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Vrindavan: Ceremonies
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In 1998, my friend Shakuntula and her friends Krsna and Karnamrta found themselves by the sacred Yamuna River in the holy city of Vrindavan, India, carrying the ashes of their mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Three Western women raised within Vaisnavism ( a sect of Hinduism), they knew that to be placed in a sacred river is a great spiritual release and an ideal end to one's life. The Yamuna river, an incarnation of the goddess Yamuna devi, derives her spirtual potency from her great devotion to Krsna and thus increased the power of the women's feminine energy.
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The women and priests arrived at the sacred keshi ghat of the Yamuna River in a procession of rickshaws, bearing the ashes, flowers and other offerings. They chanted mantras for the benefit of their female ancestors: to assist them in their destinies and to help them realize truth, love and knowledge of God.
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They mixed the ashes with different ingredients of the earth, milk and yogurt.
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The purified ashes were then poured into the Yamuna river and the women purified themselves by dunking three times into the sacred waters. They ended their day by feeding a group of widows who had come to Vridavan to live out their lives in a sacred place.
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During the ceremony, Shakuntala felt an amazing sense of connection with her grandmother and the strength that comes from honoring one's elders. This has infused her life since the ceremony. She deeply believes that her grandmother was pleased by this end to her life.
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Bihar: Yug (Sacred Festival )
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November, 1998 I traveled to Nabinagar, my father's remote village in the province of Bihar, India, located only fifty miles from Bodghaya, where the Buddha achieved enlightenment. From my journal...
"The gray-blue mist of dung fires hangs over the rice fields at dusk, carrying with it the scent of yearning like incense. Warm greetings from my family. Cups of sweet, hot chai. We speak in sign language, broken English and loving gestures.
"I sleep under a canopy of mosquito netting. In the total darkness before dawn, blaring "god-music" announces the advent of the Yug, a sacred four-day festival particular to this region.
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"A procession of three thousand women wearing multi-hued saris of saffron, the holy color of Northeastern India, winds its way past my grandfather's house. Each woman carries on her head a clay pot of water from the holy Ganges. On one side of the pot is written 'Aum', the name of God. The other side bears the ancient Sanskrit 'swastika', symbol of life.
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" It takes hours for the procession to pass. Holy Men, children and musicians parade alongside the graceful water-bearers.
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"The Pandal, or sacred tent and giant meeting place for the women celebrants. Meals of rice and curry are served on banana leaves. Three thousand women cluster around 108 fires -- the holy number of Hinduism.
"I am overwhelmed by the dizzying numbers and colors, and yet, I feel a profound and ancient sense of belonging..."
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Benares: Bathing in the Ganges
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Bathing in the Ganges River purifies the body, mind and soul. Pilgrims travel to the holy city of Benares, India to bathe, drink, perform ritual pujas, make prayers, and collect Ganges water to take home in bottles. This water is said to never turn dirty, as it comes from a pure, heavenly source.
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