E-Paper
They live with God
I was humbled by the awesome powers that a simple looking man possessed - no airs about himself, living in a small, little house and absolutely cheerful.
This is not a fictional account. I might have to change the names of people that I make a mention of just in case they desire it to be so. Rest all is true but there is obviously no way that I can prove that to you. The only motive behind writing this is to share with anyone (who is just as inclined towards) the little discoveries that I make in my attempt to see that which is not tangible but more real than what is. I really do look forward to hearing from whosoever wishes to write back to me about one's own feelings on the 'subject'. The link for writing back is given right below my own account. I hope to write to you every Wednesday and Saturday.
(This is for 'B' from California: I have replied to you and you can check it out by clicking the link 'My replies' given right below)
So, as I was telling you, I was really taken aback at this man's ability. But I didn't want him to know that I was impressed and so I just nodded in affirmation. Unassumingly, he chanted a few mantras under his breath and gave those grains to me saying that I should eat them. I did. I felt funny doing all that but well, now that I was there I had to do it and then what was the harm anyway.
Then he told me to go and pray in front of the Goddess Durga picture that he had kept in a niche in a wall. I did that as well. I stood up, prayed silently and made a wish in my mind. Now I am not going to tell you what was that I wished for but what happened afterward was a plain shock to me. That chap stood up, took the plate kept in front of the Mother's picture and as he put a vermillion tika on my forehead he repeated softly the wish that I had made and said that it shall be fulfilled. I was stumped!
For once I didn't know how to react. I just came back to where I was sitting and sat down, humbled to the ground. I was humbled by the awesome powers that a simple looking man possessed - no airs about himself, living in a small, little house and absolutely cheerful. If he wanted, he could mint money but he was satisfied.
Then my mother-in-law asked him if he could take out time to take us to a temple that was lodged way above in the mountains. Now this deity, to whom the temple belongs, is looked upon by all the Jaunsaris as a powerful, living entity and they have entrusted in Him the powers to preside over all the aspects of their life.
One has to see the faith they have in this deity. They talk about Him as if He is one of them. They fear Him, love Him, look after His idol as if He is alive and among them, looking after all their needs and deeds. Maybe that is why they are all so much at peace with life. There is no concept of locking the door when one steps out, women are not teased or mistreated, the crime graph is non-existent. The moment a dispute arises, all they (the accused and the accuser) do is go and stand in front of the deity. The belief is so strong that the culprit admits almost immediately to the mistake and not only does he/she make up with the 'victim' but also pays a small amount as fine to the deity, this amount can be as little as 25 paise! Such simple ways of solving disputes... and they are all so content, one has to see it to believe it.
Nothing exciting happened either on my way to or at the temple. Just one by one, we all went up to where the idol of the deity was placed and paid our obeisance to Him. As I prayed to the deity, I told Him that I still didn't know what to make of that man's powers, that I still didn't know whether to believe in His presence or not, that I still couldn't bring myself to understand that anyone could have such absolute faith in anything without having felt it tangibly ... I prayed to the deity for peace of mind, I prayed to the deity for faith, I prayed to the deity for revealing the Cosmic Secrets, I prayed to the deity to be always with me, guiding me and showing me the way ... I beseeched Him to keep me in His refuge despite my doubts, my misgivings ... and on our way back that man turned to me and said, "Of all the wishes that people made in front of the deity today, you wished for the ultimate!"
That was May 2001 and today on October 8, 2003, as I write to you I know that he was so right.
I will write to you on Saturday, October 11, till then ciao and take care.
