Tantra
has had a deep impact upon me. I like the concept of Tantra -there is
nothing unholy. Everything is holy. Goddess is present everywhere. I
am always drawn to the seats of tantra. I have a deep desire of
meeting a tantric, though I know very well real tantrics are both
difficult to discern and find.
Ujjain
has been one of the prime centres of tantra and astrology. I went to
Ujjain on an impulse. I had been to Omkareshwar and plan of Ujjain
was hatched at the eleventh hour. I saw a bus going to Ujjain. I
waved hand and boarded the bus.
I
first went to the Sandipani Ashram. This was where Krishna was
schooled. I was so excited to step on the land where the Lord had
stepped. Such a great was the impact of the very thought of walking
upon the land which Lord Krishna had walked, that I was getting goose
bumps. It was here that Krishna studied with his brother Balarama and
best friend Sudama. The two ancient temples of Shiva stand even
today. One of them is special for it has a standing Nandi and a
lingam with snake carved upon it. There is a small temple with the
images of Krishna, Balarama, Sudama and the famous teacher Sandipani.
Even till date the students are initiated in this Ashram. Isn't it
great to study at the same place where Lord Krishna studied.
I
visited the famous Mahakal temple too. There were big queues for the
darshan. Ujjain is known for Mahakal, who is one of the twelve
Jyotirlingas.
But
it was Kalbhairav who has had a deep and lasting impact upon me.
I
went to the Kalbhairav temple. Like any other temple there were
stalls selling the puja paraphernalia. There were flowers, coconuts,
incense in the baskets which the vendors goaded me to buy. “Offer
the Lord country liquor. Offer the Lord foreign liquor.” They were
shouting. I was afraid that I hadn't heard their calls properly. How
could one ask to offer liquor to the Lord. That was when I saw that
the small baskets contained a bottle of liquor too along with
flowers, coconut and incense.
There
were many devotee who had brought exotic liquor for the lord. The
labels showed that the liquor was expensive and the lord liked
whiskey, rum, vodka, beer and country made liquor equally without
any discrimination.
I didn't buy any puja items or the liquor. I just followed the devotees who were carrying the bottles. I stepped into the sanctum. They were handing over their baskets as well as bottles to the priest. He was pouring a little liquor from the bottles into a silver saucer. He held it close to the mouth of the Kalbhairava idol and He was drinking it. The rest was given back to the devotee as a prasad.
I didn't buy any puja items or the liquor. I just followed the devotees who were carrying the bottles. I stepped into the sanctum. They were handing over their baskets as well as bottles to the priest. He was pouring a little liquor from the bottles into a silver saucer. He held it close to the mouth of the Kalbhairava idol and He was drinking it. The rest was given back to the devotee as a prasad.
This
was entertaining for sure. But it had a deep meaning beneath it.
Watching the Lord drink had a deep impact upon me. It taught me that
there is underlying good in everything. For everything is creation of
the God. We should gulp down unpleasant situations. We should gulp
down negative thoughts. We should gulp down everything that not
pleasant. We should accept everything as a prasad from God. Indeed
the visit to Ujjain and Kalbhairav temple in particular has had a
deep impact upon me.
This
blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger
for the launch of the #Fantastico
Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test
drive of the hatchback Zica today.
No comments:
Post a Comment