Anandamai Ma

I'm reading a biography of this beautiful Saint, called "A GODDESS AMONG US", and couldn't help but share her photograph with you all. This photo comes from the archives of Swami Vishwananda. He very graciously allowed me to copy this and many other photos that he has.

A Glowing Man

Swami Vishwananda had been asking me since I first arrived in Jamnagar if I had gone to the temple for Krishna's blessings and today was the day; at last! Stefani, Uri and I started out at 6 am for Dwarka and the Krishna temple on the day of the kite festival. It was chilly and we were wrapped in shawls to protect us from the early morning cold. It was a pleasant ride; uneventful, stopping for a breakfast of idlis along the way in one of those open restaurants that are like giant truck stops/Indian style. As we neared Dwarka the sky was spotted with colors, the kite festival was underway.

Since it was a holiday there were thousands of pilgrims at the temple. We made our way to the front for blessings and to give an offering. Stefani had a long orange scarf thrust into her hands from the temple priest and I got a short red one hurriedly thrust into mine. I caught myself trying to make a story out of who got what and why, and then just let the story melt away into laughter. Who cares? (It is now draped around my Ramana Marharshi calendar in my room) Perfectly adorning this great saint with a splash of red on my pink wall…

We piled back into the car and drove deeper into Dwarka, and to the beach. Stefanie and Uri went swimming down the beach and I visited a small temple. Our driver had disappeared so I just followed the energy of where I was supposed to be. After the temple it lead me to a spot on the low wall where others were sitting (mostly men). I sat down and waited. It was behind a small food stand that was selling some manner of spicy potatoes and run by a man who was glowing. Occasionally people dropped by to buy his potatoes. A camel was lying down on the street waiting for people to come by for rides. He (or she) was wearing its Sunday best. I continued to wait to discover why I was there, knowing it was the perfect spot; you just know sometimes….

Sure enough the glowing man came to talk to me and asked me what I was doing in India. When the conversation got around to plants he glowed even brighter. He told me that years ago he had been badly burned and a local woman had come to him with some leaves from a plant. She told him to mash them up and put the juice on his burns. He did as he was told and miraculously was healed with no scars. He then began to do this on his own and went out into the dry countryside to pick this plant so that he could help others to heal their wounds and burns. Eventually he got tired of traveling out to the country to pick them, he told me turning up the glow a bit more, so he collected the seeds and planted them closer to him, in his yard. Would I like to see them? he asked. WOULD I like to see them, …silly question. OF COURSE I would like to see them.

By then Stefanie and her husband, Uri (who had come from Russia to stay with her for the last month of school) were back and this lovely glowing man, put his cart on “self serve” and invited us back to his house to see this famous and miraculous plant. He did not know its name. We walked through the dusty streets of Dwarka, past open windows where men were chanting Om Sri Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram in rich, sincere tones and large neem trees to a small doorway where we stepped over a aged large board to enter.

There was a small courtyard with mostly women doing their daily chores of washing, and cooking. His house was at the back and as we walked up to his house I saw that a small creeping plant was growing everywhere. It looked very happy. It had dark green leaves and a single stem with white and yellow flowers; flowers everywhere. We were invited in for tea. We sat in his darkened living room and were served tea under the watchful eyes of Guru Nanak. He told me a story of a young man who had had a motorcycle accident and his wound that wouldn’t heal. Surgeons were cutting more and more of the skin away and now gangrene was setting in. He came to see the glowing man in hopes that he could help him. And it worked! His wound was treated with the juice of these leaves twice a day and the gangrene left….wonders of all wonders! The wound completely healed.

The glowing man spoke to his wife and the next thing I knew was that I was gifted with a small container of seeds! Now he handed me the phone and lo and behold, here was the man who had had the motorcycle accident on the other end and he was confirming that yes, this plant had healed his leg and could I help him find out the name of this plant, because his doctors in the UK wanted to know the name of a plant that heals wounds, burns and gangrene? Of course I could; wasn’t I studying Ayurveda at one of the best schools in the world where they know such things? I took his email address and photos of this small green miracle plant and we prepared to leave. Our glowing man had been writing something on a piece of paper. He looked up and stretched out his hand with the paper and looked me in the eyes and said, “This is forever!”. I knew that whatever was on that paper was important. It was his address and phone number. I knew that I had a new friend…

Back at school the next day, it took a mere 10 minutes to find a teacher who knew the name of the plant whose photo was preciously tucked away in my camera. I emailed the man in Dwarka and the name of the plant is now on its way to the UK; helping people with burns, wounds and gangrene, no doubt.

And what is the name of this plant, you might be wondering? This small plant that grows everywhere at the university as well? (but not as happy as the ones in Dwarka) Its common name is coat buttons. Its botanical name is Tridax Procumbence and I don't know what its Sanskrit name is. In March some of these seeds will be on their way to Canada and the US to look for homes in dry places. I’m hoping they will get through customs. I’m hoping to share them…. Jai Krishna!

Yogananda and Anandamayi Ma

The Reincarnation of Saraswati

The loud music pulled me right off my porch at lunch where I was sitting with the plants. I followed it to the men's hostel and arrived in the middle of a ceremony where a large handful of students and professors were standing in front of the garlanded statue of Saraswati (the Goddess of Knowledge and Learning). We were all (I was the only conspicuous foreigner) given some rice in our hand and then proceeded to her statue, one at a time, to offer it either at her feet or on her feet (I choose her feet). I gently poured it on her feet and silently gave thanks for her presence and the opportunity to be included in the passing on of this ancient wisdom. She was then ceremoniously lifted up by some of the students and carried out to a waiting pickup truck where she was carefully and gently deposited. Some of the students told me that she would be driven to the sea, and then taken out in the ocean and deposited in the water. She is made of plaster of paris and will slowly dissolve as she melts back into the sea. Another one will replace her, I am told, with a new ceremony.
But for now, she sat in the back of this pickup truck, waiting for her cold disintegration with a great deal of grace and patience. I could only guess what she might have been thinking as she watched these young students dancing with joy and abandon to the live music.
I was curious about her story so looked on the internet for information about her. Here is a one of the short stories about Saraswati:

Saraswati Saves the World from Shiva’s Third Eye and the Beast of Doom

Shiva was woken from his meditations and looked around to discover a world on the brink of corruption and being unsalvageable. Shiva decided it was time to wipe the slate clean. Shiva, the destroyer, opened his world destroying third eye attempting to destroy the three worlds.. Out came a terrible fire that threatened all existence.
There was panic everywhere. Only Saraswati remained calm. “Shiva’s fire burns only that which is impure and corrupt.”
She took the form of a river and with her pure waters picked up the dreaded fire from Shiva’s third eye. Within the folds of her water she carried the fire far away from the earth to the bottom of the sea where it transformed into a fire breathing mare called Badavagni – the beast of doom.
“So long as the world is pure and man wise, this terrible creature will remain on the bottom of the sea. When wisdom is abandoned and man corrupts the world, Badavagni will emerge and destroy the universe,” foretold the wise goddess.

... and from an Ayurvedic point of view (as Dr.Dawidi has said) it is the fire that has to be controlled... Brilliant.

Life in the 'Old' Hostel

Here are a few glimpses of life at the hostel. These two men are our faithful guards. They sit at the front entrance and NO ONE gets through the door. All food deliveries, mail deliveries, guests, and puppies are stopped and are either turned away or allowed to pass with an accompaniment from them. The one who is standing greets me every day with an upturned hand, a "JAI MATA JI!" and a smile. When they don't have much to do they watch the puppies who were born about 10 weeks ago. Their big stick teaches the puppies which lines they can cross and which ones they can't.
The hostel that I live in is the 'old' hostel and my room (number 4) is the one on the left with the string of mirrors. The small plastic bag is where the delivery man deposits 1/2 liter of pasteurized cow's milk every other morning at 7:30 am. (I still boil it)

Pancake Brunches

My time in Jamnagar is coming to a close. We have finished all of our classes as a group and for the next week we will be allowed to visit the departments we are really interested in, or to spend time with the professor of our choice, to explore, more deeply, a topic.
I have chosen Dravyguna and will be spending three days with Dr. Patel who really loves plants. He is taking me and some of his other students out to the land that the University owns. He has a small clinic there where he sees the local villagers and treats them with Ayurvedic herbs. He has lived on this land with his family some years ago and has planted many of the healing plants and trees that are listed in the classic literature. It was there that I stood under the Haritaki tree and was bathed with grace. I later found out that Haritaki cleans all the srotas (channels) in the body. Yes, it does.

Two days will be spent with Dr. Ravi Shankar, so that I can do some more research on how to:
1. bring more organic herbs into the Ayurveda field
2. set up a department on Ayurveda for animals (which Swami Vishwananda is helping me with)
3. explore Vrikshayurveda (farming from the ancient texts), and last but not least
4. put together a plan for finding out how the villagers are using herbs to heal their animals
Huge projects. All this because I wanted to write a book on Ayurveda for Horses. (and now see where it's gotten me?)

My last day will be spent with Dr. S.H. Acharya, who is the head of the Pancha Karma Department here and is one of the most skilled Ayurvedic practitioners I have ever met. He is also the head of the Foreign Students program here at the University and I have visited his home several times. He will assist me in putting together a proposal for Ayush (the branch of standardization that has been formed to elevate Ayurveda in the world). Dr. Acharya will be visiting Sebastopol, CA in April and I have embarked on a plan to bring him to Vancouver, BC on April 2nd and 3rd. He will be giving a free lecture there. He is one of us...Contact yodih@shaw.ca or me if you want more information.

All of the other students will be leaving and going on small adventures before leaving India but I have started to do Pancha Karma with Dr. Acharya. I am on my third day of beginning the day by drinking melted ghee; today it was 75ml...mmmm....
I will be finished on February 10. I am doing all of this to bring some more movement to my knees.

When I leave Jamnagar, I don't have a clear direction as to where I'll go next. I am thinking I may return to Canada to live in Vancouver. I'm ready for home; although there is a tea planation in Assam that is using Vrikshayurveda that I will be visiting first. I can hear the heavy breathing of my magic carpet coming from the cupboard so I know that something is afoot.

And, oh yes, what does all this have to do with pancake brunches? you may be asking yourself and will she ever get to the point? Now.

Our class celebrated this ending yesterday with a pancake brunch in my room (our second such indulgence). I made pancakes and my famous scrambled eggs with cream cheese and chives (but the Indian version with green onion tops; equally as good). Gyaneshwar came to play his sitar and Yoshie, one of my classmates came to play her Indian instrument for us; beautiful haunting music. I took these photos while there were playing. Many of us spent the rest of day together; silently knowing that we were all resonating with a different melody that was being played on our heartstrings; a tune of sweet sadness; the music of separation. We went out into the city and In the late afternoon and early evening drank in the rickshaw rides and walks down the narrow streets in the Muslim section where we stopped at our favorite stand to buy spicy baked potatoes. We slowly moved as 'one' and, unlike the other times, where we would wander off by ourselves, the group made sure we could all spot each other as if there was a tender invisible rope that was keeping us all together. We are all good friends now.

Sadhu Soccer

Just couldn't resist sharing this photo (not mine) that one of my classmates sent me.
Enjoy...

Early morning glimpses around the University

Good morning,
As my time here is just about up, I thought I would give you a few glimpses of what an early morning (8 am) looks like in Jamnagar at the University, as it wakes up. The building where the medicines are made is very beautiful.
All of these building were hit by a large earthquake some years ago and now stand a shadow of their former selves. I'll send more pictures another time.
Phyllis,

Christmas with Ramana Maharshi and Swami Vishwananda

When the teachers at the Gujarat Ayurved University, where I’ve been attending a three month Introductory Course in Ayurveda, announced that we had 10 whole days off for Christmas, my first thought was to celebrate it at Ramana’s ashram and take Swami Vishwananda along. (Swamiji had told me that it’s hard for him to get around right now, due to his failing health). So I emailed him and the ashram to arrange for a stay. Swamiji and the ashram gave their gracious consent. I was allowed to stay from the 25th till the 29th and Swamiji, the same. (Swamiji later informed me that he felt uncomfortable staying away from his medical support system for so long, so he would come for one day and then leave; okay)

It was a journey that was not for the faint of heart. I finished a full day of classes and then along with another student, headed for the overnight train from Jamnagar, Gujarat to Ahmedabad. Nice on paper, but in reality the beds were really hard and we were both freezing. We had not planned well in the warmth department, Stefanie and I, so it was a sleepless night of cold rocking. Our 11:20 pm train arrived in Ahmedabad at 6:30 am and we were then whisked away by a rickshaw; (the one for 150 rupees, as opposed to the 400 rupee one) to the airport. We each boarded our separate planes and I flew off to Bangalore where Swamiji met me at 11:45 with a taxi, the driver, Guru Murthi and Satisha (Swamiji’s disciple and companion). Seeing Swamij again was wonderful and the conversation was filled with divinity and friendship during our journey. We made the 4-hour drive in good time; the goal was to reach there in time for the evening puja at 6:30. By Ramana’s grace we made it in perfect time.

We rushed right to the temple, not stopping at our rooms; Guru Murthi maneuvering through the hundreds of cars in the parking lot in front of the ashram. We could feel the vibration as we walked up to the temple and were drawn, not only by our divine intention, but also by the magnetic quality of Ramana, the chanting, and the love and devotion of the thousands who had come here for the same purpose; we were not alone in wanting to celebrate the birth of Christ with Ramana. The hall was resounding with both an inner silence and a deafening devotion. It was a beautiful and uplifting experience.

After the puja we waited in the huge line of devotees for our dinner. Both dining halls were packed to overflowing and devotees were served in the tradition of this great saint, a simple meal of rice and dal on the floor on a handmade plate of leaves pinned together with small pieces of wood the size of toothpicks. Swamiji and I, because of his health, ate at a table. I gave thanks for Ramana and his gift to us all and for his deep, but simple teachings of humility that he lived so eloquently. Those gifts and traditions remain still, for us all to experience. We then retreated to our rooms to unpack with an agreement to meet in about 20 minutes in Swamiji’s room for sweets (he comes prepared)…

The next morning the stress of all the travel and not sleeping the night before, caught up to me and I slept through the first puja and breakfast. Guru Murthi came to fetch me in time to slip me into the dining hall through the kitchen; but it was hours before I forgave myself; eventually Ramana’s grace descended upon me and I moved forward.

Swamiji took me to meet the President and then we piled into the car and proceeded around Arunachala. Swamiji had suggested that we chant the chant for Aranachala without stopping. We chanted the whole time we drove around the sacred mountain, singing it’s simple but powerful chant; never stopping. It truly was uplifting. When we arrived back at the gate of the ashram I, and Swami Vishwananda could barely speak. We all met in my room and then he ordered his driver to fetch chocolates to celebrate the occasion, which he did. When Guru Murthi returned, Swamiji spoke this beautiful prayer “ Today happens to be Christmas; Holy Christmas Day. We have come to the place of Tiruvannamalai, which is a Holy place for us and where thousands and millions of people are coming and paying their devotional prayers to Aranachula and Saint Ramana Maharshi. I offer prayers to the almighty, Jesus Christ, Krishna, Ram and all the Gods of the Universe on this occasion, with my beloved friends: Sister Phyllis Victory, Satisha, and Mr. Murthi. Join me in this prayer: I pray the almighty to make everyone to have divine consciousness. Light the lamp in their hearts to become the divine lamp and be divine. We are privileged to be here on this Holy occasion in Ramana ashram. Glory to Sri Ramana! Glory to Sri Ram! Glory to Krishna! Glory to all Saints and to all Rishis! Let our hearts be sweet with these chocolates. Om Sri Ramana, Om Sri Ramana, Om Sri Aranachula. Om Om Om!”
We ate the sweet chocolates and then Swamiji, Guru Murthi and Satisha left for Bangalore and I remained at the ashram.

For the next three days, I am happy to report, I did manage to make it up for early pujas and spent my last three glorious days there mostly meditating in the great hall and the small room where Ramana lived and taught.

The question of “Who Am I?” resonated deeply in my being the whole time I was there (and continues) and I kept thinking, in that great, silent hall and in the small room where Ramana lived, that the greatest devotion one could pay to any teacher, is to put into action the words that they have shared. The question remains with me.

My Winter Porch

Here's what keeps me sane in Jamnagar in the hostel. This sweet tree has been blooming for weeks now. It has the most beautiful, subtle fragrances that fill the porch. Kind of it to bloom in the winter. The mirrors that hang from clothespins on the line help to bring the plants a bit more light and are dazzling to watch in the afternoon.
I am so grateful to have this small garden.