This weekend we left Auroville for the first time (other than short trips to Pondicherry) to see the sacred mountains of Tiravanimalai. After a full day of service-learning presentations and a NVC (non-violent communication) workshop, five-thirty came and had us loading onto two large buses. The drive was a bit over two hours but felt longer due mostly to our apprehension but also to our empty stomachs. Finally, after growing anxious in my thoughts, we took a left turn into a driveway that had a large yellow archway with words listed in Sanskrit. This would normally mean nothing to me had Ross, our trip-planner/friendly uncle, not been standing there waving us into the Ashram that we would be staying. We came off of the bus and were handed room keys and told to divide out amongst them. After throwing our bags into rooms we all met back outside and walked across the street to have a much-needed dinner which was as quiet as our tired heads needed. The night went unscheduled in whichever direction each person wanted to take it; I stayed up late spending quality time with the right people.
The morning came and we congregated to walk over to the Sri Rakjflef ashram/temple. It was a strange place for me, European and Indian tourists filtered through the ashram’s meditation spaces and shrines. I followed the crowd in ways, circling three times the main shrine, thinking hard but trying not to be cynical on the use of money in spirituality. In ways I really enjoyed the space. An adjacent shrine was a darker room, smelling strongly of incense. Shrines of Shiva (shadowed by Nunda) and Ganesh with his rat were cast around the room. I appreciated the silence, appreciated other people’s presence in the room. For a while I sat meditating in the main chamber, but of course meditating to me simply means letting my mind go monkey. After about forty-five minutes I got up and joined the rest of the group who was in line for lunch, a meal we had been quite fortunate to be invited to. I stuck by Ross, needing a good conversation with someone who holds a sturdy perspective. I told him how I have a hard time with shrines, about my own discomfort with them but also with how curious I always am that other people find such security and inspiration with them. He told me how shrines, gods, goddesses, the works did not matter as these physical items that I was observing them to be. Instead, they should be considered as the ideas they represent. For example, Ganesh represents clearing out obstacles. So sure, he is embodied as the elephant-headed man that I am meant to make funny faces in front of, but those objects are just a reminder. I really appreciated that idea.
After a great conversation and meal we had time until we would go see the biggest Shiva shrine in the world. I needed to lay low a bit since we haven’t been sleeping these past couple weeks so Alex and I just lay around talking. The evening came and we once again piled on a bus for a twenty minute ride to the temple. The shrine was incredible, like a strange Hindu amusement park. I made funny faces in front of Ganesh which granted me an ashed forehead. I circled a little too quickly the “marriage tree” seven times, hoping that its affects would be a bit more delayed than promised. We walked the cues into one of the inner shrines to Shiva and wound up in this dry steam room, knees to the floor giving flowers as an offering and once again spreading ash on our foreheads. Right before leaving the shrine we sat down cross-legged on the cool tile floor because we had to “ground” everything that had just happened. Sitting, I felt myself calm down and I understood the importance of that final step.
We all left at our own pace, going off different directions for dinner and the evening. I went for a wonderfully relaxing meal where we sat on cushions on the floor, sprawled out across the restaurant. Back to the ashram before ten, we all lay low talking knowing that the next morning we had an early hike.
5:45 came and I heard Pete and Kristin whispering in the bed next to me, we had 15 minutes to get ready. By 6 oclock I had pulled on hiking apparel and found myself on a bus driving along the mountainside. We got out, still in the village and just started moving up. Within an hour I was leading the group, scrambling along steep rocks. The hike up this sacred mountain was about two hours and I loved every minute of it. I barreled up with Tialoc and Betsy, looking over my shoulder every once in awhile to see the amazing view of the city and the huge temple with its surrounding courtyard. But fog started to fade in around us and by the time we reached the summit, there was no more city to be seen. The summit was covered in a greasy charcoal layer. Apparently it had recently been covered in Gee and lit on fire. Eventually, the rest of the group caught up with us and we all sat relieving ourselves on this misty isolated summit. The way down was much more difficult as the mountain-ground is all rocks. I slid and scuttled down most of it, crab-like. It was amazing to see the horizon come back to us as we descended, the city come back into focus.
Coming back to Auroville I am completely exhausted but happy. It feels good to be home, to shower, to sleep in beds that are at least a bit softer. I’m nervous about starting a new week when my tank has not been refilled. But who am I to complain when these experiences have all been so wonderful, so rewarding. I continue to feel like the luckiest girl in the world.
