Trip to Mahavirji - 4: Darshan

Nov 3 contd, While strolling back and forth at the Nizamuddin station, we also bumped into Jagdish chachji. He was also to board the same train to Mahavirji. Once the train got going, there was no further delay and we prayed that we reach there right in time for the evening aarti that was the highlight of the trip. The village of mahavirji is several kilometers away from the train station and there is a free shuttle service back and forth at regular hours. When we reached the Mahavirji station, we noticed the shuttle was ready to leave. We hurriedly got off, but because of large group it took us a while to arrange for the coolie. By the time we stepped out of the station, the entire station was empty and all we could see was the cloud of dust left behind by the shuttle. All pilgrims including chachaji were smart enough to board it on time. Karte kya na marte we had to hire a small taxi and stuff all of us in with our bodies in twisted positions. The road to the temple area isn't the greatest you have seen. It's full of pot holes and worse than that speed breakers. With each speed breaker, it appeared that our neck would break into two by the impact of the bump, but luckily we made it to the temple. There was confusion around the aarti time when we reached there. When we enquired, couple of people told us that the aarti hadn't begun yet. So we decided to arrange for the dharamshaala first. Once done, we proceeded towards the temple only to find that the aarti had just finished. This was quiet frustrating and a major blow to our years of planning. In the deepening dark of the evening, I saw chachaji stepping out of the temple after participating in the aarti. He was one step ahead of us all the way.

The main Mahavir bhagwan's temple at Mahavirji. This is where Mahavir bhagwan's statue was found more than 200 years ago.

Once we went inside the temple, the serenity and the presence of Mahavir bhagwaan washed all our stres away though. We performed the darshan and then sat down in the courtyard to particpate in the live bhajan sessions performed by local musicians.


TBC....