Sunday 3 April 2016

Pilgrimage

Source

The breathtaking Trikuta* Mountain top

Embracing the Vaishno Devi shrine

Watched me

As an equestrian

Slowly but surely

Climbing up

Moonlight shawl all over

Singing with other pilgrims

Walking, riding or in palanquins

In praise of the Mother

The breathtaking Trikuta Mountain top

Embracing the Vaishno Devi shrine

Waited with bated breath

For me and others

To cover those uphill serpentine 14 km pathway

Sloughing off the material self

Being prayer itself

To offer our prayers

To Mother Vaishno Devi

And return safely

 

Which we did

 

*Trikuta is located in Jammu, which is one of the three administrative divisions within Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost State in India. Trikuta, the triple peak, is where the holy shrine of Vaishno Devi can be found. More than 10 million pilgrims visit this shrine every year: Wikipedia

Me, at the hotel after whole-night-walking

 

 


Posted for Poetry Pantry #296 @ Poets United

26 comments:

  1. What a wonderful poem so clearly sharing and shining your experience -Sloughing off the material self, Being prayer itself - feels very profound and as with any journey a safe return is perhaps the most important thing..and your photo is beautiful too

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  2. Moonlight shawl all over
    Singing with other pilgrims ~ You've painted such a beautiful picture of pilgrimage in this poem :)

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  3. Ooooo that is a great photo of you.You look elated.My Hindu friends have that look when they have just participated in a ceremony. It must have been a wonderful spiritual experience doing that night climb pilgrimage.I'm a bit envious.Beautiful poem.

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  4. I agree, you look so peaceful and serene in your picture Sumana :D and such a wonderful write as an accompaniment. Beautifully penned.

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  5. It is strange that when we exert ourselves to do something for others, to pay homage, to give rather than take we receive something which gives us such elation so that we realize what life is all about. What a great post this is Sumana.

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  6. It sounds like a very inspiring pilgrimage.

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  7. What a glorious pilgrimage. I can picture all of you, climbing and singing, all the way up the holy mountain. In your poem, you took me along, and I loved every moment. Bless you!

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  8. "sloughing off the material self"---phrased so beautifully and, I would imagine, done one step at a time....uphill, every step of that 14 km pilgrimage. What an amazing experience!

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  9. What an inspire journey, your poem paints for us. Your words make me wish I could visit. I bet the experience is a feast for the spirit. ♥

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  10. Thank you for allowing me to climb with you. Your words reminded me of the way I feel when I slowly walk the labyrinth. Blessings,

    Elizabeth

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  11. Peaceful and beautiful Sumana....You have taken us on your pilgrimage with you...and your photo is lovely!

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  12. Gorgeous:
    "Slowly but surely
    Climbing up
    Moonlight shawl all over
    Singing with other pilgrims
    Walking, riding or in palanquins
    In praise of the Mother ...
    To offer our prayers
    To Mother Vaishno Devi
    And return safely
    Which we did"

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  13. Oh my! It is as if you are welcomed into the warmth and health of The Mother slowly as an ordeal brings you there, but watched over at the same time. I love your personification of the landscape, your breathless meter.

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  14. Beautiful walk,piece, and picture.
    ZQ

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  15. I love that this pilgrimage both inside and out, honors the mother--beautifully said!

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  16. What a most beautiful spot to give homage....beautifully described.

    Donna@LivingFromHappiness

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  17. I see your glow in the photo. What a wonderful way to honor the Mother and renew yourself.

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  18. Going on a pilgrimage is like an extraordinary experience to me. Though not often, last month I had the chance to join a pilgrimage with family members. We call it Visita Iglesia, an annual before the Lenten season where we visit & offer prayers to different parochial churches in one whole day. Thanks for sharing your experience through this poem. :)

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  19. Rich experience the viewers also feel. Well-versed.Thank you for sharing this here.Goddess bless!

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  20. Jammu is on my bucket list of places to see one day. How wonderful to journey to Kashmir on pilgrimage.

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  21. A lovely - and edifying - share, wonderfully rendered. "Sloughing off the material self
    Being prayer itself" ... transcendent.

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  22. The moonlight shawl draws me in.

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  23. I enjoyed reading your poem...and thought of the mountain I see from my studio each day, three peaks.

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  24. this is wonderful! always something interesting to learn. :)

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  25. I love this pilgrimage...when you were 'Sloughing off the material self' -how enlightened it is! good for you!

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