जिंदगी मुसाफिर

जिंदगी की दौड़ में 

मुसाफिर रोज निकलते हैं।

ख़्वाबों की तलाश में 

कितने मंजिलें बदलते हैं।

ज़रूरतें पूरी कर ली जिसने 

ख्वाबों को अपने बेच कर, 

ख्वाहिशें सारे सहेज कर।

कुछ काम था अपनी मर्जी की 

कुछ काम था मजबूरी की ।

फिर वक़्त बहुत ही कम था

और सारे काम ज़रूरी था। 

ना हारे हैं, ना जीते हैं, बस चल रहे हैं।

कहाँ ? पता नहीं !

किस ओर ? पता नहीं !

रुक कर भी देखा, ठहर कर भी देखा,

पर राज़ - ऐ - जिंदगी हाथ नहीं आया।

फिर सोचा, अगले मोड़ पर सुकून होगा,

चल जिंदगी थोड़ा और चलें। 

ऐ जिंदगी कभी तो इश्क़ करले,

शिकायते है जो, थोड़ा तो बयान कर दे,

हारी हुई शामों में, साथ एक पल का तो दे दे। 

कभी तो गले से लगाले,

उलझने मन की कभी तो सुनले। 

इतनी बदसलूकी ना कर 

" ऐ जिंदगी "

हम कौन सा यहाँ बार बार आने वाले हैं।

मुसाफिर हैं हम भी, मुसाफिर हो तुम भी,

किसी मोड़ पर फिर मुलाकात होगी। 

कल भी मुसाफिर थे,आज भी मुसाफिर हैं,

कल अपनों की तलाश में थे,

आज अपनी तलाश में।

हम हर चीज़ कुछ ज़्यादा करते हैं

प्रेम भी, इश्क भी, ग़म भी, मलाल भी,

जनाब ! हम शायर हैं ।

जिंदगी - ऐ - मुसाफिर से , 

गुफ़्तगू कुछ ज़्यादा करते हैं।।

कब तक अनजान रहेगी तू,

कभी तो अपना पता बता दें,

ऐ जिंदगी कभी तो इश्क़ कर ले ।।

कुछ रास्तें जिंदगी बना देते हैं, 

और कुछ मुसाफिर, यादें। 

हर मोड़ पर एक नई कहानी,

नई तलाश, नई मंज़िल।

राहें कभी खत्म नहीं होती, बस 

मुसाफिर बदल जाते हैं, 

जिंदगी के सफर में।।

Honoring The Light Of Our Lives

Wishing all a very happy "Guru Purnima". Today is one of the most meaningful days on the spiritual calendar. This day is set aside to honor the teachers who guide us towards wisdom and peace. It is also a reminder that wisdom and guidance also live within each of us. Guru Purnima is an essential spiritual festival celebrated all over on the full moon day (Purnima) in the Hindu month of Ashada. It is celebrated to express gratitude to our "Guru". "Gu" means darkness and "Ru" means the one who is capable of dispelling darkness is a "Guru", as described in - Advayataraka Upanishad. Guru Purnima is also called "Vyasa Purnima", which is dedicated to all the spiritual masters. And on this day, it is commemorated as the birth anniversary of sage "Veda Vyasa". According to the Vishnu Purana, Guru Drona's son Ashwatthama will become the next sage (Vyasa) and will divide the 4 Vedas in the 29th Maha Yuga of 7th Manvantara. 

As per scripters the term Guru refers to a spiritual teacher, guide or master who leads a person from ignorance to light. Guru is everything in our eternal life. Nothing is possible without him. Life needs some power to push you up and Guru is that super power. A spiritual master / Guru is not a physical body or a person; the Guru is tattva - an omnipresent element, a principle and quality inside you. A Guru is just not a teacher, but a mirror reflecting your true potential. 

And "Guru Purnima" is the day to celebrate this eternal wisdom, when we honor the ultimate truth that Guru, God and the Soul are the same. It is a time to rekindle our commitment to the highest potential of life. Guru is the one who shows the path, inspires the mind, and touches the soul. For a seeker, Guru Purnima is a day of New Year, a significant day to review one's progress on the spiritual path and renew one's determination, focus and goals for the next coming year.

According to Yogic and tantric traditions, Shiva is revered as the first ever Guru or Adi Guru. The story goes that thousands of years ago, Shiva appeared in the upper Himalayas, completely lost in Samadhi. He did not speak to anyone nor acknowledge anyone. Many onlookers left out in confusion, seven men stayed behind deeply longing to learn the secrets of the universe. When they begged him for knowledge, Shiva refused stating that they were not prepared. Undeterred these seven seekers spent 84 years performing intense rigorous penance.

Then came the birth of a Guru - On a full moon night in the month of Ashada, Shiva opened his eyes and looked at them. He saw that they had purified themselves into prefect vessels of light. He could no longer ignore them. Later Shiva sat down, turned south, becoming ''Dakshinamurthy'', and began imparting the sacred mechanics of life and yoga. Those seven seekers became the celebrated - "Saptarishis" and that exact full moon day was recorded as the birth of the - "Guru-Shishya Parampara".

And today is the day to be grateful towards whom you learn. On this auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima, I bow to my Gurudev and expressing my heartfelt gratitude - you introduced me to myself and showed me the right path. The bond with the Guru belongs to a different dimension. It is not based on blood, history, or social roles. It is based on the recognition of something divine. Because he awakens something within us. He reminds us of who we truly are. In his presence, we feel closer to ourselves, closer to peace, closer to infinite. In every halted situation you have got me aspiration and inspiration. With your grace and blessings, I have left behind all the riddle of my life and have moved towards the peak of experiences of my life. My light is rekindled by a spark from you. My deep gratitude to you for having lighted flame within me. Thank you for choosing me among the millions. 

Presenting a beautiful dohe / couplets written on "Guru" by a mystic poet saint "Kabir Das" - 

गुरु गोविंद दोऊ खड़े, काके लागूं पाय।

बलिहारी गुरु आपने, गोविंद दियो बताय॥

Happy Guru Purnima - Jai Gurudev😇🙏🏼

Mauli - The Holy Feet

Wishing all a happy and blessed Devshayani Ekadashi. On this auspicious day Lord Vishnu enters cosmic sleep (Yoga Nidra), rests on the serpent Shesha Naga in the cosmic ocean, leaving universal management responsibilities temporarily, initiating in the holy four-month period of Chaturmas. Devshayani Ekadashi marks the shifting of the universe's focus inward toward deep devotion and reflection. It is celebrated as "Ashadhi Ekadashi", marking in the grand culmination of the historic Pandharpur Wari pilgrimage in Maharashtra dedicated to Lord Vitthal.

700 years. Millions of footsteps. One destination. Pandharpur Wari tradition is one of a kind. In Pandharpur Lord Vitthala or Vithoba, is waiting on a brick. The story goes like this - Lord Vitthal is a manifestation of Lord Vishnu. Lord is standing on a brick thrown by his devotee named - Pundalik. Pundalik a young man who mistreated his mother and father. Once he met a wise holy man who showed him that true service to parents is greater than any other prayer. Pundalik completely changed, devoting his entire life to making his parents happy and comfortable. One day Lord was pleased by this deep love, Lord Krishna traveled from Dwarka to Pandharpur to see Pundalik. When Lord knocked on the door, Pundalik was busy massaging his elderly father's feet. Not wanting to stop his duty to his father, Pundalik tossed a brick outside and told the Lord to wait on it. Lord Krishna smiled, stood on the brick with his arms on his hips, and waited patiently for Pundalik to finish. Later when Pundalik finally came out and begged for forgiveness, Lord praised his devotion to his parents. For this Pundalik asked the Lord to stay in the exact pose forever to bless all people, creating the scared - "Shri Vitthal Rukmini Temple". Even to this day Lord Vitthal is patiently waiting to embrace anyone who calls out with love. 

It is a holy pilgrimage like no other. The Wari is an annual foot pilgrimage to the Vitthal Rukmini temple. For over seven centuries, it has united people across all boundaries, turning a long journey into a grand celebration of community and faith. It is called walking the path of Saints. Devotees from Dindis (a processional groups) who carry the Palkhis of Maharashtra's greatest saints. The two major routes lead the way: - 

(1) Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palhki which starts from Dehu.

(2) Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palhki starting from Alandi.

The pilgrims known as Warkaris, walk with zero ego. They wear simple white attire, carry a saffron flag, which is called - Patakas, playing Veena and Chipli, Chanting "Pundalika Varade Hari Vitthal, Shri Dnyandev Tukaram". Warkari lifestyle requires a strict personal and collective discipline, centered on a pure vegetarian diet, total abstinence from vices and orderly communal movement. Devotees wear Tulsi Mala and apply tilak or sacred black powder - called as (bukka). One can find equality in every step. This defines the energy that defies fatigue. Along the dusty roads, the Warkaris perform Ringan - circular arenas where a sacred, riderless horse gallops through the crowd. The sheer energy, there dance and fugdi games equally enjoyed by both men and women, wipe away all the physical exhaustion. The Warkaris walk for about 18 to 21 days covering the distance of roughly 250km to reach Pandharpur by Devshayani Ekadashi. Journey ends on Ashadhi Ekadashi at the banks of the holy Chandrabhaga River. After a holy dip, devotees queue for hours just for a fleeting glimpse of Vitthala's smiling face. 

The Wari shows the eternal, unbroken strength of Vaidika Dharma, where devotion isn't just an act of worship, it's a way of living, walking and breathing together. These Wakaris wear the faith with pride. The Pandharpur Wari is not just a pilgrimage; it is a living testimonial to timeless beauty of Sanatana Dharma. 

As quoted by the famous saint Tukaram - "Sundar te dhyan ubhe vitewari, kar katavari thevuniya" - meaning - "Beautiful is the form,standing upon a brick, with hands resting on the waist". "Tuka mhane majhe hechi sarva sukh, pahin shrimukh avadine" - meaning - " Tukaram says, this is my ultimate joy, to gaze upon your blessed face with love"...

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya ....