Let Us Embark On a Spiritual Odyssey and Explore the Purified Charms of Chitrakoot
I was blessed to visit this holy place in the month of May this year and trust me, it does not matter how much you had Googled, watched videos or read books, for when I arrived in Chitrakoot for the first time, it was like being born all over again. You are no longer watching or reading about it, you are right there
feeling enamored by the rich cultural heritage and tranquil surroundings. Well, for many people who are not aware of Chitrakoot’s significance, I would feel fortuned to tell that it is a prominent place cited in the great Hindu epic ‘Ramayana’. Lord Rama along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman spent eleven of their 14 years of ‘Vanvaas’ (exile) in this holy city. The enchanting and peaceful environment acted as a source of inspiration for the renowned poet Goswami Tulsidas to write Ramcharitmanas, a poem in Awadhi depicting the life of Lord Rama. The place is dotted with many temples and sacred attractions that help to retrace the footprints of Lord Rama. Ramghat – Experience the Oneness of Body and Soul
Perched on the banks of Mandakini River, Ramghat is an important center of many ritual activities. Legend has it that Lord Ram along with Sita Ji and Laxman, took bath here after arriving in Chitrakoot. I was told by the local saints that it also happens to be the place where Tulsidas met Lord Rama and Laxman. There is a very interesting story behind the meeting of the Lord and his ardent devotee. Let me share it with you. Tulsidas was making a sandal paste when Lord Ram and Laxman disguised as two kids asked him to put a tilak on their forehead. Tulsidas happily marked the tilak without knowing that the kids were God. Lord Hanuman made Tulsidas recognize the Lord by reciting the famous verse, which is still engraved in my heart:
The place is dotted with many temples and several religious sites. At Chitrakoot, everything relates to Lord Rama. One can also explore the amalgamation of culture and history on this land. Chitrakoot is a spiritual retreat, thronged almost throughout the year by travellers, who have a penchant for the unknown and unexplored. Chitrakoot ke ghaat pai bhai santan ki bheer,
Tulsidas chandan ghise tilak det Raghubeer.
