यात्री

–  लक्ष्मी प्रसाद देवकोटा

कुन मन्दिरमा जान्छौ यात्री, कुन मन्दिरमा जाने हो ?

कुन सामग्री पुजा गर्ने, साथ कसोरी लाने हो ?

मानिसहरूको काँध चढी, कुन देवपुरीमा जाने हो ?

 

हाडहरूका सुन्दर खम्बा, मांसपिण्डका दिवार !

मस्तिष्कको यो सुनको छाना, इन्द्रियहरूका द्वार !

नसा-नदीका तरल तर, मन्दिर आफू अपार !

कुन मन्दिरमा जान्छौ यात्री, कुन मन्दिरको द्वार ?

 

मनको सुन्दर सिंहासनमा, जगदिश्वरको राज !

चेतनाको यो ज्योति हिरण्यमय, उसको शिरको ताज !

शरिरको यो सुन्दर मन्दिर, विश्वक्षेत्रको माझ।

 

भित्र छ ईश्वर बाहिर आँखा, खोजी हिड्छौ कुन पुर ?

ईश्वर बस्तछ गहिराइमा, सतह बहन्छौ कति दुर ?

खोजी गर्छौ हृदय लगाऊ, बत्ति बाली तेज प्रचुर ?

 

साथी यात्री बीच सडकमा, ईश्वर हिड्छ साथ

चुम्दछ ईश्वर काम सुनौला, गरिरहेका हात

छुन्छ तिलस्मी करले उसले, सेवकहरूको साथ ।

 

सडक किनार गाउँछ ईश्वर, चराहरूको तानामा

बोल्दछ ईश्वर मानिसहरूका, पिडा, दु:खको गानामा

दर्शन किन्तु कहिँ दिँदैन, चर्म-चछुले कानामा ।

कुन मन्दिरमा जान्छौ यात्री, कुन नव-देश बिरानामा?

 

फर्क फर्क हे ! जाऊ समाऊ, मानिसहरूको पाउ !

मलम लगाऊ आर्तहरूको, चहराइरहेको घाउ

मानिस भइ ईश्वरको त्यो, दिव्य मुहार हँसाऊ

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In Nepal, most of the population have very deep and strong Hindu belief. They strongly believe that by worshiping and doing puja to the God’s physical sculptures and idol, they will obtain prosperity. However Mahakavi Devkota had a different view on what worshiping is.

         In Nepal, there are many famous Temples and Shrines at the Hill Tops, for example : Manakamana Temple, Pathibara Temple, Muktinath Temple, Palanchowk Bagwati Temple, Gosaikunda etc. Every year many people visit these temples and shrines, even though it is very hard to get to these place. People spend lot of their money and time, because they strongly believe that by visiting those Temples and worshiping the Gods there, they will obtain health, happiness and prosperity.

         One day Devkota was travelling and he met some people who were also travelling to reach to a very famous Temple. Some people were weak and so could not walk themselves, so they hired some porters to carry them on their backs! These porters, hoping to earn some money, they are doing this very difficult job of carrying heavy loads of human being up hills. It was a very pitiful sight for Devkota.

         In his very soft heart, Devkota felt very sorry for that porter, and also wondered why people are going to the Temple for worshipping the Gods, instead of doing humane works for the needy people, which he thinks is better than worshipping the stone idols of the Gods. He then writes this Super famous Poem.

 

To the Travelers he asks :

Hey Pilgrim Traveler : Which Temples do you wish to visit ? What puja items are you taking with you ?

Why are you riding on another human being, to reach to your Temple ?

 Is it not a shameful, cruel deed ?

Devkota then compares the Human Body to that of a Temple, where the Gods reside :

Human skeletons and mussels resembles the Temple’s walls

The Brain resembles the Temple’s roof, and our five sense’s openings resembles the Temple’s doors.

The network of nerves and veins are the pathways to our Temple.

Devkota further says:

Our Lords resides on the beautiful throne inside our hearts

Human mind is the one that can spread message of kindness to all

Thus the human beings are the resemblance of the Gods

Devkota wonders why people are taking such troubles to reach to difficult Temples :

Why you are searching for the God in the outside world ?

Do you not know that God resides in all human being ?

Gods resides deep inside us, but you search only the outside surface.

If you want to search for the Gods, search inside the human souls

Devkota further says:

Dear Travelers, God is travelling with you.

He only kiss those hands which are doing their work

He touches only those hands which is used to serve other people

Devkota also says:

The nature is abound by His presence. Do you not hear the sweet chirping of the birds ?

And listen to the cries for help from those needy people, are they not the voices of the God ?

God does not reveal itself openly, but you need to know how to feel his presence

 At the end Devkota urges everyone :

Oh, travelers, do not take such strenuous journey to the Temple

If you want to meet Him, return and serve your brothers and sisters who are in need

Serve them selflessly – by whatever means it is possible – give them love and affection

And your service to these people will be your worship to the Gods

And the God’s gift will be showered to you for your selfless deeds.