Radhekrishna. It is a great marvelous wonderful experience to go alongwith Guruji to holy kshetras like Pandharpur. We were all in the same state - happiness, happiness , and happiness !!!  It was decided that Guruji along with some sathsang members are going for a two day trip to Pandharpur. The anticipation of the trip itself used to give everyone so much of happiness. Guruji used to tell in sathsang about the greatness of Pandharpur and Lord Vittal. There have been bhakthas (devotees) whose only aim in life was to go to Pandharpur at least once. To go to such a sacred place with Sathguru was possible only due to His divine bliss.

 Our trip started with a train journey. From Kalyan station itself one could see a chill of enthusiasm in everyone’s face. As all rushed towards their seat everyone went to sleep or rather dream about the joy that lay ahead for them. The train journey itself was so refreshing. All members were singing bhajans doing namasankeertanam and sharing divine experiences. Even in the train Guruji used to take care of us like a mother. He used to ensure that everyone was comfortable .We got down at Kurudwadi station and being 26^th Jan we sang our national anthem (Jana Gana Mana) and national song (Vande Mataram). It was really a memorable experience.

 Around noon we proceeded to Pandharpur. We reached the place where we had to stay. We were enthusiastic to see that Chandrabhaga- The divine river in Pandharpur was just a stone throw away from our room. We put all our baggage in the room and went to have a dip in chandrabhaga. We had to go by boat to reach the other side of the river. This was the river which has seen great bhakthas (devotees). We were blissful to have a dip in the river. None could hide their emotions as everyone went running behind Guruji into the water. The next 2 hours were spent in the water. All the shishyaas (male disciples) lifted Guruji which was unimaginable! Then everyone had the bhagyam of hearing a “jala sathsangam” by Guruji. HE told everyone how the Bhima river got its name Chandhrabhaga.

 We came back to our room and had lunch, rested for a while. In the evening we visited the birth place of Namadeva. An old man was playing a Thambura which even Guruji played for a while. Then Guruji gave a small sathsangam and left for Gopalpur where Saint Namdev’s Samadhi was located. We did nagarasankeerthanam starting from Pandharpur and reached Gopalpur within an hour. We had to walk about 2-3 kms in the dark. But no one felt restless or fatigue.  There we saw the pot in which Sakhubai used to prepare butter for Viththal.  We were feeling like walking in the heaven being led by Guruji.

 We were delighted to see the place where leelas of Panduranga took place in the house of Namadeva. There we saw the earthenware Janabai used to cook and the place where she lived which was approximately 3-4 feet tall with Pandurang. Everyone was delighted to see the place where a bhakthai like Janabai had lived and felt the divine experience of premai with Viththal. That was the room where Lord Viththal played rasakreedai with Janabai. That was the place where Janabai sang many abhangams for viththal. It was completely and only Guruji’s grace that everyone could see the divine place and feel the sanctity.   

 We came back and Guruji did satsangam of Kanupatra. It was 8.30pm and we were to visit lord Vittala’s temple. It was the occasion of Bhishma Ashtami and crowds had gathered in large numbers in the temple. Everyone got excited. There were thousands of bhaktas waiting in the queue to take darshan of Panduranga. The queue literally ran through out the town. Guruji was marveled to see the blind faith of those bhakthas who knew nothing other than Panduranga. Due to lord Vittal’s grace we had to wait only for half an hour. While the queue was moving Guruji made sure that everyone got inside the temple. We got to touch the feet of lord Vittal who was so merciful standing on brick. Even though we would see Vittal for just a fraction of second it was a gratifying experience. We got to touch the one who is the supreme lord of the universe, the one on whose feet the great bhakthas have surrendered themselves. We then took darshan of goddess Rukmini, Satyabhama and Radhikarani.

 Then came the best of all moments. There was huge hall behind the shrine. Guruji was so excited that he asked us to play Fugudi (Go round in circles with hands tied in cross with each other). Everyone was energized, we made a big circle and played kummi (Standing in a circle and dancing and clapping their hands rhythmically). Everyone got a chance to play fugudi with Guruji. Even the outside members who had come to take the darshan of Lord Viththal  played fugudi with Guruji and and took His blessings. They were so blessed that they received aalinganam (embrace) from Guruji. It was really astonishing to see the devotion of those bhakthas who were not bothered about the outside materialistic world. They saw Guruji, played with Him, embraced Him and finally touched His feet and took immense unimaginable immeasurable blessings from our Guruji. It was overwhelming to see Guruji in such a happy mood. We were al- together in a different world. The session of kummi and Fugudi continued for one and half hours. Afterwards we returned to our room. Guruji was so happy and this made everyone happy. January 26^th is an unforgettable day in everyone’s life. The day when everyone lost their mind and all we knew was Guruji, Guruji and only Guruji.  Then we had dinner. That day was really filled with memorable experiences.

 Next day Guruji said at 6 o'clock in the morning everyone would go once again to Chandrabhaga.  Hearing this everybody was in a joyful mood. But somewhere in our mind we were frightened about the cold weather and the frozen water. Next day we got up early and were ready to take a dip in Chandrabhaga. About 6 am Guruji started sathsang on Sakhubai and it continued up to 8 am. Even Guruji teased everyone, “Now sun has come out and without a fear we can have a dip in the river.” Even the second day we had lots of fun in the river. Everyone took a dip in the river by saying Jay Shree Poojya Shree Shree Amma and Jay Shree Radhekrishna Sathsangam. We played many games with Guruji in the river. It was great fun playing with Guruji inside the water. Really it is our Guruji’s grace. Nobody had the ability to even see the divine river Chandrabhaga but just by Guruji’s grace everyone could enjoy this much. It can never be explained in words as to how much we enjoyed with Guruji. Everyone realized how graceful our Guruji is!  Guruji did jalasatsangam about Janabai.

 We came back and had breakfast and went to a place called Kaikadi Maharaj. It was a museum kind of a place where different statues of all bhakthas like Naradhar, Vasishtar, Thumburu, and many more bhakthas from all over India. It took us about two hours to go round the museum. Once as we went on moving up and down, right and left from basement to terrace and so on. We reached our lodge by a Tonga (horse car).

 We came back had lunch and rested for a while after that we packed our bags to return back to Mumbai. Guruji did a short sathsangam before leaving. The best part about the sathsangam was the way Guruji explained about the grace of Chandrabhaga. She (Chandrabhaga) took care of us like a mother. We played in her, tapped on her, jumped, ran etc. Like a mother she cuddled us and even the water level was moderate according to everyone. Group photos were taken along with Guruji. Guruji also wore turban and Nehru cap. A humble devotee tied the turban around Guruji’s head. He had also got the bagyam to do such a kaingaryam for Guruji.

 We started from there at 5pm. Even in the train we enjoyed a lot. Throughout the journey Guruji took care of us. He made sure that our journey and stay was contented.

 Next day we reached at 4 am. Our beautiful journey came to an end but it was a beginning of sweet memories which would be in our minds forever.

 The journey was really unimaginable. The joy which it gave to each one of us can never be replaced by anything else. Really the words used to express the enjoyment are no match to the actual enjoyment.

 This trip was so memorable for the radhekrishna sathsangam devotees. Words can never describe the happiness that each one of us felt during this trip. We all devotees pray that by Gurujiamma and Guruji’s grace we would get such more and more experiences. Radhekrishna

 Jay shree Poojya Shree Shree Amma

Jay shree Mahan Brahma Shri Gopalavallidasar  

 Guruji's Mumbai devotees

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