Nashik! What is in the name? This is what Wikipedia has to say, “Legend states that the name “Nashik” is derived from the Hindu epic Ramayana. During the exile of Lord Ram, Shoorpanakha, the sister of the demon king Raavan tried to seduce Ram. Angered, Ram ordered Lakshman to cut off Shoorpanakha’s nose (nashika/naak).”

As usual I reached Nashik well before my appointment. As the ghat began traffic police asked us to go under this small tunnel and take a right turn to ‘Ghatandevi.’ We complied with the directives. An accident in the ghats must have blocked the highway, I guessed.

As we were climbing the ghat, with sun directly in our eyes, this scene also looked worth a catch.

I was keen to visit Kalaram Temple. ‘The original temple dedicated to an unknown deity was incredibly old, estimated to be of the Rashtrakuta Period from the 7th to 11th centuries. One Sardar Rangarao Odhekar funded the new temple which was rebuilt around the 1700s.’

As I walked to the Kalaram Temple, I found a Goreram Temple! This temple was built in the year 1782. It is on the way to Kalaram Temple. I did not enter but clicked from the street. There are countless temples in Nashik.

A few steps ahead and I saw a Shani Temple. A dog was sitting at the entrance. A couple came and entered the temple cautiously. The faithful dog did not move an inch! Saturn will reward him, I am sure.

There is an old building opposite the Shani Temple. The entrance door reminded me of many such building doors I had seen in my childhood in Pune and in other cities in Maharashtra.

The road leading to Kalaram Temple has many old buildings. Some are in dilapidated conditions, but their facades are excellent.

A board at the entrance of Kalaram temple announced that we cannot take photographs, so I did not enter it. And went to the Panchavati Ghat. The fruit sellers were sitting in scorching sun.

And some who had tonsured their head, after performing last rites of a relative, were bathing in the river.

And a father was giving a bath to his son. These photographs bring back some unpleasant memories.

It was time to go to the hotel where I was scheduled to attend an event.

This stair there reminded me Sir Francis Bacon quote ‘All rising to great place is by a winding stair’ Each turn of the staircase represents a new perspective or step forward in learning. Temples and Ghats in Nashik where last rites are performed help you look at your life, moral and spiritual truths with new eyes.

Vivek S Patwardhan

“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” All work copyrighted.