway rich in bright colours by the decorative shops of the numerous vendors. A little more into the journey and I could see some of us compete with each other trying to show the agility and speed with which we could ascend. And periodically, we all would look at the hill top and crib that it's quite a long journey. A heavy body that I carried on my feet, I soon realised that the ascent was not going to be that easy and my brisk friends were no match for me to catch up with. I looked at the hill top and again at my friends and said to myself, "Boss, yeh to bada mushkil lagta hai. My friends call me Dada. And what the hell? I can't climb a mountain that is being fathomed by hundreds of people older than I am ? Shame on me." And as we walked I could see all of us getting tired and sitting on the roadside drinking some water or tea or whatever was available. And as we proceeded, again the thought of covering such a long distance bothered me. I was not tired, but I felt I should sit aside and spend a few moments with myself and think. As I was thinking, I suddenly decided that I would stop looking at the destination, I would stop looking at others speed past me, I would slow down and choose my own speed so that I do not get tired. The path is known and the destination too. I have to reach there and Vaishno Devi won't question me for having reached a bit late. Why worry then? These words kept ringing in my ears, "Move on traveller, move on. Think not of what others think of you. You are alone and you, and you alone are your guide. Move on, you shall reach the destination. Keep walking..." With these words in mind, I got up and started walking slowly and steadily acheiving a speed that was as good as stationary - a sort of a quasi static walk. My friends left me behind and went at their speed. The world moved on, the horses straddled ahead, the palanquins were swift, children ran up, older men were sometimes faster than me, but I didn't see them. I too started chanting the name of the Lord like many others and kept walking at my speed - no tension, no fatigue and it was fun. And my friends reached the destination and were waiting for me to reach there. With hands joined, I entered the temple and amidst the vociferousness of the devotees and the ushers, I could feel a great peace within. It was indeed a great experience.
And then we all walked back and had a gala time. Yes indeed, I learnt that the journey is as important as the destination and yes, looking within is as important as, or infact more important than looking without. It appears that all the holy places which are in such mountainous regions drive home this point. But then, we have roads carved out, helipads etc. for the physically weak and for the VIPs. I wonder if the VIPs have learnt what I learnt by landing in front of the diety in no time. I guess they've already learnt it. That's why they are so fast!!