Bhava

Saptsajya: Ascent

Amidst seven hills lies Saptsajya.
A waterfall and a Vishnu temple,
But a hard and steep climb
With forests and flowing channels.

I climb up slowly.
My brother ahead bit caring to look back while my parents far behind.
I am all alone.

The forest is slightly dense.
The gurgling river can be heard
With the birds chirping nearby.
My senses turn sharp, my head throbs
And the atmosphere feels heavy.
I look back only to find an empty path.
I look front only to see the dense trees.

"Oh come on! I am here with you," says Kanha, standing beside me.

I spot a large rock on my side.
Did someone ever sit before?
I wonder.
What if a great sage would have graced it?
Nevertheless I move on.

Kanha and I continue walking in silence.
My steps become wobbly yet the hill propels me forward.
And then for a moment I think,
The path to Liberation is hard too.
Kanha chuckles.

We continue going up as the ascent becomes more difficult- hard and thick.
For a second I see a clear path.
"Look, I guess there is the waterfall,"
I say excitedly.
Kanha still stays silent and smiles.

To my dismay I only find a fleet of stairs.
There is another climb ahead.
I finally find my brother standing in anger.
Fuming he whines, "Why are they taking so much of time?"
Turning back I see my parents out of sight.

Travelling together we again part.
Isn't this how travelling life feels like?
Alone?
Sweaty I reach the end.
The temple lies in its full glory.
My parents catch up and all are together.

Kanha goes inside the temple.
My parents and brother go in too
Except me.
I wish I wouldn't have bled today.

Taking time I ponder over.
The journey up the hill was just like the path to Moksha.
All except me reach Vishnu.

"Still steps away to Moksha.. " I sigh.

Saptsajya has a waterfall and a Vishnu temple. The temple isn't quite big though and I didn't get to go to the waterfall because it had rained a couple of days ago and the waterfall is basically the area from which the river emerges making it slightly unsafe to go.

I have some pictures of the forest.

I could have clicked the temple too but there were monkeys around and I am afraid of them.

Besides this place is in Dhenkanal, my mother's native place.