Nara commentates …
First called is Svante, a
little five year old sannyas aspirant,
and subodhi, his mother.
Ramakrishna tells him to shut his eyes
which he does, instantly, with
full obedience, tight and
very still, the little pouches straining
to do just right.
His knees are held by
two chubby-small intentful hands.
We all look
with breathless stillness
surrounding an open rose as the
little swami emerges,
Love,
Little Anando.
: ँ :
Last seven days were work but nights kept leading me to the milk mountains. Full moon i.e the sharad purnima of October, kept revealing magic on one condition. That I must not close my eyes.
If I observe a graph of my inner self, it has been nothing less than hydrogen working its way towards the biggest star. Slowly but so intense, that being a writer becomes a curse because I cannot explain it.
: ँ :
In Omkareshwar, a few years ago, on the banks of the river Narmada. A register found me; a life of a french yogi documented in images glued on its thin white pages. It was a real treat. Because they were not mere photographs, but codes, Sri Yantras, ancient symbols designated to regions, verses of socrates and most interestingly, it had the night sky. He was a singer, an illustrator. He may still be alive. And this is going to be our quest, together.
As it looked. A visual autobiography of a Yogi if i may say; and someone who loved and prayed to the mother Kali.
Ever since then, I had been imagining to work on this journey of a Photo book that has life of all the water in it. That can elevate one’s being; that over the years, has seen me in a quest to find Babaji. While it took me to many a gurus, their homes, ashrams, while walking in the forests or along the Indian rivers finding this elderly french Yogi.
Time is less.
In next two years, as i will travel, I will try to compile the conversations, old and new. And in front of you all. Because these are the most choicest ones that were held between a guru and a disciple. And a compilation for myself so that i know, and so that you as my family know and may become the ones to see this book grow rightly as a universal messenger through Images, symbols and conversations.
: ँ :
Also Read: A day with the Yog maya

I was on the road to Nashala. Trees had looped me in. I was high on it, on a curve as the sound started appearing in front as if it was my heart pulping. It happened in the night, somewhere in the forest.
Ramakrishna was naming someone: This will be your new name: Ma Deva Aikanta
Deva means divine, aikanta means aloneness. Self- knowledge is possible only in deep aloneness. Ordinarily whatever we know about ourselves is the opinion of others. They say “You are good” and we think we are good. They say “you are beautiful” and we think we are beautiful. They say you are bad or ugly . . . . . whatsoever people say about us we go on collecting. That becomes our self identity. It is utterly false because no one else can know you, can know who you are, except you yourself. Whatsoever they know are only aspects, and those aspects are very superficial. Whatsoever they know are only momentary moods; they cannot penetrate your center. Not even your lover can penetrate to the very core of your being. There you are utterly alone, and only there will you come to know who you are.
: ँ :
Thank you.
If today is the first time you have arrived on The Road to Nara, you are heartily welcome ~ Namaste
: ँ :
I will take this opportunity to introduce you to About me and importantly;
As a co-traveller, taking you through the Ten Lessons I learnt from several years on the road, before you coarse on your own Road to Nara.
: ँ :
If you are still here, you might like to know about My Little School. If you wish to come over for a visit, to share your stories or one of your magic tricks with children, you will be heartily welcome.
If you would like to contribute to this project by funding a student to plant a tree, you can please do so here
: ँ :
Above all, If you have anything to share, or feel like saying a hello, please feel free to write to me at nara@road-to-nara.com
To visit other long-term photographic works, you can visit here.
To follow my walks through the rural Indian Subcontinent, find me at
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Reblogged this on Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News.
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Thank you Ned.
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Thanks again.
Narayan x
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“aikanta means aloneness. Self- knowledge is possible only in deep aloneness.” This resonates with me.
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Cindy, yes. Yes. You are one which can resonate it. Which can walk further towards it. Towards embracing this personal world of Aikanta; once embraced this, then binds you with all the nectar present within self.
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Thank you for acknowledging Cindy. Thanks
Narayan x
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🙏❤️ Raw, profound & uplifting. You have the soul of a true traveller. That willingness to extinguish the false and embrace what remains
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Thank you for acknowledging Ananda.
I feel this willingness is like a two faced sword; when we know what is true of our existence, why not give it a healthy try. Travels, yes has given the strength to words and abiding by the learnings.
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Thank you again, very much
Narayan x
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‘the journal found you’. Life places you in unique positions to learn and share your learning with others.
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Dearest Lekha, thank you. That is the truest most thing. It is only nature that puts us in such times, and wants us to find. Its always around us. Opportunities are infinite.
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Thank you again, hope family is well, waiting now for the pleasant winters.
Narayan x
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yes
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Unique post Narayan Ji.
Such posts are very important in today’s world. For Peaceful life, one needs a basic understanding of Reality which is not objective but subjective. Your post is a subjective one. We the mankind should now dive into the ocean of subjective knowledge.
Great 👍
Excellent 👌
Regards 🙏
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Thank you for writing important words Arun Ji. You are right, for what we need is a subjective understanding of the reality. And only through this might be enough to sail through.
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Yeah. We will sail through this smoothly without disturbances of waves. Regards 🙏
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Absolutely Arun Ji. I have no doubt.
Narayan x
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Thank you so much again.
Narayan x
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☺️🙏
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You carry a traveling soul which grows as it traverses across the lenght and breath of the country, soaking in its true essence.
I will look forward to the book you are planning on compiling in the coming years, on the conversations between Guru and disciple. I am sure it will be a treasure trove of learning and wisdom.
Best wishes Narayan 💙
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Radhika, it is lovely to read from you, and more so because amongst all it is you who pointed out about the book, as the post was all about an announcement.
It sounds exciting even to me how it might come together. For certainly it should be a treat to go through it.
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I will keep posting conversations and images from time to time, as much i will keep needing your bestest wishes Radhika.
Thank you again.
Narayan x
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I have always thought that the area of your journey is a place of deep wisdom and spirituality. And you are right, no one can really know you but yourself. Peace.
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Yes, Caro you are right. How much ever we try to become the other or the other tries to become us, it somehow cannot happen. Life, though can be shared with wonderful partners, but is a personal journey.
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Thank you for writing Caro.
Narayan x
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Yes you impart valuable information, beautiful to read. Many thanks. So much enjoyed.
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Gaia, thank you so much for your words. It is true this being valuable, and will keep posting from this project more.
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Thank you again.
Narayan x
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Thank you, Narayan, for this fascinating, poetic, and of course deeply spiritual writing. Over the years, I have gained much of my understanding, and peace with life, from my reading of the spiritual and philosophical traditions of Buddhism and Taoism. I regret to say I know little of the Hindu tradition, though what bit I do know of Yoga probably saved my sanity as a young man. Lately, however, I have begun to read more, and learn more, and indeed suspect the remainder of my personal spiritual journey lies in this direction, coupled perhaps with the current direction of the western idealist tradition, which seems convergent with it.
Thank you again for your valuable words and your inspirational blogging.
Regards
Michael
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Sir,
I invite you to visit my blog site at
https://arunsingha.in
Regards 🙏
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Thank you for writing this Michael. It is rather motivating for me to hear this from you.
Hinduism has a lot of learning, peace and calmness give if people are open enough to receive.
I will try if this Photo book in another two years can become what it achieves to.
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Thank you again Michael. I am telling you, take out sometime and live here in the land of the Ancients.
Friend
Narayan x
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Dearest Michael, first of all, apologies for writing this late. Work has slowly started taking over my time now.
You are a spiritual human, Michael and have made sure to find for your own self what could be the best for your spirit collectively. Buddhism helped spreading many peace filled vibrations around the world. And is the second most ancient faith after Jainism that came out from Hinduism.
And amongst many, this is one aspect that i would like to also discover while compiling this book over the course of next two years.
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May be this will be a wonderful, ongoing conversation between us.
Narayan x
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Much love to you dear Narayan 🙏❤️ 😊 So happy to read about your spiritual journeys and experiences. Blissful moments ahead…
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It’s always delightful to hear from you. Yes blissful moments ahead. Hare krishna.
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Om namo narayanaya 🙏❤️ 😊
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Aum narayanaya namah 🙂
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Thank you so much again !
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🙏🏻
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Namaste, dhanyavad.
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Loved this! ❤️
https://www.newstyleblanket.com
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Thank you so much
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Will look over, thank you again.
Narayan x
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This post of yours, Narayan is unique and very spiritual to me. You are just a great writer. Thank you for sharing your talent and insides.
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Cornelia, you are my most valuable writer here, who has been there eversince my first posts here. So every word is important and uplifting each time you write.
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Narayan that is very kind of you to say, thank you. Happy Diwali
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Thank you again for this, and here dear Cornelia. Thanks again.
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And thank you so much for your words and wisdom dear Cornelia.
Narayan x
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Would like to read your posts 😃
Please share your link.
Regards 🙏
https://arunsingha.in
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I guess there’ may be a few French men traveling to India with interest in Yoga, I knew of one who did in the late forties, and early fifties, and here is a link:
http://www.sergeraynauddelaferriere.net/obras/yyy/01/yyy01-introduccion.html
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Thank you for this beautiful link. From the depth of my heart.
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Thank you so much again
Narayan x
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You are welcome.
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Is there a way i can come over on your site, and see your writings, as i cannot.
Please share a link.
Thank you again.
Narayan x
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Here:
konekrusoskronos.wordpress.com
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Wonderful post again, Narayan. These days with so much commotion and input from the outside world continually bombarding our senses, your words ring true: “Self- knowledge is possible only in deep aloneness. Ordinarily whatever we know about ourselves is the opinion of others.” Seeking and finding solitude is where we can begin to define our reality.
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Yes, Dalo. Without a doubt. And somewhere we know it because a few days of solitude enriches us so much. But may be we start feeling left out and go back there again. A vicious cycle.
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And thank you so much for reading and affirming.
Narayan x
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It was very nice post
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Thanks much dear Ramani. This is one of the chapters of an ongoing book. Thanks again.
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😊
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Also good to see you in new display pic.
Narayan x
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