একটি শিশির বিন্দু (Ekti Shishir Bindu)।
কবি রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর (Rabindranath Tagore)
বহু দিন ধরে’ বহু ক্রোশ দূরে
বহু ব্যয় করি,বহু দেশ ঘুরে
দেখিতে গিয়েছি পর্বতমালা,
দেখিতে গিয়েছি সিন্ধু।
দেখা হয় নাই চক্ষু মেলিয়া
ঘর হতে শুধু দুই পা ফেলিয়া
একটি ধানের শিষের উপরে
একটি শিশিরবিন্দু।
(Meaning: For many a year, I have travelled many a mile to lands far away I’ve gone to see the mountains, the oceans I’ve been to view.
But I failed to see that lay.
Not two steps from my home.
On a sheaf of paddy grain – a glistening drop of dew.)
One fine evening of August (19- August-2022), when I was reading the above Tagor’s poem that awakened me to explore in and around where I presently stay. This was also immensely triggered by a Facebook posting of Partha-da ( Partha Chakaroborty, Former General Manager at Shree Krishna Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Anand) about the Vaijnath Mahadev temple at Jitodia which was only about 6 km away from my residence. I was staying in Anand since 1999 but never knew about this temple before reading his posting. I visited Uttarakhand several times to see the ancient Shiva temples but I did not even know that a 1000 years old Shiva temple exists so near. Encouraged by the Tagor’s poem and Partha- da’s posting, I did not waste time and went next day (20-August-2022) morning to see the temple.
Vaijnath Mahadev Temple-Jitodia
This is a very unique temple since water comes out from Shiv-Linga. I know very well that it’s hard to believe, my reaction was also the same. But one has to visit the temple to clear the doubt. Water that flows continuously from the Shiva-Linga is locally called Shiva-Ganga and this phenomenon is continuing from the time immemorial; no one knows where from the water comes. The local people consider this water as ‘Gangajal’ and believe that it has a divine power of healing of many diseases, hence take it as a Prasadam. I was told that years back, a District Collector analysed this water in a water testing lab and found that thewater was different from the water sources of the surrounding. It is unbelievable, yet a fact which I verified myself by taking it as prasadam.
The temple is in its existence since 11th century (more than 1000 years’ old) and there is a story behind it. It is believed that originally this Linga was created by Bhima (Pandava) to do worship of Lord Shiva during their “Agyaatvas”.This area is also known as Hidumbi Van (Hidimbi was the wife of the Bhima and mother of Ghatotkacha). As years passed, this Linga had gone underground due to reasons unknown and the area was used by local people for grazing their animals. One day a cowboy noticed that one of his cows was milking atone particular place and it was repeating every day. The cowboy was puzzled and informed about this unusual event to the King of that area, Sri Shindharaj ji. The King sent his observers to verify this event. They observed that there was a small mount on the ground where the cow was releasing her milk. They decided to excavate to find out the reason. During the process they found that their tools were banging on some structure inside. They finally found the Shiv-Linga and informed the King about it. The King decided to take out the Linga from the forest area and install it at his place. Therefore, he ordered his people accordingly to unearth it. Even after their best efforts to remove the Linga, to their surprise they could not find the base of the Linga. They informed the matter to the King, God appears in King’s dream in that night and ordered him to keep the Linga in its own place as such and construct a temple over there.
Even now, one can see so many holes on the surface of the Linga, from where water comes out. I presume that these holes may be due to the damage caused during excavation.
Mughals tried to demolish this temple so many times, but due to sacrifice of “Pujaris” and devotees, this temple is safe till to date. One can find about 100+ “Samadhis” of those “Pujaris” and devotees beside the temple which are the standing examples of bravery, sacrifice and devotion of the people of that time.
From morning to evening this temple is open for all with some breaks in between. One can do “Abhishek” or touch the Linga. During Shravan month, many devotees come here from all over India. Similarly, 100s of Brahmins also do come here and stay for 40 days and do “Havana” and “Pooja” of Lord Shiva.
When I reached there at about 8:00 am, I found a morning-rain washed, very simple old type temple structure within a very quiet and peaceful surrounding. At that time very few devotees were visiting the temple. One person was selling leaves of “Bilva” (Aegle marmaloes) which is normally offered to Lord Shiva. Inside the main temple boundary, there are some satellite small temples of Hanumanji, Mataji, Sai Baba, etc., in addition to the main Temple of Vaijnath Mahadev. I suppose that these small temples were erected in the recent past.
It was a very pleasant surprise to me when Pujari while chanting mantras, signalled me to go to him and put a “Tilak” on my forehead. When I wanted to give “Pranami” that was refused. I was allowed to take photographs. The Shiva- Linga was decorated with Bilva leaves hence I could not see the Linga with flowing water. On enquiry, I was told that to see the Shiv-Linga I have to go there either before 5:00 am or between 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm when the Linga is de-decorated. With this information I decided to visit the temple once again exclusively to see the Linga with water flow.
I visited the temple for the second time exclusively to see the Linga with water flowing from its inside on 23-Aug-2022. I reached the temple before 12:30 pm when the temple workers were changing the decoration (Bilva leaves). I had to wait till 12:50 pm to see the original Linga with lot of holes and water flowing from it. The devotees present there were served with the water collected the Linga as prasadam. I also experienced the taste of that water.
With great solace of witnessing the wonder in mind, I came out from the temple and returned back.
Borsad Stepwell
20-August-2022
After the visit of Mahadeva Temple I proceed to see a Stepwell, built in 1497 at Borsad at about 8:40 am. I reached Borsad Stepwell at about 9:15 am.
The ancient stepwell is located in Borsad town in Anand, Gujarat, India. It is also known as બોરસદની વાવ (Borsadni vav) in Gujarati.
The driving distance between Anand to Borsad is about 22 KM which takes about 30-50 min depending upon the traffic.
It was built in 1497 by Shri Vasu Soma and his family. It is a seven story stepwell and has 13 arches. The water is reached by flight of steps. It is a Monument of National Importance (N-GJ-69) now and is protected by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
There is an inscription in Sanskrit on one of the facing walls of the stepwell. It is dated Samvat 1553.
The stepwell is now inside the township, on one side there is a temple and a “Daurga” side by side. I could find one Mr. Anwar who was appointed by the ASI for cleaning and maintenance. Very few visitors I could find there. I took a number of photographs of the stepwell and returned back to Anand with great satisfaction.
Jai Hind!
Satyabrata Maiti
Disclaimer
Information presented here has been collected from Wikipedia, folklore and from some other sources available in public dominie. No part of it is my work except the observations that I have presented in the Blog.
