A tryst with the gods

Citation preview

A TRYST WITH THE BY

M , M.

SALANAVE

GODS

presented to the

LIBRARY

UNIVERSITY

OF CALIFORNIA by

·

SAN DIEGO

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY IVERSON

AND HELEN HARRIS donor

page

see

The

.

Dawn

15

of

The

Chariot

a

.

by

of

,

in

,

of

.

ed

,

of

a

painting on the ceiling This design was inspired somewhat by the Indian room Bombay Art School the work talent Indian artist Mr. Nagarker who turn was inspired the Adjanta caves noble Mural paintings The one responsible for panel

in

.

of

to

be ,

if

,

to

this illustration therefore prefers remain the background any there may reflect back the credit Mr. Nagarkar 2,000 years ago the ancient Buddhist monks artists

that and

A TRYST WITH THE GODS BY

M. M.

SALANAVE

Copyright 1932 by M. M. SALANADE

PRINTED

U.

S.

NEC TIMIDE

IN

Harbison

,

Oceano

&

DRESS HALCYON Harbison

California

A.

Prolusion India- an impression

is a pretty strange times disguised

to

,

.

forever

were banned was capable

To

any

those

who

in

of

spite and defenıled her her repulsive outer appearance she eventually revealed herself her true form Was their reward pristine beauty temporal And rich and

of

-

.

,

in

,

sympathized

receiving

from

bestowing

.

in

the

of

of

an

at

as

this guise blessings she

while

ancient legend of a fairy who , by compelled appear her being was ugly snake Those who injured her

and

of

law

There

some

spiritual

her

pestilences

civilization

she

India was old Speed boasts

and

science

Efficiency

and

being

,

evidences

lepers

fire

also of

.

,

beauties

can

she

experts

became

and

with

you

culture

ancient

philosophy

and

,

matchless

But

real

sympathy

ages

the

be

high

today

.

,

land

and

your

un

with

strange

,

your blood

of

freeze

,

in

excite

at

can

in

her

to

She

remembered

America

powered

sounds

,

it

be

,

fore

and

manufactured

admiration for for

sights

of

monsters

can

full

India

.

She

wonder

of

,

horror

.

and

things

bewildering

*

expected

full

is

Life

of

.

*

,

to

,

he

.)

a

to

,

.'

'

* (

,

to

Incidentally Americans should also remember they have India thank for being discovered That Columbus seeking find nearer route India chanced on our land and believing had reached his goal inappropriately named the natives INDIANS

Being

entirely

fade

out

is to

'do ”

in

taxi , guidebook

in

the

.

to

me

An

elsewhere

driver ants

right out

walk

I'd rather

hand ,

emergencies ,

for

.

minded

one

But

again

remain

overweening

I

choose rather

a a

stopping then

merely

the

less ,

and

day

walk right

tour

to

alone

in

at

about

race

packs .

sixty

in

In

days . '

rushing from hotel

here

rejoicing

handkerchief afternoon

One

and turn

famous

home and just dream

American woman

than

medicated

way

superficially exploring

travel

world

the

fortnight , or sterilized

any ,

be

familiarity .

to

except

for

return them home again

boats that

bag — ' around

post

a

country in

a

in

forenoon

of

,

a

there

other

in

,

The rule

letters

to

unclaimed

if there

-- through

picture

places

on excursion

',

like

passage

at

they take

the

timid to travel

too

long enough

hideousness

sort ,

exploring strange

leisurely

with tourist parties — presumably droves

of

self - reliant , far venturing

a

speed ,

and

even

there

to

places

re

away

,

difference

a

through them . But

others

remain

must

true

around

and

appeals

not

far places

India told me

she

did

'

one

of glamour and strangeness

wear

half

truly

and

the

2

spell

well

months

is

the to

place

eyes ,

also

is

an

any

their

on

see

only with

see

of

But

.

.

in seeing . Many

futile . There

is

heart

,

India . Mere

the

India

and

.

Mother

surface - seeing

in

can be

time — weeks

of

— to even dimly glimpse

of

managed

days

a

it

many

and

to wonder at in

'

when

patience

much

things

of

in

takes

full

is

on

it

life

off

Yes , without doubt

its

,

,

,

of

,

by

to

perceive

,

to

yet

better

,

and

not

oc mis

,

or

jostled

of

bulls

of

than

squeasy

thousands

air

sight

of

pampered

an

the

unduly

not

I

.

and by

,

at

—

of

!

in

',

of

-

'

longer

staying

itself

substantial

ascetics

abstraction

and

therefore

a

which

remains

,

humble

lower she

birth

for

she

behind

strangely

re

about

of

,

sex

crea

Even though

,

a

,

The West

and

tree

still meek and

unfortunate

mystery

as

,

patient

is

inscrutable

the

she

is

as

, ‘

maharani

grass

graceful gentle .'

admiring India's daughters humble

a

be

a

,

—

eyes

born

is

yogis

ashes

never tired

speak

gained

were

been

aside

shocked

lepers

blissful ignorance

.

luctant ever

India

experiences pushed

beggars

day

had

sun

streets

thousands

unnumbered

cows

carved

serpentine

in

which lies

was

palaces

the darkness

the

with

the

.

a

daub

woman she

for

nothing more

to

realizes

mid

mind being

with lustrous

Hindu

that

unusual

of

;

tures

I

And

sunlight

neither

with

sometimes

'

,

all

at

beggars

covered

sunlight

fancying

an

by

not

would

Time

built before

the gods

with

sacred

impressions

and

of

Greatly

done

I

of

streaks

did

of

enough

streaks

bejewelled

it

,

-

casional take

sensations

long

there

a

ascetics

ash smeared

My

3

Ganges

of

and

holy

seething

busy ghats

bazaars

the

,

bathers

cloud capped

fanes

,

,

crowded

.

and

gilded

'

temples

marble

rose city

Benares , ‘

.

,

Destroyer was born

red -

in one day ! Benares , house of Shiva , and

Benares

suggest

rate ,

it

so

often

mean seems

,

and

breeds

seem

to

average

think

instead

our

be

Hindu Western And

does

feeling

envy

ideas

mistaken

divine

attributes

elephant headed

a

'

peculiarily

so

',

little

India

most the

and

the cultured

red

stone

wooden

and

lingams images

son

educated the seen

of

born

'

twice

-

Yet

no '

idolaters

stone

poor

the

,

do

,

his Gita

loneliness

,

are unheard

of

wells

that

upon

.

consider

poured

,

any

often

from her

West

lament

is

sympathy

of

in

serpents

actually

Westerners call Hindus

India who knows lieves

protest

India's daughters

.

,

Western exigency Many

the

the

the

.

',

mothers

condition

redundance

India

of

Before

most

what we

of

had

purpose

real

a

life and

its

our emancipated

at

and

of

it

as

incredible

for

not

pity

forth

calls

ignorant

the

describe

has

education

the life

that

'

sisters , does

which

in

woman , which

certain

is

of

any

all

free.

of

singularily

from

dissatisfaction

,

and

aptly

to

Someone

modern

so -called

of

discontent

our

that

women .

and resigna

. Patience seem

whom

to

,

to

American

India

of

temerity

particularly

not

of

.

women ,

do

of

Western

At

spirit of reasonableness

sweet

a

as

and

mothers

ignorant and unhappy

as being

-

tion

little

it

the West sadly points

resigned '

and

of

' patient

These are the

be

carved every

the

and

all

. *

in ,

to

,

or

I

of , So

.

to

be , is

a

it,

have

But need

have found equally

in

that

and

India

because

little

saying

much

good

of

,

even city

.

India

shine

I

on

exist

rest

looking

the one

point

which

from

at

facets

do

or

,

best

the

truth

that

and

about in

bad

What

ways

the

condemnations

horrible than

of

much

them

is

with

less

friend

.

many

land

only seeming

in

being

' so

familiarity

--

my own

?

.

conditions

than

or

,

.

remembered

Appalling conditions

sees

both

in

with

gem

by

all ,

should

wear

personal

interests

to

I

truths

in

of

,

half

and

long

that land

lights The light received depends

gone farther afield

there

are

it

,

is

Truth

which facet

appalling

but

the people

the lives

even

remain

might

so

India

understand

nor

extremists

Through

are

Nature

facts

and

the case

us ,

to

there

a

be

sure

and

such

condemnations

written

truly

.

different

better

well

that

been convinced

for myself

hideousness

see

reasoning

and

things

of

hoped

of

view

.

of

eulogies

indeed

he

To

I

of

thought

could

I

ly

contact

-

until

the

India

see

never

hysterical

as

for the glamour

off

my

,

and

,

there

or

enough

either

explain

principles

had

be

to

determined

Thomas

reading

glorifying

eulogies

sugary

the

doubting

impressed

go

greatly

faith symbols that personify

a

Naturally

will

Hindu

,

aids

thoughtful

by

merely

to

in

of

India . Any

where

the

5

. )

in

-

--

in

to

* (

it

might Before criticising Hindu or other Eastern beliefs too severely well of our own strange superstitions examine closely some and fetishisms here the West and there are many not only our early history but more recent be

.....

worst of us gined up

there

were

numerous

always

have

ima

of helping people besides digging

ways

other

I

but

mistaken

am

their sewers .

watering lustful

in

while

appetites

canine

most obscure corners virtues

evenly

open

of

mind

distributed

pot

call

whatever

land

unwarped

mouth

their

appease

to

tender

of innocent

flesh

of the west , or in the

the

one finds

by

-

beings

,

with

and

Maggoty

sewers .'

able

un

another .

pleasurable

a

only

are

tempting

always

self righteous ,

human an

and

a

ill

to

regard

becomes

meats

in modern metropolis

of race , color or creed . And it

the

create

with

some

' inspecting

in

others

food ,

of primitive India , it is much

pretty

are

still

with

youth . But , whether it be

and

gamey

flavored

others ,

unnatural

gratification

find

highly

and

cheese

may

of

sort

the same . Human vices

world

regardless

over

what one seeks. Therefore kettle

names

with tolerant

preconceived

willingness

A

ones

one

or

of

unprejudiced

eyes

ideas

is

Certain

with

possessed

satiated ,

their

.

palates

delight

Some

people

apparently

we

live

however

,

satiable ,

inclinations .

and

many

are

,

appetites

West , there

the

a

strange

in

as

,

East ,

the

to

In

the

remain

aloof

four and

quarters separate

ourselves

because 6

prefer

globe's

of

may

part

to

we

much

whatever

,

.

virtue too rarely practiced

In

a

I

Perhaps

' ?

.

families

and

The

their casings

.

beings with

the eye

So ,

all

bound

a

may

whatever

look upon

well

as

as

,

—

men

races

be

in

Let

ties

we are

that

of

the Vedas

:

of

in

remains

indissoluble

vital organs are the same the words

fact

all

each other

the

all

by

chained

,

us

of superiority

to

of feelings

if

.

,

,

to

is

more

However

set

to

study

respect

their philo

understand

just one

than

road

during

ever

concern

or

a

to

of the

Indian

.

friend

',

-

sob sister

a

eye

for

pilgrimage

practicing the

by

to

pressure

the

passion

Hindus

either

of

with

with

jug

art ,

not

an

as

or

did

I

beings

high

a

a

am

nor

overflowing

my

that

Nor

the

the

to

letting alone things

middle

,

looking upon

reforming

all

lands

.

Eastern

like

pickthank

prying

with

of

,

,

,

of

keeping

interfering

beliefs

horrible moral examples

and pour forth

neither

Hindu

criticise

me ,

by

always

extreme

indeed

upon

by

I ,

Thus

7

am

people

other

other

the world

“

to

the

informing

is

then

to

purpose

.

treacle

sincerely

me

teachings

nor hold her people rush

one would

visiting India was not

before

visiting India

did before

really necessary

up

My

that

discovered

.

line

little

This

the Hindus

have

in

so

of

or

sophy ever

explained

be

perhaps

should

it

it

their traditions and philosophy

others

I

and confidence .

to

win the friendship

as

the only way

indeed

,

best

,

The

of

.

friend

of

restraint

neath

the

quiet

eye . '

and

rind

remembering

I

was

able

that to

the

sweet

garner

quite

juice of richly

an ' the

orange harvest

is

of

be a

8

THE SALUTATION

DAWN

Listen to the Salutation of the Dawn

!

;

.

Salutation

,

Day

!

this

Hope

.

Vision

Happiness of

of

,

dream

tomorrow therefore

the

Vision

makes

the

Dawn

.

Such

well

Dream

of

And every Look

a

-

yesterday

Beauty

a

And tomorrow Today well lived Every

, ,

of but

only

But

your existence

Action a

For yesterday

is

The Splendor

to a

The The Glory

of

and Realities Bliss Growth of

Varieties

of

its

Look to this Day ! For it is Life , the very Life of Life . In brief course lie all the

is

D

OF THE

-From the Sanskrit

A TRYST

thousand

.

and

sacrifices

ages

have the

Allahabad

its

,

been

devout one

the have

be

to

thrice

plaisance

of

successive

began

banks believed

pilgrimaged

,

in

prayers

Time

its

,

which

,

,

since

now

itself into beautiful

of

to

offer

almost

length

near Gangadwara

and emptying

several spots along

to

.

which

the Snowy Range

the torrid plains

thru

throughout

India

in

is

gorge

sacred

,

rocky

held

is

Bay But there

Gods and

spots

a

coursing

river

Mela held at Allahabad

,

,

from

sanctified

there

Prayag.

Ganges

emerging

Hardwar

, anciently

Kumbh

famous

'

The

Ganges sights 1

.

at India's

the

like ghost - grcy

tryst with the Gods , was one of the many arresting

in

a

are

river to keep

Bengal

ascetics stalking along

in the dawn , on their way to the banks of the sacred

shadows

saw

stark - naked

,

Thirty - five

WITH THE GODS

these

hallowed

Mahomedan Emperor Akbar

city

Allahabad - city

Prayag, meaning performed it

flourishing

before

visited

there ,

Vishnu , second and

day

of

his

,

to

Thus , throughout faith

and

of the Hindu

Prayag

later

Gautama

Puranas

are

been

the

India's still

and

a

devoted

of time

aeons

have

was

are

Prayag , or Allahabad .

in

this

in the

called

of the religious

sacrifice .

Kapilavastu,

chapters

whole

holiness .

of

of love , charity , mercy

ideals

preserver

and

of the city's

centered

Prince

the

with

was

the

Trinity

Hindu

beautiful consort

grants

the

desires

has

Lakshmi devout

been

goddess

Hindus

guardian good

and

fortune

,

lofty

city

person

, first

that reason in the minds associated

been

it

that

pilgrimage

who

to

praise

to

always

For

Before

.

Brahma

here

wives , named

five thousand

its

Buddha ,

', for

sacrifices .

has

God - Illahabas

of

of

India

of

' a sacrifice

, he

,

Trinity

of

of

the

The

marked

the Jumna

difference

white

by

be

to snow

-

the

,

or

of

with

underground

the color

of

blue

of

up

hallowed spot

miles

seen

rivers the

emerg waters

the waters

of 10

.

is

hundreds

Jumna

and

*

and the sapphire

Ganges

six other ancient

.

this

five

and only now

in

run

of

to

believed

Footnote _There these two famous rivers *

of

to

,

,

the Ganges

the sacred

Saraswati long dried

mingling

-

co

the confluence

a

of

third

be built above the ruins

at

faith but

ing and

said

at

of

eye

a

and

stands

of

.

cities

It

Allahabad

is

.

Prayag

has

into the

in

soul

past

the did

ages

in

deep

did

it

as

'

gets

largest historical

the

charity flows

which time

renunciation

center

unique

another

as

the

of

-

periodically

at

traditions

long

it

faith

the

of

and

earth

,

pilgrimage

with

becomes

on

.

attraction

age

its

Allahabad

It

But

Hin

.'

ago

.

Saraswati

waters

the confluence

the

festival

,

draws

answer

.

there

the constellation

the

that

The

?

in

India

indicated

is ,

?

of

magnet

of

to

,

them

merely

lasting

Gods descend the Ganges

Aquarius

between earth

Jumna

.

,

time

to

,

,

,

lures

enters

event

corner

pesti

and

Never advertised

to

auspicious

and

physical

intense

plagues

date

,

this

this

Allahabad the

child

and

suffer

powerful

the

of

the holy

At

.

weeks

that

dangers

money

of

what

years Jupiter

celebrates

and

is

it

or

soliciting

woman

hardships

food

the magic

at

of

Mela

is

-

that

man

weary pilgrimage

calendar

Every twelve

in

any

pilgrims from every nook

the Kumbh

six

and

,

Hindu

the

Kumb

shelter

such

every

makes almost

a

to

,

on

make

that

brave

propaganda

without

lakhs

of

lack

,

miseries

to

willing

dustan

lence

is

What lure

The

five

and

and

and

bathe

invisible

ants

from

all

rumbling bullock carts

ex

Thus

.

Kismet

— I

or

it

im

most

was

was

at

of

the

was

necessary

a

wink

Mela

sleep

road

started

.

myself

and

o'clock

occasion

grounds

foot

and

of

three

so

At

or

.

the

,

Mela

it

The

snatch

the

Gods

grounds

extraodrinary

along

and

so

.

the

place

time

companions tried

dawn

,

passing

itself

start

by

had

to

.

arrive

three

there

rituals

and

their way

directions

bathing

sacred

town

anticipation

swarming pilgrims

attend .

enacted

,

eager

,

the songs

atween

Karma

was

the

day

night watches

,

but

from

great

the

was

the

was

me .

the earlier

of

During

the

of them

for

morning

pageant

the

expected

one

to

true ,

come

held

be

draw

to

determined

one

in

the

if

to

early

out

of

days

distant

to

the

Gods

the

no

miles

call

ceremonies

on

several

certain

I

drama

to

a

to

perform

set

sleep

with

day

they

East

down the river banks

in

were

the

famous

as

on

able to spend five interesting

Indian

of

to

Maha

great

the

when

tryst

Kumbh

the

at

festival

wishes

was

to

luck

the

there

makes

Mela ,

On march

who

days

keep

able

Instantly

,

sheer good

.

a

of

world

the

I

of

by

portant day

one

for it happened that

all

unforgetable

,

Lakshmi ,

Goddess gracious

Allahabad

to

the

in

SO

great

to

congregation

ceedingly and

at

in

greatest

And

later

months

told me of this

travelled

,

several

I

which

I

upon

-

boat

Japan and China to India the Hindu doctor

from

of

En route

and the

like streams

Darkest before 12

another

millions

of

pilgrims

extraordinarily

was

orderliness

of

that

Brahma , Vishnu and Shiva the milling crowds

how almost

13

.

ness

hopeless

by ,

singly

that

would

the

the

in

help

not

each

had

was

abreast

other

and

devotees

of

remembering

of people

mil

many

clouds

been

possible but

each

swarming throng

quietness

biting

sands

water that

holding

then

gatherings

comparison

deep

and

and

Mela with

four

find

the

By

darkness .

only now

Indeed

Sometimes

walk

with

,

separated

walk

be

became

dust

in

lest

obliged

myself to

we were

and

it

a

mud

we

companions

the

'

the

.

lay

futile attempt

caused

forward

or gigantic

thru

to

of

mud

or

seas

to

wading

we

ploughing

were

in

times

,

swept

could

Kumbh

way

suffered

dust

three

of New York's subway

in

people

I

amazing .

, were

the

worshippers

of ecstatic

mass

with

broken

Vedic hymns.

American cities , and India's

in

At

lions

of

of other

still , the silence

seething

mingling

along

mole - eyed

softly chanting

groups

by small

stumbling

no

it

being

were

to

then

we

instant

were

other's

realizing again

of

In

and

its

crowds.

grounds

the

dramatic.

in

reached

unreal and positively

seemed

in

had

wherever

.

we

occasion

this

eerie time

,

Soon

on

it

be , and

a mysterious

is

by

one may

It

.

to

dawn in not merely an expression

thrown for my

the

deep

garments too the

well

dark

Although

tired

almost

to

walking , we felt we must still keep on

We

hot after the sun rose .

allowed ourselves

object

sunrise

the

darkness

multitude . Our supreme

the

being

to get close enough

and

the

we

nearer

distance

less

walk

to

to see get

could

in

great

the

muffled

roar

great

rumbling and

boom

and hum

those

distant

thru

'

lane

and

mass

children

millions rolling

the

raising a

into

pil

to

see

happy

the

sea

all

tempered

that

of

The

at

once

spots

watered

presaged

,

good

were

bees

as

recently

the

swarming like

sky

close

drew

,

churning

too

of

were

We

,

pass

improvised

an

forming

sides was

light to

,

two

Eastern

or

forest

almost

tiresome

impatiently

,

eagerly

,

expectantly

,

,

now

thru

'

Patiently we had walked miles

we

stretches awaited

of

1

the sighing

the a

rose like of

voices

excitedly

the

grown sufficiently

The pilgrims

They

.

clinging mud

talking

on

.

dust

in

a

clouds

roadside

beacons

of

of

improvised

like

the procession

,

evidently

had

or

,

which

lining

it up

were

gold

of

.

glints

to

last

dawn . By then

grims

of

before

in the pitchy

later .

At the

with

on

daybreak

at

.

heat

it started

when

river bank

to the

swept

be

such

would grow unbearably

had no idea of directions

supposed was every one's )

( as we

pageant

the

to

as the sands

of

.

but

of dropping after miles

point

the

sand

our

and

reward 14

brilliant

of

Dawn

at

pilgrims

you !

Thus

joyous

cries as the Aswins , twin

Nor

I

was

ashamed

later the Sun -lord glided of

piercing before and

eyes

half blinded deep

into

and

tumultuous crashing 15

salaam

swiftly

and delicate

with sweeping

hushed

to

,

and

the

masses

of

saffron

Sun - lord

breathless

crescendo

one

mighty

car drawn

by

moment

a

The dis

.

after overture

flashed blended

flung

sand and water

orchestra's

,

the colors

majestically

might feel

light

rosy

of

faming gold

sight . Swiftly

the

charioteeers

when

shafts

by the splendid as

with

sun

of clouds

veil

fuchsine- violet- reds ,

greens , and

rising

salute

.

obeisance

thru ' the rent

We

Sky !

golden

a

Dawn

offer

Salutations

Sky - divine

in

grace across the stretches

but

of

of

of Sun and

of the goddess

flaunting colors

the grey

melted

mantle us

vivid

all

play

advent

sunrise .

pilgrims .

daughter

gloriously riding the clouds

view

ruddy horses , heralds

seven

sons

,

-swept into

the

Gods

gracious

the

of the

million

Ushas ,

greeted

of

the

four

least

Hail

!

splendor

the

and

hearing

his

‘ Hail

throats

eyes

the

appropriate

an

event ,

of

It

the

provide

to

extraordinary

the

our dazzled

before

from

rose

for

if

as

glimpse

first

a

.

setting

get

should

.

spread

we

Suddenly ,

spectacle .

magnificent

when

of

promised

moment

as

thrilling

the

a

in

left the

air

,

in

hand

to

reaching

the

,

vaishavas

common

the

hand

with river

faith

in

with

and

waters

passed

from the ranks

and

dust

was

especially

enthusiastic scoop kissing

devotees

desirable

and

the

vied

handful

frenzy

of

had

by

ascetics

holy men had trodden this

inspired

their respective

and on

,

, one

naked

with

each

the

dust

fanaticism

meritorious

16

secure

each

intent only

stark

.

the

world

a

where

break

saivas

hossians

the

abreast

in

other

the

Two

up

to

After

according

it

the purifying

Gods

the

,

with

bathe

sadhus

to

,

indifferent

.

, ,

serene

and banners

others

.

to

,

-

marched -sanayasis

morning breeze

in

groups

insignia

and satins

—

followed

robed

,

gristly

bearing

eyes

by

some saffron

holy

shoulders

early

the

leopard

shimmering

and

up

with

milk

ascetics

and

they

flying proudly mothers

men's

velvets

thousand

ash smeared

orders

embroidered

,

-

five

aloft

borne

draped

men

ele

decorated

sniffing the

ridden

,

Thirty

To

,

softly warm

as

blowing

gems

gorgeously

came

on

-

precious

with

studded

horses

palanquins

banners

,

in

-

, -

carrying

bearers

Arab

the

on !

superciliously

camels

to

.

caparisoned

gold and silver

of the Gods had stepped

of trumpeters

snow white

noses

;

skins

host

a

was

,

tilted

by

drama

in

phants ; richly

The

,

Heralded

stage .

The Lord

,

the

of

of

risen .

as

center

had

'

The curtain

17

wild

stream

morning until

But with

cries

the the

sects

Dancers

air

twisted

played

musicians

that

of

hundreds

were

Some

fragrance

with

must

have

been

writhed along

and

serpents

life

three a

supercharged

with

young

peak

seen

There

looking instruments

ancient

twenty four hours .

seldom

that

the

on

howdahs

intensity

flowed o'clock

magnificient excitement the

continuously the

next

and came scene

from

morning —a

sun period

spectacular

sight

when

already

was

the

suddenly

is

of nearly

colorful

decorated

procession ,

as

rise

of

This

sinuous

different

great

the

,

like

in

filling

incense

they

as

air ,

road

the

of

the

burning

the Gods were

when

robes

faces

on

vogue

queer

others

saffron

.

,

vina

-

in

the

belonging

bands

.

as

musical

censors

in

only half

,

swung

they

priests

marched

handsomely

in

in

Vishnu .

of

,

elephants ; temple

caste

sitting

princes

and

names

women

ash - smeared ,

ghost - grey

hideous

thousand

and

were

only

the

.

Maharajas

rank

also

.

every

the

parade ,

on

.

repeating

of

their

-

Hindus

of them

about

of

along

ascetics

Many

streaming

hair

stalked

women

of

procession .

entire

clothed ,

were

to

the

also

of

There

pierced

anxious

the lest

all

what

.

to

.

see

anxious in

all

to to

of

escape

who were

An

beast

towards

told

though

the

mad

fellow

was

been

done

I

trampling crowd

was

mysterious

Karma

or

that

had

we

excited

Kismet

as

,

we

ahead

of

just

the

were

.

the

driven

fortunately

remembering

will

the maddes

in

damage

subdue

mammoth

,

In

or

the

a

in

mightily

was

ourselves

controlled

are

can

camel

order

sight

trembling self things

trying

forward

camel

another

short

Little

creature

transformed

and

,

watching

hours

in

to it its

what

biting

amusing

.

off ,

After several

the doubt

Accordingly

grounds

the charging

Aowing

Gods should

river have

of

without

India

India that

panic

the

enraged

calmed

headed

were

danger

meant

by

but

glamorous

was

ranks

all strained

we

viciously

the

seeing

not led

by

meekly either

creating

the

thus

as

exists

who was

beast

regretted

any

biting

,

him

belief

was

.

by

A

curious

elephant angry

elephant

the

my

direction

suspense

all

moment

the path

be > ,

of

unfortunate enough

be

of ‘

cry

!'

humanity ,

!'

Elephant amuck

ear .

That

orderly

the

frightened

of

mass

is

once

thought

a

Elephant amuck

!

a

of

frantic milling

a

.

at

into

fraction

a

to

In

Hathi Chutgai

!

and

beings

for

be .

'Hathi Chutgai

living

finished

their

bathing 18

and

perhaps

the

garlands

I

used instead

mine

saw

Just

straight crystals

the

glass

before eyes

the

could any

could

use

its

I

of

.

boats

standing

like that

hand

the

the such

glancing Later

not

help

rate

won smiled

irony

surface of

but

on

himself

looked

ascetic

What

his

trinkets

along

who drifted naked

bathers

I

he

had

mirrors are often

,

to

wordly

and

tiny mirror

Floating

19

tiny mirror

he

for vain

noticed

other

.

with

dering what secrets

flowers

when

of

learned

to

,

he

his

as

into

like ourselves

ar

the

in

the

marigolds

waters

were

sacred

myriads

flower

of

close

thousands

be

not

bathing

in

bank

were

of

amazement

banks

besides those

of

one

us from

!

my

mass

.

recall

solid

the

hot .

in

Sangam

the

found

humanity

a

I

Holy

.

waters

us

Along

sacred

have

verily

was

a

Ganges

a

The

it was scorchingly

then

At

rays of the sun , for by

dent

we

and so protected

too , it was covered

could

of obstacles , to

surprisingly little search

for with

overcrowded . Luckily

mood .

Lord - Remover

Ganesh ,

,

our especial guide

amiable

a boat

Evidently

on

delegated

had

of

goddess Lakshmi

in their most

where

in

found . But the Gods were

in

be

and we wondered

we

from the water .

bathers

.

to watch the

It was growing hotter each moment

he

possible

.

if

.

a boat

in

to secure

me

hoped

river , we hurried down to the banks . There

the

of

reached

in

we

a

before

fragrant

India

used

everywhere

for religious

Ganges

this

on

decorations . These

day of

offerings

were

to

the

sacred

into

the

water

Amawas . .

parallel join needing

Jumna's

the

always

speed

at

cipline and that

meant

Allahabad

discipline

spoke

,

in

India before

falsely

fast flowing

they

back

Jumna

the

Ganges

able

dis

meant

running

rivers

also

Who

.

East

had beyond

scene

life

figurative

gentleman

Indian

some previous

pure

The two

part

also

This

while

singularly

longer

suggested doubt

say

seen

that

?

enacted

in

that good Karma had brought

explained

the boat

needs discipline

where

found

he

that Ganges

and

no

me

tested

to

seated near

been

later informed

was

in

had

water

is

an

language

missionary

whose

.

Hindu

the Ganges

Gods

the

with the Gods .

,

ern

American

life

a

may live , fervently hopes to bathe

he

a

A

by

at least once in

tryst

than

,

holy water

of

which

in

Saraswati

token of my memorable

far away

tangible

and

Sangam : a bottle

invisible

and

, however

his

Every Hindu

Holy

and

real

for the purpose

I

, Jumna

more

.

Ganges

had bathed -- prized

young

Mela

brought along

bottle

a

something

possess

the Kumbh

of

the

I

filled

,

memory

from

now

even

I

deep

arm

-

that

reach ,

could

to

so

I

as

in

far

in

as

my

boat - side , dipping

the

over

me .

Leaning

20

por in

''

.

17

"

queer looking instruments that must have been vogue when the Gods were young -See page

Musicians played

the magnitude

by looking

of the encampment

of

be

or

,

or

panorama

,

one

plainly

could

Here and

huts

watching some ascetis

seen

one lying

bed

equally

some other

sharp

weird

a

holy

one

but

naively

try

informed

or

early

that gain

later

however

,

He had

.

an

of

men

had

been

an

saw

holy

at

river

the .

offered

as

as

florescence

bathers had assembled when

from the curious

,

bathing

three

two

learning and amazing

and the

the

he

—

such

kindly disposed Hindu

such

my ears

around

me

thin

old

to

into

wisdom

in

one

hermits

he

seen

in

great

privately

wandering

while

the Jumna banks away

air

have

vanished

A

.

mysteriously

21

at the

grass

and

to

on

possessed

was whispered

with

rivers

doing

heard

mysterious

caves

morning hour before the crowd

view

,

one

of

camped

Men

claimed

recognized

a

at

too

whispering

to

it

.

Some

coals

of

,

years

eyed crowds powers

of

whisperings

grounds

hundred

hot

of

Strange

Mela

beds

stretch

somewhat

.

,

performance

on

walking

spikes

tents

pilgrims could

head down for hours

in

hanging

Jumna

and

village

mammoth groups

fascinated

,

there

Ganges

and

,

improvised

the

;

see

grounds

of

Mela

could

walls overlooking the

its

from the historical Allahabad fort . Standing on entire

One

occasion .

of

unforgetable

an

.

was

me

appreciate

it

on a

Altogether

inter

that

the

learned

to

to

re

.

.

to

in

bathe

the

learn

of

of

the allegory in

.

,

I

trying

India

the

Ganges .

brought forth little information

possessed

from

evasive

them

stranger

seem

trying But

I

were

most

if

but

as

festival

thought

the complete

been

glamorous

.

they

the existence

of

a

religious

year

deny

a

at

to

twelfth

I

its last

had

rarely

eyes

re

Mela

Kumbh

and the meaning

Others

knowledge

either

I

attended

Civilized

wonder about

questionings

was

origin

the

Allahabad

each

Repeated

whatever

and

earth

any

such

story

.

presisted

of

ed

to

conceal

spent

it

.

rivers

Hindus understood ignorant

things

the historical festival

descending

and Jumna

All

days

to

Gods

truly full

the

of

the origin

their presence

.

During

from me though

recognize

If

ferengi .

I

which

festival

not

in

.

life

,

Yes

Far

ones

is

great

such

I

that

the Real

at

of

cognize

confess

particular

that

at

or

gretfully

present

did

were

one of the graceless

it

men

me,

none of

have

of

one would

be

holy

22

.

sea

.

milk

the Gods and

Chaos the

.

systems

Ocean

represent

Demons

has

Vishnu per

minor details

The churning

.

by

brought forth

Nebuda and

the

formation

the

of

:

very

,

*

a

Kumbh

confer

to

of

of

of

by

a

,

a

was

Snowy

to

drank

flowed

the

virtue

the

Gods

the

milk

called

having

nectar

when

milk was hidden

It

divine

sea

commonly

more this sea

Time

desirable

re

brothers

the shore for the purpose

the

shadows

churning this

sea

a

of

he

,

their

,

on

and

Preserver

the

of

assembled

Gods

Pervader and of

the

Vishu

of

names

Lord

,

.

command ,

,

Demons

who

of

At

the

thousands

precious

dawn

the Gods

Kumbh

this

cover

those

bottom

friend

Kshiradosagar

it .

immortality

,

Amrit

the a

filled with

the

Himalayas

the

At

India

on

in

Range

mortal

of

of

foot

.

the

and

,

young

me

the early

in

yet

were

runs

of

legend

,

the

told

as

Once

,

is

the story

Here then

to

.

the World

,

of

The

which worlds are evolved

treasures

at

Law

philosophical

ancient

of

of

out

evoluntionary

the

scholars

or

differing only

to Hindu

is

and is repeated in

There are many interpretations sonifies

all

meaning

in

a deep mystical

allegory , according

cosmographical

of

The Puranic

milk

23

of

of

.

it

is

A

.

in

a

to

a

as

,

:

*

pitcher Footnote Kumbh means pitcher India one their most useful utensils used for many purposes hence since earilest times has been symbol represent used container earth's good things

,

Dhannantari their physician

*

, ,

pursuit

that

the

Demons

its

.

of

all

,

,

,

,,

.

They

.

Wind

the

their

and

not

After conspiring

aid

away

with

overheared

the

the plot

share

together

Kumbh and

secretly

any

with

fell

happened

swift

produced

with

started

great value can

.

**

of

Typifying the truth that nothing out great exertion

be

.

however

the

for themselves

nectar

who had given

god

Kumbh filled

Gods were yet mortal hence selfish

divine

God

one

to

the Demons

Jayanti

the

save

the precious

effort

for

not

,

to

plotted

these young

,

Now

drink

brought

mighty

was

immortality

of

,

with Amrit

of

brim

with

last

were

to

place

treasures

these

the

in

,

.

precious

trea

Lakshmi

it

the churning took

But

**

them

forth

It

brought

prosperity

,

were

tail

beautiful

the Rainbow

and

the

milk many

surface

goddess

beautiful

the

even

the

sea

made

seized

,

and

King Basuki

.

animals

the

the

seized

tortoise

Demons

the Moon

music

the

of

sacred

divine

,

the

a

flowers

,

celestial

brought

lashing ,

;

sures

churning

commenced

Their furious

head ,

to

they

serpent's

the

up

held

Mahakurmi

and

At

together

rope ,

a

as

The Gods

base .

and

for

Vishnu

.

Naga or serpent

great

the

.

body

his

;

.

offered

Mandari

fly

churning rod , Mount

Amrit - Kumbh

it

bring up the coveted

to

effort

an

to

in

a

of

as

it

is

.

he

in

At

to

,

.

a

; *

Footnote Another version that was the Sun and Moon who over heard the plot that one Demon did obtain drink the stolen Amrit and punishment was transformed into celestial dragon whose head and tail repre revenge sent ascending and descending nodes intervals swallows the Sun and Moon this probably has reference astronomical eclipses

25

nights

weariness

Gods

day

though

Heaven

now

,

holy

spots

single

drop

Jupiter

and

twelve

Demons

times

Allahabad

,

the

as

from

in

flight

or

to

Moon

,

being

ancient

the

precious

nectar

Saturn

conjoined

treasure

reason

why

celebrated

When

immortal

these

gather

every

twelfth

earth

year

particular

year

such

earth

constellations

commemoration

festival

being

equal

meet

,

Kumbh Mela

pitcher

the

distracting beauty

Amrit Kumbh

became

Sun

seize

suddenly

disguise

the

prevent

quarrel

a

,

the

is

then

To

De

.

.

,

the

priceless

the

dropped

to

of

the a

to

as

,

This

them

Gods

nights

and

immediately

spilled

in

to

from being protect

of

one

days

Wind

the

places which

Prayag

25

twelve

Vishnu

is

,

the

God

is

many

Lord

than

During Jayanti

triumphantly

.

other

of

none

enough

on

it

bear

long

attention

the

of wondrous beauty

the

and

their

girl

a

by

drink of the divine

to

-

distracting off

appeared ,

their battle

as

started

Demons

first

be

;

heat of

the

the

In

who should

to

in

Amrit .

as

a

themselves

on

ing among

assured , the

overtaken

many

in

all

mons . Then , just as victory seemed

was

he

of

with

overcome

Wind - god few

the

.

twelve

.

until

and

of

directions

days

— a

twelve

in

For

that

the

stirring

event . the

And ,

at

this

time

Gods take advantage

even as did

those of

the

children auspicious

of

men

time

to

who

are

celebrate

friends

with

of

them ,

I.

26

A MYSTERIOUS CRYPTIC MESSAGE twenty

Seven days before the Maha day of the Kumbh Mela , January

cryptic advertisement

second , 1930 , to be exact , a mysterious

oldest newspaper

custom

appearing

made

only

ex

be

inserted

a

member

out

advertisement

the communication which was

published

newspaper

sum

dictated

man

a

sadhu -- Indian

a

of

when

Handing the surprised

which turned the

train

money much excellent

read

follows

:

cost

a

that

in

compartment

on

it happened

as

,

of

in

the

travelling

was

sealed packet the contents

in progress

It

staff

was

be a

Mela

the Kumbh

ascetic - entered

English

the

comments .

Pioneer's

excess

of

subject

any

to

that

* one

from

not

came

.

at the

advertisement

to

While

explain

Pioneer

the

he

also

how the

detail

Pioneer ,

Departing

nor

,

in

mysterious

columns,

be

plained

upon

comment

advertising

the

in

to

newspapers .

to

matter

not

in the Allahabad

daily

known

best

.

usual

but

and

printed

was

of

India's

It

agog .

reader

of

every

his

set

appeared

.

27

to

in

.

by

to

in

of

:

*

Footin Theosophists Footnote will recall with interest that Mr. A. P. Sinnett was on the Allahabad Pioneer before and during the time Madam Blatvatsky's activities India more than fifty years ago And the famous Mahatma Letters Mr. Sinnett are references the Mahatma this very Pioneer same

'To

Universe : As

SEEING 1.

English

I

Publishers

English - printed

of

I

:

flow , come to the do ask that

newspapers

through

I

surface . On the surface

the

SEE - and

A collection be made of the world's newspapers printed on January 29th next .

in

2. They be examined at a central bureau commencing March 29th by a body non - political and representative of international interests . 3. Concentrated attention be given only to leading articles .

4. If every sentence joined to India , to the World will be

twelfth paper received is opened and every twelfth consecutively , a message of UTMOST importance English - speaking peoples , and to the Peace of the defined .

5. Summary of 1000 words be hand - indelibly written on vege table parchment and immersed at the Sangam before publication . SARASWATI

( Signed )

bear

on

newspapers

ninth , 1930 in order be

willing

expense incidental eminently

I

asked

advertisement .

only

appeared

many

responsible

to such a program . and

of English

Its

thousands

itself

to make

fitted

in

as

world

the

to arrive at the ascetic's message

proper

for

It

January

twenty

the trouble and

of Nations

the League

task

a

brought

and what organization

to carry out

suggested

such

be

since

it

must

receive

newspapers .

Hindus authenticity a

would

throughout

printed

might

influence

highly

concerning

for their opinions could reliable

hardly paper

but

doubted had

the since

also

mysterious it

to

just what occult

wondered

be

The Pioneer

.'

been

had

not

vouched

those were

the fantasy the closing

a

offering explanation of

nor

from

demented

words

of

Indeed

it

Indians considered .

of

upon

departed

the

wonder

glamorous

India

.

wonder about

·

things

in

full

to

life

of

Truly

Some

commenting

, most deliberately

."

We

. “

Pioneer

neither

just wondered

is

Others

which had , moreover

.

advertisement ,

.

brain

29

paper ,

ironbound rule an

of

its

for by that

AN EASTERN ROSARY is to be a miscellany of short Oriental light stories or ' beads ' by M. M. Salanave , each one reflecting a new to that of most stories of the East . A TRYST GODS

WITH THE

is one story

To

or ' bead ' of the series .

follow :

MYSTIC MUDRAS

MANTRAS .

Occult signs made with of magic efficacy . Verses used as prayers and charms . ( With this petit livre will be given a real prayer bracelet such as used by Easterns when repeating Mantras ). imitating

and

Sanskrit characters

ORIENTAL INCENSE

Fascinating

.

HOURS OF MEDITATION

Indian

Tibetan

and

ROSARY

.

stories

M.,

to

beads

and

nuclei

around

provocative

Being unstrung beads which the series

Price

THE GLOBE GIRDLERS 2004-46th

Oakland

Ave. California

GUILD

of

ROSARY -- the

distributed

A.

only

27c

.p

ORIENTAL TALE SPIN Unique

at 3

:

EASTERN

will centralize above

with monks

.

AN

---

and

.

for

pickles

,

AN EASTERN The

for

with

IN AN ORIENTAL MONAS

experiences : rising

Chinese

,

to of

rice , salt

Other Japanese follow for AN

stories

Incense

tea

personal

,

meditate ; only

Send

of

by

Unusual

:

TERY .

history

making .

or

for

.p

mulae

'

fingers

,

the

O

r 2

n п

t

a 7

S оe

2

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