Is parenthood the sole purpose of life?

‘A woman’s life is not complete without experiencing motherhood’. ‘It is the deep desire of every woman to become a mother.’ These were the common sayings I started hearing from childhood. When I look at the olden days, the first saying made a lot of sense. A woman’s duty was to look after the house and just serve others. Then being a mother gave her an opportunity to call something her ‘very own’, the new life that was totally dependent on her gave her a sense of being someone in power.

And the second one, ‘It is the deep desire of every woman to become a mother’ no longer holds true. Many youngsters approach me to find a solution to the intense stress they experience by undue pressure from parents and in-laws to conceive and she is not interested at all.

Stress beyond imagination

No doubt, motherhood is an amazing experience, but so are many other things in life. For somebody who is creative, a literary work or artistic expression can give equal or more joy and fulfillment. To a modern working woman without any help from relatives, motherhood is a high stress situation. Since I am a healer I get to hear from many youngsters that they are not interested in having a child, but parents and relatives are forcing them so much. One lady went ahead and had a baby and a week after the child was born (on experiencing exhaustion of looking after the new born and sleepless nights), she shouted at the mother, “If you pressurize me to have another child, I will kill you and the child.” To talk like that to one’s mother, you can imagine the frustration she must have had.

Goody goody three years

Taking care of a baby up to three years of age is a very pleasant experience, if one is not sensitive about the physical work involved. Once the child starts developing its own mind, it becomes a daily tug of war. Mother of a five year old told me in utter despair, “When he comes home from school, he will take my mobile phone and keep playing with it till the battery charge is exhausted. He won’t go out and play with friends.” When I asked why she couldn’t hide the phone, she told that she has tried and wherever she hid, he would dig it out! And once the child becomes a teenager, parents get diabetes and high blood pressure from the day to day tension. Of course these types of challenges were there in the yester years too, but there is no comparison as the present day children have access to the internet and they know millions of ways to ‘enjoy’ life.

Humans are the cancer on the earth

By overpopulation and by destroying the earth in every possible way, humans are proving to be the cancer on the earth. Look at all other living beings. They live in tune with the Nature and give back to the nature more than they take from it. But we as a race believe in over consumption and destruction.

At the soul level, we are aware of the fact that we are all One and it is time to curtail this overpopulation. I strongly recommend reading Michael Newton’s ‘Journey of souls’  to understand that in the life between life stage we make a blue print of the future incarnation we are going to take. Many souls decide to not have children and that is the reason they don’t conceive naturally. Modern science has advanced so much that there are many successful methods to over ride nature. But sadly, sometimes nature retaliates.

Let us look at IVF

IVF is commonly recommended for the following fertility problems: in case of blocked or damaged fallopian tubes or any other problem where IVF has been identified as the only treatment likely to help one get pregnant, if the partner has a minor problem with his sperm, as a primary treatment for infertility in women over age 40.

In the stimulation phase, IVF treatment starts from day 1 of the period. In a natural monthly cycle, the ovaries normally produce 1 egg. Medication is administered for 8-14 days to encourage the follicles in the ovaries (where the eggs live) to produce more eggs. The specialist prescribes medication specific to the client’s body and treatment plan. It’s usually in the form of injections, which can vary from 1-2 for the cycle, or 1-2 per day. It can be daunting, but the fertility nurse will be there to show exactly how and where to give the injections. The partner can get involved too and watch and learn together to get it right. It quickly becomes a habit and one becomes an expert in no time.

Later, the eggs are collected from the ovaries under general anesthesia. The fertilization takes place in a dish, embryo is transferred into a special incubator where the conditions for growth and development are perfect. In about 5 to 6 days the embryo is transferred into the uterus. In some weak, or incompetent, cervix cases, a cervical stitch will be scheduled during early pregnancy to try and stop the cervix opening and potentially initiating a miscarriage.

So basically, when the mother decides ‘by hook or crook I am going to get a baby’, this thought with its emotion is transferred to the baby, or a soul with similar thought pattern will be attracted to the womb. 

And when a child is born by surrogacy, it is going to inherit the moral fabric of the surrogate mother, who in many cases will be doing it for the money.

The outcome can be disastrous

When the pregnancy has been achieved by torturing the mother’s body, the message the child gets is ‘I am precious, you are dispensable.’ When that child becomes an adult and starts behaving in the same line, all hell is let loose, as can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ywewMLSYKQ

From where is he/she getting this moral character? It is the parents who mould the child’s character. When proper basic foundation is not provided, because they are not treated as another ordinary family member, but as somebody so precious (remember all the struggles undergone to get a progeny?), how can they act normal and be compassionate?

Embrace and enjoy life

Remember that you have planned your life at the soul stage. Live in the moment and enjoy to the fullest. If you are blessed with children in the normal biologic way, go ahead and enjoy parenthood. Believe that we are souls out here to get a human experience. Either we have been parents in our previous lives or will be in future lives. If at the soul level we have decided to not have children in this life, it is to gain experience and expertise in some other field. Find it out and get head on into it and achieve maximum experience. Don’t compare your life with others’ lives and make it hell.

Reference:

https://monashivf.com/fertility-treatments/fertility-treatments/the-ivf-process/

Experience divinity in real life- Myanmar

When I see different countries, I get the pulse of the area, I can feel the spiritual vibration, enjoy and learn new dishes, get a deep insight into their culture and sense the earth, flora and fauna, and admire the sceneries. Every country has something new to offer, something to teach me and I can’t help but appreciate the magnificence of that One great power that has designed all this creation.

Travelling across Myanmar has brought a deep shift in me. Every country has too many highs and lows in the spiritual dimension. But in Myanmar, the country as a whole is at a higher vibration level. The whole country meditates; children are initiated between 9-12 years of age. This is a Buddhist country where I could feel total peace and an underlying vein of surrender. In many other Buddhist countries, beneath the peaceful exterior, a sort of aggression, sometimes a tinge of depression used to be palpable. I was curious to know the underlying factors. 

People in Myanmar are genuine and relaxed, respectful and humble. Yet, beneath all of this, they have a deep sense of pride, nationalism and great love for their leader, Nobel Peace Prize-winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. 

Evenings and mornings are times when people of any denomination go to their respective places of worship to pray. 

The people are, for the most part, deeply engaged in spiritual practice. Individuals of all ages go to meditation centers during the holidays to become a ‘monk’ or ‘nun’ for limited time. 

Buddhism in Myanmar 

Buddhism in Myanmar is predominantly of the Theravada tradition, practised by 88% of the country's population. It is the most religious Buddhist country in terms of the proportion of monks in the population and proportion of income spent on religion. Theravada tradition adheres most closely to the oldest texts in the Buddhist tradition and focus on cultivating sound moral behaviour. It emphasizes a more rigorous observance of the monastic code than other schools of Buddhism. The ultimate aim of Theravada is to be released from the cycle of suffering (samsara) and to achieve nirvana.  They strive to build positive karma, or merit to be successful in this world and to progress towards enlightenment in subsequent rebirths.

Ordinary people accumulate merit by making offerings to the Buddhist monastic community. This is done during monks' morning procession through neighbourhoods to collect alms or in the form of donations to temples and monasteries. 

Accumulating merit is very important to this nation: people visit temples and pagodas with money and food, to wash the Buddha’s head, or simply pray. The effect of this is in simple things: there are no muggings, it is completely safe to walk alone at night and you can leave your shoes outside your house knowing they will be there in the morning. 

Buddha idols

There are thousands of Buddha idols in Myanmar. On the second day when I told my daughter, “I think there are more Buddha idols in this country than the number of people” she laughed it off. But towards the end of our trip she agreed that what I told must be correct.

The serenity and compassion that exuded from each of these idols was unique. 

No two idols looked alike. I could sense the dedication with which the artisans made them, by putting their hearts and souls in them. In one pagoda I saw many old people cutting mirrors into small pieces to stick onto the pillars. 

With what patience and precision they were working!

The idols are consecrated after installation which makes the temples powerful energy centres. The whole country is studded with temples, which keeps up the energy levels.

Novice monk initiation rites

I was so happy to hear about this. In the present times, generally children are trained how to be a part of the rat race, but no guidance is given on how to live life. But in Myanmar, during long school holidays, boys are inducted into monkhood with Novice monk initiation rites. They are brought to the monastery by parents and relatives dressed in gowns, crowns, flowers, glitters, stockings, and make-up. There will be a big gathering. Hired singers will give a performance, a layman will give a pep talk and some rituals will follow. After having photographs with their parents, the boys are brought again to another monastery (Myoe Daung Monastery) to have their heads shaved, and bathed. Finally they all assemble in the hall in front of the abbot for some prayer recitation, oath taking and robe-blessing ceremonies after which they are dressed in their new robe vestment by their parents. They will stay the rest of their school holiday in the monastery.

What an amazing way to introduce children to the meaning of life and to learn discipline! Full moon days are National holidays and the families go to the temples in the mornings. They have their breakfast and lunch there only, with meditating for 2 hours at a stretch in between. They return home in the evening. 

Vipassana

With the passage of centuries, in some countries, the teachings of the Buddha did not remain in the original, authentic form. But in Myanmar, people preserved the words of the Buddha and the technique of Vipassana meditation in their pristine purity from generation to generation. The earliest modern writer of vipassana manuals was a Burmese monk named Medawi (1728–1816) who was influential in reviving the Burmese interest in meditation practices.

Under this rich tradition, Sayagyi U Ba Khin, a senior civil servant from Burma, learnt the technique of Vipassana and out of immense love and compassion, taught to many students. Mr. S. N. Goenka, a wealthy businessman of Indian origin, was one amongst them. After firmly establishing himself in this technique for 14 years, Mr. Goenka was appointed as the principal teacher of Vipassana meditation by Sayagyi U Ba Khin in 1969.

Sayagyi U Ba Khin had an earnest wish that the technique of Vipassana meditation should return in its pristine purity to India. His most cherished wish got fulfilled when Mr. Goenka returned to India in 1969 to conduct a Vipassana course for his ailing mother and other family members. Over a period of almost 45 years, Mr. Goenka and the teachers appointed by him taught hundreds of thousands of people in courses in India and other countries, East and West. Today, meditation centers established under his guidance are operating in Asia, Europe, the America, Africa and Australasia. Meditation in these centers is free of cost.

Food habits

I strongly believe that one’s thoughts are influenced by the food consumed. Any processed food that comes in packets (like chips, biscuits) if taken for extended periods of time, deteriorates health. It was such a pleasure to see that people in Myanmar had much less snacking habit. Even when they had snacks, it was roasted sunflower seeds with the skin. Each seed has to be split open with teeth and then it is eaten after discarding the covering. It is impossible to over eat this, like the doughnuts or muffins.

Traditionally they had only two meals a day—one at around 10:00am and another in the mid afternoon—the same schedule monks eat on. When they have three meals, breakfast is generally eaten between 6:30am and 7:30am and often consists of rice or soup. Lunch is between 12:00 noon and 1:00pm and Dinner is eaten between 6:00pm and 7:00pm. I found so many restaurants empty at times other than meal times, unlike in India where we are always having tea and snacks. We didn't notice obesity here. 

Richness in heart

When we went to the restaurants for meals in Myanmar, we were surprised at the free accompaniments. We had to order only rice (they will give unlimited quantity), and a side dish. Then a succession of side dishes would follow. One of these side dishes was invariably soup, either an Indian-influenced peh-hìn-ye (lentil soup), studded with chunks of vegetables, or a tart leaf-based hìn-jo (sour soup). A tray of fresh and par-boiled vegetables and herbs is another common side dish; they’re eaten with various dips, ranging from ngăpí ye (a watery, fishy dip) to balachaung (a dry, pungent combination of chillies, garlic and dried shrimp fried in oil). Additional vegetable-based side dishes, unlimited green tea and a dessert of pickled tea leaves and chunks of jaggery (palm sugar) are also usually included.

And they serve with so much love! I couldn’t help myself comparing with my experience in Oslo, one of the richest countries where on arrival at the hostel after a long journey, there was no free water to drink, and we had to get a miniscule cup of black coffee for about Rs. 500/- I totally believe that richness comes from the heart, not from the money or prosperity.  

Tourists are never hassled in Myanmar to buy anything. We saw a lady selling churan near one pagoda and asked her to give 250 gms. She told she sells only 1 kg. We politely refused and were walking off when she packed a small quantity and gave us, vehemently refusing to take any money!

Clothing and male female interaction

These are two things that showed similarity with Bhutan. People are proud of their National dress and I observed dentists coming in the local dress to attend my presentation and saw men and women in the same attire throughout the country and in the air port. 

I remembered attending weddings in Indian villages where bridegrooms were wearing coat and tie in the sweltering heat of the afternoon. Indian brides are slowly shifting from sari to designer dresses; don’t know whether I will get to see them in trousers/short skirts and tops during wedding cermonies. 

Men and women interact so naturally, without sexual connotations, it was such a joy to see. I didn’t sense any sexual objectification of women during the journey across the country. The dating culture in Myanmar is an interesting fact about their life. For most locals, dating means marriage. There’s no such thing as going on dates for fun, cohabiting or dating just to get know each other. Relationships are taken very seriously and the pressure on both sides is intense.

Our experience in this beautiful country can be summed up in my daughter’s (who travelled with us) words: “A pilgrimage is when a land/ destination is so powerful that simply journeying to it transforms you, without you having to do anything special. This country is a pilgrimage in itself. Travelling through it left us healed, uplifted and transformed. How and when, we don't even know.”

References:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/eating-in-myanmar-burma

https://www.raconteur.net/current-affairs/whats-it-really-like-to-live-inmyanmar

https://wikitravel.org/en/Bagan

https://www.vridhamma.org/History-and-Spread-of-Vipassana

Living dreams

I can’t stray, mother.

I Love you, and I was born to strengthen you

I was born to find the happiness deep within

I was born to brighten your wings

Just like you brightened mine.

I can’t stray, teacher.

I was born to memorize your facts

And think beyond the horizon

To bring meaning to lives

And let pride bubble in your chest.

I can’t stray, my love.

We were born to enrich our lives,

Care for each other and embrace in love.

I wasn’t born to stride between human libraries and

Cuddle parties, in deep pain.

I can’t stray, my boss.

I was born to find God in everyone,

I was born to work in tandem,

To find each day a new beginning,

And be a part of human upliftment.

I can’t stray, my master.

I was born to imbibe your ideas,

Realize those were not to prevent me,

From following my path to find the truth

And merge into the Oneness.

I was born to understand the different roles

In this human life and do my Karma,

According to my Dharma,

For that is what sustains this world,

That is a beautiful jigsaw puzzle.

I was born to meet life head on,

To have the courage to change things when I can,

To remain serene when my role is nil,

That is possible from the wisdom

Imparted to me by my mother and master.

Before I was born, as a soul I had sketched out,

My path for this life time.

Let me not deviate, but finish this journey,

That I had meticulously drawn,

And leave the rest for other incarnations.

One life is too short to feel everything,

To taste everything, but I need to,

Learn to embrace change gracefully,

Uncover the truth and learn to fly,

Come what may be around me.

When I am old

I will be proud of my journey

Which could uplift all loved ones,

That made difference in many lives,

And filled peace in my heart.

I was born to be free,

And to realize that the freedom is within.

Mind to mind, Heart to heart

When you are in tune with nature and work from your heart, there’s a huge burning flame in your heart space which lights up the heart spaces of those coming in contact with you. As there is a general awakening happening in the present times, the inner opening happens in a large number of people. Sometimes they haven’t done enough inner work or they are influenced by a less than optimal surrounding (place or people). Then the mind comes into play when they transmit this knowledge to others.

Enriching others

In both cases, people who come in contact with them do benefit. In the first case, it is like a flame burning a lot of unwanted energies inside you and lighting up the Divine corners that were overshadowed so far.

In the second instance, the person working through the mind is like putting some food into those who are hungry and have approached with open mouths. It really does satiate their hunger for the time being, but no permanent transformation can happen.

Listen through your heart

When you are absorbing energies from a Guru/teacher, try to feel from your heart, is it coming from his/her heart space, or is it colored by their mind?

If you are a mind centered person, you will be impressed and you will benefit as it forms part of your journey. For a heart centered person, it can prove a regressive step.

Encounters and blessings from Monkey Gods

Almost a decade back I attended an Ayurveda conference in Rishikesh and was listening to a very interesting discourse by Dr. Robert Svoboda. When he started chanting Hanuman chalisa and asked us to join, I realised the sad truth that I didn’t know it by heart. I felt ashamed that Dr. Svoboda, a westerner knew it and I didn’t. On coming back home I learned it and started chanting every day.

A couple of years later we were in a Shiva temple in Lucknow. When we came out, I noticed that one of my chappals was missing. I heard some sounds from the top of a nearby tree and looked up to find a monkey holding my chappal. I looked at it, pleaded in my mind to return the chappal, and it promptly threw down. 

In Myanmar too

We reached Yathaypyan cave in Myanmar on 11^th September 2019 at around 3.30 pm. It was drizzling and the sky was cast with dark clouds. 

We had to pass through a small bridge, where so many monkeys were roaming, and go up through steps to the cave on the mountain. I was hesitant to take off chappals and walk all that way. But that was the rule there. So hesitantly I left the chappals and off we went. On coming back I noticed my chappals were missing. We searched all around, but couldn’t find them. When we reached our car, told Mr. Amo (who was driving the car) about missing chappals, and voiced our doubt that somebody must have taken them. If it was taken by a monkey, most probably it would have taken only one, not both the chappals.

Mr. Amo was very perturbed to hear that. He told that it has never happened that people have stolen chappals. As we got into the car, He went off to search. After about 15 minutes, he came back beaming, with my chappals in his hands. He told that he and another local person searched and saw they were lying at quite a distance from the bridge, one on either side.

Thandayuthapani temple

On 13^th September 2019 we started from Mawlamyne (Myanmar) early morning, Mr. Amo told there was an Indian temple on the way. I was chanting Kamakshi mantra in the car (I chant different mantras at different times) and was surprised to see an idol of Kamakshi Devi when we stopped at the Thandayuthapani (Indian) temple. 

We noticed that there were too many steps to climb to reach the main temple and since we had a long day ahead, thought of saying namaskar from down only. I was feeling a little uneasy regarding that, and then noticed a monkey sitting on the top in a small opening on the archway. It was looking at me intently, and I felt ok, it was fine not to go all the way up.

I took a photograph of the monkey sitting there. Then Mr. Amo saw it and he tried to take a snap and I saw to my amusement, it turned its back towards him. 

“Open your heart”

The moment we landed in Myanmar on 10^th September 2019, I started getting the message, ‘Open your heart’. I have done Heart opening meditations and attended a ‘Heart Transmission’ session from Jacqueline before. So throughout our stay in Myanmar I was consciously doing ‘breathing from the heart.’

It was on 19^th that we came to The Mingun Pahtodawgyi, which is an incomplete monument stupa on the banks of the Irrawaddy river in Mingun.

As we were approaching the monument, my inner voice said, “This is it”, and my heart started beating in anticipation. I was curious to observe what was in store.

About the stupa

The massive construction project of this stupa was begun by King Bodawpaya in 1790 which was intentionally left unfinished. King Bodawpaya had acquired a sacred Buddha tooth relic as a gift from a Chinese delegation that visited the King’s court. To enshrine a Buddha relic of such great importance, the King wanted to build the largest pagoda in the country and probably in the world.

Bodawpaya used thousands of prisoners of war from his expansionist campaigns and slaves working on the construction of the stupa. The construction was also seen as having a heavy toll over the people and the state, thus a prophecy was allegedly created, to stop the project. The prophecy went "as soon as the building of the pagoda was over, the country would also be gone". A variation stated that king would die once the project was completed. Thus, construction was slowed down to prevent the prophecy's realisation and when the king died, the project was completely halted. By the time the construction project was abandoned, the pagoda had attained a height of 50 metres, one third of the intended height. An earthquake on 23 March 1839 caused huge cracks to appear on the face of the remaining structure.

Buddha with hand on his heart

As we entered inside, I was awestruck. There He was standing- Buddha with hand on his heart.

During these ten days of touring, first time we came across an idol like this. I just stood there, mesmerized, absorbing all the transmission that was happening from that divine heart to mine! I can now  feel a vastness, an expansion, lightness in my chest. After doing a short meditation, we left the place.

The result

I can sense an increase in compassion inside me. The physical proof?  Birds and animals like cats, and dogs just are not bothered of our presence. It is as if they know that we are aware of our oneness with Nature. A pair of crow pheasant would slowly walk in front of us. Yesterday night we were standing in the portico when a cat came in and was searching for some prey. It would walk around so close to us, without even looking at us, as if it was unaware of our presence. It was such an unbelievable experience!

References:
https://www.amusingplanet.com/2015/09/the-mingun-pagoda-and-worlds-2nd.html

Peace transmission from a thread

 Being sensitive to the energy vibrations, I am not comfortable anybody tying sacred thread on my wrist. The Universe brought an opportunity to make me realize that there can be exceptions. On 12^th September 2019 during our trip to Myanmar, we visited Kyauk Ka Lat pagoda, which is a Buddhist temple in the Kayin State. Kyauk Ka Lat Pagoda balances on the peak of a limestone rock formation dominating the beautiful manmade lake located near the Mount of Zwegabin in Hpa-An. 

This pagoda defies all gravity rules.  The island is reached by a wooden footbridge and visitors are permitted to reach as high as a shrine halfway up the outcrop.

The summit can only be reached by a precarious wooden ladder. The complex at Kyauk Ka Lat contains a number of structures, shrines, and temples. The temple complex is a place of meditation, an active monastery, and is open for tours.

When we reached the shrine half way up, I saw a pious monk sitting near a Jade Buddha. 

The dark green color of the Jade has a special attraction to me and after we paid obeisance, the monk took out some sacred threads and tied on our wrists. Then we enjoyed the view of the lake, mountains and another pagoda from there. 

As is my usual habit, I thought of cutting and removing the thread on reaching back the hotel, somehow I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I could feel some soothing waves permeating from the thread into my body. And it is still on my wrist, as of 3^rd October.

Finally on 27th October on Diwali day, it was removed.

References:

https://osugamyanmartravels.com/hpa-an-kyauk-kalat-pagoda/

Ancestors’ blessings in Myanmar

When we started our trip to Myanmar, I knew that the pitru paksha dates would fall in between. Every year I pray for my ancestors and make sweets to offer if I am at home. On 21st September 2019 when my husband told that the first place we would visit that day was Nat Taung Kyaung monastery (Bagan, Myanmar), where spirits are worshipped, I decided to offer my prayers to ancestors there.

When we reached Nat Taung Kyaung, we were enthralled by its beauty. 

Built in 18th century, this wooden monastery is still standing today. It is located in a secluded clearing amidst a wide variety of trees and vegetation. It is probably the region's oldest, as well as its finest, wooden monastery. The Nat Taung complex actually contains two monasteries, numerous pyatthats (multistage roof, with an odd number of tiers), pavilions, rest houses and ancillary buildings. It has the finest of wood carvings. 

I did namaskar, touching my forehead on the ground and prayed for the harmony with ancestors. 

My daughter was just doing circumambulation, with the thought in her mind, ‘This is enough no? Should I also touch my forehead down?’ Then she noticed the sign of a Trishul on the otherwise straight  carpet, which was the indication for her.

I requested for a definite sign to let me know that prayers have been well accepted. After the sightseeing we had our lunch and decided to go to the room and take some rest. Then it started to rain heavily, and we had a nice nap.

In the evening we saw the sky was clear after the rains, so decided to go to some nearby place to watch sunset. While just driving around we noticed a building like a watch tower. It was the Nann Myint viewing tower of Bagan.  It was just a matter of chance we came across this, the driver didn't know about it and we had not read about it in any reviews.  

We went in and had an awesome view of pagodas all around and a spectacular sunset. 

Yes, I got my proof for the acceptance of our prayers.

References:

https://www.orientalarchitecture.com/sid/526/myanmar/bagan/nat-taung-kyaung-monastery

Getting back on the spiritual path

After our traumatic stay at the Soul Coach Training Programme, I felt that I was dragged a hundred feet backward in my spiritual path. We had to go to some silent place, meditate and rejuvenate. So off we went to Shringeri and Kanhangad in April 2019.

Shringeri

We reached Shringeri by 3.30 in the afternoon and straightaway went to the guest house Sri Bharati Tirtha Krupa where we had booked a room. The pillow covers didn’t look clean and with some reluctance, they changed them. For dinner we went to the temple dinner hall, a huge one that can accommodate 3000 people at a time. The food was very disappointing; it was just rice and some colored water that was a weak representation of rasam and it was served as if it was a chore. For the rest of our stay, we never ate there again.

Durga Parameshwari temple

The next day brought some great divine experiences for us. It was my husband’s birthday and after bath in the morning we went to the Durga Parameshwari temple.

We were elated to see that there was no crowd, so we could sit and meditate in peace. After some time, in the adjacent school, morning prayers were going on and then they sang, “Happy Birthday” song for some student!!

Kalbhairav temple

We came back to the main temple area and started walking to Kalbhairav temple. On the way we saw the library and stepped in to have a look. Since the librarian couldn’t answer our questions, he went inside and brought a Swamiji who was there for the last 15 years. He was very knowledgeable and we had an interesting conversation.

Meanwhile we got a call from a friend and we had to rush back, instead of proceeding to the Kalbhairav temple. Our friend took us to the Bettada Malahanikareshwara temple. It is situated on a hill top and the moment we reached, Aarti started. For lunch we went to ‘Akshaya mess’ and had a delicious lunch, along with mung dal payasam, which made our birthday celebration complete.

After taking some rest in the room, we set out for the Kalbhairav temple again. It was a 15 minute walk uphill. We didn’t know the way, but as a man was walking ahead, we just followed him and reached the temple. I felt strong vibrations there, sat and chanted mantra 108 times. When the chanting was over, I heard the ‘thud’ of many falling fruits from a tree nearby. It was anjili chakka as we call in Malayalam, or Fruit of Artocarpus Hirsutus or Anhili.

 When I told my husband that we eat them in Kerala, he told it must be Kalbhairav’s Prasad for us. I picked up a broken fruit, saw that the top portion was clean, and we consumed our prasadam.

On the way back, dusk was approaching, there was nobody in sight and we were just walking, praying it was the correct way back. I suddenly noticed that a dog was walking with us. Whenever I stopped and looked, it would also stop, and resume walking once I started walking again. After a while we reached the library where we had spent time in the morning. From there we knew the way and the dog just disappeared. For those who don’t know, dog is the vehicle of Kalabhairav.

Anjaneya and Kalikamba temples

 The four dikpalaka temples in Shringeri are those of Durga Parameshwari, Kalabhairava, Anjaneya and Kalikamba. The first two we had visited, now set out to visit the last two. They are also powerful temples and it was a joy to absorb all those vibrations. It was a great day with so many positive experiences and I could feel my real self slowly surfacing.

Another day in bliss

After breakfast on the next day, we walked across the bridge to the Vyasa mandir.

Vyasa mandir from far off, and a closer view 

There was nobody else, allowing us to spend time meditating. Then we drove to Kigga, which is a small village located at a distance of 9 km from Shringeri. The main attraction of Kigga is Sri Rishya Shringeshwara temple. Dedicated to Rishyasringa, the temple stands on the site where Rishyasringa was absorbed in the celestial light. Built during Vijayanagara period, the temple houses a linga of a unique shape, with three protuberances resembling horns.

During the time of the formation of Sharada Peetha, Sri Adi Shankaracharya visited  this holy place of Kigga. It is after this visit that he named the place as Shringeri derived from the name Rishya - Sringa. Hence, the place became famous as Shringeri Sharada Peetha.

On the river bank

In the evening we went and sat near the river, absorbed in meditation. Gazing at the setting Sun filled me up with all the energy that was depleted at the SCTP.

The river was filled with fish

We have visited Shringeri a couple of times before, but every time we would just go to the main temple and return. It was a unique experience this time, of staying there and visiting all the associated temples.

To Anandashram, Kanhangad

The drive to Kanhangad was scenic, and I noticed many water bodies. We reached Anandashram by 5 pm. After completing the formalities at the reception, we went to the dining hall for tea and then checked into a room in the Krishnabai block.

It was a big room with nice attached bathroom with geyser. I am writing this because in Shringeri guest house we had to pay and get hot water for bath through the room boy in the morning, which was not very convenient.

About Anandashram

Anandashram was founded by Swami Ramdas, endearingly called Beloved Papa, at Kanhangad in Kerala in 1931. The ideal the Ashram holds before it is “Universal Love and Service based upon a vision of divinity in all beings and creatures of the world. Here every man, woman or child, to whatever denomination, creed of caste the person may belong, shall have free access.”

The Ashram provides free food for all visitors, and free accommodation for a limited period of time. There are special buildings for wandering sadhus. We have had free food in many temples (prasadam), but have never experienced the love and concern with which the food is served here.

The food is vegetarian and usually includes plenty of milk products. The Ashram has a Goshala (Cow Shed), with over 50 heads of cattle. The milk yield is passed on to the Ashram Bhojan Shala (Canteen) which feeds not only the devotees but also the poor and hungry who happen to come to the Ashram. The Goshala is fitted with ceiling fans to keep the cows cool, and according to one source, in the Goshala one encounters "some of the happiest cows you'll ever see in India."

The Ashram is centred on the single activity of chanting the mantra "Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram."During the lifetime of Swami Ramdas, the mantra was chanted throughout the day in the main Bhajan Hall, except for the times when he would engage in discussions with visitors in the Bhajan Hall after lunch and dinner. Today the mantra is chanted continuously from 6 am to 6 pm in one of the three samadhis in the Ashram: the samadhis of Swami Ramdas, Mataji Krishnabai, and Swami Sachidananda. Spaces are also available for silent meditation. However, visitors are not under any compulsion to participate in these activities. So all those who take part in various programmes are doing it from their heart.

After the mahasamadhi of Swami Ramdas in 1963, Mataji Krishnabai headed Anandashram until her own passing in 1989. Swami Sachidananda, who joined the ashram in 1949, took over the leadership of the Ashram until he passed away in 2008. Now Swami Muktananda heads the Ashram. We listened to his discourses and had a personal meeting too.

The message for me

It was such a divine experience to participate in various programmes in the ashram, I specially cherish the memory of flower offering in the morning and bhajan in the evening. The message that I got from my stay was “Everybody’s body and path are different. Sadhana should let our innerself bloom. We need to go deeper and deeper and find our own method to bloom to our full potential. Sadhana is done to remove the obstacles from our spiritual path. We should not try to copy anybody, just take pointers and move on...’’

Read more at:

 https://www.nativeplanet.com/travel-guide/rishyasringa-temple-near-sringeri-002877.html

http://www.anandashram.org/