This blog was originally posted on March 29th, 2007. Reposting here.
The biggest blog, I will write.. and its a copy from my diary, unlike all others which are mere expressions of moments! I will just copy the diary to capture the truth. Alrite Deep, This one is for you..
I have to admit that If you wd not have asked for it, I wd have never written it.
It was an all illustrious day, very eventful, interesting and mystical. Mystical because I had some unusual Experiences which wd become clear as you read. It all started a night before when Mick asked if I'd like to go to this temple called Nilkantheshwar in some village some 25 km away from where we lived in Pune. He would try and arrange a bike for most of travel, then we wd trek after the road ends and so on. I, sitting on the dinner table readily felt a yes coming from my within. I smiled, heard it and without a second though (Exactly against as they say “ Think twice before u say something”) which might have proved to be resisting my freely flowing mood, blurted, "Lets do It." Next morning, we were all ready. Went to the bike owner (a friend and a shop owner in the campus) and asked for it. After a few hitches or genuine problems (I never made out), finally gave the bike. We were happy to be on two wheels than three (escaped the auto ride). I was particularly happy to be feeling the air on the trip. Frankly, I justified this action (the trip) to myself (I keep on doin that) as a trip to hills around, not the temple. The journey started well into mountains (hills to be precise) unknown villages which came and went and I was keen on capturing views of a lake and hills around. I was actually living that journey like no one else. I dont remember myself lost in any other thing at that time other than the wide an glorious view of green hills and blue lake valley. The road was very narrow and rough at times. We managed an escape with a truck, though moving slowly (we wdn't have hurt ourselves). As we moved, we needed to ask villagers if we were right. Finally after about 45 mins of biking, we took a left turn reading the sign board to the temple. There was a river to cross over the bridge; it was wonderful to see water flowing below the naked bridge without any railing or walls. I asked Mick if we cd stop for a while but he suggested to make a stop while returning, we readily agreed. {let me come out of this journey for a while, I sincerely think mick is a nice company for me as he never became a hitch in me interacting with my surroundings, the way I wanted always, Just the way I do, never instructed me!! I could shout, exclaim wonder, calm down, see, sleep... whatever. He was with himself all the time and I was with myself, yet we were together..} Soon the turning point came. The last village on our way uphill, we parked our bike and decided to walk, a villager suggested to take the bike a little higher... and we proceeded. We realized (rather I: I was fearful) it was too dangerous to proceed on the muddy way uphill.. I walked beside... It seemed the highest platform on earth, like we will detach and reach heaven whenever we get the ticket!!! The feeling was usual to me, I usually get lost into the contemplations of existence of higher worlds and that was the perfect ambience to think that way.... came another village.. A chunk of thatched roofs.
Soon we spotted a hill and the pathway on it leading to the temple. Mick told that it was the last we needed to cross. I remind him telling about Naga, a common friend of DIAT, who came along with him during his last visit to the temple, who said,” If we don’t get anywhere in the next 5 minutes, we will head back home!” Limping up that hill was much more wonderful as we could see more breathtaking views of the mother-nature’s valleys, we spotted the canal of water miles below where we were standing, and we moved our way up. The roads turned so sharply that I could click a photo of the path leading to nowhere… ending in nothingness of the blue sky. What happened next was interesting and mystical. We spotted a couple and an old lady (supposedly their mother) having a hard time climbing up the temple. They had a suitcase, and a few more bags that suggested they are going for a stay. I wondered, why wd they stay where no one seems to live. They were having a hard time with their luggage. I suggested Mick to help. They readily agreed after a hint of resistance. Modest People! Asked a little bit about us, I never cared to know who they are.. And were ahead of them with their luggage for the rest of the journey.Their purpose was different than mine at least. They had a great unchallenged faith in that temple or the God who lived there or the man who built the temple (I cant know) and seem to have a connection with the founder (that’s why they were going to stay there). They told us that they are frequent visitors and were going for the “abhishek” ceremony of the Shivling.Finally, we were there… lots of idols from various chapters of Hindu Mythology, rishis, who all seemed the same with their large uncut beard and hair tied on top of their heads, for years. All sorts and varieties of gods, goddesses, demons and all what can comprise hindu mythology. I was keen to keep the “analysis and observation” computer running in my mind and “capturing” the “milestones” of our journey so that I could recall them to pen down some day.I felt I was so powerful to have been able to do that at my will: “with my camera”.Uncle, aunties and mick were all there around me and doing their religious stuff where I was busy like a small child who goes to temple, wondering what every little thing was.“Finally, Water!”.. we found water, washed our feet, faces as we got into the main temple.I was mainly following everyone inside. It was dark, not too clean like usual temples, but Mystic, powerful and intriguing. Uncle and Aunty treated us like close relatives and so we could follow them “right inside” the temple. To the core where the family lived. “Sarju Mama” as he was called.. His son greeted us inside very heartily but looked like a villain of a Tamil Movie at the first glance.We got tea, it was cloying sweet, but looking at Mick’s face even I forgot to complain.. It was wonderfully satisfying and invited no challenge whatsoever. I now wonder, had it been sour, salty, I wd have drunk it without complain or even discomfort.I was also requested by the lady not to come in the kitchen as that was the place “sarju Mama” used to live or eat or something like that. I promptly moved out after keeping my cup in the basin.It was time for the ceremony. I was only interested in “observing” what wd go on in that and if it wd be different from the usual mundane ceremonies, I have grown up amidst. My attention was soon relieved from the main small core location of the shivling and was caught by a man of 30 something, playing a veena. He was only striking the wires.. it sounded so musical.. (Perhaps I was also in a mood to see everything with an intrigue to make it mystical, but the truth is, perception matter more than the truth itself, for may be nothing that we perceive is true… and it matters)He greeted me as if he knew me and was expecting me. What followed was unusual, we readily got into a spiritual discussion starting from an arbit introduction of an engineer and a researcher, all that crap. Our talk melted us together and there was proper listening at both ends. I enjoyed the way he had no barriers of ego, shyness, apprehension, or any such barrier. Something from my inside told me, “Yogesh, So you are here. It was all destined like everything else.” He told me that after leaving his family and a good job he moved in search of satisfaction of his inner desires to search for truth. He also told that he has gained some level of those powers and is very much into his journey. I was amazed to see a man on his spiritual journey and knowing that he is on one, yet he was so tranquilled. His face was not an eternally happy smiling one, it was calm, composed and free from any negativity. It seemed that he was very intense as he looked but all his intensity was channelized into the right direction, Inner wards, rather than radiating outwards. After some introduction of various things lying there, for which I had been continuously shooting him, he told that soon he will move from this place so some other which I forgot. I gave him my Email address and asked him to learn to Email and mail me sometime of his life..(this life J) Ah! The visit came to an end and we bid adieu to our companions who were to continue with their pooja and stay. We had lunch outside the main campus which was cooked over a chulha by an old lady like bhabhi (my dadi). We had a quick and heavy meal and I felt like running from there. I felt for a tea again. What we saw was that same man sitting inside and having tea. We ordered some bhel and tea.. he was meditating and I asked mick if I shud click him with his eyes closed. And as soon as I looked at him, he turned towards me, opened his eyes in a flash as if asking “why the hell are you disturbing me.” I tild mick that this man is not usual. He told me that he felt sone disturbance spoke, “I felt as if someone is calling me from side”, and that was my side. I was shocked. We left the place, a few more photos, a herd of donkeys downside with their master made journey playful. The breathtaking views appeared again, we carried on, pickd our bike, stayed at the river for a while as we planned, gave lift to a villager who lived very close from where we picked him ( like 15 minutes by bike is close for them). They journey ended, we were home. The next morning, which I only realized a couple of days later, I received my first call for PhD from US, Delaware… I don’t wish to relate he call with the visit to the temple because I don’t want to attach myself with any desire and remember god only when I have a desire.. I better be a friend of Him… like I have always been…
