This is the ultimate pilgrimage for devotees from many faiths. Hindu, Tibetan Buddhists, Bon, and Jains come together to visit Mount Kailash and the sacred Lake Manasarovar. The very thought of deciding to travel on the pilgrimage is daunting. I have tried to travel for more than ten years of persistent daily thoughts that pushed me. Every moment of each day haunted me. Truly. Of course, I converted those persistent thoughts to sit down and do good research, study the various possibilities, understand the obstructions and also write a book about Mount Kailash.
Kailasa Kora: Mysteries of the Ancients was published during the Pune International Literary Festival in August 2018 (by Vishwakarma Publications) and the first questions that I got at the book-release talk were if I had gone to Mount Kailash. It seemed so innocuous and silly to say that I wrote the book based on intensive research. I could see that nobody was taking it seriously. But, I was absolutely sure of the book. Every landmark, every stone, every gradient, river stream, slope, river bed, and the distances and directions were absolutely accurate.
Way back in 2011, I had paid up and determined to travel with Shri Namraj Joshi and had purchased my air tickets, etc and was packing up sincerely. Only two days to go and my packing was going on smoothly. That night I woke up with a severe panic attack, a fearful sensation in the mind, and my brain was going haywire. The pain was terrible and I could not understand as to what was happening. I looked at all the luggage and decided that I would not go on the pilgrimage. I did not know what was happening with me and I did not want to go all the way and be a burden on the other very sincere and devout pilgrims. Some may have to sacrifice their pilgrimage and take care of me if something were to happen. It was a very tough decision but had to be done.
Since then, ie since July 2011, I have planned for the journey each year. Something or the other happens and excellently logical reasons prevented me from the pilgrimage. Until the book got published and I was questioned directly, I had no other reason to be absolutely determined. I had thought that come what may, in July 2019, I would most certainly travel to Mount Kailash. There was a catch, though. One can travel to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar only if HE permits. Maheshwara had to be kind and had to allow it to happen. That meant that I had to communicate with HIM on a daily basis and ensure that he allowed the pilgrimage to take place.
Kailasa Kora: Mysteries of the Ancients was published during the Pune International Literary Festival in August 2018 (by Vishwakarma Publications) and the first questions that I got at the book-release talk were if I had gone to Mount Kailash. It seemed so innocuous and silly to say that I wrote the book based on intensive research. I could see that nobody was taking it seriously. But, I was absolutely sure of the book. Every landmark, every stone, every gradient, river stream, slope, river bed, and the distances and directions were absolutely accurate.
Way back in 2011, I had paid up and determined to travel with Shri Namraj Joshi and had purchased my air tickets, etc and was packing up sincerely. Only two days to go and my packing was going on smoothly. That night I woke up with a severe panic attack, a fearful sensation in the mind, and my brain was going haywire. The pain was terrible and I could not understand as to what was happening. I looked at all the luggage and decided that I would not go on the pilgrimage. I did not know what was happening with me and I did not want to go all the way and be a burden on the other very sincere and devout pilgrims. Some may have to sacrifice their pilgrimage and take care of me if something were to happen. It was a very tough decision but had to be done.
Since then, ie since July 2011, I have planned for the journey each year. Something or the other happens and excellently logical reasons prevented me from the pilgrimage. Until the book got published and I was questioned directly, I had no other reason to be absolutely determined. I had thought that come what may, in July 2019, I would most certainly travel to Mount Kailash. There was a catch, though. One can travel to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar only if HE permits. Maheshwara had to be kind and had to allow it to happen. That meant that I had to communicate with HIM on a daily basis and ensure that he allowed the pilgrimage to take place.
No comments:
Post a Comment