TiruKalyanam

||Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

Aum Namo Narayanaya

 

 

With the days passing at Belur Math, I grew more anxious... as basking in the glory of this centre of spiritual influence was drawing to a rapid close. Comfort was sought from the fact that every moment carved an indelible niche in the bouquet of memories that hung in my mental closet. It will remain ever-ready to inspire and motivate me, should I fall prey to days of despondency or ignoble aspirations. But the next leg of my journey was also very close and dear to my heart.

 

As a little boy growing up in the Mill-housing-scheme of Hillview, I spent much of my childhood days visiting the Shree Veeraboga Emperumal Temple which was an approximately 5 minute stroll from home. A modest structure of stained windows and a hand-moulded-dome, it served its purpose at the time - of inspiring many... including myself, to surrender ourselves at the feet of Narayana. The infrastructure, although basic, emanated such divine vibrations that it magnetically drew devotees from their homes in their numbers. Devotees were also deeply satisfied with the handful of sweet-rice and sliced fruit 'parsad' after their evenings of 'satsang'. Elders of the Temple who were predominently educators would research topics from the scriptures and make it as palatable as possible for the seeking audience.

 

Tirumala is the abode of Maha Vishnu in the form of Venketeswara. We have become such friends since childhood, that He has never failed to invite me to His home on every visit to India. His abode, nestled within the seven hills, is the busiest pilgrim centre in India. Contesting with 10-20 thousand devotees for a little peek at His jewel-bedecked-body adorned with a glittering 'namo', the Lord in all His glory really explodes your heart with divine ecstasy and fills your eyes with liquid love. To date, all the queuing and waiting and even walking up the hills has failed to deter me from visiting again.

 

With the 'darshan' of the Father all done, and with the satisfaction saturating my being, I retired to Thirupati (the base of the hills) with the intention of visiting my Mother who adorns His chest as Sri. However, the country still being in the gaze of winter... night descended fast and by the time I reached the hotel, the night lanterns on the street reached their full luminosity. At the suggestion of the driver, the visit to Sri Padmavathi Temple was rescheduled to first light. The night became my enemy as it stood between me and my visit. I wrestled sleep the entire night and jumped with excitement at the sight of the sun creeping through the gaps in the curtain.

With all necessary morning routines and rituals behind, I was at the gate of the Temple. As if awaiting my arrival, the Mother signalled the security official to usher me in to the 'mandapam". What a marvellous site awaited me as I found myself witness to the 'Tirukalyanam' of Lord Maha Vishnu to Sri Luxmi Devi. The Temple priests busied themselves with all the rituals, as some 500 guests sat glued to the nuptials.

The officials tell me that this wonderful event is celebrated every month at the Temple. At that time I made mental 'pranams' to our forefathers for their efforts in bringing backing these ancient and rich traditions to South Africa. This very festival is celebrated as the biggest and major festival of the Shree Veeraboga Emperumal Temple in Tongaat, and this year marks the 98th Anniversary of the 'Tirukalyanam' at the Temple.

 

Presiding Deities at Shree Veeraboga Emperumal Temple

 

At face value, it sounds absurd that a wedding celebration is enacted monthly and annually at Temples all over the world... but on deeper research and analysis, a fundamental truth about our spiritual journey lays waiting to take the seeker across this ocean of 'samsara' to the island of freedom.

For the past 98 years, our elders have enacted the 'Tirukalyanam' of Maha Vishnu to Sri Luxmi Devi and Bhodevi, after which they are taken to the surrounding villages on a brightly and beautifully decorated chariot, granting graciously their blessings to all.

The prefix of 'tiru' elaborates the greatness and uniqueness of this wedding - much like the use of it in the Kurral or before some great personages name. Hence, to take it as a literal ordinary wedding of the Lord to two consorts simulataneously is a very low understanding of this beautifully profound spiritual idea.

The ultimate prize of all man, is a life free of pain, suffering and obstacles. This ideal is very much achievable in this world and time. Master Sri Ramakrishna continuously stressed that those who earnestly and sincerely sought after God, will without any doubt see God.

If we draw an analogy between the body and the 'Tirukalyanam', the Lord Maha Vishnu represents the 'atman'. Sri Devi represents the heart (compassion and divinity) and Bhoma Devi represents the intellect (discrimination and dispassion). The marriage represents the synthesis between the 'atman' (soul), heart and intellect. Once these three are linked and are controlled by the 'atman' (energy of the Lord), one will find that the path and journey in this life becomes paved with ease, bliss and eternal joy. This is only because everything that we do or undertake in life will be done with love and divinity from the heart... and be done selflessly and discriminately in a way that appeases the Lord within. Further, it shall be enshrined within all that we interact with.

May Lord Narayana -the one who pervades us all- enlighten us all, is my sincere prayer.

With love and prayers always

Yogan

Shades of Humanity

||Aum Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

 

Aum Namo Narayanaya

 

Ganga Devi

So here I was... my feet making contact with the soil that once supported the feet of Gods and Goddesses and made fertile by the balmy waters of the Ganga. Having just landed a few hours ago, I came to confront the tranquillity of the Ganges as She coursed Her way down Kolkata into the Bay of Bengal.  Stretching my arms and whisking in gulps of the fresh air seemed to ease the fatigue and erase the discomfort of the 12 odd hours in the air, en-route to Belur.

 

The sun lazily straddled the horizon and sank into the bosom of the icy waters that started to reflect the blue halo of the moon which was almost reaching its fullness. It was playtime for the crows as they drowned even the blaring horn of the Jute mill across the bank. Swiping low as if to attack, they seemed to veer people in the direction of the main temple as the hour assembled for the evening arthi.

 

Hesitation or slow movements will find you defending yourself against the biting cold as the hall filled up within seconds. Hundreds of devotees brimming with hope and sincerity eagerly watch as the Swamiji waves the brilliant lamp illuminating the face of Thakur Sri Ramakrishna. A glance at His subtle and fatherly countenance reassures the assembled - all will be well. Even the winter chill transforms into divine warmth by His mercy.

 

Leaving the temple, one enjoys a lovely view of three temples against the backdrop of the river: Swami Brahmananda, Holy Mother and Swamiji (Vivekananda). Owing to the 150^th Birth Anniversary celebrations of Swamiji, His temple is exquisitely decorated with ferry lights and a bright orange pandal that is in the process of being constructed in order to perform the specific poojas.

 

Snugly togged up with my scarf, beanie and jacket, I strolled parallel to the river toward my quarters and admired how a light cloud of mist hovered over the chilled waters. The howling dogs accompanied her dance as she tinkled against the muddy banks. At once, I felt warmth unconventional radiating from the emerald waters as I walked passed Swamiji's temple, mentally hearing His footsteps and His voice which resonated with the melodious tempura yet thundered like a damaru to awaken the world. It was at this juncture that I paused before His marble image... my gaze fixed upon Him I asked: "so why did you bring me here Swamiji?"

 

The air vigorously condensing into a mist as it left my nostrils signalled a hastened retreat to my room. After evening japa and with still some time before supper, I lay amidst the dim light on my cot, when one of Newton's theories abruptly intruded my mind - a body will continue in a state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line unless acted upon by a resultant force. It felt unusually odd at first, until I realised it was Swamiji answering my question.

 

We seem to have created comfort zones in our lives, exhaustively working to make them cosy and so attractive that we relent to move from them thinking them to be everything like the frog in the well which thinks that the well is the universe. Being constantly hammered and tempered by the world - our mind, body and consciousness bends and shapes to the world. Taking nutrition from the world, there is little thought of spirituality, God or others. 

 

Thus Swamiji comes as the resultant force to knock you off your worldly rails and equip you with wings of spirituality. Staying at Belur, I was able to witness first-hand Swamiji's machinery in action. A sea of selfless monks busy executing the instructions of worshipping God in the sick, hungry and poor; the hundreds of thousands of students who are educated through schools, colleges and universities; the infirm and sick who receive speedy treatment at the clinics and hospitals; and the thousands who are fed daily through the Mission's kitchens.

 

Atmano mokshartham jagat hitaya cha: For one's own salvation and for the welfare of the world.

 

It is through the welfare of the world that salvation is at all possible. That is the essence of Swamiji's vedanta. Until every soul is free, there is no freedom for anyone. So long as we live in silos and cocoons feathering our own nests we shall never smell even the aroma of freedom. We must work, work and selflessly work raising the fallen... then only shall we be worthy to call ourselves human beings. It is then and then alone that we can start to manifest the divinity within, which is the sole purpose of this existence.

 

Each of us in our own country has plenty of work to do to serve and worship God in a practical way. There is a place where one can come and be inspired by the ingenious mechanism put into place by a Swami, who having felt the pain of the masses - being guided and inspired by Sri Ramakrishna - literally shows and translates the high philosophies of the scriptures into practical, achievable goals.

 

Thus this journey through India started with a flush of inspiration and rejuvenation of my will to preach and perpetuate Vivekananda’s practical vedanta in my home country - to ensure that we can achieve results now and not post mortem. Over the next few weeks, I shall try to unpack some spiritual ideas that I have gleaned through my visits to other important spiritual centres in India.

 

May we all strive to live up to our human birth is my sincere prayer.

 

With love and prayers always

Yogan