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The frenzy continues to build at the Kumba mela. This is the main day for the entire three month festival! There are approximately 1.2 million of us here at this point in time. One can barely move through the crowd of people.

The noise is incredible and of course I only hear half of it. Not sure how the others cope. The only thing that makes it bearable is Shiva’s Drum. There is a constant low hum of mantra chanting and drumming that plays 24/7 as a background to all other sounds. I try to block out the rest and walk to the beat of the drum. I sleep to beat to the drum and awake to the beat of the drum.

What’s so incredible about it is there are thousands of drummers drumming all over the camps and somehow it all becomes one perfect rhythm. But then we are in India and it has it’s own rhythm, timeless and in harmony with all things.

A few of us make our way in Patanjalis temple outside the village to see the Shiva LIngam. The Infinite feels so accessable here. Everything has such a sense of sacredness. People come and go. Some make offerings some stay for puga with the temple priest, others simply pass through. The incense hangs in the air along with the sound of Om. We drink it all in and our cup runneth over.

The LIngam signifies that creation is effected by the union of ‘Prakriti’ and ‘Purusha,’ the male and the female powers of Nature.
They are two aspects of one Self never separate from each other, form and formlessness. It’s stands as a representation in outer form to help us remember our true nature of the inner formless spirit not two just one.

Om Nama Shivia
Jude

Many thanks to all who have participated in the blog. You add depth and meaning to my experience by sharing your thoughts.

Second week begins. It’s hard to believe. The passage of time seems so different here. It’s as if we had somehow landed right in the middle of the eternal Now. Aside from the bells that call us in for prayers and tea, there is no markage of time other than cycles of day and night, and one quickly loses count of them. Although I have to say that with each passing day the groups happiness grows exponentially. It is noticeable in every face every encounter we can barely contain our joy.

I’m aware of this particular day because it is an auspicious one. There is a Vedic wedding here today in the scared grove between one of the men and women in our group. We are all soooo excited to celebrate their union. It was a breathtakingly beautiful ceremony and a perfect day for an outdoor wedding. The bride and groom repeated their vows along with Vedic mantras In front of a sacred fire. The fire serves as their witness as they vow to honor the scared fire within each others heart. May they grow old together and be guided, nourished and protected by the infinite love of the Devine light within.

Om Shanti
Jude

Walked along the bank of the Ganges all morning up to the main Kumba Mela. It was a meditative journey, breathe in breathe out, repeat. We pass many sadhus along the way in their bright orange robes. Children play down by the river women wash clothes. I give my food for the day away early while my heart is still louder than my belly, least I be tempted to keep it for myself. I had breakfast, many I meet did not.

The Mela crowd is enormous. Someone in our group described it like a cross between a huge state fair, a Grateful Dead rock concert, a three ring circus, and a huge religious gathering. That’s a pretty good description. There are camps everywhere. Dogs, kids, elephants, sadhus, and all forms of human beings on the streets. It’s a controlled chaos of sorts but then maybe all of India is. Somehow things all work but then they have been doing this for thousands of years!

We travel on to where the Ganges meets the Yamuna, the confluence of the two rivers, to dip in its sacred waters . There is a serene like quality to this place that draws you into it. The energy is palpable. You can feel its essence flowing in you. It’s a ritual repeated millions of times over by all sorts of spiritual seekers who have come before me, as well, as those who will follow. The path is never ending. All are drawn to this great river of life and it’s sweet elixir of love. I am blessed beyond belief.

Namaste

Jude

To live along the banks of this great mother river this past week has been the greatest gift. She is the first thing I see in the morning and the last thing I see at night.

In India all rivets are considered female and the Ganga, the Maha or Great Mother river. She gives life to all things.
She calls me constantly to come see. I slip off by myself and run down to meet her like a secret lover. We touch and dissolve into one another. I am swept away into the intimate flow of life itself.

There is no vessel large enough
To contain this love
Not even the depths of
my soul can hold it.
It pours itself out spilling everywhere.
My mind tries to wipe it up, but
it spreads out into infinity.

Namaste Jude

First light in India. The fog is so thick you can’t see your hand in front of you. It reminds me of Moby Dick and the description of the “great white” fog. I guess India wants to reveal herself to us slowly.

We travel again on the bus and a two hour ride takes five since the fog is so heavy. We creep along sitting inside this veil of milky whiteness that surrounds us. I feel like I’m shrouded. Like I’ve entered the Void itself.  It has an ethereal quality to it like the Gods sent it to us for some deeper purpose.

Eventually it begins to lift and I catch glimpses of the promise of things to come. We wish for all things to be revealed at once for enlightenment to just appear. For the journey to be faster, easier, to arrive at the thing, without fully realizing we already are what we are looking for, just as we are. Fog or no fog, that’s crystal clear.

The road so far rough and rocky
Path unclear from the very start
Compass broken no direction
I stumble on inside my heart

Namaste,

Judy

As a woman in the mela camp I think I can speak not only for myself, but all of my sisters, about our men. We are so grateful for their presence. We out number them almost three to one which makes us even more appreciative. They are rare jewels.

When women are not allowed to leave our camp we are requested to have at least one of the men from our camp to accompany us. They graciously accompany us with good humor, respect, and compassionate understanding of our needs. They are patient and kind and we simply could not function without them.

In addition to our mela group men, I’m also grateful for the Indian men that travel with us as our guides. They translate, help us count our rupees and remind us it’s not worth bargaining over a few cents. They tolerate our shopping much better than most American men and are always looking out for us. Without them this trip would simply not be possible for us. Through their protection, we are afforded access to places many Indian women would not be able to go.

So if any of you sisters have one of those “few good men” in your life comment/brag back about him below. He is a rare jewel!

Namaste Jude

I feel compelled at this point to offer much Metta to my spiritual help desk support Anna Hamil. Without her assistance I would not be able to share this experience with you as it unfolds.

Pictures are not able to be downloaded now while in India, there just isn’t enough juice to send them but I have many to add later. I can catch wifi like prayers in the wind passing thru for only a moment or two at a time. Please be tolerant of spelling, grammar, etc., there isn’t time for corrections.

Anna not only provides excellent IT support to me but has long been one of my soul sisters who has sat with me thru heaven and hell the past 13 years. Isn’t it wonderful that when we get hung up on our souls journey we can just call our spiritual help desk person/ friend and get re-booted or re-directed onto the right path.

Leave a comment and let Anna know how much we appreciate her selfless service to this spiritual pilgrimage. Please tell us your own spiritual help desk story. You may just inspire someone else to do the same.

Namaste from the Kumba Mela

We recognize each other immediately by our bright purple banners from our trip guides. But we KNOW one another immediately by heart. We are yogis. We practice awareness and conscious union with each in breath and out breath. We smile and connect immediately, as brothers and sisters, and begin caring for one another in simple compassionate ways.

We share food and shelter immediately together along with pillows, blankets and power bars. Together we struggle through the arduous rigors of modern day travel. Infinitely long lines, intolerable searches, forty pound packs and long walks to the next gate. Delayed planes, crying children, and yes, we are all hungry.

We stumble along the journey together offer encouragement and support and make sure no one is left behind. Where is that termina…Are we lost or just wandering. We make critical decisions together on which direction to take.

There is simply no “I” here anymore, it is all “we” moving forward. There is strength in numbers, and though we may seem like many, we know we are truly one, and therein lies our real strength.

Om Namo baghavate vasudavaya.
The world is truely one family.