Flitting trip to god’s and almost god’s abode.

A long time wish was finally granted. My aethist better (?) half and I decided to visit shirdi shanishingnapur. After work on Friday,after buying week’s grocery, a quick fix of dinner and off we went to catch a/c bus to shirdi. I slept like a log , mouth open and completely covered with a bedsheet like a deadbody, we reached shirdi at around 4ish in the morning. After a rapid fire of brush and wash for only 30 bucks per person we headed bleary eyed but fresh for sai baba darshan (me in black). It took time as there was a snake like queue, but which after some time went so fast as if possessed. We had baba’s darshan but for only 2 seconds L and we came out. After buying Prasad and giving offering for our loved ones, we wondered how to leave for shani shingnapur. Our prayers were heard when the cab we took, helped us to obtain vehicle to go to shani shingnapur. Luckily people were not filled in it as cattle. Lovely cool breeze started with the vehicle start and within no time my eyes drooped back to sleep. I opened by bleary eyes only when we almost reached shani shingnapur. The place is lovely developed from what I had seen it some years back. But the houses still didn’t have doors. It is said that due to fear of Lord Shani, none of the structures, be it dwelling houses, huts, shops etc. situated within one kilometer radius of this Lord Shani temple, have neither doors and locks. No thievery or burglary ever occurred here in this hamlet called Shani Shingnapur. Some who have tried to steal have died vomitting blood within minutes of their act and before they could cross the boundary. Many others are said have received varied punishments such as long sickness, mental imbalance etc. It is to be seen to believe that even post office has no door, not to speak of locks. Lovely isnt it. Since it was Saturday (the day of lord shani according to hindu texts), the place was lively and full of worship atmosphere. Ladies not allowed L but my aethist better (?) half performed the tailabhiskam on my behalf, compltely sushurbhuta (freshened up) with cold water doused and a wet dhoti. A million thankyous would not be enough for u my better half. The syavambhu idol is located in open where men throng to worship shani manaraj with sesame oil, black cloth and some such pooja samagri (now did you understand why I was in black???) I finished a bit of the stotra in front of the idol..(4 times only L) before my better half joined me and we headed back to car. There were beggers who somehow tried to cash in lord shani’s abode as a medium to gain more and more alms and curse if not given LL. There were people in the car who whined on it and I sometimes wondered that why they have come to the place.. there was a couple in the car who wanted to have breakfast even if remaining people are sitting in car waiting to go,…despite of all such minor irritants…the experience was good since my wish to be there was finally culminated..We reached back to shirdi at 11.45 AM and after a quick (and avoidable since I had southindian thali…my better (?) half had punjabi thali and was very happy with it ) thali lunch at an udipi restaurant at shirdi we boarded the 12.30 PM bus back to mumbai, which after a long and long circling finally managed to get enough passengers and ultimately let at 1.30 PM. (Atleast I could have finished my lunch properlyL) The only best part was that I finished reciting the remaining stotra till that time J. Zzg n zzg we saw the rain lush green hills and valleys and black snaking roads from top, some where I saw a lovely mountain completely peakless, what with the grey clouds circling it making the view of the beak impossible.then we saw the fog point where the fog was lovely. We snacked on chikkis and pedhas, and napped a lot before we reached back to wet mumbai, dinnering (horrific english) in woodland retreat (my fave) and headed back home. Needless to say I slept content and peaceful that day, not only due to sheer exertion but also that a wish finally made true.
Nilanjana samabhasam raviputram yamagrajam chaya martanda sambhutam tam namami shaishcharam Om Neelambharaya vidhmahe Soorya Putraya dhimahi tanno sauri prachodayath