From samosas to samadhi...Kashi yatra in Nov 24.
- in eternal aum consciousness
- Nov 20, 2024
- 14 min read
The unusual title is the conclusion of the recent trip to kashi! Read on to know more, how a simple samosa, is one of the methods to enter a samadhi state!
The trip:
We were planning a trip to kasardevi on kartik purnima, which falls on 15 Nov 2024 this year. Kasardevi is a magical place, visited by many great yogis and seekers.
Natasha suggested instead, we go to Kashi, as it's dev diwali at the same time. I had never seen dev diwali in Kashi till now. So kashi it was. It is true that you don't go to Kashi. Kashi calls you!
This trip was planned a while ago, and as usual, some dropped out and some new ones joined in! That is life!
I recieved an input recently from pranali, one of my life mentors on the wheels of life and the guidance on inner purification. This was the perfect trip. Kashi is ganga and ganga is purity! The place where the papa and papavritti, both are washed away.
So finally, natasha and her friends satish and Kelly made the trip!
Natasha is a rare combination of expertise on counseling and yoga. A gem of a person.
Satish is a master healer and a beautiful soul from California.
Kelly is a senior corporate professional in the media industry. She is so much in tune with everyone and lively, it's amazing! It was her first trip to India and she came to kashi!
Quite a unique and diverse group! I thought, it's going to be a great trip! And it sure was!
Every trip in Kashi is unique in terms of the company, and the state of the self, the understanding level, the vibrations! Nothing is same!
Thursday:
The flight was delayed due to fog in varanasi. Instead of landing at 6.30, we took off at 6.30 am from Mumbai! That means a night was without much of sleep. But the interesting conversation between all of us, kept the energy up as the clock was ticking.
At the ghat, Kelly got the first tikka of her life! She enjoyed the experience and it shows!
Man singh museum:
After the check-in at the guest house,
After a brief visit to the ghats, visited the Man singh museum on the dashaswamedh ghat. It's a well made museum with good audio visual effects to explain everything about Kashi. Very impressive especially for the first time visitors. A highly recommended one.
We saw the most modern salon here. Actually, this is the bare minimum to have a haircut!
This picture impressed Satish a lot. The perfect Indian micro store!
One lunch and we are done! This is the food, one can dream of...
Meher Babas divine connection:
Avatar Meher Baba had a new life phase. In this phase he visited kashi. The place, sitaram bhavan, he visited, is a hospital now. And the family stays at the first floor. We recognised the place, as it has the same gates, as in the old pictures!
Natasha wanted to experience an old, heritage, basic, homely stay in Kashi, so we opted for Marco! Sitaram bhavan is next to marco guest house and it's not just a coincidence that she selected Marco!
We were shown sitaram bhavan by a disciple of baba, who is fourth generation follower! He came all the way to see us!
Connections are maintained over lifetimes, indeed! Most of the connections, we are not even aware of, as our mind is always making some noise of thoughts, words and actions! It's only in silence, that revelations come.
Kabir ashram:
This was created where Kabir used to give his discourses. This is the seat of the lineage of disciples, who are the head of Kabirs path.
On the way to the ashram, there is kabirs timeless wisdom on the walls. each verse has deep meanings in them. I just stopped and tried to absorb the deep meaning of some of them.
The premises themselves are really huge and is a must visit place.
In this place, i saw two Trishuls. One large one. One smaller. Both are from Gorakshnaths lineage of sadhus, indicating their acceptance of kabirs teachings. The Larger one had 3 straight points. And another smaller one with a half crescent. This further reinforced my study of use of trishool in hatha yoga. It is only only used was a weapon, but also has a great use in practises. (This will be the subject of another blog! I have largerly guessed what use they would be for...but it needs further study and validation).
Inside the ashram, the key scenes of kabirs life are represented in sculptures. A very interesting way to bring his life to people of this age.
There were two sadhus in the temple, who were reciting Kabir bani. This added to the profound experience.
Myself and natasha sat on the steps of the main samadhi Mandir, and just meditated. Natasha being a great singer, sang a Bhajan... Full of devotion. Music comes to her spontaneously!
Friday: kartik purnima and dev diwali.
Darshan at kal bhairav and dandapani temples to start the day!
Breakfast at the number one place near the ghats! Amazing!
Thandai! Without adding bhang!
This is a peice of thandai, one just have in Kashi.
Both Kelly and satish are immersed in Kashi! It shows!
Bath in the river Ganga:
We got ready, and proceeded to kartik snan at the scindia ghat. Not too much crowd around noon!
This is two devis, praying to ganga devi, with a bird doing a flyby!
Many dips, mantra chanting and meditation under water followed.
Kelly made friends with a local family. Grown up kids, mom and dad and cousins!
Here is a view of a nearby temple! Look at the work!
As we got out and got ready, i could not see both Kelly and Natasha. They were dancing on the local music being played, without understanding a word of it, and having a grand time! It was fun watching everyone!
After an hour, we got out and headed to my favorite place. The mithai shop!
But before that, Kelly had a special moment!
Resting on the steps of an old house. Getting ready for the next step!
A visit to Satya Narayan bhandar:
The samosas are something out of the world. We all ordered and ate like small kids enjoying themselves in Disneyland! This is the same palce my grandmother used to go to! It's there since 1948! After ordering stuff to take back to Mumbai, and finishing off with another round of sweets, it was time to go back to the hotel.
Dev diwali:
We decided to go to Jain ghat near assi Ghat for dev diwali.
This is natasha and Kelly, ready to rock the evening!
The lighting on the Jain ghat near the Charan of Maharaj was the best experience. To see the participation of so many local people, all lighting up the ghats, was amazing.
The floating lights in water and flying ballons in the air created a magical feeling with full moon and fireworks with a laser show thrown in! The experience is beyond words.
So, there are a few times, every year, when a Kashi darshan is a must. Maha shiv ratri, dev diwali being two of them. I have been to both. Maybe holi could be another interesting time to come here. Will soon find out!
Saturday:
Tailang Swami ashram:
No visit to kashi is complete with a darshan of this aashram.
This is the experience and insight in today's meditation at telang Swami's ashram. All divine places are designed to give insights that are most relevant at the particular stage.
The realisation that manifestation of the souls truthful state, is the chit, the energy. Both are anant which is timeless. Hence sat chit anantam. (Anandam came later with bhakti movement hence sat chit anadna).
Within this consciousness, is the manas the mind, which manifests the prana energy, which in turn manifests itself as the body.
The soul is manifested as light in the third eye, the creation, is the word energy in the throat chakra ( the creation happened with the sound of om). The mind resides in the heart chakra, the seat of emotions. The energy is manipura and the body in mooladhara and swadishthana the seat of desire and creation. This means in the pinda of the gross body are the elements of creation of the universe!
The subtler the layer, the more prevading it is. The soul is beyond subtleness, hence it is all prevading. The mind is less prevading, the energy is lesser.
The soul is not inside the body. The mind, prana energy and body are within the soul!
As the soul connection is made now, there is no where to go, nothing to do and have. However, it is imperative that in this lifetime, the roles are fulfilled by actions, to complete the soul planning.
No wonder the subtle unconscious sanskaras or memories in chitta surface when needed, as the mind is a part of the soul and the impressions on the mind, in its various incarnations remain.
In nature too, things appear, sustain and dissolve. In a human form, we are no different. The only difference is that our mind gets more attached, by emotions, which when one is clear, that it's my mind, i am not the mind, leads to experiencing life, living life, being in abundance at all times, without any suffering!
You are like a peice of ice, breaking away from a glacier, moving with the flow of the river. Ice, water are the same form. Ice is going to merge with water, which the ice may not be aware of. This is like divine consciousness taking a life form. In ice form, there is no flow. In water there is.
As the water evaporates from the river, it's life getting transformed from visible to invisible. Only to turn to snow in the Himalayas and the cycle continues.
To an external observer, ice and water and water vapour are the same. The creation of ice, its breaking into a small block, it's floating as ice and is dissolution, it's conversion to water vapour are all one and the same, only the state and form is different. That's all. This is the essence of life.
Many times, there is no need to read books or think. Just go to an energized place and sit in silence... And slowly, the download happens!
The anahata naada in places with high vibrations is very subtle. It is similar to what was experienced in alandi. Soft soothing, motherly vibrations full of love.
Many a times, in such places, like Kashi and alandi, even with full awareness, the anahata naad sound is almost silent. the mind does not need even the sound to anchor it! Amazing!
On the Alamgir mosque:
This is the one created by demolishing the Bindu madhav mandir. We were allowed to go on the top of the mosque. In earlier days, this was the biggest temple in Kashi.
The view is fantastic from the top. And it is a great privilege to be where the mandir was earlier standing for thousands of years. The prayers, the vibrations, remain in the premises. It is a very peaceful experience here.
We met a lady from Russia here, who read a lot about India and flew down to experience life here! Amazing!
A hug, this man will never forget:
In the afternoon, we met the same family from the ghat, at lunch house. While leaving, Kelly had a conversation with the family and she hugged the dad! I looked at his face! The expression was priceless!
This is one moment the family is going to remember forever! This dad has never been hugged by another woman, let alone a white woman from usa! Kelly is very spontaneous and connected.. She did what she felt like, the kids were giggling, the mother was quiet and we were enjoying the magical moment.. Same event. Competely different perspectives! Kelly rocks!
Bindumadhav mandir:
My mamaji, the trustee has made some excellent arrangement for a home stay now! Will stay here next time for sure! Natasha was amazed by the rich heritage of the mandir.
Lahiri mahasayas grandsons home:
A magical evening with Bhajan of hare rama, hare krishna, followed by the satsang dialog with a visitor. Truly blessed by the masters. May the blessings reach everyone here.
we met his grandsons grandson, ujwal lahiriji. His father, had just passed away on 7th nov! He was now the official Swami of the great tradition! And the family was happy, contented, as they knew that a great soul has passed on from his body to another realm. There was no sadness, no tears, nothing. Just joy. This is a true spiritual family!
He explained the subtle and profound difference between seeking and seeing. In one there is mind, a path and a goal. In the second, it's all one, the seer, the seeing and the seen. They all merge.
The Russian lady we met at the mosque was again here at Lahiri house! This can be not a coincidence! Natasha made a great connection with her!
The two inscriptions there, capture the essence.
The dinner place we went to was super cool! With a place for the ultimate photo corner!
Sunday:
Sarnath:
The visit to sarnath, brought to life, the merger of Buddhist and Santana ways of life, integrated in a simple way. Our guide explained that the concepts are ancient as given in Santana, but explained without rituals in a simple way, in the language of that time, which is Pali, by buddha. This makes sense, as otherwise, what is the way, a common person will understand simple and essential steps of life and spirituality?
This is the place where Buddha actually stayed. After a few hundred years, his mud hut was rebuilt with stone.
Again, it's interesting to note that the idols of Buddha were created around 600 years after his Nirvana and it was created on the basis of signs of how an enlightened person looks! Based on Santana texts!
It was around sunset that we went to see the stupas, which were glowing in a red hue. This was a magical moment!
The stupas are supposed to be a representation of a fire ritual! Interesting! Needs more study!
Deena chat:
Post the sarnath visit, we went to Deena chat to have an unforgettable evening! Kelly was suprised by the rush, the people, the table sharing with strangers.
Manikarnika ghat:
The eternal funeral pyre goes on and on here. The young, the old, the rich and the poor, male and female, all have the same end. Look at the contrast here. Diwali lights in the background and bodies burning nearby. A few minutes or an hour spent here, grounds the self into the reality that the body is not eternal. Look beyond, into the Ganga mata, surrender to lord Shiva and eat as much samosas and mithai you can!
Annapurna mandir
After having chat i proceeded to Annapurna temple for a annadana donation. The cost per meal here is very low (around rs 4) as they own the farms and the buildings etc. Only salary of staff and fuel costs are to be recovered as per actuals.
I never expected this visit to transform into a special experience!
As i finished the small donation and took darshan, a very short middle aged lady, with very short hair and baby face, smiled and called me by waving her hand. She was communicating with me in gestures and not speaking anything. She held my hand and took me around to every small temple in the complex and got threads tied to my arm by signalling to the priests there. She seemed a regular, as the priests knew her. Her look was so loving and just like a mother would take a child around, she was taking me around. As if mata Annapurna Devi was in her form, guiding me. Her ever smiling face, instructing me with her hmms and hand gestures is unforgettable. Her eyes had a rare spark, that is seen in "mast" (enlightened beings)
Finally, i sat near the shiv lingam in the temple, with eye closed, in deep gratitude. this bond with her was special, instant and deep. It was overwhelming yet peaceful. I have never experienced anything like this before. As i came out, I saw her going out too and soon she disappeared in the crowd of devotees going home as most temples were closing around that time.
Meeting sudarshan:
As i left Annapurna temple, I got a call from sudarshan, my buddy from Bangalore, who's been super busy with a project for last few months. We have not been i ln touch much. When I saw the phone ring, i thought he is taking a break! And calling me on Sunday night! I casually asked him, if he was in kashi! And he said yes! Wow! I just the Rick guy to turn and take me near kalbhairava temple, where he was! What an amazing meeting, after the last yatra in May together, where we took darshan at alandi, meher baba, and three jyortilingas! It was getting late and planning to meet the next day, i headed back to the guest house!
Monday:
How time flies and it's the last day in Kashi today! In the morning natasha had booked a boat to see the ghats and sunrise.
I joined her on the boat and we went upto namo Ghat. That's me, from the namo Ghat, wishing you well...
This was followed by Abhishekam at aadi vishveshwar temple which was performed by guruji assignd by our tambe guruji in Mumbai.
After the Abhishek was done I saw a very old person leaving the temple. He asked me, who I was, and I told my name along with my grandmother and mother's name. It turned out that he was very well known to my mother's family and was also a local priest. I instantly got him on a video call with my mother. He was so happy to see him.
I also gave my mother darshan of the Shiv lingam inside the temple on a WhatsApp video call. Technology is truly amazing provided it is used in the right way by the right people!
Being a ccco:
Most of us have heard about CEO, cio, chro, coo etc. but what is a ccco?
One day someone ask me what I do. I replied that I am the "chief cross connection officer". my only role is connecting like minded people! When Satish and Sudarshan (as we were discussing the next jeernodhar project), it was as if a long lost connection was restablished. The connected as if they knew each other since ages! I was just listening to their spiritual conversation with total concentration. They are both far ahead in terms of sadhana, knowledge and a balanced state. I hope to catch-up with them, some day, by just being in their company!
Samosa:
The addiction to samosa that developed over the last few days pulled us back to the Satyanarayan Bhandar! There are khau gallis is different cities, where a lane is for foodies. Here the entire city is a khau galli with Sweet and namkeen shops all over. One can keep walking the full day and keep eating the delicacies, made freshly, without getting tired!
A few samosas later we finished shopping for a few small items and then headed back to the guest house.
Last days in Kashi:
Some older people come to kashi, where it is commonly believed that one who dies in Kashi, gets moksha or freedom, as the soul is blessed by lord Shiva himself. Now I know, why! When one has the samosas, walks on the ghats, takes bath daily in Ganges, thinking only of Shiva, this is the natural outcome.
It is so fulfilling, that satish has plans to spend longer time here soon! I told him, just make sure, you are near the samosa shop!
From samosa to samadhi:
There is a particular technique in Bhairav tantra which talks about, eating something sweet then sitting in meditation recalling the sweet taste and finally becoming sweetness itself. It might sound simple, but that is the way from Many to few to one to none to infinity! Many of the 112 methods are a part of our daily ritual like the bell in a temple, the rocking motion of a swing, the anahanta naada, being mindful of the breathing and so on. One only has to pay attention.
This is the samosa mashed with the sweet chutney!
Here is an excellent resource to know the techniques.
we all got the sweetness from the non spicy samosas khajur-brown chutney! And literally, when I think of the moment and the blissful state, i actually become thoughtless! Hence the title of this blog from samosa to samadhi!
Kelly mentioned about just being alive in this trip! This image sums it all up!
Blessing:
May you eat samosas with sweet chutney, with mindfulness, get completely absorbed in the experience, and reach a state of no thoughts, perfectly still, entering a blissful state, the state of samadhi!
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