With the departure of Mother Maya and the promise of her return next year, I realized that I now ad a week on my own to do as I liked!
I made a new friend in a Brahmacharya, Subash, a monk awaiting his enter into Sannasyin, and we spent a great deal of time together along with other friends during this time...
I was shifted to another ashram just behind the Dayananda Vedanta Ashram where they have a beautiful cow and her newborn calf, a little boy...so beautiful...
Monica, from Bolivia, needed a place to stay and she had attended both the conference and the studies with Mother Maya so I had no problem offering my room to her as I had another bed...
Monica and I spent alot of time out walking around Rishikesh visiting Ram Juula and Lakshman Juula, both places with numerous shops and lots to see! We found a couple of wonderful restaurants cooking ayurvedically and enjoyed our meals there immensely!
It was wonderful to have time to ourselves to digest, process, experience and rest after such intense periods of study and in preparation of the fast approaching one month camp with His Holiness Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati on Vedanta studies.
We frequented Mother Ganga and morning pujas at the temple in addition to morning snanum dips to wake us up!
The days included time for studies and enjoyment of afternoon naps. The sound of the bell rings through the ashram signaling meal or teatime is ready! We scurried over to the dining hall for a hot cup of masala chai tea and bathed in the cool shade of the Banyan trees by the garden...
The week was coming to a close and the intensity of the ashram was definitely picking up with the arrival of the international participants. There are to be 242 participants in the first of the three camps with the addition and subtraction of those that couldn't make it and those in the area wanting to drop in and behold the teachings of Swamiji. Numerous students from Japan, Brazil, various states in India, Portugal, Germany and French arrived with a few Americans as well. Many of them adorned in white Kurta outfits as white is the symbolic color of peace and clarity imbibing positive energy and flow for a student.
Subash took me to a lovely shop in Ram Juula area and bought lovely material so as I would have a few white outfits made by his tailor. So kind and thoughtful...
One of the most special events of this week was attending Sivaratri celebration at the Sivananda Temple with a number of friends here at the ashram. This deserves a discuss all on it's own....
Om Namaha Shivaya
xxooxx
Jennifer
Love and blessings
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Sacred Reality Tour with Sri Swamini Mayatitananda - February 21 - 25, 2008 Sri Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati Vedanta Ashram, Rishikesh
We all met at 2pm in the afternoon on February 21 to make our way across to the other side of Mother Ganga River in the continuance of studies with Mother Maya held at her Guruji's ashram, Dayananda Vedanta Ashram.
Bags abound were carefully placed in the rickshaws that were to be manually carried by the porters. These men are small, strong, sinewy and with a light of happiness and joy in their eyes. Off we went leaving the glory of Parmath Niketan Ashram and the profound experience of the International Ayurveda & Yoga Conference in our hearts and memories.
The journey to the travel bus, hired for our time with Mother Maya, was on an uphill back road and we assisted the porters by pushing from behind as the weight of our bags was immense. Monkeys abound with no fear to close in on the baggage carts that awaited at the top of the hill! Mother's with their little ones holding on tight swung from tree to tree and joined their community of monkeys hanging out on the brick walls surrounding the road. Such humour in watching their sparkle and ease in approaching for the odd banana and snatching anything lose or bags that were easy to carry!
The travel bus followed the windy road up, up and up further still, with views of Mother Ganga in the distance and the town of Rishikesh in all it's busyness. The street taking us down into the ashram was sooooo narrow one wondered if we would need to levitate the rest of the way there! How would it be possible to moneuveur our way past the goats, the cows, the rickshaws and the sounds of laughter from the children beholding these western faces!
Well, we did arrive and rooms were arranged. Bags unloaded and a much needed rest on the bed to acclimitize for the next five days of wonderment... We were all given private rooms which was really lovely and I set up my altar first thing and smugged the room with fresh sage I brought from home as well as lit my beautiful beeswax candle while initiating this time with some Vedic chants.
Orientation shared the outline of the journey ahead and the Guru protocol as well as the protocol while here as a vistor to the ashram. Distance was to be kept from the Swami's and Swamini's as well as the Vedic priests and pranams (the bowing forward and touching of the right foot with the right hand while stating 'Om' or 'Hari Om') as a sign of respect offered to all that were met.
A sample of our daily schedule as follows -
Morning snenum (dip in Mother Ganga) - 330am - 430am
Early morning Tea/ Coffee - 430am onwards
Morning Temple Puja & Arati- 515am - 615am
Breakfast- 730am
Wise Earth Ayurveda Japa Meditation with Mother – 8am – 830am
Vedanta Discourse: Living Ahimsa with Mother – 900am -1030am
Lunch- Noon - 100pm
Pilgrimage to Sacred Sites -100pm -500pm
Afternoon Tea/ Coffee -300pm
Evening Temple Puja & Arati- 600pm - 700pm
Dinner- 730pm
Although Morning and Evening Arati at the Ashram were not compulsory for us to attend, Mother strongly encouraged that we make it a point to attend these profound Vedic ceremonies. She did not wish us to miss such a unique opportunity to offer the necessary sankalpa for our and our family’s wellbeing. It is rare to find the perfection of Shakti (awakening of Mother Divine power) with which the Pujaris (Vedic priests) of Pujya Swami Dayananda’s Ashram conduct these ancient rites.
On our first day out, February 22, we visited two Devi temples that were divine and that are connected by rope bridges - Manasa Devi and Chandi Devi in Hardwar: Although, over the recent years, Hardwar has become a tourist hot spot with people selling everything on the promenade as you venture in to the city. We also took Arati at the Mother Ganges in Hardwar, a holy city where thousands of Hindus gather every evening to receive the Darshana of the Goddess Ganga. We had the opportunity to join in the offering by floating a dipa on a sacred leaf down the Ganges River. It was heavenly and it is hard to capture the words with which I can express such a moving experience...
The evening Satsanga with Mother (on 2 evenings) 8:00pm-9:00pm was always enjoyable to ask all the necessary questions that one had been holding onto.
Our pilgrimage, while in the Holy City of Rishikesh, was in seeking the Darshana of Lord Shiva. We will visit Neelkanth (Nilakantha)-a very famous and sacred temple of Lord Shiva, located approximately s 25 kilometers by road (or a 10 kilometer hike).
The second Shakti Pitham we also visited, on another day, was Kunjapuri: A most serene Shakti Pitham, located approximately 32 kilometers from Rishikesh which Mother visited and blessed and took the Darshana of the Goddess many years ago.
The sites all held such a powerful feeling of peace and once again the winding roads were unimaginable in regards to how we managed to reach the top unscathed! For the most part I was concerned about the brakes on the way down!
Mornings on the Ganga River chanting with my japa mala set the day and more and more the time with Mother and the other Sadhakas opened my heart and mind to a remembrance of my dharma here in this life - to help and be of service to others...
The days cumilnated with a morning group photo of all Sadhakas and Mother Maya before she headed off to her next place of duty... Mother has booked our studies for next year here at the ashram from March 16 - 29, 2009 and I will definitely be here...
Jai Jai Ma!
Om Namaha Shivaya
With love and blessings
Jennifer
Bags abound were carefully placed in the rickshaws that were to be manually carried by the porters. These men are small, strong, sinewy and with a light of happiness and joy in their eyes. Off we went leaving the glory of Parmath Niketan Ashram and the profound experience of the International Ayurveda & Yoga Conference in our hearts and memories.
The journey to the travel bus, hired for our time with Mother Maya, was on an uphill back road and we assisted the porters by pushing from behind as the weight of our bags was immense. Monkeys abound with no fear to close in on the baggage carts that awaited at the top of the hill! Mother's with their little ones holding on tight swung from tree to tree and joined their community of monkeys hanging out on the brick walls surrounding the road. Such humour in watching their sparkle and ease in approaching for the odd banana and snatching anything lose or bags that were easy to carry!
The travel bus followed the windy road up, up and up further still, with views of Mother Ganga in the distance and the town of Rishikesh in all it's busyness. The street taking us down into the ashram was sooooo narrow one wondered if we would need to levitate the rest of the way there! How would it be possible to moneuveur our way past the goats, the cows, the rickshaws and the sounds of laughter from the children beholding these western faces!
Well, we did arrive and rooms were arranged. Bags unloaded and a much needed rest on the bed to acclimitize for the next five days of wonderment... We were all given private rooms which was really lovely and I set up my altar first thing and smugged the room with fresh sage I brought from home as well as lit my beautiful beeswax candle while initiating this time with some Vedic chants.
Orientation shared the outline of the journey ahead and the Guru protocol as well as the protocol while here as a vistor to the ashram. Distance was to be kept from the Swami's and Swamini's as well as the Vedic priests and pranams (the bowing forward and touching of the right foot with the right hand while stating 'Om' or 'Hari Om') as a sign of respect offered to all that were met.
A sample of our daily schedule as follows -
Morning snenum (dip in Mother Ganga) - 330am - 430am
Early morning Tea/ Coffee - 430am onwards
Morning Temple Puja & Arati- 515am - 615am
Breakfast- 730am
Wise Earth Ayurveda Japa Meditation with Mother – 8am – 830am
Vedanta Discourse: Living Ahimsa with Mother – 900am -1030am
Lunch- Noon - 100pm
Pilgrimage to Sacred Sites -100pm -500pm
Afternoon Tea/ Coffee -300pm
Evening Temple Puja & Arati- 600pm - 700pm
Dinner- 730pm
Although Morning and Evening Arati at the Ashram were not compulsory for us to attend, Mother strongly encouraged that we make it a point to attend these profound Vedic ceremonies. She did not wish us to miss such a unique opportunity to offer the necessary sankalpa for our and our family’s wellbeing. It is rare to find the perfection of Shakti (awakening of Mother Divine power) with which the Pujaris (Vedic priests) of Pujya Swami Dayananda’s Ashram conduct these ancient rites.
On our first day out, February 22, we visited two Devi temples that were divine and that are connected by rope bridges - Manasa Devi and Chandi Devi in Hardwar: Although, over the recent years, Hardwar has become a tourist hot spot with people selling everything on the promenade as you venture in to the city. We also took Arati at the Mother Ganges in Hardwar, a holy city where thousands of Hindus gather every evening to receive the Darshana of the Goddess Ganga. We had the opportunity to join in the offering by floating a dipa on a sacred leaf down the Ganges River. It was heavenly and it is hard to capture the words with which I can express such a moving experience...
The evening Satsanga with Mother (on 2 evenings) 8:00pm-9:00pm was always enjoyable to ask all the necessary questions that one had been holding onto.
Our pilgrimage, while in the Holy City of Rishikesh, was in seeking the Darshana of Lord Shiva. We will visit Neelkanth (Nilakantha)-a very famous and sacred temple of Lord Shiva, located approximately s 25 kilometers by road (or a 10 kilometer hike).
The second Shakti Pitham we also visited, on another day, was Kunjapuri: A most serene Shakti Pitham, located approximately 32 kilometers from Rishikesh which Mother visited and blessed and took the Darshana of the Goddess many years ago.
The sites all held such a powerful feeling of peace and once again the winding roads were unimaginable in regards to how we managed to reach the top unscathed! For the most part I was concerned about the brakes on the way down!
Mornings on the Ganga River chanting with my japa mala set the day and more and more the time with Mother and the other Sadhakas opened my heart and mind to a remembrance of my dharma here in this life - to help and be of service to others...
The days cumilnated with a morning group photo of all Sadhakas and Mother Maya before she headed off to her next place of duty... Mother has booked our studies for next year here at the ashram from March 16 - 29, 2009 and I will definitely be here...
Jai Jai Ma!
Om Namaha Shivaya
With love and blessings
Jennifer
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Land of the Rishi's...Rishikesh International Conference on Ayurveda & Yoga February 21 - 25, 2008
So here we are in the foothills of the Himilayas with an atmosphere that is both one of calm and chaos...
Rishikesh appears to be inundated with the amenties offered of larger cities as well. The opportunity to buy and browse is on many streets that have grown over the years with the ever increasing visits of the foreigners and pilgramages of pilgrams throughout the years.
Rishikesh, the holy city in the Himalayas , is located in the district of Dehradun in the north Indian state of Uttaranchal. The name takes the meaning from Rishi (Sage) and Kesh (Mount), meaning the Mountain of Sages ; or the spiritual abode, the home of spirituality. Rishikesh is supposed to be the starting point for the spiritual journey to the four important pilgrimage centers...
On the night of arrival I was blessed to share a room with Blanca and Renee at Parmath Niketan Ashram, the venue where the International Conference on Ayurveda & Yoga is to be held. Grateful am I to have such lovely friends who generously accomodate me until morning when my room across the hall will be ready. We all stayed up chattering away and shared storied since last meeting at the Ancestral Conference with Mother Maya in Massasschuetts last October.
The following day we are greeted with a lovely cool morning and head out to Rishikesh market but stop at Madras Cafe for a lovely nutritious meal. Then we are off down the road with the cows, the monkeys, the street dogs, the pigs, the three wheel cycle rickshaw, the auto rickshaw, the scooter, the motorbike, the bicycles, the transport trucks, the cars, vans, SUV's and all else in search for a bank that my friends can change currency at. It is a level of busyness and musical dance that begets such respect for the efficiency shown on such a narrow road!
The heat got to us all and therefore the luxury of an auto returning to the Ram Julla bridge is necessary! At this bridge, where we were let off the previous evening, we make our way pass the numerous and unending shops that spill out onto the street and then in crossing the bridge one beholds the Mother in her glory...
The Ganges River is said to be revered and is the sacred physical incarnation of the Divine Mother. Every evening on her banks and all along her journey to the Bay of Bengal, she is honored and worshipped in the ritual of Aarti. This ritual involves prayers, chanting, offerings of flowers, fire (in the form of dipa candles which are actually lit pieces of camphor sometimes sitting in ghee or wax), bhajans (sacred songs)all with deep reverence and honoring for all that a Mother provides. In this case, it is a river that nourishes, nutures and sustains a people and all the lands that rely on her for their survival, their life...
Back at the ranch, I am moved across the hall to my room overlooking the Mother Ganga river...how beautiful. The room itself is sparse, austere and simple in it's offerings but with a generous space for my beloved roommate Ellen and I to share in splendor. Ellen is a lovely woman, also a devotee of Mother Maya and a happy grandmother. Such a blessing to have her presence with me there.
All the Wise Earth Sadhakas (seekers/students) of Mother Maya are in rooms within the same area on the third floor of this building at the ashram. My neighbor is Mother Maya herself! The great Dr. David Frawley and Dr. Robert Svoboda are also a couple of doors away with a few amazing Swami's and Swamini's rounding out this 'dorm mate' situation! It is amazing to think that this opportunity to share space with your guru, along with other Masters of Ayurveda and Yoga, Swami's and Swamini's, Sadhu's and Saints exists to place us all in the remembrance of oneness, equality and understanding of that which is more then 'title', more then 'success in a material aspect'. A great blessing in friendliness and love...
And so we are off to the beginning of the conference for which I share a link describing the keynote speakers (http://www.ayurvedaconference.com/keynotespe.html). The evening begins with Aarti on the bank of Mother Ganga and Puja (blessing ceremony)to commemerate the occasion and honor with reverence this special time and coming together of such great teachers. The sharing that will happen from both sides between teacher and students opens up the possibilities for a deeper understanding and commitment to perserving the sister sciences of Ayurveda & Yoga.
This celebration was amazing and so moving with it's devotional offerings. It is so challenging to find the words to capture how the soul is stirred with these rituals for it is something to experience within oneself, it's own awakening and surrender to the sraddha and believe in the fragility, the preciousness of life...
After the Puja and Aarti we enjoyed a lovely dinner in the dining hall. The venue itself, set on the grounds of the ashram, the largest ashram here in Rishikesh, it clorful in its pure white, gold, yellow and orange drapery throughout the tents that house the Ganga confernce tent for keynote speeches, the dining hall and the Expo of vendors supplying offerings of innumerable ayurvedic and yoga products including sacred study texts and beautiful handloomed shaals to comfort in the evening under Chandra, Mother Moon...
The opening ceremony which included the glorious introduction of all the keynote speakers and how the conference will unfold. It is incredibly moving for me and I feel so tremedously blessed to have this precious opportunity.
The events include morning and evening Homams (fire rituals where 108 special ayurvedic herbs are offered in honor of the ultimate healing power of nature) on the banks of the River Ganga (Ganges), including a Dhanvantari Homam (an oblation ceremony for Lord Dhanvantari – the God of Healing) and a Maha Mrityunjaya Homam (an oblation ceremony to invoke the healing powers of Lord Shiva, Rudra Abhisheka (a special offering to Lord Shiva) on the banks of the Ganga, chanting of devotional songs and mantras on the banks of the Ganga, evening Arathi (worship), where oil lamps are floated on the Ganga, cultural programs in the evening on the banks of Holy Ganga.
The location of this ashram faces the west and as the hot Indian sun sets, Aarti begins with the chanting, the songs, the fire, the oil lamps, the offering in a magnificient ceremony of devotion...a challenge to sum up in words but I do have pictures to share...
The days schedule is a sample of below and includes my awaking at 4am for personal practice, a snenum (a dip in Mother Ganga)...
5 - 7am Homam
6 - 7am Mantra/Pranayama/Dhyana (meditation)
7 - 8am Patanjali Yoga Sutras & Ayurveda, Modern Concept of Ancient Indian Knowledge, Shri. Mukunda Stiles, Dr. N. Gopalakrishnan
7 - 930am Registration
930 - 1030am Inaugural Session
1045 - 1215pm Wise Earth Ayurveda's Inner Medicine Healing, Sri Swamini Mayatitananda
1215 - 115pm Re-Awakening Intelligence in the Consciousness Era : Value of Traditional Knowledge Systems, Dr. J. M. Sampath
230 - 330pm Ayurveda and Yoga Psychology, Dr. David Frawley & Ms. Shambhavi Chopra
345 - 445pm Ayurveda and Yoga Psychology - cont:,Dr. David Frawley & Ms. Shambhavi Chopra
500 - 600pm Asana classes - Shri. Mukunda Stiles, Ms. Shakta Kaur, Ms. Sama Fabian
600 - 630pm Ganga Aarti
800 - 900pm Cultural Programme - Sant Venu Gopal Goswami
So that gives a sample of my days and hopefully clarifies why I hadn't ventured to update my blog during that week and the coming days!
The information and the presentation was wonderful from the speakers. Their sharing and wisdom, profound...
During our breaks we would venture to the expo, take some needed rest in our dorm rooms and enjoy a cup of masala chai tea...
The presentations had not only us as international delegates and participants as the monkeys always seemed to know the important parts of the speech and made their presence known with their little heads popping out from the roottop to take in the view! Always to the roar of laughter and the understanding from the speaker that patience and concentration would get us through it!
The time flew by in moments of deep insight and community sharing and I loved every minute of it... The speakers were gracious and so incredibly respectful of the Sastra, the scripture, and each other, for which they had shared in such a powerful way...
Rishikesh is amazing in it's manner of meeting another. Always the greeting conveys such respect and love from the heart. The hand is brought up and rests on the heart with a 'Hari Om', 'Om' or a prayer in Anjali Mudra (hands in prayer at the heart) with the gentle 'Namaste'...it is deeply touching to me and holds my heart so...
And so the moments, the days unfolded and soon it was time to pack up our things for the next faze of the journey here with our beloved Guruji Mother Maya at her Guruji's ashram, Dayananda Vedanta Ashram. This would be another journey that blesses one's heart and mind with such clarity for the practice of Ahimsa, nonviolence, and the beauty of life...
With love and blessings always...xo
Om Om Om
Shanti Shanti Shanti
Jennifer
Rishikesh appears to be inundated with the amenties offered of larger cities as well. The opportunity to buy and browse is on many streets that have grown over the years with the ever increasing visits of the foreigners and pilgramages of pilgrams throughout the years.
Rishikesh, the holy city in the Himalayas , is located in the district of Dehradun in the north Indian state of Uttaranchal. The name takes the meaning from Rishi (Sage) and Kesh (Mount), meaning the Mountain of Sages ; or the spiritual abode, the home of spirituality. Rishikesh is supposed to be the starting point for the spiritual journey to the four important pilgrimage centers...
On the night of arrival I was blessed to share a room with Blanca and Renee at Parmath Niketan Ashram, the venue where the International Conference on Ayurveda & Yoga is to be held. Grateful am I to have such lovely friends who generously accomodate me until morning when my room across the hall will be ready. We all stayed up chattering away and shared storied since last meeting at the Ancestral Conference with Mother Maya in Massasschuetts last October.
The following day we are greeted with a lovely cool morning and head out to Rishikesh market but stop at Madras Cafe for a lovely nutritious meal. Then we are off down the road with the cows, the monkeys, the street dogs, the pigs, the three wheel cycle rickshaw, the auto rickshaw, the scooter, the motorbike, the bicycles, the transport trucks, the cars, vans, SUV's and all else in search for a bank that my friends can change currency at. It is a level of busyness and musical dance that begets such respect for the efficiency shown on such a narrow road!
The heat got to us all and therefore the luxury of an auto returning to the Ram Julla bridge is necessary! At this bridge, where we were let off the previous evening, we make our way pass the numerous and unending shops that spill out onto the street and then in crossing the bridge one beholds the Mother in her glory...
The Ganges River is said to be revered and is the sacred physical incarnation of the Divine Mother. Every evening on her banks and all along her journey to the Bay of Bengal, she is honored and worshipped in the ritual of Aarti. This ritual involves prayers, chanting, offerings of flowers, fire (in the form of dipa candles which are actually lit pieces of camphor sometimes sitting in ghee or wax), bhajans (sacred songs)all with deep reverence and honoring for all that a Mother provides. In this case, it is a river that nourishes, nutures and sustains a people and all the lands that rely on her for their survival, their life...
Back at the ranch, I am moved across the hall to my room overlooking the Mother Ganga river...how beautiful. The room itself is sparse, austere and simple in it's offerings but with a generous space for my beloved roommate Ellen and I to share in splendor. Ellen is a lovely woman, also a devotee of Mother Maya and a happy grandmother. Such a blessing to have her presence with me there.
All the Wise Earth Sadhakas (seekers/students) of Mother Maya are in rooms within the same area on the third floor of this building at the ashram. My neighbor is Mother Maya herself! The great Dr. David Frawley and Dr. Robert Svoboda are also a couple of doors away with a few amazing Swami's and Swamini's rounding out this 'dorm mate' situation! It is amazing to think that this opportunity to share space with your guru, along with other Masters of Ayurveda and Yoga, Swami's and Swamini's, Sadhu's and Saints exists to place us all in the remembrance of oneness, equality and understanding of that which is more then 'title', more then 'success in a material aspect'. A great blessing in friendliness and love...
And so we are off to the beginning of the conference for which I share a link describing the keynote speakers (http://www.ayurvedaconference.com/keynotespe.html). The evening begins with Aarti on the bank of Mother Ganga and Puja (blessing ceremony)to commemerate the occasion and honor with reverence this special time and coming together of such great teachers. The sharing that will happen from both sides between teacher and students opens up the possibilities for a deeper understanding and commitment to perserving the sister sciences of Ayurveda & Yoga.
This celebration was amazing and so moving with it's devotional offerings. It is so challenging to find the words to capture how the soul is stirred with these rituals for it is something to experience within oneself, it's own awakening and surrender to the sraddha and believe in the fragility, the preciousness of life...
After the Puja and Aarti we enjoyed a lovely dinner in the dining hall. The venue itself, set on the grounds of the ashram, the largest ashram here in Rishikesh, it clorful in its pure white, gold, yellow and orange drapery throughout the tents that house the Ganga confernce tent for keynote speeches, the dining hall and the Expo of vendors supplying offerings of innumerable ayurvedic and yoga products including sacred study texts and beautiful handloomed shaals to comfort in the evening under Chandra, Mother Moon...
The opening ceremony which included the glorious introduction of all the keynote speakers and how the conference will unfold. It is incredibly moving for me and I feel so tremedously blessed to have this precious opportunity.
The events include morning and evening Homams (fire rituals where 108 special ayurvedic herbs are offered in honor of the ultimate healing power of nature) on the banks of the River Ganga (Ganges), including a Dhanvantari Homam (an oblation ceremony for Lord Dhanvantari – the God of Healing) and a Maha Mrityunjaya Homam (an oblation ceremony to invoke the healing powers of Lord Shiva, Rudra Abhisheka (a special offering to Lord Shiva) on the banks of the Ganga, chanting of devotional songs and mantras on the banks of the Ganga, evening Arathi (worship), where oil lamps are floated on the Ganga, cultural programs in the evening on the banks of Holy Ganga.
The location of this ashram faces the west and as the hot Indian sun sets, Aarti begins with the chanting, the songs, the fire, the oil lamps, the offering in a magnificient ceremony of devotion...a challenge to sum up in words but I do have pictures to share...
The days schedule is a sample of below and includes my awaking at 4am for personal practice, a snenum (a dip in Mother Ganga)...
5 - 7am Homam
6 - 7am Mantra/Pranayama/Dhyana (meditation)
7 - 8am Patanjali Yoga Sutras & Ayurveda, Modern Concept of Ancient Indian Knowledge, Shri. Mukunda Stiles, Dr. N. Gopalakrishnan
7 - 930am Registration
930 - 1030am Inaugural Session
1045 - 1215pm Wise Earth Ayurveda's Inner Medicine Healing, Sri Swamini Mayatitananda
1215 - 115pm Re-Awakening Intelligence in the Consciousness Era : Value of Traditional Knowledge Systems, Dr. J. M. Sampath
230 - 330pm Ayurveda and Yoga Psychology, Dr. David Frawley & Ms. Shambhavi Chopra
345 - 445pm Ayurveda and Yoga Psychology - cont:,Dr. David Frawley & Ms. Shambhavi Chopra
500 - 600pm Asana classes - Shri. Mukunda Stiles, Ms. Shakta Kaur, Ms. Sama Fabian
600 - 630pm Ganga Aarti
800 - 900pm Cultural Programme - Sant Venu Gopal Goswami
So that gives a sample of my days and hopefully clarifies why I hadn't ventured to update my blog during that week and the coming days!
The information and the presentation was wonderful from the speakers. Their sharing and wisdom, profound...
During our breaks we would venture to the expo, take some needed rest in our dorm rooms and enjoy a cup of masala chai tea...
The presentations had not only us as international delegates and participants as the monkeys always seemed to know the important parts of the speech and made their presence known with their little heads popping out from the roottop to take in the view! Always to the roar of laughter and the understanding from the speaker that patience and concentration would get us through it!
The time flew by in moments of deep insight and community sharing and I loved every minute of it... The speakers were gracious and so incredibly respectful of the Sastra, the scripture, and each other, for which they had shared in such a powerful way...
Rishikesh is amazing in it's manner of meeting another. Always the greeting conveys such respect and love from the heart. The hand is brought up and rests on the heart with a 'Hari Om', 'Om' or a prayer in Anjali Mudra (hands in prayer at the heart) with the gentle 'Namaste'...it is deeply touching to me and holds my heart so...
And so the moments, the days unfolded and soon it was time to pack up our things for the next faze of the journey here with our beloved Guruji Mother Maya at her Guruji's ashram, Dayananda Vedanta Ashram. This would be another journey that blesses one's heart and mind with such clarity for the practice of Ahimsa, nonviolence, and the beauty of life...
With love and blessings always...xo
Om Om Om
Shanti Shanti Shanti
Jennifer
Friday, February 22, 2008
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti ... Rishikesh
We arrive in Rishikesh...
Hiro gets off at the Main Bus Stand in the entrance of the town and I continue on to the bridge at the edge of Mother Ganga where I run into three of my friends here from the Wise Earth School also attending the International Conference - Ayurveda & Yoga 'Where Science Meets Consciousness' for five days as well as the following five days with our Guru, Mother Maya, for the Sacred Reality Tour here in Rishikesh and the surrounding areas. What good fortune! After popping my bags on the same manual rickshaw with the very strong and sweet carrier, we head towards the bridge that takes us across to Parmath Niketam Ashram where we are to stay for the first five days in attendance of the conference.
Walking over the bridge which does not allow cars or autos, (cows, dogs, people, sadhus, seekers, scooters and motorbikes are ok!) one first hears Mother Ganga rushing before you see her in her glory. It is a power that has been revered, is nightly crowned with the arrati puja and a gift that keeps on giving to the plains, the lands, the peoples throughout this area on route to its mergance with the Bay of Bengal.
I have run out of time to continue at this moment but I will...be back...
With love from the Land of the Rishi's and with deep gratitude for all
Om
Jennifer
Hiro gets off at the Main Bus Stand in the entrance of the town and I continue on to the bridge at the edge of Mother Ganga where I run into three of my friends here from the Wise Earth School also attending the International Conference - Ayurveda & Yoga 'Where Science Meets Consciousness' for five days as well as the following five days with our Guru, Mother Maya, for the Sacred Reality Tour here in Rishikesh and the surrounding areas. What good fortune! After popping my bags on the same manual rickshaw with the very strong and sweet carrier, we head towards the bridge that takes us across to Parmath Niketam Ashram where we are to stay for the first five days in attendance of the conference.
Walking over the bridge which does not allow cars or autos, (cows, dogs, people, sadhus, seekers, scooters and motorbikes are ok!) one first hears Mother Ganga rushing before you see her in her glory. It is a power that has been revered, is nightly crowned with the arrati puja and a gift that keeps on giving to the plains, the lands, the peoples throughout this area on route to its mergance with the Bay of Bengal.
I have run out of time to continue at this moment but I will...be back...
With love from the Land of the Rishi's and with deep gratitude for all
Om
Jennifer
Hyderabad...
Many things in life cannot be explained...We typically want to know and are at times impatient...I know I can be in that mind space at times.
It was nice to take pause with friends for a few days and I had the opportunity to visit some amazing sites there as well...
The days were met in coolness which was a divine experience...So welcomed after the heat of the south.
It was interesting to see how much I needed to rest upon arrival to Hyderabad and I tried my best to honor that request from the body.
I did visit the temple there but was informed that foreigners Nadi Leaves are kept in Tamil Nadu state. That is where Chennai is located and so I will have to wait until I head back there for that invetigation ala 'Sherlock Holmes'...
Spending time with Manyam and his family, whom took me to the temple for Nadi Leaves, gifted me with the opportunity to meet their guru fondly known as 'Baba'. This was a unique experience to say the least and I was asked back again prior to my departure. We went back again and Baba and I shared in private conversation. The long and the short of it is that he has invited me back to stay with him for awhile so as he can share his teachings with me. An unordinary invitation from an, apparantly, extraordinary healer...I hope for a translator because he speaks Telugu! I have decided to return and head back in April after short visits to Varanasi and Agra...
I left Hyderabad on an early, early train at 625am heading back to Delhi. It was on this train that I noticed my continuing train to Hardiwar was not for the following day when I was to arrive in Delhi but the next day. I really did not wish to spend a day in Delhi to be honest. It would be a great deal of energy and cost to move away from the train station, to a hotel/guesthouse and then back again. I was able to cancel my ticket with a small loss and then rebook another ticket onward that same day.
After checking my baggage into the cloakroom there at the train station, amongst the scurrying mice, I headed out to find an auto to take me to Connaught Place for lunch. I was hungry after not having ate since the previous afternoon.
Down a dark alley among a dozen or so fading signs I found a cyber cafe to respond and send some emails then it was off to catch the next train to Hardiwar leaving at 325pm!
This time all I took was a chair coach as the trip was only 4 hours and I shared my area with Hiro, a photographer from Japan also heading to Rishikesh. He is taking photographs of Mother Ganga from Rishikesh to Kolkatta (Calcutta) where she returns to the Bay of Bengal in full flow of sacred reverance.
After arriving in Hardiwar Hiro and I hired an auto to complete the 45 minute journey further north to beloved Rishikesh. The temperature reminds me of a cold winter night in Vancouver but feels even colder when I remember where I have just traveled from. The auto is thrusting forward in full speed and I wrap my shawl around me even tighter including my head. Having never experienced the 'Outback Journey' I get a sense that it is probably like this! We travel so fast I am trying to acclimitize to the new place I am in, the place I have dreamt of, the place I have sought, the place I have yearned to see, to smell, to feel, to witness and a smile creeps across my face as though I am 'in the know' of a fabulous secret...
It is a beautiful, humbling feeling that is a challenge to articulate. I only wish I could show you my heart as it is flowering, blooming and beating to the song that has carried me here for an experience, an unfolding of collective understanding, love and surrender...
Om Namaha Shivaya
Jennifer
It was nice to take pause with friends for a few days and I had the opportunity to visit some amazing sites there as well...
The days were met in coolness which was a divine experience...So welcomed after the heat of the south.
It was interesting to see how much I needed to rest upon arrival to Hyderabad and I tried my best to honor that request from the body.
I did visit the temple there but was informed that foreigners Nadi Leaves are kept in Tamil Nadu state. That is where Chennai is located and so I will have to wait until I head back there for that invetigation ala 'Sherlock Holmes'...
Spending time with Manyam and his family, whom took me to the temple for Nadi Leaves, gifted me with the opportunity to meet their guru fondly known as 'Baba'. This was a unique experience to say the least and I was asked back again prior to my departure. We went back again and Baba and I shared in private conversation. The long and the short of it is that he has invited me back to stay with him for awhile so as he can share his teachings with me. An unordinary invitation from an, apparantly, extraordinary healer...I hope for a translator because he speaks Telugu! I have decided to return and head back in April after short visits to Varanasi and Agra...
I left Hyderabad on an early, early train at 625am heading back to Delhi. It was on this train that I noticed my continuing train to Hardiwar was not for the following day when I was to arrive in Delhi but the next day. I really did not wish to spend a day in Delhi to be honest. It would be a great deal of energy and cost to move away from the train station, to a hotel/guesthouse and then back again. I was able to cancel my ticket with a small loss and then rebook another ticket onward that same day.
After checking my baggage into the cloakroom there at the train station, amongst the scurrying mice, I headed out to find an auto to take me to Connaught Place for lunch. I was hungry after not having ate since the previous afternoon.
Down a dark alley among a dozen or so fading signs I found a cyber cafe to respond and send some emails then it was off to catch the next train to Hardiwar leaving at 325pm!
This time all I took was a chair coach as the trip was only 4 hours and I shared my area with Hiro, a photographer from Japan also heading to Rishikesh. He is taking photographs of Mother Ganga from Rishikesh to Kolkatta (Calcutta) where she returns to the Bay of Bengal in full flow of sacred reverance.
After arriving in Hardiwar Hiro and I hired an auto to complete the 45 minute journey further north to beloved Rishikesh. The temperature reminds me of a cold winter night in Vancouver but feels even colder when I remember where I have just traveled from. The auto is thrusting forward in full speed and I wrap my shawl around me even tighter including my head. Having never experienced the 'Outback Journey' I get a sense that it is probably like this! We travel so fast I am trying to acclimitize to the new place I am in, the place I have dreamt of, the place I have sought, the place I have yearned to see, to smell, to feel, to witness and a smile creeps across my face as though I am 'in the know' of a fabulous secret...
It is a beautiful, humbling feeling that is a challenge to articulate. I only wish I could show you my heart as it is flowering, blooming and beating to the song that has carried me here for an experience, an unfolding of collective understanding, love and surrender...
Om Namaha Shivaya
Jennifer
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Goodbye South India, Tamil Nadu - Hello Central! Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
Leaving Mamallupuram...it's heat, it's humidity, it's unfortunate and sad piles of garbage which seems to create ditches along side the ditches from which many four paw species (including the locals) excavate what treasures may be found, it's cows roaming the beaches, it's mystical and majestic temples, it's pounding sounds of stone carvers lining the streets and shops, it's gypsies with babies on hips and volumes of beads for sale weighing down their fragile and thin skinned arms, it's foreigners lingering and lusting the locals, it's primitive and modern osmosis of beauty and ugliness...
I awake not to early having actually rested deeply for a few hours which the body seems to have rejoiced in. I will not miss the weather at all...
Finishing my practice, my prayers and such, a knock at the door brings the lovely sister and brother I meet yesterday and we enjoy breakfast together at 'The New Cafe' here in the Lakshmi Guesthouse where I have roomed.
Goodbyes for now and I pack my things heading to Rajan's shop for a last minute visit. Rajan and I have a chat and I share my photos from home. He came buy last night after I had already left my room to take me to a local wedding but we just missed each other. I will be back in September to visit again...
Rajan kindly drops me at the bus stand and awaits the arrival of my bus back to Chennai with me. It has been a joy to share time with him and I am most grateful for his generosity and kindness. We shall keep in touch...
Only standing room on the big old bus for now and away we go to the city. Ladies all around smile, gentlemen sleep, peer out the windows and nod their greetings. A nice 10 minute rest stop half way there gifts the stretching of legs and the vacancy of some seats. The drone of food offerings from the locals invites you to a snack. The air carries the smells of fresh chapatis, grilled chicken and the like for those in need. Groups stand around with small bill rupees in hand awaiting their turn for satisfaction of one's appetite. A thatched canopy propped on perfectly placed polls shades the tables and chairs offering a refreshing pause. The grill is a massive piece of stone with small holes on the bottom sides big enough for the kindling to fit and for the fire to grow and expand in it's greatness...Along the side stands a lonely sink and tap which is alone no more as we all take generous amounts of time soaking our steamed faces, our necks and arms. What a delicious relief...
Onto the bus again to finish the journey inward amongst the many. Chennai is met and I am happy to experience the heat without the humidity!
I head right to the New Woodlands Hotel and buy some juice, water and biscuits for the train as well as enjoy my lunch at Krishna Restaurant amongst the old friends I have found in the wait staff there. Then onto the KYM to take care of some last minute paperwork before heading across the city to Egmore train station.
A bit of time before the train is to load and a nice chat with a couple of young men from Hyderabad. They have come to apply for US study visas but were rejected. They had hoped to complete their MBA at New York University but now are entertaining heading to Australia.
As the time of departure approaches so does the activity level within the station and the train of course. I manage to get everything in before others in my berth arrive so that big ass bag of mine has a chance to get settled under the seats!
An Indian gentleman, living between India and Houston, Texas, and his 3 year old son (what a cutie!) are also in my berth as well as 2 other Indian families.
Sooooooo many questions in curiosity of me! A young Indian man, living in Iowa, here now for his marriage to a distant relative, acts as translator. His face says it all with such happiness and excitement as he has not see his fiancee since last year and in hours they will meet again!
It is a very interesting ride along with the hustle and bustle of people moving up and down the corridor, numerous languages being spoken, conversations and laughter being shared. This train will be for 14 hours with a number of stops along the way...
One of the families I meet, the father is a palm reader and his daughter Shanti is very keen on his reading my palm! They share their information as they have access to another area where I can find out more information from a temple about my entire incarnation in this life! I am thrilled as this is something I was searching for before but one has to be invited to the correct temple where the scrolls (they are also referred to as the Akashi Files)are protected and have been for thousands of years.
Apparently, the scrolls are written on palm leafs with sacred sanskrit characters. The scrolls are moved every 20 days, revolving between the temples. It is said that the scroll can only be matched to a person by their thumb print and the correct answer to a few questions about your present life. Should the answers and the thumb print match, the temple priest will proceed to read the scroll which contains all information about your past lives, your present and your future...I am to call Manyam tomorrow morning at around 8am when he will then give me the address of where to take an auto. Arriving at the temple, we will see what happens. My 'scroll' may or my not be there...
We arrived alittle late in Hyderabad, around 8am and I do not have the information to get to Muneera's house. I checked my email before leaving Mamallupuram but it was not there yet. To rushed upon my arrival to Chennai I relaxed knowing that I could figure it out when in Hyderabad. Little did I realize that the 'internet' isn't just 'available' at anytime. After hailing down a young man to help me with the typical 'Hello, do you speak English?' line, we were off in search for the needed email. I left my bag in the cloakroom at the train station among the dust and the history of British Colonial days gone by. We found a cafe soon, got the information and were off in an auto to that part of the city. I dropped the young man at the corner for his college and headed the rest of the way myself.
As I waited at the corner for Muneera's brother Ali to meet me, 5 camels with men, some with legs astride, and boys, heads covered in colorful scarf's, appeared walking along the street in comfortable unison! I stood in awe of a sight that seemed quite misplaced but only in India! In awe the moments and the hoofs passed before I thought of 'Oh! My camera!' and down into the bags I dug around as they slowly passed by. To late... I missed them this time but Ali told me that traveling to the Old City would reveal lots of camel sightings! He also spoke of a park near by that is more of an open forest. Since it rained this morning, wild peacocks would most likely be out to see in the early evening to do their 'raindance'! I shall definitely head there shortly after Muneera's arrival...
Muneera is to arrive shortly. It will be so nice to see her. She was delayed in her arriving and so yesterday I just rested among her family and in the quiet my bedroom
while here.
It was raining hard when I awoke this morning and now the sun is streaming gently and softly through the window...
Until we meet again, all my love!
Om
Jennifer
I awake not to early having actually rested deeply for a few hours which the body seems to have rejoiced in. I will not miss the weather at all...
Finishing my practice, my prayers and such, a knock at the door brings the lovely sister and brother I meet yesterday and we enjoy breakfast together at 'The New Cafe' here in the Lakshmi Guesthouse where I have roomed.
Goodbyes for now and I pack my things heading to Rajan's shop for a last minute visit. Rajan and I have a chat and I share my photos from home. He came buy last night after I had already left my room to take me to a local wedding but we just missed each other. I will be back in September to visit again...
Rajan kindly drops me at the bus stand and awaits the arrival of my bus back to Chennai with me. It has been a joy to share time with him and I am most grateful for his generosity and kindness. We shall keep in touch...
Only standing room on the big old bus for now and away we go to the city. Ladies all around smile, gentlemen sleep, peer out the windows and nod their greetings. A nice 10 minute rest stop half way there gifts the stretching of legs and the vacancy of some seats. The drone of food offerings from the locals invites you to a snack. The air carries the smells of fresh chapatis, grilled chicken and the like for those in need. Groups stand around with small bill rupees in hand awaiting their turn for satisfaction of one's appetite. A thatched canopy propped on perfectly placed polls shades the tables and chairs offering a refreshing pause. The grill is a massive piece of stone with small holes on the bottom sides big enough for the kindling to fit and for the fire to grow and expand in it's greatness...Along the side stands a lonely sink and tap which is alone no more as we all take generous amounts of time soaking our steamed faces, our necks and arms. What a delicious relief...
Onto the bus again to finish the journey inward amongst the many. Chennai is met and I am happy to experience the heat without the humidity!
I head right to the New Woodlands Hotel and buy some juice, water and biscuits for the train as well as enjoy my lunch at Krishna Restaurant amongst the old friends I have found in the wait staff there. Then onto the KYM to take care of some last minute paperwork before heading across the city to Egmore train station.
A bit of time before the train is to load and a nice chat with a couple of young men from Hyderabad. They have come to apply for US study visas but were rejected. They had hoped to complete their MBA at New York University but now are entertaining heading to Australia.
As the time of departure approaches so does the activity level within the station and the train of course. I manage to get everything in before others in my berth arrive so that big ass bag of mine has a chance to get settled under the seats!
An Indian gentleman, living between India and Houston, Texas, and his 3 year old son (what a cutie!) are also in my berth as well as 2 other Indian families.
Sooooooo many questions in curiosity of me! A young Indian man, living in Iowa, here now for his marriage to a distant relative, acts as translator. His face says it all with such happiness and excitement as he has not see his fiancee since last year and in hours they will meet again!
It is a very interesting ride along with the hustle and bustle of people moving up and down the corridor, numerous languages being spoken, conversations and laughter being shared. This train will be for 14 hours with a number of stops along the way...
One of the families I meet, the father is a palm reader and his daughter Shanti is very keen on his reading my palm! They share their information as they have access to another area where I can find out more information from a temple about my entire incarnation in this life! I am thrilled as this is something I was searching for before but one has to be invited to the correct temple where the scrolls (they are also referred to as the Akashi Files)are protected and have been for thousands of years.
Apparently, the scrolls are written on palm leafs with sacred sanskrit characters. The scrolls are moved every 20 days, revolving between the temples. It is said that the scroll can only be matched to a person by their thumb print and the correct answer to a few questions about your present life. Should the answers and the thumb print match, the temple priest will proceed to read the scroll which contains all information about your past lives, your present and your future...I am to call Manyam tomorrow morning at around 8am when he will then give me the address of where to take an auto. Arriving at the temple, we will see what happens. My 'scroll' may or my not be there...
We arrived alittle late in Hyderabad, around 8am and I do not have the information to get to Muneera's house. I checked my email before leaving Mamallupuram but it was not there yet. To rushed upon my arrival to Chennai I relaxed knowing that I could figure it out when in Hyderabad. Little did I realize that the 'internet' isn't just 'available' at anytime. After hailing down a young man to help me with the typical 'Hello, do you speak English?' line, we were off in search for the needed email. I left my bag in the cloakroom at the train station among the dust and the history of British Colonial days gone by. We found a cafe soon, got the information and were off in an auto to that part of the city. I dropped the young man at the corner for his college and headed the rest of the way myself.
As I waited at the corner for Muneera's brother Ali to meet me, 5 camels with men, some with legs astride, and boys, heads covered in colorful scarf's, appeared walking along the street in comfortable unison! I stood in awe of a sight that seemed quite misplaced but only in India! In awe the moments and the hoofs passed before I thought of 'Oh! My camera!' and down into the bags I dug around as they slowly passed by. To late... I missed them this time but Ali told me that traveling to the Old City would reveal lots of camel sightings! He also spoke of a park near by that is more of an open forest. Since it rained this morning, wild peacocks would most likely be out to see in the early evening to do their 'raindance'! I shall definitely head there shortly after Muneera's arrival...
Muneera is to arrive shortly. It will be so nice to see her. She was delayed in her arriving and so yesterday I just rested among her family and in the quiet my bedroom
while here.
It was raining hard when I awoke this morning and now the sun is streaming gently and softly through the window...
Until we meet again, all my love!
Om
Jennifer
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Mamallupuram.....
Exiting the city of Chennai in an auto rickshaw took almost 30 minutes and as the air thickened as well as the traffic, I counted my blessings for this sweet escape...
Help from a kind gentlemanat the bus stand ensured that the correct bus was taken. At first I was rather shy about the actual elbow activity from the bodies crowding the bus door but after missing the first opportunity to get on and needing to wait for the next one I realized that it is merely the necessity of a successful entrance aboard your chariot! Without an hesitation, expect to protect the pregnant mother ahead of me, I jumped in there like Muhammud Ali and 'ta da!' off I was to a land of palm trees and the seaside...
I crawled my way past the bodies on the bus and sat in the very back with a couple of young men. The usual question, 'Madam, which country?' was answered and in return I had a couple about the price of the bus and the estimated time of the trip.
It was a boiling day in the city and the wind through the small bus window provided some solace after the 'fight' to another land...
As we moved further and further down the coastal highway the more the groups of palm trees appeared. Soon on my left the ocean appeared in it's magestic turquoise green and blue hue that cooled my overheated spirit even in the distance...
Fishing boats dot the coastline and with the meditative mission of the fisherman to repair damaged nets. Dogs play under the trees and some relax lounging in the sand...The road is shared with flocks of lambs, herds of cows with their colourful horns of yellow, red, green and blue adorn with bells which all join together in harmony as they leisurely wander by, mouths chewing and eyes luminious...
I arrive at the bus stop to the entrance of Mamallupuram and immediately take an auto into the little village. It is somewhat like a mini version of Chennai in some ways in a secluded setting with a great deal of similarity.
The Lakshmi Guesthouse has a room available and so I take it for 2 nights at 450rupees a night. I have intuitively decided that I will not head down to Pondicherry and will instead just rest here as much as possible for the two days...
As I am unpacking, a rainstorm comes in and for 30 minutes the village is drenched! How refreshing it felt at first until the humidity follows it like a bad dream...
There are many, many foreigners here as this is a big tourist time apparently. Lots of Brits, Aussies, Germans, French and Americans around with the sounds of Bob Marley carried in the air...
I make my way out and go for a walk around ending up in a shop where I buy a few shirts as the clothes, although cotton or cotton/hemp mix, are so heavy and the heat for me is sweltering at around 35/36 then adding in the humidity. Here I stay for a couple of hours trying things on in the piles and piles of offerings...
The shopkeeper was really very hunger and so he told me that he trusted me and asked if I would mind if he went off to have his lunch. Off he went while I locked the door and continued to go through the very light weight clothes there. I so appreciated that he had such trust in me (maybe just his belly!) to wonder off and leave me in seclusion with the ceiling fans blowing away my cares...
Having a nice long chat with the shopkeeper and collecting my buys, I headed onward to my room for a glorious long cold shower and quick change. Then a walk down to the beach...
Mamallupuram is reknown as the world's stone sculpture capital and that is remembered the closer one gets to the beach where the sounds of pounding and carving perk interest in visiting the many, many shops that carry every deity and symbol which holds interst...I meet a nice gentleman named Rajan and we, along with some french people who he is teaching how to sculpt, have a nice chat together. He has made so many sculptures for groups of people involved in yoga. I really want a statue of Patanjali, the sage who wrote the Yoga Sutras which are the basis of yogic philosophy, but will wait and get it later as I do not feel like lugging it along...
Ragan and I had dinner together. He took me to a place where I could have some salad and some vegs. Lots of seafood available of course but I am not interested.
After relaxing for awhile in the ocean air I head back to the room in hopes of a restful sleep...
No luck...I wake numerous times as the heat for me is unbearably, uncomfortable.
After a nice shower I head for some breakfast and meet Rajan at his shop. We were to head south around 15km on his motorbike to visit some temples and the tribal peoples in the area. Quite a spontaneous gesture that I appreciated. Rajan has a government charitable trust, Aroundhyen Charitable Trust (ACT), which supports the assistance of this tribe.
I had dreamed and prayed for a monsoon while here and low and behold just before we entered the village that contains some of the biggest temples in south India, a downpour nourished and drenched every part of my being with such delight! Thank goodness we were close by as the roads filled with water so very quickly although every drop was a gift to me!
There while the rains came down we scooted in the temple entrance, which was enormous, with the locals to await it's end. I was in heaven...The main temple we were to visit has 550 steps to climb to the top but with the waters gushing down the rows of stairs, it was now impossible to do. Rather, Rajan took me to another group of mindblowing temples where the carving is just incredible...One area set off on it's own was currently being visited by a mother lamb and her baby and as well a local gentleman had taken up the top platform of a large piece of sculpture, which was to represent a turtle, for an afternoon nap...
After spending sometime inside admiring and gasping at the details as well as winessing a puja, a spiritual offering to Shiva at this temple, we set off again since the rains had stopped.
Along the roadside locals riding bicycles heaving with goods, as well the children dressed in their colourful wraps, waved and shouted out greetings for which smiles are exchanged and the heart flings open...
Meeting the tribal peoples was a great honor. We arrive to the giggles and screams of joy from the children. Everyone knows and loves Rajan. His selflessness and kindness has found a trust in their hearts.
The elders arrive and I am introduced. Thatched huts rest among the palm trees and the silence in this area away from everything is welcomed. It is very hot here... One water pump between the 30 families. There is a small one room schoolhouse there constructed with the gift from a german and italian lady. A plaque on the wall outside is in remembrance of their generousity...I would like to help as much as I can...I have taken pictures of the tribe and enjoyed fresh coconut from one of the elders. When it is time to go the children all gather for final pictures and flowers are lovingly placed in my hair. Each and everyone wants a turn to hold my hands and even just to look. Fingers trace the veins hidden under the white, white skin that is definitely vanilla in flavour compared to their rich chocolate veil...'Pens, pens', are a big request for their school and Rajan promises to bring them on his next trip.
We leave yet my heart and my thoughts remain there for quite sometime.. We moved across the rice paddy fields where the farmer, head draped in a scarf, guided his bulls through the water and trails so perfected placed in the fertile soils. The back of a motorbike is the way to connect with the world around and everyone in it. Waves are returned and smiles are shared...I have to say this is the most moving day I've experienced since leaving home and I am so grateful for it...
Back in the village I move on to find sustanance as I haven't eated for some time except for the wonderful coconut. I meet a lovely lady from Israel at the restaurant and she introduced me to her brother so as to download the pictures I have collected so far. I haven't taken that many but the one's I have are nice!
Tomorrow I head back to Chennai to catch my train and continue on...
All my love till then and forever...
Om
Jennifer
Help from a kind gentlemanat the bus stand ensured that the correct bus was taken. At first I was rather shy about the actual elbow activity from the bodies crowding the bus door but after missing the first opportunity to get on and needing to wait for the next one I realized that it is merely the necessity of a successful entrance aboard your chariot! Without an hesitation, expect to protect the pregnant mother ahead of me, I jumped in there like Muhammud Ali and 'ta da!' off I was to a land of palm trees and the seaside...
I crawled my way past the bodies on the bus and sat in the very back with a couple of young men. The usual question, 'Madam, which country?' was answered and in return I had a couple about the price of the bus and the estimated time of the trip.
It was a boiling day in the city and the wind through the small bus window provided some solace after the 'fight' to another land...
As we moved further and further down the coastal highway the more the groups of palm trees appeared. Soon on my left the ocean appeared in it's magestic turquoise green and blue hue that cooled my overheated spirit even in the distance...
Fishing boats dot the coastline and with the meditative mission of the fisherman to repair damaged nets. Dogs play under the trees and some relax lounging in the sand...The road is shared with flocks of lambs, herds of cows with their colourful horns of yellow, red, green and blue adorn with bells which all join together in harmony as they leisurely wander by, mouths chewing and eyes luminious...
I arrive at the bus stop to the entrance of Mamallupuram and immediately take an auto into the little village. It is somewhat like a mini version of Chennai in some ways in a secluded setting with a great deal of similarity.
The Lakshmi Guesthouse has a room available and so I take it for 2 nights at 450rupees a night. I have intuitively decided that I will not head down to Pondicherry and will instead just rest here as much as possible for the two days...
As I am unpacking, a rainstorm comes in and for 30 minutes the village is drenched! How refreshing it felt at first until the humidity follows it like a bad dream...
There are many, many foreigners here as this is a big tourist time apparently. Lots of Brits, Aussies, Germans, French and Americans around with the sounds of Bob Marley carried in the air...
I make my way out and go for a walk around ending up in a shop where I buy a few shirts as the clothes, although cotton or cotton/hemp mix, are so heavy and the heat for me is sweltering at around 35/36 then adding in the humidity. Here I stay for a couple of hours trying things on in the piles and piles of offerings...
The shopkeeper was really very hunger and so he told me that he trusted me and asked if I would mind if he went off to have his lunch. Off he went while I locked the door and continued to go through the very light weight clothes there. I so appreciated that he had such trust in me (maybe just his belly!) to wonder off and leave me in seclusion with the ceiling fans blowing away my cares...
Having a nice long chat with the shopkeeper and collecting my buys, I headed onward to my room for a glorious long cold shower and quick change. Then a walk down to the beach...
Mamallupuram is reknown as the world's stone sculpture capital and that is remembered the closer one gets to the beach where the sounds of pounding and carving perk interest in visiting the many, many shops that carry every deity and symbol which holds interst...I meet a nice gentleman named Rajan and we, along with some french people who he is teaching how to sculpt, have a nice chat together. He has made so many sculptures for groups of people involved in yoga. I really want a statue of Patanjali, the sage who wrote the Yoga Sutras which are the basis of yogic philosophy, but will wait and get it later as I do not feel like lugging it along...
Ragan and I had dinner together. He took me to a place where I could have some salad and some vegs. Lots of seafood available of course but I am not interested.
After relaxing for awhile in the ocean air I head back to the room in hopes of a restful sleep...
No luck...I wake numerous times as the heat for me is unbearably, uncomfortable.
After a nice shower I head for some breakfast and meet Rajan at his shop. We were to head south around 15km on his motorbike to visit some temples and the tribal peoples in the area. Quite a spontaneous gesture that I appreciated. Rajan has a government charitable trust, Aroundhyen Charitable Trust (ACT), which supports the assistance of this tribe.
I had dreamed and prayed for a monsoon while here and low and behold just before we entered the village that contains some of the biggest temples in south India, a downpour nourished and drenched every part of my being with such delight! Thank goodness we were close by as the roads filled with water so very quickly although every drop was a gift to me!
There while the rains came down we scooted in the temple entrance, which was enormous, with the locals to await it's end. I was in heaven...The main temple we were to visit has 550 steps to climb to the top but with the waters gushing down the rows of stairs, it was now impossible to do. Rather, Rajan took me to another group of mindblowing temples where the carving is just incredible...One area set off on it's own was currently being visited by a mother lamb and her baby and as well a local gentleman had taken up the top platform of a large piece of sculpture, which was to represent a turtle, for an afternoon nap...
After spending sometime inside admiring and gasping at the details as well as winessing a puja, a spiritual offering to Shiva at this temple, we set off again since the rains had stopped.
Along the roadside locals riding bicycles heaving with goods, as well the children dressed in their colourful wraps, waved and shouted out greetings for which smiles are exchanged and the heart flings open...
Meeting the tribal peoples was a great honor. We arrive to the giggles and screams of joy from the children. Everyone knows and loves Rajan. His selflessness and kindness has found a trust in their hearts.
The elders arrive and I am introduced. Thatched huts rest among the palm trees and the silence in this area away from everything is welcomed. It is very hot here... One water pump between the 30 families. There is a small one room schoolhouse there constructed with the gift from a german and italian lady. A plaque on the wall outside is in remembrance of their generousity...I would like to help as much as I can...I have taken pictures of the tribe and enjoyed fresh coconut from one of the elders. When it is time to go the children all gather for final pictures and flowers are lovingly placed in my hair. Each and everyone wants a turn to hold my hands and even just to look. Fingers trace the veins hidden under the white, white skin that is definitely vanilla in flavour compared to their rich chocolate veil...'Pens, pens', are a big request for their school and Rajan promises to bring them on his next trip.
We leave yet my heart and my thoughts remain there for quite sometime.. We moved across the rice paddy fields where the farmer, head draped in a scarf, guided his bulls through the water and trails so perfected placed in the fertile soils. The back of a motorbike is the way to connect with the world around and everyone in it. Waves are returned and smiles are shared...I have to say this is the most moving day I've experienced since leaving home and I am so grateful for it...
Back in the village I move on to find sustanance as I haven't eated for some time except for the wonderful coconut. I meet a lovely lady from Israel at the restaurant and she introduced me to her brother so as to download the pictures I have collected so far. I haven't taken that many but the one's I have are nice!
Tomorrow I head back to Chennai to catch my train and continue on...
All my love till then and forever...
Om
Jennifer
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