To all of you, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
Few Days before when I was in Sarnath mere 15 km from Varanasi, I was not stonished to see four religious institutions just shouldering to each other. A huge stupa stands there praying and meditating. This was constructed by Ashoka, the original version of which was destroyed later by Mughalas and again repaired by British.
I met one young member of Mabodhi pracharini sabha shivshnkar Mukharjee(09335553783). He, in nuts and bolts told me the history of Buddha`s coming there and how the breed of Bodhi Tree was planted there by Sanghmitra who was in Ceylone at that time circulating the message of Gautam at the behest of her father Ashika.
Interestingly he indicated our attention towards one church and said that this church is not open for Indians except the foreign christens. This was quite susprising. Shivshankar was very kind to provide all the details very meticulously just like trained guide. He said, "We are devoted servants of Buddha...We read all the time literature related to Buddha. We are not much educated but we know what great things Buddha has adviced to all of us.
He told me that during his last moments Buddha had to eat meat and that was one of the reason of his deteriorating health.It has one jain temple also. One darga along with the walls of that temple.
There is a Museum at Sarnath and anyone landed up in Varanasi must go to visit that Museum. It has the India`s national emblem, the four lions, sorryly one of them destroyed...preserved. It also has partially recovered Ashok Chakra...
Different faces, moods of Buddha across the centuries...
Many of the important carvings in the museum were taken to the China for the exhibition.
For many times I have seen museums but every time I never enjoyed them.
But Sarnath museum, really made me to interact with what actually they want to say with their delicate engraves.
It was a such a treasure trove, Sarnath, a symbol of India`s diverse religious legacy and spiritual practises starting from Vipasyana to the Art of Living....
Really there are very few moments where you truly realise why you are so happy.
The we headed towards Ganga-Jamuna-Sarswati Ghat..Dashaswamedh Ghat...
We met Laxman Maazi....He told me that 90 percent of the total tourists have declined to travel to Varanasi who normally make city just like their second home. This was direct reference he made to the assult on India made recently by terrorists.
Now I remember what BBC`s voice in India for 3 decades, Mark Tully said few days before when he was in JNU to deliever Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Lecture. India is a country which is being forced by secularists to wear the colourless clothes when actually no colour other than Orange will suit on them. And he continued, India is a unique country which has amalgamated all other contrasting colours of all religions into that orange shade. even then it is being labelled as Hindu country. Those were remarkable comments. Salute to you Sir Mark!
Varanasi and Sarnath were best to realise how Mark is right. We can understand Hinduism, India, Hindustan, Bharat all in one city....Shall we go once again....Let us start now!!!
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