A MUCH-AWAITED JOURNEY IN AEROPLANES, TAXIS AND WHEELCHAIRS

The legend of Shravan Kumar is well known. The child of an elderly couple, Shantanu and Gyanvati, born after fervent prayers and penance, Shravan grew up to be a devoted and compassionate son, symbolising the epitome of virtue.

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His dedication to his parents was unparalleled. He “shouldered” the responsibility of taking care of his parents in their old age with utmost love and respect. He wanted to fulfil their desire to go on a pilgrimage to distant and sacred places. He embarked on the journey carrying his parents in baskets suspended from a pole that balanced across his shoulders. He walked relentlessly, making sure that his parents were comfortable throughout the arduous journey. However, tragedy occurred when passing through a dense forest. He was felled by an arrow released by Dasharatha, the king of Ayodhya, who was on a hunting expedition.

Though the pilgrimage of Shantanu and Gyanvati remained inconclusive, the story of Shravan Kumar, as a devoted son who attempted to take his parents to various places of pilgrimage, continues to be told and retold to inspire the children of subsequent generations.