{Escape from the dusty world}

{Escape from the dusty world}

Rewalsar: a lesser known place in devbhoomi Himachal Pradesh.

Not for three months, not for two months, not for one month and not even for a week, but only a single day’s full time work, in an Indian metro city like ‘Mumbai’, makes you get frustrated and fed up of not life only, but of the things and people around, including your own self. At such a situation, at every point you get the ‘I need a real break’ feeling. And things become even worse, when your boss rejects your leave application on your face. You feel like tearing the paper into pieces and throwing it on his face, uttering all the ‘beep’ and ‘k’ words, but alas! You cannot do any of these. Using abusive words for your boss and for all the people you get hit by while boarding the train, becomes part and parcel of your daily life. I am part of this life, which some people describe as ‘hell’ for more than six months now. And the moment I sensed the real lifestyle of Mumbai, I decided that once in every two months I’ll take my share of break. So, this winter at my parents call I went to Rewalsar, a small pilgrimage place in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, even after my boss rejected my leave and adding more to the woes, had kept sending me threatening warnings of Conduct and disciplinary actions to be taken against me. I uttered all the ‘beep’ words and my friends and roommates gave me full support, with their addition of still more ‘beeps’.

 My parents and some of my relatives had already arrived in Rewalsar, to spend two months of winter there; resting, rejuvenating and washing away the sins of the whole year. It has by now become a custom to the people of hilly Buddhist regions of Kinnaur, Lahaul Spiti and some of the Tibetan refugees to visit this holy place, which holds a legendary story to make everything you witness there as ‘authentic’. I took the road trip from Chandigarh by bus to Rewalsar along with my cousin, and it took us almost 7 hours to reach our destination. The air of the place had already started showering its magic, when entering to the place did let me ease my stressed mind, tightened stomach and overloaded heart. And I was lucky enough to have my mother’s company, who is a great story teller as far as holy Buddhist places like this is concerned. 

'My Mother from whom I've inherited my spiritual side.'

As per her account, the legend says that once there lived a king ‘Zahor’ Raja of Mandi principality. He had a daughter named ‘Mandarawa’ who in addition to her charming beauty had a kind and spiritual heart, with religious bent of mind. Nothing of her father’s wealth pleased her, but the search for true knowledge and the quest for learning ‘dharma’ were the things, which she craved for. So, in order to practice Dharma, she went uphill and shut herself in a cave, putting herself in deep meditation. Its during her meditation that influenced by her deep devotion, the great dharma guru ‘Padamsambava’ entered through a little hole of the cave riding in a chariot driven by the sun. Soon the rumour spread in the kingdom that the princess had been putting up with an unknown man in the cave. So, in order to punish the princess and padmasambhava, the king called his men to drag the guru and the princess through the hill and burn them alive in the jungle. The order was followed and soon they were put on fire. But the smoke from the fire didn’t stop even after months of the incident, to enquire about which the king sent his men again. And to everybody’s astonishment, instead of fire there was a beautiful lake and in the middle of that, there was a huge and beautiful lotus flower, on which the guru and the princess were seated with a smiling faces. Everybody apologized for the grave mistake they had committed, including the king himself.

So, with the legendary story in our mind, we set out the next morning to take the parikarma of the lake, which welcomed us with its warm and calm gesture.

'Tso-Pema'

It is the religious belief and faith of Buddhist people, to take rounds of the places or monastery they consider divine by walking, at the same time chanting God’s name ‘Om Mane Padme Hung’. I followed my mother’s instructions and did as she told, and yes’ it did magic. While walking around the lake and chanting God’s name, admiring the big statue of around 123 feet on the top of the hill, feeling the blessings coming straight from the heaven, in fact I was talking to myself. And when I was sitting near the lake ‘crossed legged and looking with awe at the fishes in the water, struggling to get their share of food which the pilgrims would throw into the lake for them, I was in fact observing the innocence of the little creatures. The whole environment was in contrast to the one in Mumbai. At places like this you will feel nothing, but all good. People around giving a long lasting smile, which comes straight from the heart, would make you compare it with the momentary smile or grin you’d be unable to identify of the frustrated lot of the people in the city. It’s at such places that you will hear nature singing its melodies, which in the big city would mingle with the big noise and rather would give an unpleasant and irritating noise.

Rewalsar is a holy place, not only for Buddhist’s, but also for Hindus and Sikhs. Here you will find the existence of Buddhist Monastery, Hindu temples and Sikh Gurudwara side by side and the visitors of all the religions paying their obeisance to all the shrines irrespective of their caste and religion.

'The statue of the Guru; it looks so alive'

Going with the legendary story, when we drove one hour uphill to the caves, all the story I heard from my mother, which otherwise I took for just a story, did appear to me at least to be authentic account. In one of the caves, which was supposed to be the Princess’ meditation cave, where Padam Sambhava had come through a little hole riding sun’s chariot, the whole set up was the same as I imagined  while listening to my mother’s narration. And in another cave, there was the foot print of one of the feet of the Guru, which also appeared to be so real.

Such are the places which make your belief in some divine existence in the past much stronger. Here you will feel your inner vacuum being filled with an invisible spiritual upliftment. While touring around, you’ll magically feel at peace with yourself. And coming to me, I had no fear anymore of the punishment my boss would be going to impose upon me, and at the same time I realized my own folly for all the ‘beep’ words I used for him and others, and I took out time to talk to myself and ask for God’s or my own conscience’s forgiveness for all the wrong things I did. It is here that while sitting near the lake, crossed legged, I found time to pull out my phone and call all the valuable people of my life, whose call I always missed, being lost in the city commotion and unable to talk after whole days work, returning to the room dead tired, just to sleep almost like dead, not realizing anything which my heart would aspire for, and the inaudible sound of the soul, just vanishing in the polluted air without being heard.  

It’s very important to talk to yourself once in a while, which you don’t do especially in a big busy city, where you wouldn’t get time and where you’ll be forced to show your anger, even if momentarily you think that it’s bad, and you will end up fighting and calling out names at things big or small, which you think has irritated you or caused you some harm. Given the obligations of the world and for the sake of the little stomach, we are duty bound to be working like anything at the cost of our good health; physically and spiritually, but at least once in a blue moon, we can take a break and go and visit a place where you’ll feel nothing, but yourself and all the goodness of the people around. Ultimately, you’ll get back fully rejuvenated and refreshed, the fuel being enough to keep you human’ at least for a month or two, in the big city life. And when the dissatisfaction and frustration starts all over again, just plan for another tour to another magical and close to nature place which is not hard to explore, especially in a country like ours; India: The magical world!!

Things to explore in Rewalsar:-

Statue of Guru Padamsambhava: the 123 ft. statue, newly built just above the lake.

Cave of Guru Padamsambhava: the uphill drive to the caves, is the most memorable experience of the visit to Rewalsar, without which it would be an incomplete pilgrimage, the legendary tale of Guru Ji’s preaching Manadarawa and his meditation revolving around these caves, where the footprint of Guru ji on the rock, is considered as an authentic evidence. In the main cave a huge statue o Guru ji is erected along the cave wall. The Buddhist devotees from different parts of India & many other countries come to pay their obeisance and tie colorful prayer flags, which are so many now in number that you can have a glimpse of the colorful beauty from a distance.

Gurudwara: Dedicated to Guru Govind Singh ji, who visited and stayed at Rewalsar during one of the wars, for which he came seeking hill Raja’s help. Here Langar is organized everyday to all the disciples without any discrimination.

Rewalsar Lake: it is the main attraction, situated at the middle and surrounded with beautiful and peaceful hills. It has many floating Islands where as per the legend stays the soul of Guru Padamsambhava.

Budhist Monasteries: Tso pema ogyen Heru kai Nynmapa Gompa & Debung Kagyut Gompa. These two monasteries are the indo-Chinese architectural marvel, and the statues, paintings and murals on the walls would keep the visitors just admiring its beauty with awe. The ts-chu, in the month of March every year is celebrated with all enthusiasm to celebrate the birthday of the Guru Ji and pilgrims in lakhs would assemble there with full devotion.

Raja Rajeshwari Temple: It’s located on the top of the hill and is dedicated to goddess durga.

Lomas Temple: the lomas temple, built in ancient architectural style is dedicated to Lomas Rishi, who was a great devotee of Lord Shiva, and who observing the serenity and spiritual significance of the place, chose it for his meditation.

Kunt Bhayo Lake: Situated at an altitude of 1750 meters above the sea level, and a half an hour’s drive from Rewalsar has the legendary story of its association with Pandavas.

Naina Devi Temple: located at an altitude of 11000 meters above sea level, at the beautifully enchanting 7 lush green hills, this temple is dedicated to Goddess Bhagwati, one of the incarnations of goddess Durga. It is one of the 52 Shakti peeths of India, which is considered to be the origin of divine power , that has originated from the scattered parts of the body of pious sati, whose eye i.e. naina fell on this place. That’s why this is named as Naina Devi. And one of the unique feature of this temple is that here the goddess is worshipped in pinda i.e. small semi circular ball of stone. The drive through the lush green and zigzag roads with fresh air caressing your cheeks and brushing your hair, really makes you feel the miraculous touch to your senses.

Mini Zoo: the mini zoo, just along the Rewalsar lake is a beautiful compliment to add to the beauty of the place with its lesser but rare species like deer and porcupine to catch your attention.

So, what are you thinking? Just pack your bag and plan your itinerary to Rewalsar and feel the magic I felt.