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Swami Omkar

Bala Venkat’s – Holy Arunachala Mountain Trekking (27th December 2013) What a grand way to start my first ever mountain trekking in my life, “Yes my friends Trekking on one of the most sacred mountains of south India – Holy Arunachala mountain in Thiruvannamalai” and with none other Swami Omkar and his friends in common pursuit on 27th December 2013. I make an attempt here to share my experience from this wonderful trekking. Going up the mountain: 1. We started around 8:30 am from Ramana Ashram, in fact we had gone by the same route up to Kandashramam the previous day – there was a sign indicating that its only 1.4 KM from Raman ashram – but I will tell you it did seem to me that it was at least 10KM if not 14KM but today on our way to the peak of the mountain, Kandashramam did look like 1.4 KM only – I thought to myself its going to be a cakewalk today but alas God works in his own mysterious ways. 2. Vazhukku Parai after Kandashramam gave some hint of what’s going to come but ignorant as I am, I continued my journey still thinking its going to an easy trek. So it started all well as I remember the dialogue “Arambithala ella nalla than pogudhu” ☺

3. In fact a privileged few got to hear some of my popular compositions ☺ on our way to Annamalaiyar Padham - in fact Jawahar, Swami Omkar, Suresh became my fans that they couldn’t stay away from me – correct guys ☺ 4. Soon I realized what I got into – climb was proving to be a challenge now – my pace slowly reduced , stared taking rests at regular intervals, quenching the thirst with water regularly (this will have an impact on my descent – more on that later)

5. Having never walked barefoot up in a mountain before– my feet’s started crying and every step became an effort now – Swami Omkar at the beginning of the trekking had told us that going up is a breeze in this mountain but coming down is a challenge. Now Imagine my condition when going up itself is proving to be so difficult ( it’s now close to 3 hrs. and I see no sight of the top!) 6. When I thought we are almost near I am told that climb is going to get more vertical and more challenging – great news! I stop asking Swami how long we are from reaching the peak for he is so consistent in his reply, which is always “We have crossed 40% already” !

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Swami Omkar

7. After some great effort of crawling I reach a place where we all get together in a shade under a tree which is much closer to the peak – it’s now past noon time and extremely hot! I have no more energy left and automatically I close my eyes, meditation comes easily now given the circumstances. 8. We start again in 10 minutes and reach the top – finally! Its blazing hot – no wonder this is the spot where they light the holy fire (Annamaliar Dheepam) that keeps burning for weeks – rocks here are pitch black as a result of overflowing ghee from the big cauldron. I hardly can keep my feet on the rocks – its hot and burning but Swami Omkar has his own plans as usual ! 9. We now sit together on those rocks and start the sathsang with a fantastic view as a backdrop– singing Arunachala Shiva on those rocks makes perfect sense – of course the effect of the Sun takes a toll on the body.

10. Time has now come to start the descent – if coming up was a miracle then going down will prove to near death experience for me! Going down the mountain: 1. Right from the beginning coming down the mountain is proving to be a Himalayan challenge for me. Hunger, thirst, pain takes over the mind & starts advising me to rest rather than to continue the journey. 2. I now literally take one step at a time – I think of Neil Armstrong’s word “One small step is a giant leap for the mankind” – how true they sound to me now. 3. I have started using all body parts to come down the mountain, my arms, and my stomach starts contributing more than my legs – I thank that no one was actually video recording the way I was coming down the mountain – that would have topped the funniest videos collection ☺ 4. Many from the group have gone pretty fast and few of them seeing my condition stayed with me to help and offered assistance – Without Satish and Viji’s help I would have slept in that mountain that night!

5. It must have been annoying for those who were around me at that time – for I have lost all my will power to drag my physical body, but so good they were that they said we will never go down without you – that’s why its so important to be around with good people – I was lucky in that way.

www.pranavapeetam.org

Swami Omkar

6. Time was ticking and it was getting closer to the evening now – slowly it was getting darker and I know we are still far away from our destination. We had one torch and an LED APP on the mobile phone to guide our way. 7. Myself and Arunachala uncle were in the race for the last person to come down – we have no more water, no more oranges/grapes, no more sunlight, no more energy and will power – I realized fully my fitness level at that point. Now I am seriously thinking I am not going to make it  8. It was close to 7:30 pm and rest of the members has gone down and they were worried about us since we are showing no signs of coming down. I must have chanted the names of all the gods – how true it is when they say one remembers a far more superior power in times of despair 

9. Now all SOS signals starts getting communicated while I am more concerned about the two guys who were fit enough to go down but are staying with us to help – I tell them to go but they are adamant and stay put with us. 10. Suddenly we see a group of youngsters walking down in the dark - they are the same guys who we saw at the peak in a small makeshift hut made for one of the very old swami who lives there up in the mountain. 11. They come and tell us not to worry and that they will take us down for they know the route blindfolded – I see them as Angels sent by Arunachaleshwarar himself. 12. I am now a child in their arms – they just hold me step by step and bring me down the mountain - I am finally reunited with the group - I thank these youngsters from bottom of my heart - Swami Omkar is waiting patiently for us – something tells me that he knows we will be rescued ☺

13. We all make the final part of coming down the mountain together - it’s close to 10 PM when we finally reach the ground – more than 12 hours of adventure finally comes to end. I now literally see heaven in ground – seriously I would give anything now for a bottle of water ! This is one adventurous trekking that will remain memorable in my heart forever – testing my spiritual body as well as my physical body to its limits. Question to be asked is – will I go again ? Hmm..Let’s say I will now go with much more open mind, bruised body ☺ My sincere thanks to Swami Omkar for giving me an opportunity to be part of this wonderful journey – it has advanced my spiritual quest by a small step – I know I still have miles to cover ☺