Varanasi, Feb 17: For the first time, the Indian Railways has reserved a seat for a deity on a train. The national transporter, which launched its third IRCTC operated train named Kashi Mahakal Express from Varanasi to Indore, has reserved a seat for Lord Mahakal (Lord Shiva) on board.
Speaking to media, Northern Railway spokesperson Deepak Kumar said: "It is for the first time that a seat has been left reserved for a deity."
"One seat in Kashi Mahakal Express (seat number 64 in B5 coach) has been left reserved for Lord Shiva," he said.
"Even a temple has been drawn on the seat to make people aware that the seat is reserved for Lord Mahakal," he said.
IRCTC's Director, Tourism, Rajni Hasija said that the practice would continue beyond the inaugural run.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Kashi Mahakal Express via video conferencing from Varanasi, where he is all launched several projects worth Rs 1,250 crore during the day's visit to his parliamentary constituency.
The third IRCTC train, after the two Tejas Express trains on New Delhi-Lucknow and Mumbai-Ahmedabad routes, the Kashi Mahakal Express will connect three places -- Jyotirlinga-Omkareshwar (near Indore), Mahakaleshwar (Ujjain) and Kashi Vishwanath (at Varanasi).
Also connecting the industrial and educational hub of Indore, with Bhopal, the train will begin its commercial run from February 20.
"The Kashi Mahakal Express will operate three days in a week and it will be a bi-weekly service through the Sultanpur-Lucknow route and a weekly service via the Prayagraj route," Kumar said.
Elaborating on the two routes from which the train will pass every week, Hasija said: "Once the new train starts its regular run from this week, it will depart from Varanasi at 2.45 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday to reach Indore at 9.40 a.m. on Wednesday and Friday.
Similarly, the train will start from Indore at 10.55 a.m. every Wednesday and Friday and will reach Varanasi at 6.00 a.m. the next day. This train will have stoppages at Ujjain, Sant Hirdaram Nagar, Bina, Jhansi, Kanpur and Sultanpur stations in both directions.
Meanwhile, in the weekly service via Prayagraj route, the Kashi Mahakal Express will depart from Varanasi at 3.15 p.m. every Sunday to reach Indore at 9.40 a.m. the next day. On the other way, it will depart from Indore at 10.55 a.m. every Monday and reach Varanasi at 5 a.m. the next day.
"This train will halt at Ujjain, Sant Hirdaram Nagar, Bina, Jhansi, Kanpur and Allahabad stations in both directions," Kumar said.
Explaining the fares of the Kashi Mahakal Express, Hasija said, "Kashi Mahakal Express will follow a dynamic fare structure like the other two Tejas Express trains."
One-way journey from Varnasi to Indore will cost Rs 1,951, inclusive of four meals.
According to the IRCTC officials, the Indore-Varanasi Kashi Mahakal Express will be the first private train that will run overnight and for a comfortable long distance journey, will feature a host of facilities. The IRCTC will serve vegetarian food, and provide housekeeping services, on-board security services and bedrolls.
The IRCTC officials said that passengers will also get complementary insurance of Rs 10 lakh.
The train will have an advance reservation period of 120 days and will only have the general and foreign tourist quotas. The current booking will be available to the passengers on the platform itself after preparation of first chart, four hours to five minutes before the scheduled departure of the train.
To facilitate travel for pilgrims, the IRCTC is also introducing special tour packages for passengers who want to see the pilgrim centres enroute. The tour options are; Mahakal Darshan (Ujjain - Omkareshwar), Bhopal-Sanchi-Bhimbetka, Malwa Jyotrilinga Darshan (Ujjain-Omkareshwar- Maheshwar- Indore) and Bhopal-Sanchi-Bhimbetka-Ujjain. Other tour options include Kashi, Ayodhya and Prayag; Kashi Darshan; Kashi, Prayag, Ayodhya; Kashi and Prayag and only Kashi.
The train has silent features like CCTV cameras, which will be monitored online around the clock from the IRCTC centres, whereas for the first time the IRCTC has brought the marshals in the train for passengers safety and also to make people aware to not smoke inside the train as it has smoke and heat sensors installed in the coaches as well as in the bathroom. For the blind passengers, the train coaches have the seat numbers written in Braille, and the catering staff will be dressed in yellow kurta-pyjamas with a rudraksh malas on their necks to promote the train's theme.
The ‘case’, filed in the court of the chief judicial magistrate (CJM), sought to be made out against Ram is that his conduct showed him wanting in the treatment of women.
Comments
Dear Sameer,
What can i say, if a Bat hung upside down and laughs at the topsy turvy world. The Bat is also right in its point of view.
I do not benefit from what others have to believe.
So let him follow what he feels right.
Dear Suresh, Its not matter of brilliant or stupid Mr. Kiran Kumar has logically explained the fact and reality, which being hindu I do 100% agree.
Sameer,
Regarding Kiran kumar's comments, i can only say \If we all were so brilliant like him, then today everyone of us would have been Scientist \"
one of his point I agree, real religion is Humanity, love and compassion towards fellow being and all living being on earth.
God is great.. Jai shri Ram, Jai shri krishna,"
Suresh, what you say about Mr. Kiran Kumar comment!!!
Wake up man!!!
Dear Ahmed Ali K.
Yes just by looking at the story isn't it true that at a point of time even you felt that Narada is more powerful than Lord Vishnu himself. This greatness Lord vishnu.
God will never want his devotees, his saints, to be humbled or humiliated, insulted at anytime.
Its is Lord vishnus way of telling we people what is the importance the value, dignity of a revered saint, devotee, guru in his eyes.
The story of how Lord vishnu disguises himself for his devotees
for Sena barber, Lord vishu/hari takes form of Barber and cuts hair of the Sultan.
for Bhakta Kumbhar, Lord hari comes down as a servant and does all pottery work.
for Bhaka Sakubhai, Lord vishnu comes down as daughter-in-law and does all household work and take care of her in-laws till she returns from pilgrimage from Pandarpur.
For Saint Namdev, he comes down to eat prasad at the famous Pandarpur vithala temple.
And the List is endless.
There are more knowledgeable people than me who can explain better.
Jai shri Krishna, Jai Sri Ram.
@Irfan - As of now there are many many good peoples like you living on earth. He will certainly come, when there is not a single good person like you left on earth, then god will manifest himself in some form.
Hope you got it. Jai shri Ram.
Oyee Naren you should look at this now.... This is funny really! Where are you guys why no protest now??
Ramayana, Mahabharata both were frictions/scripts like movie stories written by normal human being Valkimi & Vyasa. Unfortunate that we blindly believe/follow such frictions and ignore the real religion that is called Humanity!!
In reality there is only one super power that's called GOD, who is controlling this entire universe!!
@ Suresh,
present scenario Adharma is increasing why your God is not coming in any form, he is tired or in deep sleep.
Hey Ram, Kya kaliyug agaya !
Dear Suresh
For Clarification only
If Vishnu is a \LORD\" and how can Narada curse a lord?
In this cases Narada is powerful and he should be given higher position"
'He does not have a material form'(na tasya pratima asti).He is transcendental.However matter too comes from God. It is God's energy/potency. He being all powerful can choose to manifest Himself in a material form. That is called a deity not idol. Hence it is deity worship not idol worship. Also idol is a imaginary form, however the material image created is based on detailed description of Sri Krsna. Therefore it is not imaginary.
Islam is not revealed scripture. It provides no clear conception of God. It has created an imaginary personality called Satan and yet blame others for 'idolatry'!!
Dear SURESH,
Ekam evadvitiyam - He is ONE only without a Second.(Chandogya Upanishad 6:2:1)1
Na Casya Kasc ij Janita na Cadhipah - Of him there are neither parents nor Lord. (Svetasvatar Upanishad 6:9)2
What U are telling is stories made by some people who deviated U guys from the true one God..
How can U believe such ill made up Gods who are falling for curses & monkey... .Please use your god given intellectual. & identify what QURAN says about GOD and compare it with what U claim to be God.
Lord Vishnu's incarnation as Sri Rama, was becoz of curse of Narada.
When Narda once insisted Lord vishnu, what is \Maya\", then the next moment Narada was in Maya. He fell in love with beautiful princess whom he wished to marry. So Narada prayed to Lord vishnu that he get the face of \"HARI\" Lord vishnu's face and lord vishnu granted him the wish. But the other meaning of HARI is monkey. So narada got the face of Monkey. Thus Narada Cursed Lord Vishnu, that he may be born as Human being, undergo pain suffering of separations from wife and children. Thus lord Vishnu took 7th incarnation as Sri Rama and this was all pre destined. Infact the purpose of curse of narada was also pre destined. The whole purpose was to anihiliate the Demon King Ravana, and cleansing the earth of evils.
Nothing new. \"Whenever there is decline of dharma and increase of Adharma, then the lord manifest himself for protection of the pious, the destruction of the evil doers and establishing virtue. Thus the Lord manifest himself in every age in one form or the other.\"
Nothing new, people please stop -(being silly, talk silly and doing silly things around). Please read Ramayana, Chant Lord Rama's name and and be happy. In the end only this name will liberate your soul.
Jai Sri Ram."
Put rape and cheating case against Lord Krishna as he raped lot of Hindu girls...what a shame God
Dear Manohar,
Ur divine book also mentioned that GOD is one & Na tasya pratima asti...There is no image of God -
Then How come some people made the pious human being as GOD. as there is no image of God..
We request honestly to look & research your divine book & find the TRUTH behind worshiping the idols...
Suppose Ram found guilty, what type of punishment the Honarable Judge will deliver and how he will be punished??
For sure, He is not God
He was Born & He died same like WE people.. So he is a human just like us... People who are smart will know the reality behind such deception of making human god and collecting money... God doesnt need money... But God ask people to give money to the POOR and not himself..
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