Urgent need to edify the pilgrims on cleanliness…

My wife and I were fortunate to get an opportunity to pay a visit to Bhadrachalam during the second week of May 2008.

We hardly had about 2-3 hours on hand and wanted to finish visiting the Sri Sitarama Temple at Bhadrachalam. I had to take bath in River Godavari, which is called the Dhakshina (Southern) Ganga. I also wanted to complete my anhika (evening sandhyavandane) at the banks before sunset as the evening sandhyavandhane should be completed before sunset.

We got ready and took an auto and headed for the river banks towards the bathing ghat. The river is surprisingly vast and broad, but being the peak summer, it appeared as a rivulet. But nevertheless the construction on the banks was well done and enormous.

To our utter dismay as we walked towards the bank, people had savaged and inundated the banks with plastic wrappers and covers, dirt and torn clothes. It was a very unfortunate scene on the banks of Godavari. We were simply appalled by the mess around. Unfortunately we Indians are used to this situation in punyakhetras. I believe it is the norm and it is acceptable to mess up such holy places, which are, supposed to bring to the devotees, sanctity in their thoughts and actions. I also saw a few pilgrims washing their cloths and a few having their evening snack on the banks and throwing away the thrash.

I did notice a few workers/cleaners who were trying to clean constructed ghat, but it appeared that the authorities were severely short-staffed and they simply may not be able to undo the damage caused.

In our shastras, in order to perform your mandated rituals, it is expected that there be antaranga and bahirangha shuddi (purity from outside and from within). Unfortunately I found it very difficult and uncomfortable to take bath. But being a holy khsetra, I just went ahead chanting the name of lord hari, completed my sankalpa and took 3 dips in the river. I then completed my Sandhya, wore my Panche [Dothi] & Shalya and headed for the temple.

Finally, as it is always is the case, Lord Rama is known to save the day and his darshana at the temple nullified all the anger and anguish developed within. The temple itself is extremely serene and beautiful. A must visit for all Hari Bhaktas.

Finally, I pray to Shri Rama to instill a sense of belongingness amongst our pilgrims and educate them not to hijack the sanctity of such holy places.