Visited the Samadhi of Baba Ramdevji Pir in Pokhran, Jaisalmer this weekend.
I've been feeling quite spiritual lately. Still, deep inside, I know I am not a religious person. I can't get myself to perform a pooja without somebody's insistence. It's not in my hands, God, you just didn't make me like that ('if at all you did make me' is a phrase too natural for me to add to it, and you know it well if you've been a regular reader of this blog; but, not this time.)
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India has, for long, been a country where one's faith makes another's living. But some people just overdo it. At least don't do it in the very premises of your Lord's birthplace. Please.
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We all thought of Pokhran as some barren land which the government found the most apt for nuclear tests. But believe me, there is life, good enough vegetation cover, drinking water etc. The area is rocky, more rocky than Delhi. There is sand, but not like the infinite spread of it we are shown on screen.
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There is a myth in the region which goes like Baba Ramdevji took Samadhi on the top of a hill and then, few hours later, he showed up to one of his followers. The follower told people that He is still alive and so they dug up the Samadhi, as a punishment for which Baba cursed them- "Generations of you people will be born disabled". So, looks like the government of India was fated to do nuclear tests there! (This is what people call 'a bad PJ'.)
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The urbanization robbed us of what we call the natural human behaviour. In pokhran, 4 hours from Jodhpur, you get to know what it is. It must have been divine, eons ago, to be human.
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Desert women are beautiful. Yes, they are. The glint in their eyes more than makes up for what heat of the sun robs them of. No, Paulo Coelho didn't say that, but his book was just the perfect companion I could have had during the journey. The next guy who would get 'The Alchemist' issued from the library would also feel some sand particles shearing against his hands when he reads this wonderful story. Set in one desert, autographed by another.
September 19, 2007
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Vik
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8:49 PM
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9 comments:
Sweet post! Bet you enjoyed reading The Alchemist!
One doesnt need to be religious to be spiritual. Religion is a mere stepping stone toward spirituality, and most ppl dont acknowledge this. It is not about doing poojas and aarthis and those rituals (they have their own importance too), instead, it is understanding as to why our ancestors conducted them, and apply those morals/concepts to our present lives. The extrapolation of those ideas is what we need to do, rather than relying on practices of the past. It is like versioning of software...you dont use Win 3.2 anymore, but you still use concepts from that version in Vista!! It is important to love people, to do good, to protect ourselves and our society from evil, to present idols to the society whose footstpes we can follow, to preach, to inspire and encourage and establish peace...but the way in which we do it may be entirely different than the previous methodologies. You don't need poojas for these things anymore, I believe.
(kuch bhi bakwaas likhi hai maine, lol, mai khud re-read karke pak gayee:D)
Hello!
I'm also a big Paulo Coelho fan and I don't know if you’ve heard about his blog
http://www.paulocoelhoblog.com
I've started as a fan and now I'm collaborating with him and thought that you would like to enter his universe.
Check the blog, if you want, or subscribe to his newsletter
http://www.warriorofthelight.com/engl/index.html
You'll see a community of warriors of light sharing ideas, dreams and most importantly following their personal legend.
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"The moment we set off in search of love,
it sets off in search of us.
And saves us."
See you there and have a great day!
Aart
lovely post! written very well and heartwarming as well..
Have always wanted to go to rajasthan..am back in delhi now, but still haven't had a chance....soon I will!
lovely post! written very well and heartwarming as well..
Have always wanted to go to rajasthan..am back in delhi now, but still haven't had a chance....soon I will!
Must've been divine for sure, who wouldn't give what to have a time machine? Maybe nobody, nothing; but good that you got that experience for a while! Nice post to read.
[Taps]
Yeah, it was a good read.
(Maine 2-3 din pahle padha tha comment ko; ek baar mein to nahi paka, lekin ab reply ke liye re-read karna padega, and that I won't, given your experience. :P)
[Chandni]
Thanks!
I'm from Rajasthan myself but my place is a bit far from the desert. But maybe that too is desert enough and that's why I didn't find Pokhran a barren land!
I guess you are involved in some social work org, so it's only a matter of time before you get a chance.
[Vibhav]
I don't know if I felt it or not at that time; but I really felt good when I wrote that line. I mean it was more a thought that came to the mind while writing the blog. Glad you picked up this for commenting on.
Dear Vik,
Paulo would like to put your post in his blog
Paulo Coelho's blog
In case you have any restrictions, do not hesitate to email me : paulabraconnot@gmail.com
Have a great day!
Paula
[Paula]
I would love to see it there :)
mast ...
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