In India, Hindu temples can take many forms. Several nights ago, we visited Narindum temple, just a short walk from our ashram. The enormous and new Disney World-like structure has three large neon Sanskrit symbols hovering overhead: an om and two swastiks, which represents the yin/yang of life (which Hitler later borrowed and morphed the meaning of to promote evil). Visitors take their shoes off when entering to show respect, and ornate paintings and altars made with gold and diamonds add some glitz. Our Indian friends showed us how to perform some traditional blessings and prayers, which are really beautiful and simple. People also ring a large bell upon entering the temple, altering the gods that they are ready to pray. We finished up our visit by having a bit of a fashion show on the temple’s grand, sprawling steps.
Dr. Jagdish, the director of the ayurveda center at Kaivalyadhama, took us to Pune, a nearby city, a few days ago to show us a spiritual gathering that was taking place, and to take us to two well-known temples (we don't have a lot of photos of these, because you're not supposed to take pictures inside a temple). (We ate the best mangoes I've ever had on the way...they are super soft and sweet...see below!)
The Sai Baba temple was smaller and very open. Worshippers wait in line to meet the religious men and to bow down to the gods on a sacred stone. The spiritual leaders were happy to have us there, and gave each of us a coconut wrapped in flowers. They also give people small things to chew on, like small bites of sugar and seeds. The second temple, Dyaneshwar Samadhi, is thousands of years old, and people wait in line to enter these small, winding hallways that lead to the place of worship, where you bow down to the gods. Like everywhere else in India, it is very crowded, and you have to push your way through in order to maintain your place in line. There are small stands where you pay a few rupees and leave your shoes before entering the temple, and then pick them up again on the way out—not unlike the procedure at a bowling alley :).
And finally, last night we went out to dinner with our teachers (at a yummy Indian vegetarian restaurant—more on that later) and on the way, quickly stopped at a tiny temple (more like a hut, really) to offer up a quick prayer. The door was locked with bars on it, but inside a candle was lit, and there was a small statue of a god and religious paintings hanging on the rustic walls. Dr. Jagdish told us that it was located in a spiritual place, the northwest corner of the earth. The placement of things, both inside and outside the home, is an important concept in ayurveda, because it can either increase or decrease one’s energy, depending on where it is in relation to the sun.
Traditions are taken very seriously here. We went to pray briefly on the way to dinner last night, because it was a specific day of the moon cycle. It seems like a lot to remember, but I suppose it’s ingrained! Dr. Jagdish has also invited us to take part in a daily morning prayer, where he and the other practitioners pray to the god of medicine before treating clients. It’s a Sanskrit prayer, so we don’t know exactly what is being said, but you can sense the good intentions and energy regardless. At one point on the drive to Pune, Dr. Jagdish pulled the car over, turned off the engine and performed a silent prayer—because it was 5 p.m., the exact time necessary to pray. If nothing else, it slows you down to remember gratitude and to cultivate some stillness throughout your day. Three times a week at the ashram, they hold a chanting ceremony called evening pooja where pure herbs and ghee are placed into a small indoor fire to provide a sacred fume to help clean the environment and scare away evil spirits.
Before we moved on to our second rotation in a nearby village, Dr. Jagdish wanted Jessica and me to experience some ayurvedic treatments. We had a warm oil massage, an upper-body massage and steam treatment, and shirodhara, a really relaxing treatment that continuously drips warm oil on your head and scalp—my hair is still greasy two days later! Meant to remove toxins from various parts of your body, they have been very different from any massage or other treatment I’ve had in the states. During the massage, I was on a table without any sheet or much cushioning, and when you turn on your stomach, there’s no hole to place your head in, so your nose is kind of smushed into the table. It felt good, but definitely was not quite as relaxing as a massage in the states. The upper body treatment was also quite unique. After a nice face massage, I wasn’t quite prepared for some oil drops placed into my nose, which sort of burned my throat. After some steam, the practitioner burned some turmeric and instructed me to breathe in the smoke, then blow it out. The smoke was too much for me. She kind of laughed and I think she was getting annoyed, telling me I wasn’t breathing in. I thought she wouldn’t notice! My throat burned for a little while after that—not sure I am a fan of smoke inhalation as a treatment modality, but hey, what do I know.
So, about dinner with our instructors. We went to this casual restaurant with open sides, and they kindly ordered things with less spice for me and Jessica. We ordered a mushroom starter—it was kind of like fried sweet and sour mushrooms, a bit crispy and meaty. As our main courses, we shared paneer palak (which we call saag paneer at home), a spinach-cheese dish. Here, it was more smoothly blended and a brighter shade of green than what we’re used to. We also had butter dal, mixed vegetables with a flavorful sauce and butter chapatti (roti bread). To finish it off, we tried miniature pots of ice cream-the perfect size! It was my favorite meal here so far—flavorful but not too heavy. We are slowly learning how to eat with our hands and break off pieces of chapatti with one hand. Dr. Jagdish said eating with your hands gives you more flavor and good energy! I also recently heard that eating on the ground, which many Indians do and we tried many times at the ashram, helps you recognize when you’re full more quickly because you have to lean forward more to eat. Interesting, no?
Speaking of food, we are learning a lot of cooking and other preparation techniques, based in ayurvedic and other Indian principles. Here are a few scenes from the kitchen:
Yesterday, we arrived at our new location. We are staying with a sweet family in a small village. Jessica will have the full report up soon!
No comments:
Post a Comment