God's Abode

"रक्ष रक्ष महादेव नीलग्रीव जटाधर
ग्रहैस्तु सहितो रक्ष मुंच मुंच कुमारकाम्"

1996/Month of July

What a long way I have come across but still, that phase of my life is fresh in the memory. I had just finished my class 12th final exam and my dad planned a trip to Kedarnath and Badrinath Dham yatra. For me, it would be a second trip. My bua's family was to accompany us this time. All so excited. Everything was falling in place and the trip was on its high time under my dad's supervision. We reached Gauri Kund and walked till Ramwara and stayed there for the night. The next day early in the morning we set out and walked the remaining distance to reach Kedarnath. The whole day we roam around in the surrounding areas, though not much to move around still, even that small area was also like a casket of beauty and peace. The night came with a cold blanket. The wind picked up its pace and biting every inch of our uncovered body parts - eyes, nose, fingers. Too cold to set foot outside.

Kedarnath Temple 1996

But don't know how and why I, along with my cousin sister, my parents, a swamiji from Bharat Sevashram Sangha and a porter came out of the warmth of the dharamshala and were absolutely dumbstruck. In front of us, was Kedarnath temple standing along in the mystic light and the surrounding mountains were standing quietly as if waiting for something magical to happen. And then the magic took place. Behind the Kedar Mountain, the full moon peeped through as if playing hide n seeks. Oh, God! the twinkle it showed no solitaire could match it up, no Sapphire could glow to that extent. The full moon started to come out more, showing off its beauty, making us flabbergasted. The valley now flooded with moonlight, the temple was shining and those guarded mountains were now beaming with pride. I, better to say we all were motionless, spellbound by the magic. And then I realized, I was crying, not for being cold but out of sheer pleasure, an abundance of pure love and a realization that Shiva was with me, He is with me. I had truly come to God's abode. I was safe and couldn't be better than this.

Har Har Mahadev! Om Namah Shivah!

The mystic Kedar Mountain

The rear side of the Temple

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@anindita