Dharm & Darshan!! Nandi !!

 *एक रात जब पूरा उज्जैन सो गया और केवल महाकाल के मंदिर के नंदी महाराज जाग रहे थे?*

*उज्जैन की गलियाँ दिन में जितनी चहल-पहल से भरी रहती हैं, रात में उतनी ही शांत हो जाती हैं। महाकाल की नगरी में कहते हैं, रात को स्वयं काल भी विश्राम करता है। पर एक रात ऐसी थी, जब पूरा शहर सो गया, पर मंदिर के नंदी नहीं सोए।*

*यह सन् 2005 की बात है। कार्तिक मास की अमावस्या की रात।*

*मंदिर के वरिष्ठ पुजारी विष्णु भट्ट, उम्र 72 वर्ष, उस रात मंदिर में ही ठहरे थे। अगले दिन सुबह विशेष भस्म आरती थी, इसलिए वे गर्भगृह के पास वाले विश्राम कक्ष में सो रहे थे।*

*रात के लगभग 1:30 बजे, उन्हें घुंघरुओं की आवाज सुनाई दी। पहले उन्होंने सोचा, कोई बिल्ली होगी। पर आवाज लगातार बढ़ती गई — जैसे कोई बैल धीरे-धीरे चल रहा हो।*

*वे उठे। उन्होंने खिड़की से झाँका।*

*मंदिर का प्रांगण चंद्रमा की हल्की रोशनी में नहाया था। दीये बुझ चुके थे। पर नंदी मंडप में... चमत्कार हो रहा था।*

*नंदी महाराज की पत्थर की मूर्ति में स्पंदन हो रहा था। पहले उनकी पूँछ हिली। फिर उनके कान फड़फड़ाए। फिर उन्होंने अपनी गर्दन घुमाई और सीधे विष्णु भट्ट की ओर देखा।*

*पुजारी की साँस रुक गई। नंदी की आँखों में जीवंत चमक थी।*

*नंदी बोले, "विष्णु, डरो मत। बाहर आओ।"*

*पुजारी काँपते पैरों से बाहर आए। उन्होंने दंडवत प्रणाम किया।*

*नंदी ने कहा, "तुमने 50 वर्षों तक मेरे स्वामी की सेवा की है। आज मैं तुम्हें वह रहस्य बताऊँगा, जो मैं हर रात करता हूँ।"*

*पुजारी बोले, "प्रभु, आप तो पत्थर हैं... आप जीवित कैसे?"*

*नंदी हँसे, "पुजारी, मैं पत्थर नहीं हूँ। मैं संकल्प हूँ। महादेव ने मुझे वरदान दिया था — जब तक उज्जैन में धर्म रहेगा, मैं जागता रहूँगा। दिन में मैं पत्थर बनकर भक्तों की श्रद्धा ग्रहण करता हूँ। रात में जब सब सो जाते हैं, तब मैं अपने असली रूप में आता हूँ और पूरी नगरी की रक्षा करता हूँ।"*

*इतना कहकर नंदी उठ खड़े हुए। उनका विशाल शरीर, सफेद वर्ण, गले में घंटियों की माला। उनके खुरों से जहाँ-जहाँ वे चलते, वहाँ-वहाँ कमल खिल जाते।*

*उन्होंने पुजारी को अपने पीठ पर बैठने का इशारा किया। पुजारी डरते-डरते बैठे।*

*नंदी आकाश में उड़े। नीचे पूरा उज्जैन सो रहा था। क्षिप्रा नदी चाँदनी में चमक रही थी। महाकाल मंदिर का शिखर स्वर्णिम आभा से दमक रहा था।*

*नंदी बोले, "देखो पुजारी, यह मेरा नित्य का कार्य है। मैं हर रात उज्जैन की परिक्रमा करता हूँ।"*

*पहले वे श्मशान गए। वहाँ कई आत्माएँ भटक रही थीं। नंदी ने हुँकार भरी, और वे आत्माएँ शांत होकर महाकाल में विलीन हो गईं।*

*फिर वे क्षिप्रा के तट पर गए। वहाँ एक बूढ़ी माँ अपने बीमार बच्चे के लिए रो रही थी। नंदी ने अपनी साँस से उस पर भस्म छिड़की। बच्चा स्वस्थ हो गया।*

*फिर वे एक घर के ऊपर रुके, जहाँ एक व्यापारी आत्महत्या करने जा रहा था। नंदी ने उसके कान में कहा, "धैर्य रख। महाकाल तेरे साथ हैं।" व्यापारी रुक गया।*

*पुजारी ने यह सब देखा और रो पड़े।*

*नंदी बोले, "यही मेरा धर्म है। महादेव ध्यान में रहते हैं, मैं पहरा देता हूँ।"*

*फिर वे मंदिर लौटे। नंदी ने पुजारी को उतारा और कहा, "यह बात किसी को मत बताना, जब तक तुम्हारा समय न आ जाए।"*

*पुजारी बोले, "मेरा समय कब आएगा?"*

*नंदी बोले, "जब तुम्हें मेरी घंटी की आवाज दिन में सुनाई दे।"*

*उस रात के बाद, विष्णु भट्ट बदल गए। वे हर रात मंदिर में रुकने लगे।*

*ठीक 3 वर्ष बाद, महाशिवरात्रि के दिन, दोपहर की आरती के समय, उन्हें नंदी की घंटी की आवाज सुनाई दी। उन्होंने महंत को बुलाया और यह पूरी कथा सुनाई। और उसी शाम, "हर हर महादेव" कहते हुए उन्होंने प्राण त्याग दिए।*

*आज भी, उज्जैन के लोग कहते हैं* *— जब पूरा शहर सो जाता है, तो नंदी महाराज जागते हैं। वे उज्जैन की रक्षा करते हैं।*

*नंदी धर्म के प्रतीक हैं। धर्म कभी सोता नहीं। जब अधर्म बढ़ता है, तो धर्म जागता है। और महाकाल के भक्तों को डरने की जरूरत नहीं, क्योंकि नंदी जैसा द्वारपाल उनकी रक्षा कर रहा है।*

 *"जय नंदी महाराज,जय श्री महाकाल"*

Dharavahik upanyas Bhoot-Adbhut!!(175)

Prakash Ji and Raghav  Chaudhary were standing there outside the haveli a little bit away while they heard hard sound of throwing utensils all over and loud sound of horse’s neighing continuously. Both of them got scared and started running towards the village. Shamu had marked his attendance several times during the day, this was witnessed by Vishakha and her friends. They didn’t want to take any risk. Raghav Chaudhary was so scared as if Shamu was running behind him. Prakash Ji was also running fast. Both were middle aged persons but running like young boys. Horde’s neighing and sound of  Utensils clanging was now subsided. They saw Bheema was coming from the front in taxi. He got surprised seeing them there, “ I was just coming “ Both of them were panting and couldn’t reply. Bheema opened the gate and both entered inside the taxi . He turned back and drove ahead. No one was speaking. Bheema dropped them within minutes in front of Raghav Chaudhary’s house. He didn’t stop for fair and drove back to home. Raghav Chaudhary and Prakash Ji entered inside the door was already opened.( In villages mostly doors remained  opened  in day time. ) all the girls and their mothers also gathered there. ——— Continued ——

Dharavahik upanyas Bhoot-Adbht(174)

Bheema  & Prakash Ji moved forward the girls also followed them even they were asked not to follow but they didn’t listen to anyone. All of them opened the main gate and then, climbed up three stairs to enter the huge drawing room, no one was there. The girls knew that a big bedroom was behind that drawing room. They entered and saw the huge bed on which they themselves found slept one year ago. Vishakha was laying on it with a smile on her face as if she was dreaming. Deepa shook her slowly then hard, Bheema and Prakash Ji were behind the girls. Vishakha opened her eyes and saw Deepa, she asked her , “ Why have you come here ? Don’t you remember our last year’s horrifying experience. “ Deepa didn’t want to explain or clarify her anything actually she herself was feeling scared remembering the night one year ago, and she wanted to go out as soon as possible. She pulled Vishakha and said , “ Come on let’s go home” she literally dragged her and came out of the gate Kamla Manjula & Vimala followed them along with Prakash Ji and Bheema. Bheema said , “ I will be back soon We should drop the girls first “ Prakash Ji and Raghav Chaudhary agreed. Kamla was sitting near Bheema and the three girls were sitting on the Back seat. Vishakha was not speaking anything. ————-Continued —-

Dharavahik upanyas Bhoot-Adbhut!(173)

When the three persons were discussing about this they saw a bullock cart was rapidly coming towards them. It was owned by Mathuradas and the rider was Radheshyam, he used to buy cheap vegetables for Mathuradas to sell in the market direct from farms. But this time the cart came and stopped near them and Vishakha’s all four friends jumped down from that Deepa, Manjula Vimla and Kamla , all the three men looked at them and asked why they are here ? Deepa said , “ Probably you don’t remember what happened last year or we hadn’t told you the details. Actually that day we missed the last bus and decided to go walking to the village while a bullock cart rider offered us to drop . When we climbed up the cart GOD knows how but we all slept and in the midnight Vishakha woke up and she saw that we are in a grand bedroom she silently woke us up and when we reached at the main door Shamu was standing there and he shouted and ordered us to go back. We didn’t have any other way so we went back but when it was dawn we came out without and obstacle and reached home. We have come here to ask you to go and bring Vishakha she might be there.——- Continued ———-

Today’s tip : Who am I ??

 *Who Am I?*

After retirement,

with no job,

no routine,

and a quiet house echoing with silence…

I finally began to discover my true self.

Who am I?

I built bungalows,

raised farmhouses,

invested in ventures big and small,

yet now,

I find myself bound within four simple walls.

From bicycle to moped,

bike to car,

I chased speed and style —

but now, I walk slowly,

alone, inside my room.

Nature smiled and asked,

“Who are you, dear friend?”

And I replied,

“I am... just me.”

I’ve seen states, countries, continents,

but today,

my journeys stretch

only from the drawing room to the kitchen.

I learned about cultures and traditions,

but now,

I simply long to understand

my own family.

Nature smiled again,

“Who are you, dear friend?”

And I said,

“I am... just me.”

Once I celebrated birthdays, engagements, weddings in grand style —

but today, look forward to having slept well and feel hungry 

Nature asked once more,

“Who are you, dear friend?”

And I answered,

“I am... just me.”

Gold, silver, diamonds, pearls —

sleep quietly in lockers.

Suits and blazers —

hang untouched in wardrobes.

But now,

I live in soft cotton,

simple and free.

I once mastered English, French, Hindi —

but now, I find comfort

in talking in my mother tongue.

I travelled endlessly for work,

and now,

I reflect on those profits and losses —

measured in memories.

I ran businesses,

nurtured a family,

built many connections,

but now,

my dearest companion

is the kind neighbour next door.

I once followed every rule,

strived in education —

but now I finally see

what truly matters.

After all of life’s highs and lows,

in a quiet moment,

my soul whispered back to me.

Enough now…

Get ready,

O Traveller…

It’s time to prepare for the final journey…

Nature smiled gently,

“Who are you, dear friend?”

And I replied:

O Nature,

You are me…

And I am you.

Once I soared in the skies,

Now I touch the earth with grace.

Forgive me…

Give me one more chance to live…

Not as a money-making machine,

But as a true human being —

With values,

With family,

With love.”

 _To all ‘Seniors' out there; wishing you love, strength, and peace._

Dharavahik upanyas Bhoot-Adbhut!(172)

While returning back suddenly Bheema said ,” Why don’t we check in the Haveli ?? “ No no not there immediately Raghav Chaudhary said. Actually his mother Shalini Devi always avoided the questions asked by him about haveli throughout his life. She always described it’s a haunted haveli of his ancestors he should never think about that property even if the single live heir of Chaudhary family. She used to say , “ Your father warned me at the time he was dying on the road accident, dashed by a motorcycle , that Protect my child keep him away from the haveli’s shadow. He said , “ Let my baby live alive,whatever we have is more than enough for livelihood” My mother had promised to my dying father and she kept her promise throughout her life. “ Deepa’s father said , “ It is said that there is no harm going there in day time. And you don’t come but me and Bheema can go there to search Vishakha “Raghav Chaudhary thought it’s a good idea. I don’t need to go there and Prakash and Bheema can search Vishakha there. He became very sad thinking about Vishakha, she is his only loving daughter, he even couldn’t imagine his own life without his daughter. —— Continued ————

Dharavahik upanyas Bhoot-Adbhut!(171)

The taxi reached within forty minutes to the Someshvar fair. The shop keepers were busy collecting the things organising the things and closing the shops. Restaurant owners after cleaning utensils and cleaning the cooking and serving place ready to shut down the shops. When the taxi stopped, Bheema locked it and the three persons , Raghav Chaudhari , Prakash Singh ( Deepa’s papa and Bheema decided to go to different sides different shops to ask about Vishakha. Raghav Chaudhary decided to go to the places where ever they had gone with Vishakha. The shows were over , comedy show was finished and the (last) horror show was also seen by them but still he knocked every door, he asked every person , whether he was the restaurant’s owner or a waiter, show’s owner or a joker, ride’s operator or the owner. Small shop keepers from where Vishakha and Deepa did shopping of artificial jewellery. Other two persons Prakash Singh and Bheema went to those places where Vishakha and family never had been there. Vishakha was not seen by anyone after the fair closing. Most of them remembered her face as she was the most beautiful and attractive girl there. After  four  hours of deep searching all the three persons back to the car very disappointed and sad. It was dawn now and they had to go back home —- Continued ———