The Bank of Karma

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“The paths to liberation are numerous, but the bank along the way is always the same, the Bank of Karma, where the liberation account of each of us is credited or debited depending on our actions.”
(From “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel)

After taking a bath in the holy waters of the Ganges, this young man was drying under the winter rising sun.
It was in front of the little akhara which stands at Panda ghat in Varanasi (Benaras) where he came to exercise before sunrise.

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The Road Toward Freedom

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“I am interested in anything about revolt, disorder, chaos-especially activity that seems to have no meaning.
It seems to me to be the road toward freedom…
Rather than starting inside, I start outside and reach the mental through the physical.”
(Jim Morrison – American singer & poet, 1943-1971)

This man was bathing before sunset in the holy waters of the Ganges at Shivala ghat in Varanasi (Benaras).
He smiled and laughed at my joke regarding his untied langot…

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In God’s Hands

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“I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess”
(Martin Luther – German Priest and Scholar whose questioning led to the Protestant Reformation, 1483-1546)

Three ladies were performing a puja at Gay ghat at the feet of the big statue of Nandi which stands in front of several Shiva ligams.
We were alone and they smiled at me, the day was rising up among a heavy mist.
I didn’t want to disturb that moment but they insisted that I took some pictures, they seemed to be happy.

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A Certain Instinct

“There is in the human body a certain instinct for what is beneficial to us, as there is in the heart for what is our moral duty, an instinct which no authorisation by a doctor of medecine or divinity can replace.
We know that cold baths are bad for us, but we like them: we can always find a doctor to recommend them, not to prevent them from doing us harm.”
(from “The Captive” by Marcel Proust – French novelist, 1871-1922)

This man was stepping into the cold holy waters of the Ganges at Lal ghat in Varanasi (Benaras)…
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“Il y a dans notre corps un certain instinct de ce qui nous est salutaire, comme dans le cœur de ce qui est le devoir moral, et qu’aucune autorisation du docteur en médecine ou en théologie ne peut suppléer.
Nous savons que les bains froids nous font mal, nous les aimons, nous trouverons toujours un médecin pour nous les conseiller, non pour empêcher qu’ils ne nous fassent mal.”
(“La Prisonnière” de Marcel Proust – Ecrivain français 1871-1922)

Cet homme pénétrait dans les eaux glacées et sacrées du Ganges en bas de Lal ghat à Benares…
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What You Seek

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“The place you seek, is seeking you.
The place you need, needs you.
Divine Principle brings need and supply together for mutual good.
God wisely, and intelligently, and lovingly controls, guides, protects, prospers, and blesses this union of His idea (man) and this normal joyous activity (work).”
(Mary Baker Eddy – American author and founder of Christian Science, 1821-1910)

This man took a bath at Tulsi ghat among the milkmen who often come there to wash their metal jugs in the holy waters of the Ganges.
According the Vedas this place is the navel of the universe.
Benaras is so special to many of us, what you seek there is also what is seeking you…
“What you seek is seeking you.” (Rumi – Persian Poet, 1207-1273)

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A Muscular Energy

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“There is a muscular energy in sunlight corresponding to the spiritual energy of wind.”
(Annie Dillard – American Author, b.1945)

This man was standing under the sunlight at Nandeshwar along the holy waters of the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras).

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In Vishnu’s Highest Footstep

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“Him whose three places that are filled with sweetness, imperishable joy as it may list them, Who verily alone upholds the threefold, the earth, the heaven, and all living creatures.
May I attain to His well-loved mansion where men devoted to the Gods are happy.
For there springs, close akin to the Wide-Strider, the well of meath in Vishnu’s highest footstep.”
(From the Rig-veda – 1.154.1-5)

This man was stepping down Nandeshwar Ghat towards the holy waters of the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras).
This picture is a kind of metaphor in order to emphasize that the area along the ghats is eulogised as Vishnu’s body.

Varanasi has 98 sacred water fronts, which are believed to form the cosmic frame linking 14 bhavana kosas of the human body.
Among 84 ghats, 5 are considered to be supremely auspicious.
These are Asi, Dashashwamedha, Manikarnika, Panchganga and Adikeshava.
These are the Panchathirthas, and are believed to be symbols of the cosmic body of Lord Vishnu; Asi at the head, Dashashwamedha at the chest, Manikarnika at the navel, Panchganga at the thighs and Adikeshava at the feet.
Manikarnika is considered to be at the center of the 5 thirthas, the navel of the universe from which blooms life.

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Enlightenment of Our Souls

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“Om Sarva Mangal Manglaye Shivay Sarvaarth Sadhike
Sharanye Trayambake Gauri Narayaani Namostu Te”
“Oh the divine couple Shiva Parvati !
O ! Thee, the protectors of this universe,
Along with Lords Brahma and Vishnu
We pray to You for our well-being, prosperity and the enlightenment of our souls.”
(Lord Shiva Prarthana Prayer)

 

The power or energy of Shiva is Shakti, his spouse, of which Parvati is probably the most popular form.
Lord Shiva And Mata Parvati Ji are often shown sitting in happy, intimate embrace.
After their marriage, they left for mount Kailash and immersed themselves completely in a sexual intercourse so strong that the deity of desire Kama was reborn when their sweat mingles with his ashes.
Their love was so intense that it shook the cosmos and frightened even the gods…

 

This is a recent sculpture which stands in the “Kingdom of Dreams” complex in Gurgaon, it is inspired by a piece from the 11th-12th c.)

 

 

As Brothers and Sisters

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“When we look at modern man we have to face the fact that modern man suffers from a kind of poverty of the spirit, which stands in glaring contrast to his scientific and technological abundance, we’ve learned to fly the air like birds, we’ve learned to swim the seas like fish, and yet we havent learned to walk the earth as brothers and sisters.”
(Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – American clergyma and activist, 1929-1968)

This is a close-up of Anand’s face shot at the upper terrace which is on the top of my office in Varanasi (Benaras).
Since many seasons he is modelling for the pictures of our collections.
In a country where the “fairer is better” ideology is promoted everywhere, it is breaking a social and cultural taboo to enhance dark skin complexions like his skin.
Over forty years later, Martin Luther King’s words are still an unfortunate reality…

In those strange times where the future seems unsecure, I see people becoming scared, selfish, racist, nationalist, greedy, jalous…and my dreams of happiness and brotherhood become laughable idealism…

It was Friendship day today in India and in many Asian countries, with Anand’s smile I wish a better tomorrow to my friends and to anyone who will take the time to read those words.
Happy Friendship Day…!!!

No Doubt

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“There is neither this world nor the world beyond nor happiness for the one who doubts”.
(Bhagavad Gita)

This man was standing at Lal ghat along the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras).
He stood still for a long time as if he was between this world and the world beyond…
In Hindi “lal” means “red” however the whole place was painted with a Turkish blue but in fact it is a corruption of Lala.
This ghat was erected by a rich merchant in c. 1800 after whose name it is now known.
The red langot (Indian underwear) is a nod to the color.
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“Il n’y a ni ce monde, ni le monde de l’au-delà, ni de bonheur pour celui qui doute”.
(Bhagavad Gita)

Cet homme se trouvait à Lal ghat le long du Gange à Varanasi (Benaras).
Il s’est arrêté pendant un long moment comme s’il se trouvait entre ce monde et celui de l’au-delà…
En hindi “lal” signifie “rouge” et pourtant cet endroit est entièrement peint en turquoise, en fait il s’agit d’une altération de Lala.
Ce ghat tient son nom d’un riche négociant qui l’a fait ériger aux alentours de1800.
Le langot rouge (sous-vêtement indien) est un clin d’œil à cette couleur.

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