As I sit down on a lazy Sunday forenoon to write about the rest of the visit to Amritsar, I wonder whether I could finish this piece in this Part. The enormity of the experience both at Jalianwalabagh and The Golden Temple are overwhelming. Such are the places.
After a divine meal, in all senses of divinity (the volunteers call the servings as 'Prasad', very apt indeed, considering it's truly God's gift), we started walking towards the sanctum sanctorum. The queue appeared to be pretty long, but it was moving continuously, so we din't have to wait for long. In about fifteen minutes we were inside the sanctum sanctorum. Singers were rendering the Gurbaani. The rendition was so soulful, tears swelled up my eyes, both due to Bhakti and with a deep desire to be there to sing in praise of the Lord. The sanctum sanctorum was well lit and so beautiful, words cannot express the beauty completely. The feeling was truly and even today the memory is truly divine. The architecture inside, such as the carvings glass work were stupendous. More than anything else, the place is clean always, with so many volunteers partaking in the Seva. The Granth was there is all it's Glory and Splendour. Just did not feel like leaving the place, but one had to pave way for others in the waiting too. We moved up to the first floor, where a large hand written edition of the Granth was being worshiped. Once again the architecture inside was amazing and well preserved. There was one more floor, where one more edition of the holy scripture is worshipped, again with absolute divinity and serenity. The feeling in all the three floors is absolutely overwhelming and pure.
As we came down, it was time for the sanctum sanctorum to close for the night. I had the rare privilege of participating in the same. A well decorated palanquin is brought from somewhere, where the Granth is kept and taken to a nearby place. It is believed that the Lord rests for a while at the night, before He is brought back in the middle of the night. The male folk around the sanctum sanctorum are allowed to lend a shoulder to the palanquin. I was truly moved by the fact that I could carry the Lord himself, albeit for a few metres. With that the Lord was put to rest and we also decided to call it a day. Wonderful day and a wonderful experience.
I don't think I can continue anymore now. The final part would follow.
After a divine meal, in all senses of divinity (the volunteers call the servings as 'Prasad', very apt indeed, considering it's truly God's gift), we started walking towards the sanctum sanctorum. The queue appeared to be pretty long, but it was moving continuously, so we din't have to wait for long. In about fifteen minutes we were inside the sanctum sanctorum. Singers were rendering the Gurbaani. The rendition was so soulful, tears swelled up my eyes, both due to Bhakti and with a deep desire to be there to sing in praise of the Lord. The sanctum sanctorum was well lit and so beautiful, words cannot express the beauty completely. The feeling was truly and even today the memory is truly divine. The architecture inside, such as the carvings glass work were stupendous. More than anything else, the place is clean always, with so many volunteers partaking in the Seva. The Granth was there is all it's Glory and Splendour. Just did not feel like leaving the place, but one had to pave way for others in the waiting too. We moved up to the first floor, where a large hand written edition of the Granth was being worshiped. Once again the architecture inside was amazing and well preserved. There was one more floor, where one more edition of the holy scripture is worshipped, again with absolute divinity and serenity. The feeling in all the three floors is absolutely overwhelming and pure.
As we came down, it was time for the sanctum sanctorum to close for the night. I had the rare privilege of participating in the same. A well decorated palanquin is brought from somewhere, where the Granth is kept and taken to a nearby place. It is believed that the Lord rests for a while at the night, before He is brought back in the middle of the night. The male folk around the sanctum sanctorum are allowed to lend a shoulder to the palanquin. I was truly moved by the fact that I could carry the Lord himself, albeit for a few metres. With that the Lord was put to rest and we also decided to call it a day. Wonderful day and a wonderful experience.
I don't think I can continue anymore now. The final part would follow.
Dear Sesh,
ReplyDeleteFirstly let me commend you on a fine piece of writing. I see that you have a wonderful way of expressing the total experience of a place - it's aura and it's essence, too.
About the tears .... sometimes an experience gets so sublime that one gets transported, (or is it analyzed in the sense of being dispersed into the tinniest possible particles?), into another world or becomes one with the surroundings, and the present becomes immaterial, .... perhaps the sadhus and other enlightened ones experience this. Tears ... this happens when you hear some great music, see a classic picture, or are in the midst of pristine nature ...
Nice work, Sesh, do nurture your love of writing and observing everything around you!
KCMisra
Sesha,
ReplyDeleteI have visited twice Golden Temple, Amritsar but both visits were in the morning before lunch time and after lunch we visited Wagah border and returned to Delhi, your narration about the evening/night felt different. Nice sharing.
That was an awesome read anna...
ReplyDeleteHey..Veri informational blog post. Amritsar is a enchanting town in the state of Punjab. Its main claim to fame is the famous Golden Temple, Wagah Border and the Jallianwala Bagh. Also, get to know about hotels in Amritsar near railway station.
ReplyDelete