The title of our blog today is a take-off (dangerous word currently, I know!) on a title by Briana West. It is a book on/about self -development, and the types. My submission today, however, is that the ancient mountains existing silently yet sublimely in India, especially in the Himalayan range, are indeed...Soon, you would realise what they mean to me, but, yes, they are supreme, stupendous, superior!
Today was the first Dham of my Chardham Yatra. Yes, the tragedy at Kedarnath may prove yet again that 'man proposes, but God disposes.' Yet the linguistic conventions force you to write it as "my" first Dham, et al.
The Gangotri Dham is beautiful beyond words. The mountain range is unbelievably HUGE. The peaks seem to rise infinitely in to the sublime skies. Yet they are not threatening. At least not to me. I watched them, lost to mist as the valley was suddenly overcast with the Himalayan rains during the return journey to the hotel, suddenly draped in dazzling sunshine as I completed my darshan cum my silent prayer-n-pooja, mysteriously 'moon'ing in the early morning with distant stars for company. In a way, I re-lived my Wordsworth and my meagre knowledge of the Rigveda describing the wonders of nature.
The fierce beauty of the mountain peaks from whence flows the Yamuna is both intimately inviting yet reminding one of the wonders that have lived and would continue to re-live in the moment yet forever. One can sense the very beginning of life in the paleolithic era et al as you watch these peaks silently smiling at you knowingly.
Yes, these forever peaks have a very parental, deeply paternal feel. They reminded me every nano second of Papa, and not only because it is the Fathers' Day today. Both Aai-Papa have visited those tough terrains, Papa without proper preparation, and Aai in that simply terrible "kandi". How they both managed those impossible feats is beyond my imagination! Yet again those silent peaks overlooking human antics with a knowing smile reminded me of Aai-Papa. Fervently I prayed for forgiveness of minor mistakes that might have hurt them. Yes, the majestic mountains, scratched by the human vanities of 'development' are indeed 'us', a treasure trove of infinite wisdom, deep gratitude and immense love!🙏🙏🙏
Pratima@The whole process of finding a "ghoda sawari" for me was a re-read of the heinous Indore murder mystery. Even to the minutest details. To whosoever who planned it, and their agents, I have only two things to say; namely, every tragedy turns a facetious farce the second time, and oh, yes, the absolutely innocent, whom the divine destiny plans to save, survive every evil design!
Yet another point I must not miss is the animals. They are much better than most human-beings, is my eternal statement of fact. Whatever happened today feeds in to that faith of mine. First, very early in the morning, there was this black dog, a thin meagre 'cur' as they would call it, barking madly at some people, in some direction. It came to me. I chatted to it gently, it calmed down, wagging its tail fiercely. Hope I meet him tomorrow before leaving. Intend a biscuit for him!
I had got from Pune a lump of jaggery for the horse who would have to bear my weight! The pony was absolutely mild and gentle, listening to its master, perking its ears when I told his teenage master not to beat it nor to twist its tail. Wonder of wonders, this otherwise absolutely silent thing, hardly four years old, neighed when back to terra firma because 'its home is here', the young master told me! Indeed much more humane! Why, to compare animals to the beasts on two legs, is a huge insult to the animal world, so close to nature!
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