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The Vaishnodevi Experience 2023

My first trip to Vaishnodevi was unimpressive. Climbing was hard, and it only served to highlight how badly out of shape I was, while my in-laws managed to cope so much better. Further, I hadn’t quite realized that the cave experience wouldn’t be the same as I had imagined, since the original cave was only opened at certain times a year, and that we only entered a newly created tunnel, one far easier to access, and hence more manageable with the crowds that thronged the mountain shrine. The resulting experience at the shrine, for barely a fraction of a second, hardly compared to what I had expected / imagined / heard about. So, for me, Vaishnodevi was like any other temple, nothing to write home about, something that was reflected (though not explicitly mentioned) in the blog post I wrote then.
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No matter which temple you go to, you see people like her.



I saw her outside the Somnath temple in Gujarat. She had two stalls - one selling prasad (offerings) to the Lord, and another selling images of the Lord... The threads tied to the string above her are also for sale. They are talismans believed to protect us from evil and troubles.


I clicked her while I was waiting for Shankar outside the temple, and in all the time I was there, she did not get a single customer.... she simply sat there in that same posture, seemingly not bothered about the lack of customers. The other vendors were busy, calling out, actually shouting into the ears of anyone who passed by..... encouraging them to buy things...promising instant salvation in the name of Lord Somnath, or as they put it 'jyotirlingji', but she stood out with her silence.... I clicked the pic on an impulse, and of course, a desire to click something with my new camera!! It was only as I was downloading it that I wondered more about her - What did she think of the temple and the Lord, sitting outside day after day, selling prasad and photos to the odd customer who overcame the tactics of the other vendors to buy something from her? 

As I was writing this post, I couldnt decide on a title for it.... What should  I call her ? Seller of Gods? Temple vendor?  Vendor outside a temple? After much deliberation, I decided to leave the title blank.... Any suggestions? 

Comments

  1. MridulaApril 14, 2012 at 11:08 AM

    Lovely picture Anu and more than that your commentary. It is difficult to decide what to call it though.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Slogan MuruganApril 14, 2012 at 2:42 PM

    The last remaining patient businessperson in this impatient country.

    ReplyDelete
  3. chitraApril 14, 2012 at 8:01 PM

    Hi Anu, long time...Nice to see you have visited Somnath temple..Good picture there. I am not very regular these days. Hope everything is fine at your side.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarApril 15, 2012 at 8:43 AM

      Yes, chitra... been really busy!! Somnath was great.. will post about the temple soon! and I have yet to catch up with your posts.... hope to see u back in form soon too!

      Delete
  4. rajkApril 15, 2012 at 2:34 AM

    Hi Anu,
    You are on my blogroll, but I am visiting here after quite a while. Great to know that you visited SOmnath. I grew up in the town next to it, Veraval and have some great memories of the temple. It has a special place in my heart. Hope you liked it too.
    RajK
    P.S.: Your blog design is awesome! How did you do it?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Swapna Raghu SanandApril 17, 2012 at 9:59 AM

    Hi,

    You are right. In most temples you will find some one like her. That look is not of indifference or disinterest. It is as though she has given up trying because she doesn't feel she can push for results anymore. Giving up is always dangerous for any individual. It marks an inner frenzy that no one else will understand.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarApril 17, 2012 at 11:59 AM

      you are quite possibly right, Swapna! there are so many like her who have sat at the same place for years, selling their wares, but lack the driving force required to push a sale... and somewhere along the way, give up! but then again, maybe they are patient, waiting for that one busy day, when they will be able to sell something.. i always wonder about these people who pester pilgrims at temples.. what do they think? do they believe?

      Delete
  6. cyclopsevenApril 17, 2012 at 11:22 AM

    It is said, in silence one can hear the footsteps of God. Perhaps she is being silent to hear the footsteps of God walking towards her stall in the form of devotees:).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarApril 17, 2012 at 12:02 PM

      maybe god does walk towards her stall in the form of devotees.. how else would she manage to make a living and still come and sit there day after day? as they say, good things come to those who wait!

      Delete
  7. R Niranjan DasApril 17, 2012 at 2:34 PM

    Nice one. They are omnipresent at temple complexes.

    www.rajniranjandas.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

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