Love is in the Air - Veneration

Day 22 A to Z Challenge 2015 - Veneration 

Veneration: a feeling of profound respect for someone or something; 

Shabri tasted berries

Sweet ones she gave to Rama

He ate them with such relish

And filled her heart with bliss and calm

Rama and Lakshman searching

Came upon Hanuman

A moment so endearing

Shiva Vishnu's earthly plan

The Vanar (ape like humanoids) army ready

The search for Sita starts

Rama's faith in Hanuman steady

His ring and love for Sita he imparts.

Trijata a loving heart
An angel in disguise
Deceived her cruel king and played her part
Sita to protect and comfort her cries

Sita had prayed that the heavens help Rama and Rama had prayed the heavens protect Sita. And so they moved heaven and earth to answer the prayers of their beloved Rama and Sita.

Rama and Lakshman following Jatayu's directions, came upon Shabri an old woman who lived in sage Matanga's ashram. Sage Matanga had told Shabri that one day her devotion to Lord Vishnu would be blessed by an appearance of Lord Rama. Shabri waited many years for that day and her joy knew no bounds when Rama stepped into her humble hut. Shabri tasted every berry presenting Rama with the sweet ones and throwing away the rest. Rama took each one and ate it with relish, honouring Shabri's love and devotion. Shabri tells Rama and Lakshman to proceed to Rishimukh Parbat (mountain) where they would find Hanuman. So they set off to find him.

Hanuman was an ape like humanoid who was the avatar of Lord Shiva. Whenever Lord Vishnu takes a birth on Earth, Lord Shiva does too for they are each other's devotees.  Hanuman was born to serve and help Rama. Their meeting on Earth so Divine and endearing. Hanuman's eyes filled with tears of joy as he beheld his beloved Rama. Rama's heart full of peace knowing that with Hanuman by his side, finding Sita was a definite outcome and only a step away
.

image source: astrogems.com

And so the search begins. The vanars go off in different directions to find Sita. Rama has unquestionable faith in Hanuman that he will be the one to find her. And so he gives his ring to Hanuman so that Sita would be reassured that Hanuman was indeed Rama's messenger. And Hanuman departs unhesitatingly, prepared to take on any burden to find Sita.

Sita in the Ashok Vatika pines for Rama. Surrounding by fearful demonesses, Sita is scared. But she finds a kind and loving soul in Trijata who was chosen by Ravana to guard Sita and to influence her to accept him as her husband. Trijata protects, loves and cares for Sita as if she was her own daughter and keeps the fierce demonesses away from her.

I don't think it was mere chance that Rama and Lakshman came to Shabri's hut nor was it chance that Shabri directed them to Rishimukh Parbat. And it was definitely not mere chance that of all the fierce and scary demonesses, Trijata was chosen to guard Sita.

In our travels through life, we meet many beings. Some great and some small, some who look beautiful some who do not. No encounter is by chance. We are often drawn to those who are great and beautiful, but those who are small and not so beautiful looking are often our helpers in life. Help often comes from most unexpected sources in the most unexpected ways. Rama and Sita looked beyond the status, beyond the looks and into each soul. They venerated each loving soul.

Will Hanuman find Sita?  That will be brought by the letter W.

Love is in the air. May we love all creatures, great and small. May we look into the soul of each and venerate each loving soul.


If you do leave a comment, please leave a link to your blog so I can drop by and say hello. Thanks.

Check my previous posts in this series

Written for:  AtoZ Challenge 2015
Linking to: Write Tribe ProBlogger Challenge

Check out some other Bloggers participating in the challenge: AtoZ List 2015
And the Blog-A-Rhythm AtoZ posts feathuring many bloggers

The Ramayana is a historical chronicle of events during the life of Lord Rama in an ancient time in a land called Bharatvarsh a part of which is now modern day India. 

This year's theme was given to me through meditation. But more than just a theme I was also asked to write this from the perspective of Divine love and not just a recounting of the events as they took place. Hence the essence of my posts is "Love is in the air".

The individual theme and tone of my verses are also given to me. And I try to convey what Spirit wants to say through my poetry and prose. In essence, I only transcribe what is given to me, the author of these posts is my soul, the Universe, God and Goddess.


Warm Regards


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Going Places - Himalayan Adventure

I am taking part in the Write Tribe Festival of Words from September 1 - 7. The theme for this festival is "7" and mine is:

Going Places -  7 journeys I would like to take.

Having completed my Spiritual Yatras, it's time for a different adventure and as I'm also posting for the letter H at ABC Wednesday, Journey no 4 is of course, High in the Himalayas.

I was 11 years old when I first saw the mighty Himalayas and it's a sight I will never forget. These are the most majestic and rugged mountains I have ever seen. Standing on the Himalayas, playing in the snow, stepping onto a glacier is an amazing experience.

And I thought that was enough. Then I took some journeys that made me want more. Flying over the Rocky Mountains, The Alps and the Southern Alps (New Zealand) brought a new dimension to viewing mountains and watching them from high up was quite a different and breathtaking experience.

Ever since then I've had this dream of flying over the Himalayas. Hence my journey "High in the Himalayas".

My journey would begin in Ladakh which I hear is incredibly beautiful and a place worth visiting and end in Darjeeling. Flying over the Himalayas I believe is a sight to behold. In Darjeeling the highlights would be watching the sunrise and sunset over the Kanchenjunga and Mt Everest.

Another journey I would love to take is a helicopter ride over Mt Kailash and Lake Mansarover. It is believed that Lord Shiva resides on Mt Kailash with Goddess Parvati and Lake Mansarover is often visited by them.

If I was younger I might attempt a trek but one must be mindful of one's limitations and a gruelling trek is probably out of question for me. I have yet to find a tour that provides a scenic flight. But perhaps someday this will become a reality.

google maps - all places are approximate

Gompa Phyang, Ladakh

 image source wikipedia

Kanchenjunga from Darjeeling

image source wikipedia

Darjeeling

image source wikipedia

Lake Mansarovar

image source wikipedia

Mt Kailash and Lake Mansarovar

image source:  google images

Join me tomorrow on my fifth journey.

My journeys so far:
Journey 1 = Krishna Yatra
Journey 2 = Ram Yatra
Journey 3 = Shiva Yatra

(my 7 journeys series can be viewed here )

Day 3 posts that I enjoyed
Shilpa's Similarities - very interesting theory on inheriting similar traits
Corinne's Pablo - a very cute post on Pablo the boxer


Have a heavenly day. Check out some day 4 posts and  H posts at ABC Wednesday.

Warm Regards

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Going Places - Shiva Yatra

I am taking part in the Write Tribe Festival of Words from September 1 - 7. The theme for this festival is "7" and mine is:

Going Places -  7 journeys I would like to take.

Having done a Krishna and Ram Yatra, my third journey will of course be a Shiva Yatra (pilgrimage or journey).

Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati 

Lord Shiva is one of the Supreme Gods in the Hindu religion and is considered the God of Destruction. The concept of destruction often makes him a God to fear but he is a very misunderstood God as He is also very benevolent and supposedly easy to please. (What would I know, the Gods never seem to hear me!)

Lord Shiva is also known as Mahadev (Great God) and while he does have many benevolent forms, he also has fearsome forms (known as his Rudra roop).

Lord Shiva supposedly creates the Universe and destroys it both via his cosmic dance the Tandava. The Ananda Tandava creates and the Rudra Tandava destroys.

There are many temples and holy places in India dedicated to Lord Shiva, but my Shiva Yatra would consist of Varanasi (Kashi) - Allahabad - Rishikesh - Hardwar - Trimbakeshwar - Somnath

google maps - all places are approximate

Varanasi (aka Benaras and Kashi) is considered the holiest place in India. It is situated on the banks of the river Ganges in Uttar Pradesh and was supposedly created by Lord Shiva after the death of his first wife Sati.

Varanasi 

image from wikipedia

Allahabad's original name was Prayaga (place of offerings) and is referred to as Triveni Sangam (confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and the legendary Saraswati). The Prayag Shrine is considered to be one of the Shakti Peeth's. When Sati died, Shiva was devastated and carried her body as he wandered around. Parts of it fell and these places are known as Shakti Peeths. These Peeths are considered very holy and powerful as they are also the union of Shiv and Shakti (Sati).

Prayag Temple

image source: google images

Hardwar situated on the banks of the river Ganges in Uttarkhand is known as the Gateway to Lord Shiva and is one of the 7 holiest places in India. It is considered to be the hometown of Sati and one of the places where drops of Amrit (elixir of life) accidentally slipped from the pitcher being carried by the Lord Vishnu's celestial bird Garuda. Hardwar is also considered to contain the footsteps of Shiva.

Har ki pauri - Footsteps of Lord Shiva

image from wikipedia

Rishikesh - I include this under the Shiva Yatra as this is so close to Hardwar. Rishikesh is also considered to be one of the holy places in India and is associated more with Lord Ram who was supposed to have meditated here on his life's purpose. Not sure now with the recent floods if this place is safe to visit.

Statue of a meditating Lord Shiva

image source wikipedia

Somnath Temple near Veraval in Gujarat is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva. Jyotirlinga are shrines where it is believed Lord Shiva manifested and revealed himself as a column of light (Jyoti - light) to his devotees. Somnath means "The protector of the Moon God". It is believed that at Somnath Lord Shiva absorbed the curse placed on the Moon God and hence He wears the crescent moon on his head.

Somnath Temple

image source wikipedia

Trimbakeshwar Temple situated in the Nashik district of Maharashtra on the banks of the Godavari river is also one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines. While all other Jyotirlingas have Lord Shiva as it's deity, Trimabeshwar has the faces of the Tridev (3 Gods), Lord Brahma (the creator), Lord Vishnu (the sustainer) and Lord Shiva (the destroyer).

Trimbakeshwar temple

image source: google images

Karpur Gauram Karunavataram |

Sansara Saram Bhujagendra Haram ||

Sada Vasantam Hridayaravinde |

Bhavam Bhavani Sahitam Namami ||

The one who is as pure/white as a camphor
The personification of compassion
Who is the essence of the world
With the serpent king as his garland
Always residing in the lotus of the heart
 Oh Lord and Goddess (Shiva and Sati)

I bow to you both

(translation from wikipedia)

Join me tomorrow on my fourth journey.

My journeys so far:

Journey 1 = Krishna Yatra
Journey 2 = Ram Yatra

(my 7 journeys series can be viewed here )


Day 2 posts that I enjoyed
Mahabore's Surpanakha's lust for Rama  - from the Ramayana - how could I not enjoy this one.
Susan's 7 memories of her dad - a very sweet and touching post, a wonderful tribute to her dad.

Have a wonderful day.

Warm Regards


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