From Sep 20-28, 2023, a grand Srimad Ramayana Navaham was held at Chitrakoot Paavan Dhaam, Madhya Pradesh, in the holy presence of HH Maharanyam Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji. To participate in this auspicious event, over 400 devotees from all over the world traveled to this divine kshetra that holds a special place in the charitra of Sri Ramachandra Prabhu and Seetha Devi. A detailed report of the event with photos and videos, can be accessed here in our India website: https://namadwaar.org/news-entries/srimad-ramayana-navaham-and-maha-samrajya-pattabhishekam-at-chitrakoot-kshetra/
In this newsletter, over the next couple of issues, we shall share some unique personal experiences at Chitrakoot shared by some devotees.
The Divine Chitrakoot Dham
All devotees who visited Chitrakoot Dham hailed the beauty and serenity of the kshetra, the place where Sri Ramachandra Prabhu and Seetha Devi spent the happiest time of their lives together, just by themselves, with none but Lakshmana there to serve them. It was also in this holy kshetra that Bharata finally found peace on seeing Sri Ramachandra Prabhu as his Guru, and was blessed with His Divine Padukas. Sri Rama also performed the last rites for his father Dasharatha Maharaja here. Pativrata Anasuya and Sage Atri’s ashram is also situated in this region.
The natural, serene beauty of the green hills and forests; the sweet, gentle Mandakini river; the quiet divinity that permeated the whole region, captured not only the hearts of all the disciples, but also that of Sri Swamiji himself. Sri Swamiji himself shared that he found the place extremely beautiful and serene; that his mind remained engrossed here and that he had no desire to leave the place. He also shared that in the hills and forests beyond the Mandakini, there were several rishis residing and moving about in a subtle, divine form.
Such is the greatness of this beautiful Chitrakoot Dham, that Valmiki Ramayanam says that as long as a person beholds the Chitrakoota hills, he attains all auspiciousness and his mind does not indulge in sins.
Immensely blessed are the devotees who had the fortune of spending even a single day here in this divine kshetra, in the holy presence of Sri Swamiji.
___________________________________________
A devotee’s personal thoughts from his first visit to Chitrakoot Dham
We stayed at Chitrakoot for the Sri Ramayanam Navaham under the divine aegis of Sri Swamiji from 20th to 23rd Sep 2023. I have been drawn into writing this small epilogue on the kshetram which I have never done before.
Was Chitrakoot the loveliest place that I ever visited! No significant temples or deities, no particular ‘religious’ significance, yet the divinity is so conspicuous in every – I mean really every – walk of life. I would have never imagined that I would visit Chitrakoot in this lifetime, but for the absolute divine grace bestowed by our Guru Maharaj, Sri Swamiji. It is only due to His grace that we were able to plan this visit, which was uncertain till the very last day of departure from Mumbai due to fluctuations in my parents’ health. We landed on 20th late night (I must admit only half-heartedly), after a very rough and stuffed bus ride from Satna station, simply because we could have Sri Swamiji’s darshan here.
There will be experiences that will be shared by eons of devotees on the splendid Navaham. Here, I wish to gather my feelings and experiences on the divine place that is Sri Chitrakoot Dham.
Be it the hundreds of handpumps on the wayside to enable wandering sadhus, cattle, or tons of monkeys to quench their thirst, the ubiquitous, beautiful natural vegetation and greenery, or the gentle Mandakini river flowing gracefully; it all reminded subtly but surely of the forests that must have enchanted Sri Rama and Sita.
We saw peacocks and peahen in abundance on our way to the holy places of Gupt Godavari and Sati Anasuya Ashram. The love for cattle was palpable. We came to know from locals that three trucks come daily on the ghat road to feed the innumerable monkeys with grams, milk, and abundant fruits.
One of the most striking sights was of course the sadhus, pilgrims, and wayfarers just about doing parikrama or lying down anywhere, at any place without any interference from authorities. It was an absolute village sight. The simplicity of the people was so humbling. A lofty life, slow pace, constant Rama Nama on the lips, and contentment writ large on every face. Sweet and abundant water and thick milk from gaushalas. Serene Mandakini and Ram Katha celebrated in all their glory. Temples of Sri Rama and Hanumanji at every nook and corner. What more can one ask!
Jai Chitrakoot Dham! Jai Sri Sita Ram! Jai Sri Guruji!
Sri Devprasad Nishankar, Mumbai
Pictures courtesy: G.O.D. devotees
Click here to go back to the September 2023 newsletter page:
https://godivinity.org/newsletters/nama-dwaar-newsletter-september-2023/
