We are roadies in June 2023: 3 Jyotirlings and Shirdi’s Saibaba Visit

 

Mumbai-Sinnar-Ellora-A’bad-Parbhani-Parli-Parbhani-Aundh Nagnath-Jalna-Ellora for Vrishneswar-Shirdi-Mumbai by Car

June 22

We left Mumbai at about 7.30 am and reached Sinnar at about 12.15 pm with a break at about 10 am for breakfast. We met our relative for about 15 min and then drove to the Gargoti [mineral] museum nearby in MIDC area. We spent about 2 hours in the museum and purchased necklace of stone as well as sapphire for ring. This museum is founded by Mr K C Pandey who collected precious stones out of his passion and later turned it as an enterprise. Most of these precious stones are formed inside the earth millions of years ago under high temperature and pressure with air trapped inside. Some are crystalline, sharp as needle and others quite big. Some are hard and few others are soft as cotton. We also saw fossils, shaligram, of millipede-like. It is beautiful museum with guide who explains it in simple language. Most of these are chemically simple calcium based compounds formed in the basalt, a dark rock with cavity during volcanic eruptions over high temperature and pressure over millions of years. And this is a beauty of evolution of nature-abiotic in this case.

 

At Gargoti [mineral] museum

After this visit, we went to see Gondeswar Mahadev temple which was built in the beginning of the 12^th century in a panchayatana style, a central main temple of Shiva and four small temples devoted to Parvati, Ganesh, Vishnu and Surya in four directions. The main temple of Shiva is imposing structure with bull [Nandi] towards east facing Shiva in the sanctum sanctorum. Later, we left Sinnar by Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Samruddhi Mahamarg [Samruddhi mahamarg]. I kept a constant vigil on speed and other parameters as it was hot during drive. Traffic was not much during our drive. We reached Ellora [Verul] at 5.30 pm. We had only 30 min to see the Ellora caves as it closes at 6 pm. We saw well known caves numbering 10 and 16. The cave temple numbering 16, also known as Kailasa or Kailasanatha temple is reportedly carved out of a single stone and still quite imposing structure but appears to be aging with time, as carvings are giving a way to the weather. It is the Hindu Kailas [Shiva] temple built during 550 CE or even earlier attributed to Rashtrakuta king Krishna I. This temple is twice the size of Parthenon temple in Athens [Greece] and is considered a wonder of the world. It has huge pillar on the right side. An interesting story is that local king was suffering from disease. His wife prayed to the god Ghrishneshwar [Shiva] [also considered to be one of twelve Jyotirlings, pillars of radiant light or energy representing Shiva] at temple nearby place called Elapura [now in Ellora] to cure her husband and promised to keep fast until she oversees construction of shikara [top] of temple. In view of her fast until construction, local architect constructed top within a week so that queen breaks her fast. This temple is the largest of 34 Hindu, Buddhist and Jain cave temples. Vishwakarma temple cave or Carpenter’s cave numbering 10 with wood looking semi-circular beams projecting from the ceiling and a 15 feet Buddha statue in preaching pose at the back of hall of prayer is the most beautiful of all Buddhist caves. Echo of sound from the first floor was enchanting. This is reportedly built around 650 CE. We left Ellora at about 6.30 pm and reached our relative’s place in Shastri nagar of Aurangabad [renamed as Chhatrapati Sambhaji nagar] by 7.30 pm and then other relative’s place by 9.0 pm, had dinner there and then by 10.15 pm, reached our hotel to sleep.

At Gondeshwar Mahadev temple, Sinnar

 At Ellora Caves, Kailasa and Vishwakarma temples

June 23

We had a lavish breakfast in the hotel at 8 am and then left A’ bad for Parbhani. During this visit, we bypassed Jalna which is about 60 km, and later reached our relative’s place in Parbhani by 1.30 pm, and then had our lunch. During this stretch, we did not find dhaba or restaurant worth name for breakfast and had to rely our fruit stuff. We did stop for about 15-20 min for refreshing as the continuous drive is tiresome and dumb and road conditions poor.

Dr P S Neharkar, HoD, Entomology had arranged a visit to the Department in the afternoon at 3 pm. It involved interaction with the students and staff. So, I spent about 2 hours interacting with staff and students and knowing their current research interests in the insect science. Besides, I found that most students are either interested in pursuing academic or corporate career and only few in civil services. Despite poor infrastructure, most are very enthusiastic in pursuing research to the best of their ability. Unfortunately, the level of interaction with faculty outside the University is very little, which may affect their professional growth. Most of studies are aimed at solving the local problems like snail infestation in some districts under the jurisdiction of the University while others like biotic stress in cotton is common to most cotton growing areas. Due to limited time, I could not visit their Silkworm Research Centre which is a well-established facility and other labs. Crop protection school has produced a galaxy of academics and administrators like Drs C D Mayee, S N Puri, V M Pawar and others.

June 24

We left Parbhani in the morning for Parli Vaijnath, which is about 85 km towards the South. It has ancient Shiva temple which is considered as one of the 12 jyotirlingas. This temple is about 3000 years old. This claim appears to be odd, considering the structure. It was renovated in 1703 by the Shiva devotee Ahilyadevi Holkar, who ruled Indore State. There are other temples which are considered to be old and important as this one, one Baijnath temple in Baijanth [near Palampur] in H P and another Baidyanath temple in Deoghar, Jharkhand. After an obeisance at the temple, we returned to Parbhani by 1 pm and then had our lunch at home.

At Parli Vaijnath Jyotirling temple

Later in the evening, we visited the farm of our relative. This mango orchard is mostly of Kesar. Mango season is almost over, but we managed to pluck some 50 fruits. I climbed one tree to get as many as 5-6 fruits. It was probably my first tree climb after many years, but quite successful. I could get down easily without jumping on as I feared injuring my knees. Most mango trees are well trimmed and have branches from about 4-5 ft above ground. Later, we visited Shri Hingulaj mata Mandir of Bhavsar samaj. I was honoured by the trustees, as they knew our well known and respected relative who accompanied us. This temple is located in the Bhavsar nagar of Parbhani.

 

At Parbhani, picking up the fruits from mango tree

June 25

We left Parbhani for Aundha Nagnath [Nageshwaram] which is also considered as one of Jyotirlingas. This temple was built by the Seuna [Yadava] dynasty in the 13^th century. As per another legend, this temple was built by Yudhistir of Mahabharata. Saint Namdev, Jnaneswar and Muktai are closely associated with this temple. Saint Namdev met his Guru in this temple. We took darshan at the temple which is quite old at about 8.45 am. We left Aundha Nagnath at about 10 am and reached Jalna at 1.30 pm, and had our lunch at the Amber Hotel where we stayed overnight. In the evening, we visited our relative’s home and wished newly weds well. Later, at about 8 pm, we participated in the reception programme.

 

Samruddhi mahamarg in the middle of Jalna and Ellora

June 26

We left Jalna at about 8 am for Ghrushneswar Jyotirling temple at Ellora [Verul] which is about 105 km away. We again hit the Samrudhhi marg to reach Ellora. Here, no camera or mobile were allowed and hence, we could not click any photos. Temple appeared to be old, with shivalinga. Men are allowed entry only on removing their upper clothing like shirt and banian. Temple is a single structure in red stone with five tier shikara [tops], like Gondeswar temple at Sinnar. It must be quite old, built before 12^th century and has undergone renovation in the 16^th century during Maloji Bhosale’s reign and 18^th century with funding by Ahilyadevi Holkar. We left Ellora at 10 am and reached Shirdi via Samrudhi marg at about 1.0 pm, had our lunch and then went for darshan at 2 pm. I had booked paid darshan online and within about 45 min, we had our darshan of Saibaba who preached simple, moral and religious living with an emphasis on Shraddha [faith] and Saburi [patience]. Sai baba lived in the first half of the 19^th Century in Shirdi. We stayed in the complex for about one hour and then came down to Sai Ashram Bhaktniwas for room which I had booked online. We took some rest and later at about 8 pm, had our dinner at the Bhaktniwas. Dinner was of roti, dal, mung, baigan veggie, rice and sweet barfi. Nalini did some seva [service] cleaning the dining tables.

                                 

At Ghrishneshwar temple [photo credit: Sarah Welch: Wikipedia]

At Saibaba Ashram Bhaktniwas

 June 27

We left Shirdi at 8 am, after having a breakfast. We hit the Samrudhi maha marg and drove until exit 22 which is close to Ghota. Thereafter, we hit the national highway driving through Igatpuri where we experienced some rains and more foggy weather, then through Kasara and Thane, we reached home at about 1.30 pm. Later, we learned landslide between Ghoti and Igatpuri. After reaching home, it rained a lot and then a day after.

 

During this visit of five and half days, we drove about 1350 km, spent Rs 10,000/- on petrol and Rs 955/- on toll taxes, with car mileage of about 14.5 km per lt of petrol, and economy of Rs 8.5/- per km of travel. We stayed in hotels and relatives’ home. We enjoyed driving as well as meeting friends and relatives, and seeing places of tourist and religious interests.