We planned a visit to the ‘Statue of Unity’ at Kevadia in Gujarat—a towering tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, rising more than 220 feet into the sky. But as always, the journey held its own surprises.
My wife and I set out in our Hyundai i20, without much planning. I enjoy driving—not just the motion, but the freedom. We stopped wherever the heart nudged us: for tea, snacks, photographs, and conversations with strangers who felt like old friends. It was a pleasure trip, light and spontaneous.
We had lunch at Rajpipla, and on the advice of locals, proceeded to Garudeshwar for the night.
Garudeshwar is no ordinary place. It is sacred ground—where Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati, known lovingly as Tembhe Swami Maharaj, left his mortal body for heavenly abode. It lies on the path of the Narmada Parikrama, and every Parikramavasi bows here.
Years ago, I had attended a lecture by Shri Jagannath Kunte, who completed his first Narmada Parikrama and later wrote Narmade Har Har!, a book that fascinated me. Since then, I’ve felt a quiet pull toward the river—a silent attraction that words cannot fully explain.
That morning in Garudeshwar, we woke early and walked to the Narmada Ghat, adjacent to the temple and samadhi of Tembhe Swami. The atmosphere was steeped in serenity. Mother Narmada flowed gently, as if in meditation. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a soft glow on the wide stone steps of the ghat.
And then, something touched me!
As I stood before the river, I remembered my own mother, whose name was Narmada!
A wave of emotion rose within me. I felt as though I was receiving darshan of my mother once again, after years.
She was a woman of quiet strength—hardworking, content, never demanding anything from anyone.
I remember her like the ‘Samai’ in our ‘Devghar’—silently glowing, spreading its soft light.
In That Light, We Lived!
In That Light, We Progressed!
Mahendra Ingale @ Pune on Oct 13, 2025
(Engineering Heart Beats, Publishing Soon)
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