Ayodhya – the city of Rama, the capital of the Ikshwaku kingdom-the stage on which was played the drama of the life of the Prince of the clan of Raghu. In Bharat, history is a river that flows down from immemorial times to the present day. The past never died in India. It was woven into our present. Despite centuries of neglect, after innumerable efforts by foreign invaders to stamp out our history and rebuild on top of it, they never succeeded. The culture is imbedded into the very earth on which it flowers like grass seeds that lie dormant and sprouts up when the first drops of rain, fall. The wheel of Time moves slowly but it moves inexorably.

After seven thousand years of suppression and depression the truth has flowered and today Ayodhya stands with the flag of the Ikshavaku kingdom flying with pride over the palace of its prince Rama who was driven out on the day of his coronation; who returned in triumph after subduing the rakshasic forces and who was crowned as the king of the Ikshvakus. Rama Rajya or the rule of Rama has been acclaimed as being the most dharmic civilization that has ever existed. There was never a need for external enforcement or punishment because everyone obeyed the cosmic law of Dharma- satyam and ritam without any external pressure.

Our recent visit to Ayodhya was a long walk down the passage of time. The moment we landed on the holy land of Ayodhya, I was wafted back 7000 years back to the time when Rama, Prince of the Ikshvaku dynasty became king of Ayodhya, the ancient capital of the kings of the Surya Vamsa whose lineage was reckoned from the Sun God himself. What a lot of history did the stones of Ayodhya hide. I bent down and touched the holy ground and was wafted to the time when the young prince was banished to the forest for a period of fourteen years on the eve of his coronation! Only in Bharat do we realise that time is just a concept of the mind.

With head held high he walked away from the city of his birth, followed by his faithful wife and brother. But the citizens guessed that their beloved prince was leaving them and all of them followed him determined to endure the exile of their beloved prince. He was forced to leave them in the middle of the night so that they could go back to the comfort of their own homes for he knew that he would not be able to support them. They returned to a dead city in which there was no music or laughter during the fourteen years of exile which their prince had to go through. All of them slept on the floor, and ate the bare minimum for they knew that their prince was eating only roots and fruits from the forest!

His cherished brother Bharata, for whose sake he had abandoned the throne refused to set foot into the city and stayed in Nandigram where he worshipped his beloved brother’s footwear and lived the life of a monk!

Who was this person called Rama who could evoke such a sense of loyalty and love in all who met him?

The story of his life has exerted a universal appeal to all those who have read it. What is the greatness of Rama that he could have cast a spell over a whole continent which has lasted for 7000 years? His greatness lies in the fact that his life was based on certain eternal verities that appeal to the best in human nature. Indeed, these values have such a universal appeal that the character of Sri Rama has risen above the limits of sect, religion, race, and country. Obviously, it is a tale that is capable of touching the very depths of the human mind and heart.

The Ramayana may be an ancient chronicle, but it has deep meaning, even in modern times. We live in an age that is at a loss to know the meaning of human existence, and doubts the very existence of God. We are perplexed as to how we can act with righteousness when the whole world seems to have gone mad, when the meaning of truth and love cannot be found, and when hate and self-interest seem to be the only rules of conduct, from the highest to the lowest. Answers to these perplexing questions can be found in the Ramayana, for human nature, as such, has hardly changed through the years. Situations may change, avataras come and go, but human nature remains the same. However, the individual can and must change if society is to progress, and the characters found in this book are worthy of emulation. Our lives may well take a turn for the better when we read of the heroic way in which Rama and Sita faced the trials and tribulations of their lives.

Herein lies the greatness of Rama. In Rama, God took on a human form with all its frailties in order to show us how our aspirations for a dharmic life can be fulfilled. In him we see how we can surmount our frailties and become divine, if we are prepared to completely subjugate the ego, live only for the good of the world, and act in consonance with the duties and obligations of our particular position in society. Rama is the portrait of a man who shakes off the limitations of mortality and becomes divine by strict adherence to truth and honour. He has all the qualities of the average man—attachments, desire, anger and love, compassion and serenity. The greatness of his character lies in the fact that he surmounted the obstacles in his character, perfected himself and became superhuman, putting his duty above all personal considerations. This type of perfection is available to all of us, however weak we may be. Hence the popularity of the Ramayana. Rama is an example to all men, as Sita is to all women, and each one of us in reading their story can identify with them and try to perfect our own character as they perfected theirs.

Another endearing feature of the Ramayana, which for centuries has enthralled all who have read it, is that it is, above all, a love story, and love is a theme that never fails to touch a chord in even the hardest of hearts. But the Ramayana is a love story with a difference, because it deals with all facets of human love, both dharmic and adharmic: the love of a father for his son, of a son for his parents or a sibling, the love of a husband, wife, or friend, and finally even the love that is condemned by dharma—the passion for another man’s wife. All these are depicted in the Ramayana in the highest and most exalted manner.

According to Hindu tradition, the triple laws that govern the universe are rita, satya, and dharma. The first two are universal laws that, when translated to human life, are called dharma. One who bases life on this dharma would be true to himself and to the laws of the universe, and therefore such a person could well be called a perfect human being. Sri Rama is the personification of such a character.

He has been held up as the model son, brother, friend, and husband. He played each role to perfection, no doubt, but eventually he was forced to sacrifice each of those whom he loved so dearly. The Ramayana is a story of utter pathos that ascends to sublime heights of glory, the pinnacle of divinity, for no ordinary mortal could be so utterly selfless to the point of being considered heartless. Whatever role he played, he followed only this rule – “Am I acting according to dharma?” In following this path of fire, he burned himself time and again and was instrumental in bringing about the death of all his dear ones, beginning with his father. Each person he loved had to be sacrificed as a yajna to that implacable law of dharma, which he was bent on following to the bitter end.

At the end he left his beloved city of Ayodhya and departed for the higher realms from the ghat known as the Gupt ghat.

He was followed by the faithful citizens who could not bear to live without him. His was a life spent only for the sake of others—the people of Bharathavarsha, whom he had ruled and cared for, as a father cares for his children. What wonder that the Indian nation has upheld him as the glowing example of human perfection.

A reading of the Ramayana has the effect of cleansing us of our negative emotions and charging us with the moral fervor and grace of the great characters of the poem—Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Bharata, Hanuman, and so on.

May the story of Sri Rama guide and inspire us to act with justice and honor at all times.

Many thousands of years have passed and the city of Ayodhya was taken over by the Muslim conquerors. At last, in this century, after the passage of seven thousand years, Rama has returned to his capital city and has been enshrined in all glory. Everyone in Ayodhya will greet you with only “Jai Sri Ram!” Every where you look you see scenes from his life. Even the street lights have a bow and arrow or the gada of Hanuman above them. The whole city is fragrant with the perfume of that beautiful soul who was forced to stay away from his beloved city for seven thousand years.

Hail to Ayodhya pati Ram!

Jai Sri Ram!

SCIENTIFIC REASON FOR VISITING TEMPLES

There are hundreds of temples in India of various types and shapes dedicated to many gods. Most Hindus know that a visit to a temple is one of the necessities of their life. However, the devotees don’t know that there is a scientific reason for this, as there is for everything in Hinduism.

Many of the temples today have been constructed in a modern way without due regard to the ancient method of temple architecture. We are not talking about these temples. The temples which have been constructed in ancient times followed the basic methods as given in the shastras on the method of temple construction. They are located in places where the earth’s magnetic waves are predominant. They are strategically located at places where the positive energy flowing from the north and south poles, are actively felt. The idol is kept in the center. A yantra (mystic design) or some mantras etched on a copper plate is kept below the idol. This room is known as the “Garbhagriha” which literally means a womb. This is also known as the Moolasthan. The copper absorbs the earth’s magnetic waves and radiates to the surroundings. The utensils that are used inside the sanctum are normally of copper or silver or gold, all of which are high conductors of subtle energy. So, the magnetic energy is absorbed by them effortlessly.

In addition, the Garbhagriha is completely enclosed on three sides so the energy is not dissipated. The ghee lamps also radiate heat and light energy. No other oil is used inside the Garbhagriha.

Thus, a person who regularly visits a temple and makes a clockwise pradakshina (circumambulation) of the Garbhagriha, automatically receives the beamed magnetic waves which will be absorbed by his body. Of course, nature does not work overnight. She takes her own time for everything. Thus, only by having regular visits to such temples will be able to absorb this energy. Just as we need to re-charge our phone batteries every day so also, we have to re-charge our spiritual batteries. Hence in in ancient times every village had one or more temples to which all villagers used to go before proceeding to their fields or shops or wherever they used to work.

Bells in temples were made of a special metal called “bell metal”. The ringing of these bells and the humming sound that is left after they are struck, gives forth a very special sound energy. Hence all temples have bells and all devotees are supposed to strike them as they enter. Of course, the chanting of the Vedic mantras also adds to the sound energy.

The smell of lighted camphor has been found to have a very positive type of chemical energy. But one has to be careful to use only pure camphor not the smokeless, chemical stuff which is being sold these days.

The effect of all these energies is activated by the positive energy that emanates from the idol.

The water used for the Pooja is mixed with Cardamom, Benzoin, Holy Basil (Tulsi), Clove, etc. This is called “charanamrit” or “teertham“.

The clove essence protects one from tooth decay, the saffron & Tulsi leaves protect one from common cold and cough, cardamom and benzoine known as Pachha Karpuram, acts as a mouth refreshing agents.

This water becomes more energized by receiving all the other energies around.

During arati the doors are normally closed in order to light the lamps. After the lamps are lit, the doors are flung open and the positive energy gushes forth and engulfs all the people who are thronging just outside the door. The priest comes out and sprinkles the energized water on those who are standing outside, thus passing the energy to all who are lucky enough to be waiting there.

In south Bharat there is a strict dress code that has to be followed before entering temples. Men are not allowed to wear shirts. They should only use an uttareeyam (a piece of cloth) to cover their chests. This allows the water to be received on their bare bodies.

Of course, ladies cannot do this so they are asked to wear gold jewelry when they go to the temple since gold absorbs the energy.

Why are coconuts and bananas offered in temples?

These two fruits are considered sacred. All other fruits have seeds which have the capacity to reproduce. But if you eat the coconut and throw away the shell it will not reproduce. Similar is the case with the banana.

You should break a coconut by having this idea.

The outer shell is the ahamkara or ego which one has to break. If the ego is gone, the mind will be pure like the white tender flesh inside the shell. Then only pure “bhakti” or devotion will pour out of it like the water. The three eyes of the coconut on top of the shell stand for (the three gunas) sattva, rajas and tamas. They also stand for the three states of time, “past, present and future” and the three sheaths of the body known as “sthula, sukshma and karana. This is the physical, mental and causal sheaths.

All these will be controlled if we break a coconut at the temple with this knowledge.

These are the many reasons why our ancestors told us to visit temples on a regular basis.

Hari Aum Tat Sat

MAHA KUMBH MELA

Apart from the Purna Kumbha Mela which takes place once in twelve years at these four places, there is the Maha Kumbh Mela which is held only in Prayagraj. It is celebrated once in 144 years or after 12 Purna Kumbh Melas are completed.

This year 2025 The Maha Kumbh Mela is taking place at Prayagraj. The government is taking great interest in this and giving all conveniences to the guests and participants. It will be a unique event, unheard of in any country where millions flock to one place in order to get spiritual merit. All those who can make a visit to Prayag Raj during this month-long period should make the effort.

The Maha Kumbh Mela takes place only in Prayag Raj at the Triveni Sangam in which the rivers, Ganga and Yamuna meet with the Saraswati which comes as an underground river. This unique confluence of the three most sacred rivers of Bharat is known as the Triveni Sangam and possesses tremendous spiritual energy making it the unique site for this festival. This is surely the world’s largest religious congregation. This is not just another religious event but a testimonial to the rich spiritual heritage of this ancient country.

As I have mentioned many times every festival and ritual in Hinduism has a scientific reason. Let us search for the scientific reason behind this incredible festival.

As you know our bodies are made up of 72% water and the earth is also made up of 72% water. So, the water element is the most important part of our physical make up. So, it a special part of our culture that we are all urged to make use of the great rivers of our country and take a dip whenever we can do it. This is supposed to enhance the power of the water element in our bodies. The Kumbh makes use of the confluence of our main rivers at certain points in the country. At the confluence of these great rivers, at these specific places, a kind of vortex is created where there is a terrific outburst of spiritual energy. This is specially enhanced on particular dates on which certain planetary configurations take place. This was fully understood by our ancient rishis who were great astronomers and astrologers. They wanted everyone in this country to benefit from this special influx of spiritual power and hence they made a festival in which everyone could come and take a dip at that spiritually enhanced time and place so that everyone had a chance to get a spurt in their spiritual evolution even though they did not understand the science behind it.

Hence, we find that literally millions of people from all over the country come pouring into these particular places at the specified times in order to benefit from it. Poor villagers save up money for years in order to go for the dip. In olden days they would walk for miles or come on bullock carts in order to have a dip at that particular place at the particular time which was considered to be astronomically significant. The date is chosen to maximise the power one can get from taking a dip on that particular date and time in which the sun, moon and Jupiter are aligned. Every villager knows that a “snan” or bath at that particular place, at that particular time is conducive to moksha or liberation. Can you imagine the faith of millions of Indians who are inspired with that one supreme goal in life which is to attain liberation from these mortal coils. Can you find any culture anywhere on the earth which has put the attainment of enlightenment and liberation above all other considerations!!! This is the only country which has spent so much of time and effort in trying to discover a mystery beyond this earth. This is not just a belief but it is the experience of our great sages - the rishis who spent years of time and effort in order to make those who came after them to understand about the existence of such a life and reach that state in this very lifetime. This was their direct experience, which out of their great compassion for humanity, they endeavoured to make everyone else experience.

Actually, they have given us many methods known as “yogas”. These “yogas” might be too difficult for ordinary people so they also gave us festivals and rituals which would benefit everyone even though they might not actually appreciate the scientific significance. The Kumbh Mela is one such amazing festival in which the month-long period during which the festival takes place, is divided into certain dates on which, what is known as “sacred snans” or “dips in the sangam” take place which depend on various planetary positions. This knowledge has been ingrained into our culture so that even to this day every villager knows that by immersing oneself in these holy waters at these specific times one can cleanse oneself of all our sins, liberate both ourselves and our ancestors from the cycle of mundane existence and attain moksha!

Many great gurus and their disciples from all over Bharat participate in this unique even and set up their own akkaras (religious orders) and ashrams along the huge campus near the Triveni sangam (confluence).

The first bath is led by a procession of the various saints from different “akharas” or monastical orders. It is known as Shahi Snan or Raja Yogi Snan. This year, 2025, it will take place on the 13^th January which is called the Paush Purnima Snan or the bath on the full moon day of the month of Paush. This day marks the start of Kalpavasa which is a period of intense spiritual practice and devotion for the pilgrims.

The next bath will be on the 14^th January, which is Makara Sankranti. This is the day on which Dakshinayanam ends and Uttarayanam starts. This marks the sun’s transition from Cancer to Capricorn. This is one of the highlights of the Kumbh and marks the commencement of the event. Since so many of the great gurus and yogis take bath at the same time, the people who take a dip on that day will get the added benefit of their presence. The whole event will end on February 26^th on Maha Shivaratri. Of course, it is considered sacred to take baths on any of the days during this period - starting from Paush Purnima to Maha Shivaratri. However specific dates have special significance due to the conjunction of the planets as mentioned before. On these dates we can also see and participate in magnificent processions of different “akkaras” of gurus and famous ashrams. All of them set up their own ashrams with tents and so on where the gurus will give lectures. They also vie with each other to provide food for any pilgrim who comes so that there is never a dearth of food for even the poorest pilgrim.

The next bath is on January 29^th known as Maouni Amavasya which is considered to be another most sacred day for a holy dip. Largest gatherings are seen on this day.

Next important date is February 3^rd – Vasant Panchami or the 1^st day of Spring.

Then comes Magh Pournami on February 12^th. This is the second full moon of the event which is again considered to be very auspicious. As we can see many of the baths coincide with the phases of the moon – full moon and new moon being the most powerful. In fact, most of our festivals coincide with some phase of the moon since the moon is the planet which is closest to us and hence has greatest effect on us.

The final snan is on February 26^th which is Maha Shivaratri. The Royal bath on that day signals the conclusion of this incredible event.

On every snan there will be the royal procession of the akharas or monastic orders each representing a different discipline. The procession will consist of ascetics, saints and sadhus. The procession is normally led by the “naga babas” or naked sadhus, known for their extremely austere lifestyle. Covered only with sacred ash and adorned with huge rudraksha malas and garlands, they march with great poise, carrying tridents and banners symbolising their order. They are accompanied by drummers with their rhythmic beats and devotional chants which set the atmosphere for the whole incredible event. After, the royal bath of the saints, processions are led by various leading ashrams from all the holy cities of Bharat like Rishikesh and Haridwar etc. It is said that many sages who live in the heights of the Himalayas who are never visible to the ordinary human eye come down for this sacred event. They hardly ever show themselves to others but their presence can be felt in the vibrations of this amazing place. It is only after this that everyone else is given permission to dip in the holy sangam.

It is believed that those who take a dip in the Triveni Sangam on those particular times, are eternally blessed.

I had the great good fortune to participate in the Purna Kumbh Mela in Haridwar in 1986. It was a most memorable experience as can be imagined. In those days there was not so much of protocol and rules and anyone could go and take a place on the banks of the Ganga so as to be the first to take a dip at the auspicious time (muhurtam). At the correct time the priests would blow conchs and all those who were fortunate to be there would jump into the river. The most auspicious place for this in Haridwar was Hari ki Pauri where the elixir had fallen. There were no policemen or cordons or bridges at that time. We could take our places where we wished. I and my brother and another American friend caught our places the previous evening on the banks exactly at the place which was supposed to be most holy at Hari Ki Pauri. Even though it was summer, nights were really cold on the river banks. We sang kirtans and bhajans throughout the night and waited for dawn to break over the river. At about 3 am the sound of the conch jolted us out of the lethargy that had fallen over us. It was the auspicious moment. All of us jumped into the icy waters and felt the ambrosia flowing over our heads washing away the accumulated sins of many births. I’ve never had this good fortune again since now the place is normally blocked and bristling with police and guards. Of course, nobody is allowed to sit at that particular spot any more. I can only be grateful to Vanamali for having given me that magic moment at least once in this lifetime!

I have also had a memorable experience at Prayagraj. The Mela grounds covered many square metres and we had to walk for miles behind a huge procession which was coiling its way to the Triveni Sangam which was the confluence of the three rivers, Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. Of course, we did not reach there exactly at the auspicious time when the conch blew but we did have an exhilarating dip along with hundreds of other devotees just as the sun was rising on the eastern horizon. Again, an unforgettable experience! This was the time I had the good fortune to mee the famous Pilot Baba.

I had one more experience at Prayagraj for the Magh Mela (mini kumbh). We were staying with the Sacha Dham ashram at that time. We went in their boat in the wee hours of the morning towards the Triveni Sangam (confluence of the three rivers). All the while we were chanting the Vishnu Sahasranama and singing bhajans. Again, it was an incredible experience-jumping into the icy waters of the sangam from the boat!

After that I have been many times to Haridwar for the Kumbh and met many saints but I don’t think there has ever been an occasion as memorable as the first one! I realise that it is only by the great grace of God that one can have such experiences.

I strongly urge all those who are young and healthy to make use of this unique opportunity and make a visit to Prayag Raj during this period. The experience will definitely be worth the effort.

Hari Aum Tat Sat!

We are prone to think that miracles take place only in ancient times and in the pages of a book. But the fact is that miracles take place all the time if only we had the eyes to see them. As long as you think that you are in total control of your life you will find that you are living in a dualistic world where you will be thrown from pillar to post, up and down from one situation to another – some good, some bad! Before you find time to solve one problem, another ten will arise. This is the life of 99 % of human beings. But the moment you realise that there is only one power that operates in this world, one energy, one authority, beyond which nothing else exists, you will find that miracles keep occurring all the time! These are not really miracles. This is the way that Life operates if you allow That power to manage everything. It is only when we poke our personalities into the working of that divine machinery that problems arise! Every time I’ve gone on a pilgrimage this fact has been brought home to me especially in the Himalayan yatras to remote places where there are absolutely no modern facilities. We are so conditioned to rely on external artefacts that give us the comforts that we cannot do without, we forget that there is another dimension to life which the ancients knew since they did not live such a mechanised life.

Pahandapur was a place I had been wanting to go for a very long time. Somehow at the last minute some obstacle used to be put in front of me and I was never able to make it. This year it seemed as if the ban had been lifted and He issued a direct invitation to visit Him. From that moment everything fell into place. This is a miracle that happens the moment you let go and allow that power to take over. I had to visit Mbay for some reason so it seemed best to go via Mbay and not Poone which would have been closer. I did not make any arrangements for our stay in Mbay or onwards but waited for Him to give a hint. One week before we were to start, someone came to the ashram and when she heard I was planning a yatra to Pahandapur, she said she would also love to come and as she was from Mbay and had a car she would be happy to take us to Pahandapur! Next question was where to stay in Mbay. Again, another person solved the problem and promised to book for us at the Iskon temple. Of course, I knew who was behind both these arrangements and gave Him a heartfelt “Thank you!”

We reached Pandharpur only by about 6 pm. With every kilometre my desire to see Him kept mounting. Without waiting to take a bath or examine the room I just dumped the luggage and ran to the temple and stood in the “Mukha Darshan” Q which would give us a view of His divine face from afar. I was so excited at seeing Him even from afar that I couldn’t move from the place until someone prodded me and asked me to go forward. There was a bit of an empty space somewhere so we decided to sit for a while and meditate. Suddenly one sweet devotee who had arranged everything for us, had a call from a friend who said she would come asap and take us for “pada sparshana”. This is the great peculiarity of Vitthal – it is the only Vishnu temple which allows devotees to have both darshan and sparshan. Most Shiva temples allow devotees to enter and do abhishekam and touch the lingam. However, no Vishnu temple allows you to go anywhere near the murti. This was what I had been longing for. So, we followed her eagerly. She used some devious methods and suddenly I found myself in front of this huge murti. Before I could look up at Him, someone nudged me to touch His feet. I crossed my hands and stretched out and clasped His lotus feet, then pushed myself forward and put my head on His feet. I could have stayed on forever but the police-woman from behind nudged me, so I staggered back, unable to take my eyes from His resplendent form. The “makara kundalas” (fish shaped earrings) which are extolled in all descriptions of Vishnu were huge and I was entranced by them. Somehow, I went out and fell prostrate on the granite floor. Tears rolled down my eyes. I couldn’t believe that after so many years my wish had actually come true.

I sat and meditated on the steps for some time soaking in the soft allure of this enchanting place. After that of course we were taken for darshana of Rukmani, Satyabhama and Radha.

I don’t think I slept much that night. I was too excited.

The queues at this place resembled the ones at Tirupathi. You could never know where they began. There were different queues for different things. The next day again a miracle occurred. We stood in the “mukkha darshanam” queue and someone suggested to try an old trick and ask if there was any consideration for “senior citizens”. This trick seemed to work and once again I found myself facing His feet. My face was parallel to His feet. I had to crane my neck to see His face! This time I was more prepared and grabbed his feet as soon as I reached the place and felt an electric shock going up my spine. Was it alive? It felt as if it was! “Jai Hari Vitthal! Jai Hari Vitthal” I kept saying over and over again as tears poured down unheeded down my face.

This time I sat for a long time on the steps outside and meditated. I was wafted away to a different age when Sant Jnaneshwara had come with his siblings and other great bhaktas like Namadev, Ghora and others. They were dancing in ecstasy before Vitthal. I too joined them. Surely, we were in Vaikunda. I could have stayed there the whole night, but the world called and I had to leave.

The third day again we stood for mukha darshan. We tried the previous day’s trick but this time it didn’t work. The queues were too long. We went almost up to the doors but then the crowd started pushing from behind and I knew that I would never make it through the narrow corridor. I was highly claustrophobic and the thought of being pushed from behind with no escape either forwards or backwards was so terrifying that I turned back.

Then I asked the dearest girl who had arranged everything for us whether we could book for the next day's morning darshana. Because we turned back, we discovered a small door which led to the office which did bookings. There we were told that all bookings were done on-line and the quota for the next morning “kakkad darshan” had been filled a year ago!! I was quite numb. What could I say? The man behind the counter suddenly felt sorry and suggested “Would you like to join the Vishnu Sahasranama archana tomorrow evening?” My heart leapt with joy. I had been chanting Vishnu Sahasranama all my life and this seemed like a miracle. I said “Of course we will take that.”

So, we booked our places for the next day. I was of course very happy but also sad since we didn’t get a darshan that day due to my claustrophobia. Again, a miracle - when we came out of the office room, we found that the crowd had dwindled. Before people started pouring in as usual, we ran up the stairs and once again, a fantastic darshan!

The next day we went on a round, to all the other sacred places and arrived at the temple for the 6 o’clock Vishnu Sahasranama. We could chant with the priest and each one could do the puja in their own plates and then take the whole thing up to His holy feet and keep it there and take His blessings. I thought of how everything had been stage managed the previous day so that I would feel claustrophobic and not join the queue which enabled us to see the little door leading to the office which gave us a clue about this puja!

The next day we were supposed to leave. I felt miserable that we had been unable to have “kakkad darshan” which is considered very auspicious in all temples even though I was truly grateful for what we had received.

Then a friend asked if I would like to go for the morning darshan! I was astounded for I thought the bookings were full since people booked years ahead! But she said that was only if we wanted to do the abhishek by ourselves over His feet. However, if we wanted, she would get permission for us to sit and watch the whole thing. I was speechless and could only nod my head.

Next morning I was up at 1.30 am. I had a cold shower and was ready to leave by 3 am since we had been told to reach by 3.30 at least since the function started at 4 am. This was indeed the climax of our whole pilgrimage -the plum on the top of the cake as it were. It was truly a magical experience. For one and a half hours we sat in front of Him watching the entire proceedings. First of all, the previous day’s decorations had to be removed. Only then could we see the gigantic figure. Was it granite? Perhaps laterite. Anyway, many types of abhishekams were conducted to the chanting of Vedic mantras. Then the murti was anointed with different unguents and dressed in gorgeous clothes and finally adorned with jewels. I was totally mesmerised by the whole thing. The chanting and the perfume of the incense and His benign gaze looking at me with love, was so enthralling that my heart welled up with tears of gratitude and joy. Even when it was all over, I was in such a daze of delight that I had to be nudged to get up and go in front. Once again, we were allowed to go forward and clasp His holy feet. Once again, I kept my head on His perfumed feet. As I turned to go, the pujari placed a flower in my hands. I knew it was His gift to me. Again, the flood of tears at this miracle of love. I turned back at the corner for a last look but my eyes were so blurred with tears I couldn’t see His beloved face!

I couldn’t say a word as we left the temple. Somehow, I stumbled down the granite steps. My heart was filled with gratitude and words choked my throat. I wondered if I would ever be able to return. I didn’t want to buy a big murti and fill our puja room. However, He had other ideas. The wonderful lady who had taken us had already asked her husband to get a big murti which she presented to me just as we got into the car! Impossible to refuse. It was His parting gift. I knew it was His wish and He wanted me to keep Him in our puja room. There He stands with arms kept on his hips and a benign smile on His lips with the promise of a life of sat-chit and ananda!

JAI HARI VITTHAL! JAI HARI VITTHAL! JAI HARI VITTHAL!

Let me repeat this a million times! May it ring in my ears all the time! May He bless me with unending love for His holy feet!

JAI HARI VITTHAL!

The temple is an imposing structure built at the place where Sri Krishna and his great devotee Pundalik had met. Inside the temple the murti of Krishna continues to stand on the brick that Pundalik had given him! By his side stands  Rukmini. The temple covers a vast area and has a total of six gates. The eastern entrance  is known as the Namdev gate. The sanctum enshrines the standing image of  Lord Vithoba.  The idol of the deity Vitthala or Vithoba is made of a three and a half feet tall black stone. The murti has a Shivalinga on his head and the Kaustubha jewel around the neck. It is placed in front of a Prabhaval or silver plate inside the sanctum. The main shrine is a five-story building with a pyramidal gun spire. The statues of Jaya and Vijaya (Vishnu’s attendants in Vaikunda) flank Lord Vithhal. The temple may have been built in the 13th century since it has the hemadpanti style of architecture. The statue of Vithoba is of an earlier style.

Lofty walls and colossal towers are the landmark signs of this lovely shrine. It is situated on a high platform. The entry to the temple is through the Namadeva gate which has a flight of 12 steps. There is a statue of Namadeva holding the tambourine.

The mandapa of the main temple has what is known as a Nagarkhana where various musical instruments are placed. The western side has two Deepmalas which are tall structures with lamps that are lit on festive occasions. The mandapa also has shrines dedicated to Garuda and Hanuman. Next comes the Solakhambi Mandapa with sixteen pillars. The beautiful chamber is engraved with the lilas of Sri Krishna and the avatars of Lord Vishnu. The entrance to the shrine is through a silver door called the Rupyacha Darwaja.

Several smaller shrines dedicated to Ganesha, Garuda and Krishna’s consorts Rukmini, Sathyabama as well as to Radha, Kashi Vishwanath, Sri Rama and Lakshmana, Kalabhairava, Dattatreya, and Narsoba can be seen in the Panduranga temple complex.

The Rukmani mandir is dedicated solely to her and also stands on the banks of the Chandrabhaga River. It is commonly called the Panduranga Temple. Lofty walls and colossal towers are the landmarks of this lovely shrine. It is on a high platform. The entry to the temple is also through the Namdeva gate which has a flight of 12 steps. Though Rukmini is Krishna’s wife she is not seen with her husband in this shrine. Legend has it that Rukmini is doing penance here and that is why she is alone.

The Pundalika temple is about half a kilometre from the Vitthala Temple. This temple marks the spot where Pundalika, the Lord’s devotee, spent the last years of his life and also is place of his samadhi. It stands on the banks of Chandrabhaga River.

The main attraction in this square -shaped temple is its huge portico. This has a murti of lord Shiva, which is protected by a brass cover. It is customary for the devotees to wash their feet in the warm water spring that flows adjacent to the temple before they step into the temple.

Another strange sight in the temple premises is an iron boat 3ft by 2 ft which floats on the river but is too heavy to raise with one’s hands!

The temple is believed to be centuries old and the most amazing aspect in this holy shrine is the scripture that dates back to the year 1195.The devotees used to rub their back on this scripture, which is believed to absolve them from the wheel of rebirths.

Vishnupad Temple

Vishnupada literally means the lord’s feet and this temple is situated within the city limits. It is a lovely shrine built in the middle of the Chandrabhaga. It is connected to the shore by a ramp.

Constructed in stone, the temple is in the shape of an open hall where sixteen pillars support the flat roof. The pillars portray images of Krishna and Vishnu in typical postures. It also has the lotus feet of the lord on rock, which is placed on a square. These rocks carry the footprints in two positions. One of the footprints shows the Lord’s feet crossed, one over the other in his typical posture. The other one depicts him standing on both feet. One can also see the foot prints of a cow.

Since the temple is situated in the middle of the river, it has water up to its floor level. During the monsoons the temple is virtually submerged in water.

The first step of the temple is named after Saint Namadev. He begged the Lord to give him a place where he could touch the dust of the feet of all devotees visiting Panduranga in the temple of the Pandharpur. After expressing this wish, he looked at the floor and the found that the stone had split with a huge gap in the middle. Panduranga told Namdeva that this place was his gift to him so that his wish of touching the dust of all the devotees of the Lord could be fulfilled. The floor is said to have parted at this juncture and Namdeva jumped into the crevice. His family members and followers also followed suit. The crack closed immediately after they jumped in.

One and half kilometers away towards the southeast of Pandharpur there is a Krishna temple called Gopalpura. It is on the top of the hill called Gopalpura Parvat (hill). This parvat is believed to be the Govardhan parvat.
According to the Skanda Purana when Sri Krishna started his journey to Pandharpur, the hill, Govardhan started to follow him. Scared that Krishna would scold him, he stayed in the village of Gopalpura where both the rivers Chandrabhaga and Pushpavati meet. Krishna had gone there along with his cattle and their footprints are still imprinted on the stones. This place is called Vishnupad. There is a temple of Devarshi Narada exactly in front of the temple.

There is another temple where Yashoda is supposed to have churned milk.  The temple has a stone staircase. The temple has three doors. The main door is huge and very attractive.
 In the middle of garbha griha there is a small and very beautiful murti of the Lord in which he is shown playing the flute. There are groups of gopis on the both sides of the Lord.

We have been fortunate enough to have gone on a pilgrimage to this most holy place last week.

I consider myself to have been very lucky to have been able to have a darshan of Sri Vitthala in this holy place.

Jai Sri Vittala!

There are hundreds of temples in India of various types and shapes dedicated to many gods. Most Hindus know that a visit to a temple is one of the necessities of their life. However, the devotees don’t know that there is a scientific reason for this, as there is for everything in Hinduism.

Many of the temples today have been constructed in a modern way without due regard to the ancient method of temple architecture. We are not talking about these temples. The temples which have been constructed in ancient times followed the basic methods as given in the shastras on the method of temple construction. They are located in places where the earth’s magnetic waves are predominant. They are strategically located at places where the positive energy flowing from the north and south poles, are actively felt. The idol is kept in the centre. A yantra (mystic design) or some mantras etched on a copper plate is kept below the idol. This room is known as the “Garbhagriha” which literally means a womb. This is also known as the Moolasthan. The copper absorbs the earth’s magnetic waves and radiates to the surroundings. The utensils that are used inside the sanctum are normally of copper or silver or gold, all of which are high conductors of subtle energy. So, the magnetic energy is absorbed by them effortlessly.

In addition, the Garbhagriha is completely enclosed on three sides so the energy is not dissipated. The ghee lamps also radiate heat and light energy. No other oil is used inside the Garbhagriha.

Thus, a person who regularly visits a temple and makes a clockwise pradakshina (circumambulation) of the Garbhagriha, automatically receives the beamed magnetic waves which will be absorbed by his body. Of course, nature does not work overnight. She takes her own time for everything. Thus, only by having regular visits to such temples will be able to absorb this energy. Just as we need to re-charge our phone batteries every day so also, we have to re-charge our spiritual batteries. Hence in in ancient times every village had one or more temples to which all villagers used to go before proceeding to their fields or shops or wherever they used to work.

Bells in temples were made of a special metal called “bell metal”. The ringing of these bells and the humming sound that is left after they are struck, gives forth a very special sound energy. Hence all temples have bells and all devotees are supposed to strike them as they enter. Of course, the chanting of the Vedic mantras also adds to the sound energy.

The smell of lighted camphor has been found to have a very positive type of chemical energy. But one has to be careful to use only pure camphor not the smokeless, chemical stuff which is being sold these days.

The effect of all these energies is activated by the positive energy that emanates from the idol.

The water used for the Pooja is mixed with Cardamom, Benzoin, Holy Basil (Tulsi), Clove, etc. This is called “charanamrit” or "teertham".

The clove essence protects one from tooth decay, the saffron & Tulsi leaves protect one from common cold and cough, cardamom and benzoine known as Pachha Karpuram, acts as a mouth refreshing agents.

This water becomes more energized by receiving all the other energies around.

During arati the doors are normally closed in order to light the lamps. After the lamps are lit, the doors are flung open and the positive energy gushes forth and engulfs all the people who are thronging just outside the door. The priest comes out and sprinkles the energized water on those who are standing outside, thus passing the energy to all who are lucky enough to be waiting there.

In south Bharat there is a strict dress code that has to be followed before entering temples. Men are not allowed to wear shirts. They should only use an uttareeyam (a piece of cloth) to cover their chests. This allows the water to be received on their bare bodies.

Of course, ladies cannot do this so they are asked to wear gold jewelry when they go to the temple since gold absorbs the energy.

Why are coconuts and bananas offered in temples?

These two fruits are considered sacred. All other fruits have seeds which have the capacity to reproduce. But if you eat the coconut and throw away the shell it will not reproduce. Similar is the case with the banana.

You should break a coconut by having this idea.

The outer shell is the ahamkara or ego which one has to break. If the ego is gone, the mind will be pure like the white tender flesh inside the shell. Then only pure “bhakti” or devotion will pour out of it like the water. The three eyes of the coconut on top of the shell stand for (the three gunas) sattva, rajas and tamas. They also stand for the three states of time, “past, present and future” and the three sheaths of the body known as “sthula, sukshma and karana. This is the physical, mental and causal sheaths.

All these will be controlled if we break a coconut at the temple with this knowledge.

These are the many reasons why our ancestors told us to visit temples on a regular basis.

Hari Aum Tat Sat

According to the Ramayana Ayodhya is so ancient that it was founded by Manu, the progenitor of humankind. Both Ramayana and Mahabharata describe Ayodhya as the capital of the Ikshvaku dynasty. It is situated on the banks of the River Sarayu. Valmiki describes it as a huge city around 120 miles in length and 30 miles in breadth. It was a very prosperous and modern city. It had huge royal highways always kept moist with water with fragrant flowers scattered on them. The city was surrounded by gates and arches. All the houses had beautiful frontages. Buildings were studded with precious gems. Many were multi-storied, some going up to seven stories. Water was plentiful and tasted like sugar cane juice. Many Vedic scholars and sages lived there and the atmosphere was very calm and peaceful. It had skilled craftsmen of all types. It was surrounded by gardens and orchard trees with mangoes, pomegranates and grapes. It was well fortified with an extensive wall which was as beautiful as an ornament girdling the city. Beyond that was a wide moat which prevented enemies from entering. It was protected with machinery and weapons and bastions with canons. It had horses, camels, cows and donkeys. Many residents of other cities as well as traders used to visit the city.  This was the city in which the great king Dasaratha lived and in which Sri Rama grew up.

This is the description of Ayodhya as given in the 5^th chapter of the Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana. Since Valmiki was a contemporary of Sri Rama he obviously wrote about what he saw and not about some mythical city that existed only in his imagination. It is indeed sad that this country that has produced the Adi Kavi, the first poet in the whole world, should belittle his words and denigrate the Ramayana as mythology and Rama as a fictitious character! Whereas every country tries to eulogise their heroes and extol their history, we, in Bharat are guilty of being ashamed of our history and portray our heroes as mythological creations in order to applaud the ignorance of our conquerors!

Bharat has the most ancient civilization in the world. Our cities were flourishing at a time when the rest of the world was still in the Stone Age! This is something the western historians cannot digest and therefore refuse to believe. The only way therefore was to throw all our history into the dust bin of mythology. However the fact is that our ancient cities still exist even though they have been built over, first by the Buddhists and then by the Muslims.

Fortunately Dwaraka had been submerged by the sea so it had been left untouched for centuries. Modern maritime experts and divers have discovered it and archaeologist have dated many of the artefacts that have been found, to over five thousand years. Thankfully no one has been able to deny the existence of this city! Ayodhya however has been built over and over again so people are ready to deny that such a city existed despite the proof of our Puranas which clearly give all details of the city. The Puranas also give the names of the places that were visited by Sri Rama on his trek to the island of Sri Lanka and thankfully these names are still there in the sub-continent. How can people deny the existence of such a person and even more contemptible how can the modern Hindus go by what the westerners say and deny the evidence of their own eyes.

Some of the greatest festivals of our country are connected with our great avatars and they have been faithfully followed by generations of Hindus. Time is an ever flowing entity and in India our relics and our temples prove that in this country it has been flowing through eternity! Why is our modern youth so ashamed of admitting this? Other countries flaunt their paltry 100 or 200 year old artefacts and display them in museums and tourist spots and even ask us money to view them. We, on the other hand, allow our great treasures to rot in the rain and sun and degrade them as worthless! How did our conquerors brainwash us like this and why are we still clinging on to their pointless opinions. It is high time our modern youth cut the heavy shackles that are keeping us from reaching the heights of glory that is our right and recognised the depth and beauty of their own culture.

It is indeed the irony of fate that Sri Rama who was the gentlest person who ever existed, who was loved by all who met him, should have faced so many calamities during his own lifetime and a raging storm surrounding his capital up to the present day and doubts cast about his very existence! Thank God that at last, he has come to his own and his city has been re-built with the splendour that it deserves. It is high time that Hindus recognised the glory of the ancient kings of their own land.

Sri Rama’s story has exerted a huge influence on all the great civilizations of S. East Asia.  His character has moulded the minds of the people of many nations. He has been held up as the ideal of manhood and Sita of womanhood from Valmiki’s times to the present age. Can any other character either alive or even fictitious boast at having made such an impact on the human mind as Rama has! It is absurd to say that such a character did not exist and that his city of Ayodhya never existed!!

The story of Rama shows us that dharma is a strict disciplinarian. It brooks no straying from its stringent path. One who adheres strictly to the path of dharma like Rama will find that even the deepest and strongest of all material attachments will have to be sacrificed for its sake. In the Ramayana you see the terrible anguish felt by Rama, the mortal, when the time came to sacrifice his greatest loves one by one on the altar of dharma. Despite his agony he did not deviate an inch from the strict ideal he had kept for himself and did not flinch from making the final sacrifice of his beloved queen and brother. We who live in a world of easy morality may not appreciate such a sacrifice but to the true Hindu he was a god because only a god could make such sacrifices!

I had been to Ayodhya long before the great kar seva was enacted by the Hindus in a desperate bid to get back the birth place of their beloved avatar. The first thing I noticed about Ayodhya at that time,  was the nature of the people as well as of the priests who officiated in the Ram Mandir as well as all the other mandirs. It is as if a part of the nobility of Rama’s character still vibrated in the ecosphere. Because of this Ayodhya is the only place I have visited that the priests are not avaricious and grabbing. They were all as gentle as their Lord and those people who have lived for generations in the city are very kind and ready to help you. This is most remarkable and throws more light on the exemplary character of Sri Rama and the aura he has created that exists in the city till now.

The Ram Mandir that existed when I went was a very small, modern one but as I said the fragrance of his character still existed. At the end of the puja the pujari even gave me the “tambul” (pan leaves mixed with lime and betel nuts) that had been offered to the deity!

Another place worth a visit is Ramkot which is on a small hill and marks the site of Sri Rama’s fort. This is believed to be the place where he was crowned and made the king of the Kosala Empire.

The most beautiful mandir in Ayodhya is the Kanak Bhavan which is not even denoted as a temple but as a bhavan which means a residence. The legend goes that Kaikeyi the youngest wife of Dasaratha who was responsible for Rama’s exile had given it as a wedding present to Sita. It is an enchanting piece of work with carved recesses, arches and windows all around the central courtyard. Of course the building we see now must have been built over and over again on the ancient one but a strong feminine energy still lingers on, much like Sita’s own character.

Close to this is the famous Hanuman Garhi which is a gigantic structure shaped like a four-sided fort with circular bastions at each corner. It has some amazing carvings. This is the place where Hanuman lived and guarded the Ram Janmabhumi. You have to climb a lot of steep steps to reach. Of course as is to be expected the place is crawling with monkeys but still a visit here is a must since Hanuman will grant us all our desires. The “Besan ka Laddu” that is given as prasad here is very special.

Another important place is the Nageshwar Nath Mandir dedicated to Lord Shiva which is said to have been built originally by Sri Rama’s son – Kusha. Apparently he lost his armlet in the Sarayu River. This was retrieved by a Naga maiden who fell in love with him. As she was a devotee of Lord Shiva, he built a temple for him.

There is also a beautiful garden known as Tulsi Udyan that is fairly new and is a memorial to the great sage Tulsi Das who wrote the popular version of Ramayana known as the Ramacharitamaanas. His statue is found under a beautiful canopy. Actually the garden was built in the name of Queen Victoria but the name was changed in 1960.

All along the banks of the Sarayu River we find ghats made in the names of Sri Rama’s family – Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, Shatrugna, Sita, Urmila and so on. The Sarayu River is said to originate from Lake Manasarover in the Himalayas. 

The wheels of Time turn slowly but they grind exceedingly small. At last in this year 2024, the five-hundred year old dispute over the Ram Janmabhumi has come to an end and Sri Rama was able to enter his own capital in all glory. Ayodhya ranks amongst the seven great dhams of Hinduism. Let all Hindus rejoice on this day when the temple has been re-built and Ram Lala has been installed with all pomp and glory.

Jai Sri Rama!

The Great Pyramids

A pyramid is a structure whose outer surfaces are triangular and converge to a single step at the top, making a geometrical shape known as a “pyramid”. The base of a pyramid can be trilateral, quadrilateral, or of any polygon shape. A pyramid should have at least three outer triangular surfaces.

The Egyptian pyramids are the ones that are most well-known and were built for religious purposes. The Egyptians were one of the first civilizations to believe in an afterlife. In fact, they were more concerned with the nature of their life after death than with their present life. They believed that a second self, called the Ka lived within every human being. The Ka, like our “atman,” was eternal and did not expire with the death of the physical body. Those fortunate enough to pass the test of the Egyptian god, Osiris, wanted to ensure that they would have maximum comfort in their lives beyond death. Thus, most of the pyramids were simply grand tombs of powerful pharaohs.

Egyptians who ranked high in status often wanted to take their most prized possessions with them in death so their Ka could enjoy them in its next life. Gold, silver, and bronze artifacts were loaded into the interiors of the great tombs. Fine linens and artwork adorned the secret chambers.

In the early days, dead nobles were often interned with their living slaves and animals. Because this practice eventually proved too costly, artists started to depict scenes of human activity on the inside walls. Some pyramids were even equipped with a restroom for the pharaoh.

Great precautions were taken to protect the tombs from looters. Egyptians believed that a defiler of a pharaoh's resting place would be cursed for eternity. The entrance to the inner chambers was carefully hidden. The pharaoh's mummy was placed in a huge coffin called a sarcophagus, which was made of the hardest-known stone blocks. But despite such warnings and precautions, tombs were raided over the years by grave robbers.

Three pyramids were built at Giza, and many smaller pyramids were constructed around the Nile Valley. The Pyramids of Giza, built over 4,000 years ago, still stand atop an otherwise flat, sandy landscape. The Great Pyramid reaches nearly 500 feet into the sky and spans an area greater than 13 acres.

It took thirty years to build and was the tallest building in the world until the beginning of the 20th century. It remains as the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The building of the pyramids defies our present-century attempts at finding out how they were built without any modern equipment like bulldozers, forklifts, and trucks! Why would anyone have spent the time and energy to attempt these herculean tasks!

Only a powerful pharaoh could marshal the necessary resources to build these giant structures. Every year during the rainy season, the Nile would flood and thus replenish the land with her healing waters. During this season, farmers became builders. Huge stone blocks averaging over two tons in weight were mined in quarries and transported to the pyramid site through the Nile from the town of Aswan, which was the only place where this type of granite was found. Egyptologists theorize that the workers used either rollers or slippery clay to drag the blocks from the quarries to their eventual placement on the pyramid. Construction of the larger pyramids took decades.

According to the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, the Great Pyramid took thirty years to construct and demanded the labor of 100,000 men. This figure is believable given the assumption that these men, who were agricultural laborers, worked on the pyramids only while there was little work to be done in the fields—i.e., when the Nile River was in flood. By the late 20th century, however, archaeologists found evidence that a more limited workforce may have occupied the site on a permanent rather than a seasonal basis. It was suggested that as few as 20,000 workers, with accompanying support personnel (bakers, physicians, priests, etc.), would have been adequate for the task.

The question of how they were built has not received a wholly satisfactory answer. The most plausible one is that the Egyptians employed a sloping and encircling embankment of brick, earth, and sand, which was increased in height and length as the pyramid rose in height; stone blocks were hauled up the ramp by means of sledges, rollers, and levers.

The Great Pyramid was built around 2560 B.C.E. under Khufu, a pharaoh of Egypt’s Old Kingdom. His life and death are shrouded in mystery. The Egyptians believed him to have been very wise, but the Greek historian Herodotus portrays him as an oppressive and cruel ruler.

Khufu’s pyramid is perhaps the most colossal single building ever erected on the planet. Its sides rise at an angle of 51°52′ and are accurately oriented to the four cardinal points of the compass. The Great Pyramid’s core is made of yellowish limestone blocks, the outer casing (now almost completely gone) and the inner passages are of finer light-colored limestone, and the interior burial chamber is built of huge blocks of granite. Approximately 2.3 million blocks of stone were cut, transported, and assembled to create the 5.75-million-ton structure, which is truly a masterpiece of technical skill and engineering ability. The internal walls as well as those few outer-casing stones that still remain in place show fine joints not to be seen in any other construction in ancient Egypt.

The original entrance to the Great Pyramid is on the north side, about 59 feet (18 meters) above ground level. But this has been blocked, and another entrance a little further down is the one that is being used today. A sloping corridor descends from it through the pyramid’s interior masonry, penetrates the rocky soil on which the structure rests, and ends in an unfinished underground chamber. From the descending corridor branches an ascending passageway that leads to a room known as the Queen’s Chamber and to a great slanting gallery that is 46 meters long. At the upper end of this gallery, a long and narrow passage gives access to the burial room proper, usually termed the King’s Chamber. This room is entirely lined and roofed with granite. From the chamber, two narrow shafts run obliquely through the masonry to the exterior of the pyramid; it is not known whether they were designed for a religious purpose or were meant for ventilation. Above the King’s Chamber are five compartments separated by massive horizontal granite slabs; the likely purpose of these slabs was to shield the ceiling of the burial chamber by diverting the immense thrust exerted by the overlying masses of masonry.

Mataji’s Experience

I had the great good fortune to visit Egypt last week on a tour arranged by the Ananda group USA. Since I am quite claustrophobic, I was sure I wouldn’t be able to enter the Great Pyramid. The climb up to the entrance along the narrow external pathway was exhausting, and I decided not to risk going inside. Strangely enough, one of the local guides, probably a Nubian, approached me out of the blue, caught my arm, and pushed me against the wall just before the entrance. The Egyptians are usually small-built and light-skinned, while the Nubians are very tall and dark. This man was tall and dark, wearing a burnous and a turban tied around his head. He guided me through the small opening into the tunnel and kept pushing me up the sloping, uneven path going steadily up. Suddenly, we came upon a ledge in the wall of the pyramid. It was quite narrow and must have been about three feet higher than the path. He gestured that I could sit and meditate there. I really don’t know how I jumped onto the ledge, hauled up my legs, and sat in sukhasana. I must have sat there for about thirty minutes easily. Nischala, the leader of our group, was standing on the floor next to me since she had hurt her ankle and didn’t feel like going up. After a few moments, I was wafted into another realm. I didn’t feel my body at all. I was totally unconscious of where I was sitting or who was next to me. It must have been fully thirty minutes if not more when I slowly became aware of Nischala telling me that the time was up and we should go down. I opened my eyes slowly and was jolted back into reality. The ledge was hard, and my legs were numb. I tried to jump down but found it really hard. It was only then that I started to wonder how I had ever managed to get onto that narrow ledge in the first place and what power had kept me up for so long!

I realized that this was indeed a magical place. The ones who made this must have been great spiritual scientists like our rishis. I also felt that there was a Shiva Lingam down below surrounded by flowing water. I looked around for the man who had shown me this place. He was nowhere to be seen. But another guide came up and scolded me, saying I should not have sat there and I should give him some money, etc. I was truly back in the mundane world where money was God!

Vanamali’s grace had taken me to pilgrim spots of all types of religions. It was indeed His grace that had taken me to this unbelievable place filled with the esoteric secrets of an ancient culture.

The pyramids have stood the test of time. Although their outer limestone layers have long since been stripped or turned to dust, they still stand – stark reminders of a bygone civilization. They are indeed time capsules floating in eternity, waiting to reveal their mysteries to those who are capable of empathizing with their inscrutable view of this incredible universe.

Hari Aum Tat Sat!

One of the most spectacular places we went to on our visit to Kolhapur is known as the Sri Rama Lingam caves. None of the local people in our group had ever gone there and I’m not sure how we landed up there since nobody seemed to know much about it. We had to go through Palsambe village. The going was rather rough. There was no proper road – just a beaten track along which we bumped. There was absolutely no one in sight. The car went as far as the road allowed us to go and then stopped so we got out and went down the track following the musical sound of water. We were stopped by a beautiful rivulet dancing over stones and in the far distance was the cave. We waded through the water over slippery stones and entered the cave. It was quite unbelievable.

There was this big lingam over which there was a constant dhara of water. The cave had an opening at the top which let in a wonderful shower of sunlight which enabled us to see everything in detail. Since I didn’t have any vessel I used my hand to scoop up water and pour over the lingam which in any case was being bathed by this continuous flow of water from some unknown source.

Peering into the interior which was rather dark I could just about make out that there were twelve such lingams. The local belief is that these represent the twelve Jyotirlingams. However, the main lingam was obviously “swayambhu” (self-formed). The caves are always wet because of the water flowing over the walls all the time. The quantity of water coming into the cave increases during rainy season, but the source of water has not been identified. We went outside and noticed the beautiful Ganesha at the entrance. The structures around this temple looked terribly ancient.

Legend has it that these caves were built by the Pandavas during their stay in the forest. The forest had crept over the caves so that they nestled in the verdant, green bushes and trees and could hardly be seen. Apparently the site is also noted for its snake population. Cobras, bamboo pit vipers, green vine snakes, shield-tailed snakes are all supposed to be prevalent in the area. Luckily for us we did not know this at that time otherwise we would never have had the courage to explore the surroundings. I did notice a lot of strange looking plants which I later found were the Entada plants which is a great Ayurvedic medicinal herb.

We clambered up to one of the other caves surrounding the central cave. This had an endearing Ganesha. The rocks were all rather slippery so we desisted from clambering up the rocks to all the other caves. Who had made them and why? Was it Rama or the Pandavas or the seven rishis – the sapta rishis? Who knows? I hardly cared to know the answers.

A man from a nearby ashram appeared on the scene and gave us much of the information I have given above. His version was that these caves had existed from the Ramayana period and that Sri Rama is said to have stayed there with Sita and Lakshmana. I realised that the origin of these caves was shrouded in mystery. No one knows exactly when and why they were built. It was all conjecture.

He insisted that we go to his ashram. This was a pleasant experience and we felt the benign presence of his guru in their meditation hall.

As we left I was filled with an inexplicable joy at having had the great good fortune to have been brought to this holy spot which no doubt had the footprints of countless sages who had come and stayed there or passed through. I realised that there was no end to the countless blessings that had been heaped on us by the Divine Mother at Kolhapur!

All I could say was “Jai Maa! Jai Maa! Jai Maa!”

Aum Namashivaya!

Jyotiba Mandir is also known as Sri Kedarnath. It is believed that Kedarnathji (Shiva) came down from the Himalayas at the invitation of Kolhapur Mahalakshmi to overpower the demons who were harassing the people of the region. So the Kedarnath Shivling is associated with Jyotiba. It is said that Shiva and Surya are merged into Jyotiba.

He is the kuldevata (family deity) of many Maharashtrian families. Therefore, it was a must in our list of mandirs to be visited. It is about 20 km from Kolhapur. It is said to be one of the Jyotirlingams even though it does not come in the classic list.

Perched on a hillock which is about 3,000 ft high, it was a beautiful drive up the mountain and the scenery all around was fabulous. After parking the car we had to climb about hundred steps before we made it to the mandir. When we stepped inside we were quite enchanted to see a huge sea of pink gulal covering everything – the murtis and the pathways and the shrubs – everything was covered in that passionate pink. In fact the whole mountain seemed pink!

As has been related in the blog on Mahalakshmi, the goddess chose to incarnate herself at the place called Karavira in order to kill the asura called Kolhasura. She called upon the trinity to help her and they are said to have appeared in the palms of Vimalambuja, the wife of the sage Pougand on the 6th day of the bright half of the month of Chaitra (March/April). They appeared in the form of three flames in her palms and immediately turned into an eight-year-old child holding a sword, small drum, trident and pot of nectar. Thus, Jyotiba is also said to be an incarnation of the three gods – Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara like Dattatreya who was also born from the trinity. He belongs to the Nath Sampradaya. The deity is also referred to as Khandoba. I remembered to have seen a mandir to Khandoba in Shirdi.

Apart from the sea of pink the one thing that attracted me was a huge Nandi which was a bit apart from the main cluster of mandirs in the centre of the compound. He was truly handsome and we went and paid obeisance to him before entering the main mandir through a side door. Again, we were allowed to go right inside and stand straight before the charming murti. Jyotiba was sitting on a horse, and therefore it is possible that he may be a symbolic representation of the Sun God. The image faces south, towards Mahalakshmi Mandir in Kolhapur as a protective gesture towards her. He had four hands holding the trident, damaru (small drum), sword and a pot of nectar. Like the murti of Mahalakshmi, Shesh Nag’s hood was coiled on his head. He had a cute Marathi hat and wore an upper cloth. Of course he was adorned with many gold ornaments like necklaces, rings etc. Altogether he was a charming figure. I didn’t get enough time to see anything else. I considered myself most fortunate to get the inevitable coconut and some gulal as prasad straight from the sanctorum.

We came out and went to the shrine of the goddess called Chopadai. She is said to be Adishakti and an incarnation of Mahishasuramardini. Her mandir is west facing and the same miracle of the sun’s rays falling on her feet, which takes place in Kolhapur Mahalakshmi, is repeated here, twenty-one days after it takes place in the Mahalakshmi Mandir. We took numerous photos with her since she was so charming.

There is a collection of four main mandirs in the premises, one dedicated to Jyotiba, one to Kedarnatha and the third to Chopadai. There is also an important one to Kalabhairava who is a fierce incarnation of Shiva. This murti is also four-handed and holds the trident, sword and pot of nectar in his hands and stands in the same posture as Jyotiba. Kalabhairava is the protector of the Ratnagiri Mountain. Coconuts are offered to him in plenty. There is a belief that Shiva in the form of Kalabhairava defeated demon Ratnasura on this hill.

Actually, there are eight Bhairavas around the mandir. These are Kaala Bhairava, Baala Bhairava, Suvarna Bhairava, Ganda Bhairava, Aakasha Bhairava and Kalpanta Bhairava. Apart from these eight Bhairavas, there is also a collection of various deities in and around the main mandir.

The main festival here takes place on the full moon night of both Chaitra and Vaishaka – Chaitra Purnima and Vaishaka Purnima. A big fair is held here on Chaitra Purnima in which devotees come carrying sticks from the shrub known as (sasan) which is a shrub with reddish leaves found in the Gir mountains in Gujarat. They scatter “gulal” which is a pinkish powder all over the place. This is the powder which is normally used during Holi but since Sunday is supposed to be the special day for Jyotiba, devotees do this with great exuberance every Sunday.

As we came out of the mandir I was amazed to see at least ten recently married couples in the mandir. They were all dressed in authentic Maharashtrian bridal attire and were delightful to behold. Since Jyotiba is the kuladeva of many Maharashtrian families, all married couples had to go and get his blessings as soon as possible after marriage.

Since we had two recently married couples in our party I was delighted that they were able to get Jyotiba’s blessings.

Hari Aum Tat Sat!

Most people run after Lakshmi who is said to be the giver of wealth and fortune. They often tend to forget Vishnu. I was just the opposite. I’m a devotee of Vishnu/Krishna and I have never had any deep dealings with Lakshmi. However, I always tell everyone that Mahalakshmi runs after those who worship her Lord, Vishnu. This certainly proved true in my case. For many years I had been nursing a vague longing to go to the famous Mahalakshmi Mandir at Kolhapur but somehow, I never got an opportunity. I have always found that we cannot make an arbitrary decision to visit any mandir. It is not our choice. The deity herself has to invite us before the opportunity occurs. In this case my invitation to visit her came suddenly on a Friday after I finished reciting the Lalita Sahasranama which is a recital of the thousand and one names of the Goddess. The call was clear and unmistakable – “Come”!

Immediately we contacted some devotee in Kolhapur and after that everything went on oiled wheels. Two days later we were on a flight to Pune. Someone who suddenly decided to join us had arranged a van to seat all of us and others who had come from Mbay had brought a delicious lunch which we ate on the bus. However, I must admit the journey from Pune to Kolhapur was gruelling. It was never ending and we decided to go straight to the mandir since I was anxious to reach for the arati. Of course, we did not reach for the evening arati but through her grace we did reach for the night arati, which was a very elaborate affair after which she went to sleep!! Due to the Covid restrictions only five of us were allowed to go right up to the room next to the sanctum. However, I was happy that on the next day all those who did not get this opportunity were allowed to go in.

My impression of that first darshan is indescribable. I felt as if she had thrown a heap of gold dust at me when I opened my eyes to her charming presence. We were allowed to sit there for the full duration of the arati and I must admit it was indeed a thrilling experience. I had been to many Shakti mandirs and all of them had a totally different vibration. The Kali mandirs were somehow shockingly vibrant but this was sweetly vibrant.

Lakshmi is that aspect of the Divine Mother that makes life a joy. It is what gives us a reason to live and a feeling of contentment and happiness. Her beatific presence is to be found in all the beautiful things on this planet that bring joy to our hearts. Life would have been dreary and drab had it not been for her charming aura. This was so obvious in the mandir.

After the wonderful darshan we were given a special treat. We were taken to an undisclosed Shiva Mandir in a secret chamber housed in the dome, which is normally never shown to anyone. This was another precious gift. There was no priest or fanfare or anything to entice the eyes. It was almost like a cave dominated by a big Ganesha beneath which was a small lingam towards which the eyes were irresistibly drawn. The dome of the mandir curved above the lingam. The whole project was done hurriedly and secretly since I suspect the pujari was frightened of the consequences of taking us to this place which was out of bounds. I would have loved to have sat there and meditated but this was not to be. We made up for it by sitting outside and meditating and chanting.

Our hostess had provided a wonderful Maharashtrian dinner for us at her residence which unfortunately we were not able to do full justice since it was already 10 pm. By the time we reached our hotel it was midnight!

It was much later that I found out many details of this fantastic mandir. Of course, I could not fail to notice its antiquity when we came out of the inner parikrama. Apparently, it was built in the 7th century by the Chalukyan kings. It has been referred to in many Puranas.

The mandir is located on the banks of the Panchganga River in the town of Kolhapur which was known as Karaveer. In fact, the district in which the mandir is situated is still known as Karaveer. It is said that both Lakshmi and Vishnu reside in Karaveer and will not leave even at the time of Mahapralaya (which is the dissolution of the whole world for a vast period of time). The region is eternally blessed for it is believed to be cradled in the right hand of the goddess. Many sages and saints have hallowed this place with their footprints. It is said that Lord Dattatreya comes every afternoon to take alms from the goddess.

The goddess is also known as Ambabai so the mandir is popularly known as the Sri Kollur Ambabai Mandir. It is the greatest and most sacred abode of Lakshmi in the world. Even in Bharat this is the only mandir that is solely dedicated to Mahalakshmi.

The murti is considered to be at least 5,000 to 6,000 years old. Mounted on a stone platform, the figure of the crowned goddess is made of gemstone and weighs about 40 kg. The image is carved out of black stone and is 3 ft tall. A stone lion, which is her vehicle, is quite prominent and stands behind her. Her crown contains an image of the serpent, Sheshnag on which Lord Vishnu relaxes. She has four hands. The lower right holds a Mhatulinga which is a type of citrus fruit. The upper right holds a mace or “gada.” This is the same that is held by her Lord, Vishnu and is called Kaumodaki but unlike the one held by Vishnu, this has its head pointed to the ground. The upper left hand holds a shield or “khetaka” and the lower left, a bowl called the “panapatra.”

Strangely enough she faces west unlike most murtis in other mandirs. There is a reason for this. According to the Hindu calendar, the year is divided into two parts consisting of six months each. Uttarayanam is from January 14th to June 14th when the sun starts its journey towards the north. Dakshinayanam is from June 14th to January 14th when the sun turns towards the south.

The door facing the west lets the rays of the setting sun fall on the murti for three days during Uttarayanam and Dakshinayanam.

Hence, the most important festival here is known as Kirnotsava (festival of the sun’s rays) when the rays of the setting sun fall directly on her. It is as if Surya, the Sun God, pays his homage to Mahalakshmi. During Uttarayanam, these three days are 31st January, 1st and 2nd February. On 31st the rays fall on her feet, on 1st February they fall on her navel and on the 2nd over the whole body. In Dakshinayanam, on November 9th the rays fall on her feet, on the 10th on her navel and on the 11th her whole body is bathed in light!!

On these days the rays of the setting sun start moving from the huge Mahadwara (gate) on the western side towards the Garuda Mantapa. From there the rays move towards the big Ganesha murti in the Ganapati Chowk, then to the Karava Chowk where people stand for darshan; then it slowly advances to the Pitali Umbaratha and then to the Khajina Chowk and finally to the Garbha Griha to nestle at her feet or navel or full form according to the day!

It is a fact that every ancient mandir in Bharat has some such incredible feat of architecture. We are still to discover how these ancient builders managed to figure out such details without the use of modern technology and how they were able to construct such fantastic monuments exhibiting incredible expertise in both geometry and astronomy.

Apparently, twenty one days later the same phenomenon is repeated in the Chopadi Devi Mandir which is in the Jyotiba Mandir!

As usual with most of our mandirs there is an interesting story connected with the reason why the Divine Mother chose to incarnate at this place. Once it is said that the gods wanted to test who was the most forbearing of the trinity composed of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. They sent the great sage, Brighu to test them. He went first to Brahma Loka, the abode of Brahma, where he deliberately showed great disrespect to the Creator. Brahma was furious but refrained from doing anything since Saraswati stopped him. Brighu cursed him that he would never have a mandir and would never be worshipped at any time.

He then went to Kailasa, the abode of Shiva and found him engrossed in a game with his consort Parvati. The bull, Nandi stopped him from entering. Brighu cursed Shiva that he would only be worshipped as a formless lingam henceforth.

His third visit was to Vaikunta, the abode of Vishnu who was in slumber on his snake bed! The sage stormed in and gave a well-aimed kick at Vishnu’s chest! The Lord opened his eyes and begged his pardon for not having welcomed him. He said, “My chest is adamantine and your soft foot would have been hurt by it.” So saying, he took the sage’s foot and massaged it. He also told him that he would always cherish the mark of the sage’s foot and to this day we find that it exists on Vishnu’s chest and is known as the “srivatsam.”

Brighu returned and announced to all the sages that Vishnu was the most forbearing of the gods of the trinity. However, Vishnu’s consort Mahalakshmi was furious at the insult to her husband. Since she is said to reside on his chest, it was a double insult. She left Vaikunta and came to the world. The place she chose to reside was Kolhapur!

Apparently, this story is a recent innovation and is not mentioned in any of the Puranas.

The rituals and pujas conducted in the mandir lead us to believe that this is actually a Shakti Peeth. It is one of the hundred and eight major Shakti Peeths of the country. The Shakti Peeths are actually places where the different limbs of Sati, the wife of Shiva, fell off after the catastrophe that took place at the Daksha Yaga. The Kolhapur Mahatmya, which is a text composed in 1730, gives the history of the place. It is mentioned in the book that the goddess came to the place to protect the locals from the demon called Kolasura who was troubling them by sucking away the water of the river. The word “kolhar” means fox and of course “puri” means town or district. The people begged the Divine Mother to save them and she agreed to come and kill the demon. Before dying he is said to have begged her to forgive his inequities and name the place after him and so it was done.

Another reason for suspecting this to be a Shakti Peeth is the fact that a secret Shiva Mandir exists within the dome of the shrine about which I have already mentioned. Obviously, this was kept in order to balance the “shakti” or power of the goddess. It was her grace that allowed us to go there twice even though it is no longer open to the general public.

I had not known of the relationship between Thirupati Balaji and Mahalakshmi until I went to Kolhapur. As soon as you enter the mandir the first shrine that greets you is the one to Thirupati Balaji. We have to pray here before proceeding to the abode of Mahalakshmi. I had wondered about this and was given the story later. In this glorious land that abounds in stories and fables such accounts are plentiful and add to the power of the mandirs and increases the faith of the devotees.

Every day a special train arrives in Kolhapur from Thirupati in Andhra Pradesh carrying hundreds of pilgrims who have already had darshan of Thirupati Venkatachalapati and who believe that their pilgrimage will not be complete without having darshan of Kolhapur Mahalakshmi. The 860 km journey from Thirupati to Kolhapur is essential since Venkatachalapati will not bless you until and unless his wife Mahalakshmi blesses you! I had been many times to Thirupati but it was only now that I was given the opportunity to have his full blessings!

After the Islamic invasions, the mandir was abandoned and the deity removed to the house of the pujari. It was only restored at the time of Chhatrapati Shivaji’s son. His daughter-in-law Tarabai actually established the kingdom of Kolhapur and built their palace right next to the mandir. At that time many additions were made to the original mandir.

We did a circumambulation of the mandir and went and sat right in front of the main shrine on the parikrama path. All of us chanted the Mahalakshmi Ashtakam and invoked her and meditated on her powerful presence which seemed to permeate the whole atmosphere.

The ancient mandirs of our country are what holds the Sanatana Dharma together. There is a deliberate attempt by other aggressive religions to destroy them and to wrest them from our custody for they know how important they are to us. Hindus should make a concerted effort to stop these diabolic schemes and see that our mandirs are given back to our custody.

A strange thing happened after our return from Kolhapur which shows us that the deities housed in these great mandirs are not mere blocks of stone but have been imbued with the breath of the divine and have the power to evoke miracles. I had bought a small, antique-looking murti of the goddess from a wayside store. Nobody liked it much since it was made of an alloy and didn’t look very good. But somehow out of all the bright and polished murtis that were on sale, my eyes were drawn to this insignificant looking one. After returning to the ashram, I took it out of the packet and placed it on the altar. A flood of golden light flashed across my eyes. I was taken aback to see that it had turned to gold. It was early morning and in the flickering lights of the oil lamps the figure looked incredible. What can I say about this except that it was truly her show of power!

I wouldn’t have been surprised if she had changed back to her original drab colour the next day but I’m happy to say she still looks like burnished gold! After all she is Mahalakshmi, the possessor of all wealth. May she bless us with her true wealth which are the gifts of auspiciousness and spirituality.

Jai Ambabai!