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| From Char Dham Yatra 2007 |
A family of 3 people a couple and their little daughter of 4 or 5 years came on a pilgrimage to one of the most revered pilgrim places in our country "Gangotri" on the last day just before winter would set in and the authorities were making preparations to close the Holy shrine of Mother Ganga at Gangotri. The couple had darshan of Mother Ganga in all her splendour and also the other temples in the surroundings. Just when they were about to leave they noticed that their little daughter was missing. They searched for their little daughter for a long time but in vain. By the time the couple lodged a complaint with the local police, the authorities had closed down the main temple gates of Ganga Mata Mandir for the season and were preparing to leave the place. The couple requested the authorities to atleast open the main gates of the Gangotri temple so as to look for their little daughter inside, but the authorities cited their helplessness and assured the couple of all possible help in this regard. The couple had to leave for their hometown as Gangotri and its surroundings are closed to the outside world for a period of 6 months.
After 6 months, when the authorities opened the holy shrine of Maa Ganga, to the amazement of one and all present. A little girl was found inside the main shrine of Maa Ganga, as if waking up from a state of deep sleep. The authorities asked the little girl how she came to be inside the temple for such a long time without food and water. The young girl said that when the gates of the temple were closed 6 months earlier she cried out for help and started crying for her parents and went to sleep in a corner of the temple. Later, a young girl came to the little girl and talking to the little girl in a sweet and soft voice stayed with little girl all the time bringing food and playing with her all through the 6 months inside the temple. The authorities were amazed at the story of the girl and were convinced that the young girl who came to the rescue the little girl was none other than 'Maa Ganga: the living goddess'. The authorities prayed to Maa Ganga for her love and compassion towards the little girl and also informed the little girl's parents who having lost all hope were overjoyed to be reunited with their little daughter....
I heard the above story from a monk and after having had the opportunity of going on a pilgrimage last year "Char Dham Yatra" to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath in October 2007 conducted by Nirmala Travels. I am convinced that Maa Ganga is amongst us looking after us with her life giving touch inspiring us to go onwards on a spiritual journey.
