It’s been a year with the Gods, I spent time
with them more than I spent time with people. I lived with them, thought about
them, loved them, prayed to them, adored them, sang to them... it has been so
fulfilling and they didn’t disappoint. Lord Shiva, Ma Tara, Ma Kamakshi, Ma
Kali are real in my head, more real than you and me. But recently circumstances
presented themselves, events unfolded and I found myself heading to the temple
of Puri more often than I had planned for.
The larger picture is starting to get clear, the play of fate is a
game am slowly getting to understand. There is a way to control things and not
let it unfold as it feeds on our temperament. That’s when we rise towards being
higher than just human. In this subtle reality, the mind has to work harder but
if the heart is in the right place, it’s completely doable. Astrology helps to
give direction, lets you know what’s coming but doesn’t get down to the depth
of it...it lets you figure it out. And when the Daksha of fate comes to
challenge us, hang on...face him with the army of Gods to support. Lord Shiva
will come, or he will send someone. In my case, he sent Lord Jagannatha... and
he didn't disappoint.
I speak of a subtle reality, which has now become very loud. In my
consciousness everyone around me now has become an actor, of a larger play and
I am in it. Life has started to look up, people hardly matter for now my enemy
is within, it’s me, it’s my fate... can I change it? I believe I can.
When we keep faith, when we surrender completely, I mean
completely without doubts the Lord will act on it. And it’s an intoxication,
the mind hardly wants to come back and live in this world. The other world is
just more beautiful. Am I hallucinating, I wasn’t sure but when Lord Jagannatha
just kept coming back I was certain, this is for real. Yes the heart has to be
in love with him, the mind has to be persuasive and the magic of living can
bring all the difference. Its deep, it’s fulfilling and it’s beyond human
frivolousness. We are capable, more capable than we thought.
The calling is strong, very strong and I just end up following my
heart. Puri, land of the great Lord, a bustling temple swarming with people and
with monkeys. Lord Rama is there with his Vanar
sena, Lord Shiva has descended from Kasi, Lord Hanuman has come from the
east gate and Goddess Mahalakshmi is seated on her throne. This dham, one among four, is the great seat
of Lord Jagannatha, Neela Madhava...
oh the bhava of surrender is just so
amazing as we make our way into the sacred sanctum of the Lord who stands with
Subhadra and Balarama.
It’s a quiet chamber with a bit of day light streaming in and the
lamp lights brighten up the interior. Ignore the sounds of the people and then
you can feel the silence. Jagannatha stands there, with his hands spread out,
with his eyes that don’t ever close, with his heart that is ever open to
receive if we are willing to give. HE is my Jagannatha, my dear Lord, who
called me again and again to visit him, to be with him, to surrender to him and
to leave my heart behind with him for safe keeping. In this world of divinity,
full of energy and divine secrets, its his home and its my home, my Hrydaya
Kamalam where he resides, where Lord Shiva resides, where I have chosen to
merge with him.
Lord Jagannatha never disappoints, if we let go He will come to
protect. Jai Jagannath!
Om Na Mo Bhagavate Vasudevaya
