Reaching the pinnacle after all the grounding

How high a building can be built depends on how deep the foundation is. This principle is very relevant in one's spiritual growth too. When the limbs of Ashtanga yoga are followed in succession, by the time one comes to the seventh step or dhyana (meditation), he/she is well stabilized and can go to higher planes easily.

In the present times, everyone is directly into meditation and it is really messing up many lives. From childhood I have been doing rigorous spiritual practice, with timely guidance from the Universe in every step of my journey. In spite of this, I was surprised at the amount of grounding I needed to have. An acceleration in the grounding process started during our visit to Sri Lanka in 2017 September.  When we visited the Dambana Veddha village, it started happening in a more intensive way.

Starting from Dambana

Dambana is a remote jungle village of indigenous people renowned for its eco-tourism prospects, situated about 300km from Colombo, Sri Lanka. We were fascinated by the huge trees and their roots which were spreading far. 

I could become one with the roots and experienced a very strong grounding. In the same way the roots hold on to the soil and stabilise it, I could feel the essence of my practices over decades settling into my body and Being to facilitate further growth.

Angkor Wat temple takes it to the next level

Angkor Wat is one of the largest religious monuments ever constructed. It was built between roughly A.D. 1113 and 1150, encompassing an area of about 500 acres (200 hectars). Originally built as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu, it was converted into a Buddhist temple in the 14th century, and statues of Buddha were added to its already rich artwork.

When Angkor was rediscovered in the early 20th century by French archaeologists, all of the temples had become overgrown–but none so spectacularly as Ta Prohm. While Ta Prohm lay forgotten and neglected by men, the Cambodian jungle wasted no time in devouring it. Silk-cotton and strangler fig trees took root in the loosened stones of the temple, which was built entirely without mortar. Their roots wound through the structure, creating an astonishing merger of nature and architecture.

As I stood there mesmerized by this Nature's marvel, the lesson sunk in me, 'You can take the meaning of 'grounding' to a new level. Stay rooted around your values, encompassing and protecting them.' 

Thus the next level of understanding reached me in 2018 February.

Living Root Bridge near Mawlynnong village in Shillong

On 20th April 2018 when I stood near the Living Root Bridge, I felt the finality of my lessons. 

While walking (one is not supposed to stand) through the bridge, which was made by intertwining the roots of trees on either side, my whole body was sensing something from beyond. 

Travelling through incarnations, with so many connecting roots, the importance of bridging filling my Being! It was a powerful experience.

Message at Basistha ashram

On 24th April we visited Basistha ashram and temple which is located in Beltola, at the outskirts of the Guwahati city. It has a Shiv mandir constructed by Ahom king Rajeswar Singhian in 1764. Basistha ( Vashishta) muni meditated here and got merged with Shiva. Lord Shiva's energy has been guiding me in my spiritual pursuits for many decades. 

As soon as I entered the area where sage Basistha meditated, I could feel my whole upper body (from hip upwards) vibrating. I was confused - why only the upper body?

Then the message dawned on me, 'I am allowed to do only this much, remaining you will get at the Kamakhya temple'. Now I was in high anticipation to reach Kamakhya temple.

Just a few feet away there was a huge rock inside of which Arundhati, wife of Basistha, had meditated: 

As I stood there with closed eyes, imbibing the tremendous energy, I was imparted the lesson of total surrender.

Dashamahavidyas and Kamakhya Devi

The Kamakhya temple, dedicated to the mother goddess Kamakhya, and one of the oldest of 51 Shakti Pithas, is situated on the Nilachal Hill in western part of Guwahati. It is the main temple in a complex of individual temples dedicated to the ten Mahavidyas : Kali, Tara, Tripurasundari, Bhuvaneshwari, Bhairavi, Chhinnamasta, Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi and Kamalatmika. Among these, Tripurasundari, Matangi and Kamala reside inside the main temple whereas the other seven reside in individual temples.

Since many years I have been doing Havan on Tuesdays and Fridays chanting the Dashamahavidya mantras. Just on the previous day of visiting Kamakhya temple, I got the mantra for Kamakhya Devi. We reached the temple at 6 am and had to wait till 9.15 for darshan and all of that time I was chanting the mantra. As we reached the sanctum sanctorum, I felt what cannot be described. It is a very personal experience and each one has to go through it to understand the full impact.

It was a very important turning point in my life. Along with all the divine forces that have been guiding me, I am also thankful to all living and non-living beings from whom I have received valuable messages at every step of my journey.