Travel to the unknown land of God

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While penning down this experience, tears come in my eyes. You might feel that I am exaggerating. But this was a memorable as well as an experience that left a mark on my mind. I was neither very old, nor very spiritual. That journey was just for fun, a travel plan decided by my family to go via Nainital to Badrinath and then to Kedarnath. My friends told me that I was planning for a boring travel - a travel that suited aged people. But to me traveling was always fun and I had no such prejudices. I had no idea that this travel will bring about a realization in me.

I had just appeared for my higher secondary exam and I was just 18 years old. So lets see what I acquired at the age of 18, which people might not have acquired in their 81 years of age. I believe that it is the mind that makes you feel the presence of god in and around you, and not the age.

From Nainital we proceeded to Kedarnath. My mother, father and my grandmother were with me. We were told that we would be taken to a place called Gaurikund from where we would have to walk towards Kedarnath, which was about 20 kilometres from Gaurikund. So we reached Gaurikund and finally decided to make the move next day morning. The sunrise was at its usual time and we were all ready to go and walk towards Kedarnath. Let me tell you that the idea that I had about the place was that there was a temple of Lord Shiva and that it is very cold there. This was the idea with which I began my journey.

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We were advised earlier that we could expect a shower and so we had to take some raincoats and drinking water.

When we stopped at a shop to sip a cup of tea, my father asked the shopkeeper how far was the temple. He said with a smile on his face that it was very near and showed us the way. We had no idea about the distance until we began to walk. I walked with the help of a stick that was provided to me and to all others. Once I started, I realized that the way would be tough. But I headed forward with full zest and energy. The road was very steep and it was rocky too. The road was narrow and there was a river flowing deep down that could be seen once you go near the edge of the road.

But all these hinderances seemed negligible as all the pilgrims were heading forward with full energy chanting "Om namah shivay!!!" which provided an eternal power to these people. It was getting cold and chilly and the road was getting tougher and steeper and I was tired. My parents and grandmother too were exhausted. So we decided to take some rest before continuing with our long and tough journey. It was really a tougher journey ahead. The weather was beginning to get even chillier. Suddenly I noticed that clouds were surrounding us and my vision was getting blurred.