01:14 am
I travel to Delhi tomorrow for a short trip that involves 34 hours of traveling and 84 hours of staying there. This is not a work trip, but a trip to meet my folks and all other assorted parts of my life. Why is this ratio so skewed, is because my folks think airplane tickets are too expensive (which I agree with) and that as a non-earning student I should travel by train (which I don't agree with, at all). But since I'm still travelling by 3rd AC rajdhani and all, so I shouldn't grumble much. So there.
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There have been many things to talk about. The top most being, I got my phone back. What happened was that my phone got picked from the class one of these days, 3rd August to be precise, and I was slightly devastated. It was a 2-month old PDA after all, which looked like a distant dream for all that I know, to buy again i.e..
I waited for my bill to come, and since it was a delhi no., all local calls within Pune were also listed. I started calling them numbers one by one, and coaxed cajoled and threatened to get the name of the guy who had my phone. After some time, I reached a wizened soul called Kedari, who works in a कचहरी somewhere nearby. He assured me that he would get my phone.
Next day, I get a call to meet him somewhere in the middle of nowhere. All my friends chicken out from accompanying me, except D, who's probably the strongest of them all anyways, being a girl and all. So finally, I tell the guy I wouldn't meet him in his den, and that we should meet in a public area (which means an area with enough public to have them save me, should this guy want to engage in street kungfu). I then received a phone call to meet him in front of the Balaji temple where he was present in a cream-colored Scorpio. Enough to set my blood racing. Two of my friends, who had earlier refused to go, were unfortunately going that way, and I had them come with me.
I reach the temple, and I see this group of 6-7 marathi uncles, with Mr. Kedari sitting in the middle. Your typical marathi uncle, with a thick gold chain, thick gold watch and a not-so-thick paunch. He asked me my name, address, phone no. and ratified the rest of my resume. He was apparently a son-of-the-soil, and didn't think much of my cool-types Advertising MBA. So we chatted up, had a chai, and he gave me my phone.
I know of no one who's ever got a stolen/lost cellphone back. This in addition to the lost car that was then found is a blessing from all the gods I've been running away from these last few years.
The time has come for me to have faith again, for it helped me at times that were a little too hard. Its easy to give up our faith, rituals and ways of living. I hope to share this happiness with others soon.
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On matters of faith, here is another tid-bit. Apart from the buddhist philosophy I follow, there is the ISKCON movement that is rather close to my heart. I dunno how much depth I have in my devotion for Lord Krishna, but a visit to the temple in Vrindavan was fortnightly affair for me. Listening to the Hare Ramo, Hare Krishna chants while trying to speak to Krishna is a deeply personal affair for me. Its worked for years, and it still works. I went to the local ISKCON temple yesterday. A few things were a little skewed, and here's my take-
- I enter temple. Take off shoes. Walk towards the sanctum sanctorum.
- First person that I notice is a prabhuji. These are people who have dedicated their lives to Krishna and live in various ISKCON centers around the globe. He is on the cell-phone, right outside the sanctum sanctorum. He is bending over to pay his respect to the god(s), and then walks out to continue his call. I don't like. Sanctum Sanctorum =sanctity, No?
- Second person right after him is a youth, who switches off his Creative mp3 player to enter. I muse about the changes in our lives, and how the player is his only companion till the time he reaches the gods. More on this later in my series on modern day spirituality.
- I go, speak to the god, and come out.
ISKCON is making a temple. A huge temple on the outskirts of Pune. They need funds to build that temple. And they have some pretty savvy people on their side. People who know fancy softwares like CorelDraw and PhotoShop etc.. And they know things can be printed on huge billboards, and small flex boards. So every inch of the temple, except the main building (where there are little reminders) are covered with a donation plea. There's even a scale model of the proposed temple, to let you see what you are paying for.
There are instances from all the holy scriptures, telling you of all the heavenly qualities you'd bear once you agree to pay for the construction of the temple. Here they are-
Narsimha Purana
O devoted one, one who builds a beautiful temple for Lord Narasimha will be freed from all sinful reactions and he will enter the Vaikuntha planets.
Vishnu Dharmottara
A person who builds a temple of Sri Vishnu will get the same result as performing the Rajasuya Yajna and Ashvameda Yajna.
O best of brahmanas, as many atoms are there in the temple so built, for so many thousands of years will he be able to reside in the heavenly planets.
Skanda Purana
Just by starting the construction of a temple for Lord Krishna, sins committed in seven births will be wiped out and one will deliver his forefathers who are suffering in the hellish planets.
Srimad Bhagavatam
One who offers the Deity, gifts of land, markets, cities and villages so that the regular daily worship and special festivals of the deity may go on continually will achieve opulence equal to My own.
Vamana Purana
Whoever constructs or helps to construct a Vishnu temple will protect eight generations of fathers, grandfathers and forefathers from falling into hell.
You get the picture? I don't.
My faith remains. My faith in what would become of the Pune chapter of ISCKON is another matter. I hope the Gods will do the needful.
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There are quite a few other things that I want to mention, like my reviews of the latest flicks I saw. But that later. I'm tired, so are you. Let's call it a night.
Ciao.
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