Palani - My journey
Recently I had the good fortune of travelling to Palani with my MM family and our Master, Pal Pandian Sir. A trip, one of very deep insights and openings within myself. The Grace of our Master and the Lineage made it possible.
Temple visits for me have always been about devotion, awe, faith, tears, wonder… but also incompleteness, as I would never know how to fully be in a sacred space, with the mind giving it’s own inferences. But this visit was a little different as I came back fulfilled and somewhat complete in the experience.
I had once visited Palani as a young lad along with my parents almost 35 years back, but since then had never got an opportunity or a calling again to do this pilgrimage to Palani. So this time doing the journey along with our Master Pal Pandian was an opportunity of a lifetime. Although for only 2 days, it seemed like each second was precious in many ways, many unfoldings happened within me observing how Pal sir made possible the Darshan and how with utmost love and gentleness took care of the whole group, despite all our conditionings and shortcomings.
Always my affinity has been towards the feminine Grace or Shakti. Whenever there is a mention of the Divine Mother, tears well up and my heart melts. In this trip I felt a similar, deeply touching feel being in the space of Lord Murugan.
Being in the divine presence and energy of Lord Murugan was a new experience. Especially with the subtle insights given to us by our Master about Murugan representing Awareness, born out of Consciousness without duality or Maya in play. Pure Awareness.
The previous evening an impromptu visit to the sacred pond and Samadhi of Sadhguru Swamy, the gentle guidance of our Master to help us sit in meditation there. My experience of Nadha, which we were recently initiated to, was almost instant without any effort. I could experience a deep silence and was grateful for that moment. The same evening after a sumptuous meal we all sat along with our Master when he spoke of some very deeply significant aspects of the Navapashanam vigraham created and consecrated by Siddhar Bogar as also the signs of Liveliness found on the idol still like the sweat beads found on the Lord. He also mentioned how this was the first temple his Guru too had got him to. In that sense I rejoiced in the fact that this was the first time I too was visiting a temple with my Guru (not sure if I can address him such, given the lack of receptivity and commitment on my part).
Also the visit, next day morning to the Murugan Temple on the foothills before embarking on the climb of the mountain set the right inner ambience and attitude. The small trek on the Mountain, following our Master and the special Darshan, thanks to the efforts of our sister, the temple Siddha Doctor, was beautiful and Heart melting. Ever so graciously we were allowed the Darshan of the Lord as well as the Samadhi of Siddha Bogar, at very close quarters. All the while a feeling of deep devotion and surrender and the feeling of how immensely blessed one is to have got this opportunity.
My Heart and Being showered with the grace and blessings of Lord Murugan, my mind was wondering how come I did not all these years come here.
Now often I take a moment to see the Lord within my heart during my gratitude expressions…
On our return we also got to visit the temple and spring deep inside a forest where Siddhar Bogar is supposed to have created this Idol. That too was an intense experience which I shall elucidate later…
Thiruvadi Saranam…