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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Blessings of Love

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“A successful marriage is an edifice that must be rebuilt every day.”
(Andre Maurois – French author, 1885–1967)

This picture was shot along the holy waters of the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras) where a new-married couple was getting the blessings from the groom’s mother.
This ceremony happens the day after the wedding, early in the morning when the couple is coming to seek blessings from the Goddess Ganga.

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Happy Diwali

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“May lights triumph over darkness.
May peace transcend the earth.
May the spirit of light illuminate the world.
May the light that we celebrate at Diwali show us the way and lead us together on the path of peace and social harmony.
Happy Diwali to everyone, Divali ki shubhkamnayen.”

Divali is a major Indian festival, significant in Hinduism , Jainism and Sikhism.
It is celebrated as the “Festival of Light” where the lights or lamps signify the uplighting of darkness and victory of good over the evil within.
The celebrations focus on lights and lamps, particularly traditional dīpa or deeya (earthen lamp), and fireworks.
Divali is celebrated for five consecutive days at the end of Hindu month of Ashwayuja (amanta) in October/November.
Hindus, Jains and Sikhs alike regard it as a celebration of life and use the occasion to strengthen family and social relationships.
For Hindus it is one of the most important festivals, and beginning of the year, especially in North India.

This image was shot along the holy waters of the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras).

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A Hundred Voices

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“Silence is the root of everything.
If you spiral into it’s void a hundred voices will thunder messages you long to hear.”
(Jalāl ad-Dīn Rumi – Sufi mystic & poet, 1207-1273)

On the Agra-Delhi highway, near Vrindavan, I saw this lady standing in a truck.
A few minutes earlier we met at a gaz station, she was among a group of villagers and we were all pouring water from a fontain in order to refresh as the heat was becoming unbearable.
We did’t share a word but everyone allowed me to take several pictures.
They were happy.
When I saw her in the back of the truck I could almost listen to those “hundred voices” coming from the silence of her eyes…

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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.)

 

 

Realms of the Senses

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“…Whatever Hindus affirm of the meaning of life, death, and suffering, they affirm with their eyes wide open.
Many westerners, for example, upon seeing Hindu rituals observances for the first time, are impressed with how sensuous Hindu worship is.
It is sensuous in that it makes full use of the senses – seeing, touching, smelling, tasting and hearing.
One “sees” the image of the deity (darsan).
One “touches” it with one’s hands (sparsa), and one also “touches” the limbs of one’s own body to establish the presence of various deities (nyasa).
One “hears” the sacred sound of the mantras (sravana).
The ringing of bells, the offering of oil lamps, the presentation of flowers, the pouring of water and milk, the sipping of sanctified liquid offerings, the eating of consecrated foods- prasad – these are the basic constituents of Hindu worship, Puja.
For all its famous otherworldliness, India is a culture that has also celebrated the life of this world and the realms of the senses.”
(“Darsan – Seeing the Divine Image in India” by Diana L Eck)

This man was praying at a side of Manikarnika Ghat (मणिकर्णिका घाट) along the holy waters of the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras).
Since five years I often take a few pictures of him whenever I come there and he doesn’t seem to mind about it.
He is always worshipping the elements with gestures carrying a sensuous grace…

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With Steadfast Fidelity

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“Take care of your body with steadfast fidelity.
The soul must see through these eyes alone, and if they are dim, the whole world is clouded.”
(Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe – German writer and polymath, 1749 –1832)

This is an other picture of a man receiving massage treatment by a brahman who is one of their friend.
It was shot at Gai ghat along the Ganges in Varanasi (benaras).
They allowed me to take several pictures and we spoke for a while about the importance of ayurvedic massage on our well being.

 

Memories of a Thousand Years

“I have more memories than if I were a thousand years old.”
(Charles Baudelaire – French poet, 1821-1867)

This lady was at the door of her house in a small street which was leading to the Ganges in Kashi, the oldest part of Varanasi (Benaras).
No one else was there, she was standing like a phoenix who had memories of a thousand years.
I asked her if I could take a few pictures and she happily accepted to pose with two of my friends before posing alone.

A Game of Cards

“Life is like a game of cards. 
The hand you are dealt is determinism; the way you play it is free will.”
(Jawaharlal Nehru – Indian Prime Minister, 1889-1964)

On Sunday afternoons I often see a few workers gathering at the ghats along the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras) in order to play cards.
They offer a great topic to a photographer with the help of the winter sun which becomes then an ally.

Carving Elephants out of Silver

“People are entangled in the enjoyment of fine clothes, but gold and silver are only dust. 
They acquire beautiful horses and elephants, and ornate carriages of many kinds.
They think of nothing else, and they forget all their relatives. 
They ignore their Creator; without the Name, they are impure.”
(Sri Guru Granth Sahib)

As I was walking in Kashi, the oldest part of Varanasi (Benaras) I met this man who was carving elephants out of silver.
This quote is coming from The Guru Granth Sahib which is the holy scripture and the final Guru of the Sikhs.