Enjoy the Paintings, Kumaon, Uttarakhand
Published on 28/07/2022
Comments 52

The Grand Night of Shiva and A Day of Beautiful Meanings

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The morning arrived. A big day. Like a loved one’s birthday. And everything was planned. Even the time calculated for leisure. But leisure comes at a price. Millions abstain from eating that day. Reason could be their own. Mine was to celebrate. I had already spoken to Pandit Ji, I will be spending the night at the temple and hence I was taking the day lightly. I ate Moong Halwa, whatever was left of it. And stepped out for a stroll outside, to see the clouds, to breathe a few times deeply. To spread se beans and chapatis for birds and a ferocious black dog with whom I shared a biscuit and since then we were best of friends. Nearby I found a trail and was looking for the stream following its sound, when a local woman standing on the roof of her home, located on the top of that cottage hill called me thrice in succession. She stood right up at an angle close to 90 degrees asked me again if she can come along with me to the temple? Silence. Temple! Where is the temple? And when did I say I was going? I thought to myself. She screamed again, can i come now? Now! I couldn’t say No. And during that wait She told me to wait.

And now I was waiting. 

She arrived all dressed in Sari and a plate filled with flowers, rice, dal, kumkum- the red turmeric powder and bael leaves. I didn’t even know if there was a temple nearby. I let the woman lead me. I was kind of taken aback with how events turn in life. Without any prior knowledge, planning or may be desire I am pushed towards the direction of the lord. And how? I only had to say yes, in this case even not that. And once we were on the way, the woman found so many other women walking towards the temple that she walked ahead and away. I just strolled behind, observing all things around me and absorbing trees, birds, branches, sounds of children, or the silence in between. One moment at a time. It was a sweet walk. Unhurried. As i saw the temple structure unwinding, emerging from the Jungle.


This temple was a different one. Situated at the top of Simtola Ecological Park. Same park where I had found many swings, standing alone, quiet, away as if they were not needed. The temple was old structured and away from the knowledge of most travellers. There is no way I would or could have come here. I don’t believe in luck. Every thing is connected. Just like our breaths. Just like the blinking of our eyes. Nirantar. Ongoing till one dead drops.

There were quite a few people humming together already. Fragrant Smoke of incense was carrying the mood of many. Chirpy but meditative. It was such an early morning present. A gift of energy on Shiva’s morning, called by the lord himself. Through a mother like woman who had invited me with herself to here. And now was no where to be seen. I walked around with folded hands observing the festivity. Locals seemed involved after what had been couple of years of absence; praying, sitting, worshipping, Kids playing, adults taking selfies, men sun bathing when I was distracted by someone sprinkling water at me; It was her- the woman. she put tilaka on my forehead and gave me prasadam. She asked me if I can make it back to the cottage? Yes I can. I couldn’t say much even though i wanted to express my gratitude. She left and I explored the park.


Had I had not given my words to the temple priest, my day was already done. But Shiva’s night is little different from how householders know of it. It starts when the sun goes to sleep. When most beings become quiet and find themselves in stillness. When stars and planets have a go at your placements. The time of deep solitude and darkness, and in that darkness of the fourteenth night; the tryst is to become one with your beinglessness.

Nothingness.

Readers will remember the time I left for the Almora market where I went to the great G.B Pant Museum of History. And inspiration strikes. It was the day of memory and Importance. In time, I got all what was needed; curd, honey, sweets, cannabis leaves, bel and some hash. I reached Kasar devi a little late than I had intended to. More so because I was filming my journey and the space around. The crank’s ridge, famous for and by the name of Hippie’s trail was enchanting to just walk around, looking at couples and other people doing various things with their time on it. I made images and some videos. When I reached at the top, a small fair of which i was completely unaware of, was being wrapped up. The fair organisers were the Tibetian Refugees from the nearby Dolma restaurant, whose momos will be delicious I found out later.

People were leaving just like the leaving sun. The fragrance was roaming around here too. In a blink the day was done. And the night was dawning. The darkest night it is said. But nobody mentioned the cold. By now it had started to obstruct thinking. The hardest is to sit straight while keeping sleep at bay. Very hard. As I sat trying to be present, to present myself in my most aware self families, and soon some people started coming in when I quietly went under the rock where Swami Vivekananda sat once as Pandit ji handed me the keys to go there and tell your Swamiji that you are here where he once was. ( importance of this place, the history and about the secret cave where all those spirits, those yogis, swamiji sat).

Almost hidden, beside the temple wall which gave way to a huge monolith rock. I pleasantly sat. This time closing my eyes. But it did not make much difference. It was cold. And it was darker. I constantly kept making myself felt drawn towards Swamiji’s presence, his face, of what all my memory has accumulated till then, but what more. Stars came out. From there on the top of the mountain I could see whole of Almora in lights like starts above. Stars were down too, And I was sitting there, seeing. In between.



And not only stars but whole milky way could be seen on that night above. Stars like distant fireflies twinkling throughout the valley of Almora was a sight I carried back from that night.

And also a stick, as two in the morning, out of nowhere when i was starting my walk back to my cottage, somebody filled my ears. That the leopard is hungry these days. Thinking, as I searched for that stick, another person started looking for it too.

: ँ :


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, will take you through the Ten Lessons I learnt from several years on the road, before you coarse on your own Road to Nara.



: ँ :


You might also like to know about My Little School Project. If you wish to come over for a visit someday, that you must, you will be heartily welcome here

If you would like to contribute to my travels, you can please do so here


: ँ :

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, please visit here.


To follow my walks through the rural Indian Subcontinent, find me at 
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Hi, I am Narayan Kaudinya. And i welcome you on this journey, the Road to Nara ! I am an Ethnographer and a practicing Indologist. I did my masters in History and further learnt Sanskrit, Yoga and Nerve-therapy. At 24, pushing most academic sounding, office sitting works away, i felt compelled to know and understand the world and my country, Bharat/India. I travelled, and as it happened i took up teaching in Kashmir and further up in the remote villages of Baltistan in the foothills of Karakoram Ranges. For around three years and many states later there came a time when i felt that it was only while teaching i learnt how to laugh, to see, feel, breathe, love and cry -with children, and mostly resource-less parents in the harshest-freezing border conditions. I write, and work as a documentary photographer and Filmmaker, with numerous published, exhibited and some awarded stories. In my travels and life i have let nature lead me, the divine mother, and as a Yogin, my resolve here is to share my experiences and thoughts as honestly, and through them to blossom in everyone the power and possibility in pursuing your breath, that you seek your true nature with courage and curiosity. Here, on this road i will share my spirit, my love for nature, the elements of life that are us. And in doing so, i'll be happy to see you along.

52 Comments

    • Narayan Kaudinya says

      Aah ! Dear Ashley, I didn’t have words to what and how you expressed this. I have been travelling. Couldn’t write earlier thus. Thank you for this gift of word.

      Like

      Reply
  3. Yetismith says

    You so often meet the right person at the right time, as if your journey is guided. You have wonderful photographs and your experiences are very interesting.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
    • Narayan Kaudinya says

      Thanks Caro. Been travelling. Couldn’t write earlier to you. And your words stick to me as if it really happens 🙂 i wish it does dear Caro. Thanks again

      Like

      Reply
  5. Rosaliene Bacchus says

    Thank you for sharing this experience, Narayan. It’s very difficult when living in a city to witness the night sky in all of its glory and “to become one with your beinglessness. / Nothingness.” Recently, when viewing the latest images of the Deep Field from the NASA Webb space telescope, I was not only overcome with awe but also with a sense of my nothingness in our vast and expanding Universe.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • Narayan Kaudinya says

      Thanks Rosa. Been travelling. Couldn’t write earlier. And anyone who experiences it like that, it’s apparent to feel dust like in front of all what is.

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      Reply
    • Narayan Kaudinya says

      Dear Alessandra, thank you for expressing this with kindest words. I have been travelling. Couldn’t write earlier thus. Thank you again.

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      Reply
  12. Richa Bhargava Mitra says

    Dear Narayan, I am sure the day I travel to mountains your narrative,pictures would be my guide and benchmark. Every line here makes me see myself sitting in that temple. The sunlit peaks and the valley below, the night sky and Shivji🙏🙏. Thank you for taking us there during Shravan❤️
    Richa🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Narayan Kaudinya says

      Dearest Richa, I wish your benchmarks become much more. They have to.
      And yes, please plan your way to Almora. Kasar Devi is a special place as you know it by now.

      Mahadev is all energy. And it is our only guidance. Your words i always cherish Richa.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • Michael Graeme says

        Always a pleasure, Narayan.
        Your travels are time well spent, as is our reading about them afterwards. 🙂

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        Reply
  17. Diti Sen says

    Love to follow you on your journey. Thanks for the wonderful photos too, made me feel i was there. Shiv ratri under the open night skies and the Milky Way . What an experience. 🙏🏼🔱🌺

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Narayan Kaudinya says

      And it is a pleasure to hear this dear Diti. It was a soulful experience. Thank you.

      And i hope you are well and enjoying Calcutta in rains.

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    • Narayan Kaudinya says

      Alison, apologies for writing this late. I had been travelling. It was a beautiful inner journey. And I had taken only for that. Whenever you are coming to India, You are going there 🙂 thank you again Alison

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  19. gabychops says

    The part of Narayan’s essay titled, “A Day Of Beautiful Meanings” is apt in every possible way as it covers the complex, ancient religious practices of offering vegetarian food to the Lord that after being sanctified by the priest of the temple, is returned to the worshipers as a blessing to partake, known from Sanskrit as Prasadam. The description of the scent of the smoke of incense in the temple brought back my memories of the incense pervading the churches that I have visited. Narayan’s comments about the stars in the universe and the sparkling lights of the town below the temple on the hill are memorable even more by the inclusion of his excellent photos. They show the grounds around the temple, the famous cave where a long time ago Swami Vivekananda and now Narayan meditated, the stunning sky, trees and so much more that you feel to be part of Narayan’s journey and deeply spiritually uplifted.
    And that is true, indeed – “A Day Of Beautiful Meanings.”
    Thank you, Narayan.

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    Reply
    • Narayan Kaudinya says

      By now my Dearest Joanna, us few who have been walking together here know that your soul already is wrapped with Indian thought and lifestyle, at least theoretically.

      You understand well the inner meanings and how well you can call out some words which I feel might not be understood to a majority of readers coming from the west or otherwise.

      Thank you Joanna for walking along on each step. Thank you my dearest for your ever so uplifting words.

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      Reply
  20. KK says

    What a thrill! Loved awesome pics and your interesting way of writing.

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    Reply
  22. kiangablog says

    Life is indeed a journey of discovery if one is willing to be led when appropriate or lead the way for others. Loved your writing and photos.

    Like

    Reply

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