Picture: Hariharananda’s Samadhi Temple outside of Puri.
Our stay in Kolkata has been mixed blessings with extreme polarities. The blessings coming from the pilgrimage spots have been of the highest nature, changing us in profound ways. And, we have been challenged to be here, being in a traffic accident (besides some sore muscles we are ok, the driver was talking on his cell phone when he rear-ended the car in front of us, I told him, “No more cell phone!” He sheepishly agreed.); all in all it is a difficult city energetically and physically.
Even leaving the hotel the oppositional force was at work. When we arrived at the airport we realized that a bag had been left at the hotel that had my passport, computer and other items in it. Three calls to the hotel from the airport finally located the bag, and then 700 rupees (they would take no responsibility for the left bag) for the bag to take a cab ride to the airport for the invaluable contents to be in time for the flight (fortunately we had left in plenty of time).
Arriving at the airport in Bhubaneswar made a tremendous difference. Psychically we felt the change from the intense rajasic energy of Kolkata to a relaxed pace of the City of Temples. A one and a half hour cab ride brought us to Puri, where resides the seaside ashram of Sri Yukteswar. Thanks to the internet we have made travel arrangements in advance while in transit from place to place.
India, a place where computer reservations can be made to most anywhere in the country, and cows still wander the roads with abandon! Cell phones are ubiquitous, they have become the way bills are paid, and most any kind of transaction requires a cell phone as verification of who you are. For instance, if we get Wi-Fi in the hotel we must enter a cell phone number and then the pin number is texted to us. No phone, no pin number.
Our hotel sits on a bluff overlooking the ocean. A breeze is gently blowing, but it is still on the hot and humid side. We use A.C. in the room, but the feeling here is so different than Kolkata. We arrange for a car and driver today to take us to Karar Ashram. Carla showed the travel agent at the hotel the website for Karar Ashram which listed its location, he then called the driver and all was arranged. Only, we were taken to the wrong ashram an hour out of our way from Puri!
The Ashram we were taken to was that of Hariharananda. Hariharananda was a direct disciple of Sri Yukteswarji’s. He left the body in 2002, having lived many of his last years in Florida where he had an ashram. The wonderful thing about this “mistaken destination” is that we felt great peace wandering around the temple grounds. The temple is absolutely beautiful, with images of our Guru-lineage lining the circular walls. It is wonderful to see Kriya brethren keeping the Light of the Masters glowing. We walked the grounds and then returned to Puri; fortunately as Hariharananda was the owner of Karar Ashram they were able to give our driver directions to the ashram.
Arriving at Karar Ashram at 11:30 a.m., after our two hour detour, we read the sign that the ashram closes at 11:30! Oh India, you are the supreme jokester! Directions in India are no easy matter. Even though the ashram had given our driver instructions, we had to stop four times to get clarification on the way. No amount of ringing the doorbell by our driver brings a response. This darshan will need to await for another day.
Directions in India: there are no grids for addresses in India; there is no 300 block, 400 block, etc., no proper (by Western standards) ways to find an address. Quite commonly an address will incorporate landmarks, such as near the college, or just behind the oak tree, as a means of helping the seeker of an address. Perhaps one day GPS coordinates will be incorporated into an address to make things easier. Our watchword here is verify three times, this does not guarantee success, but it helps it along!
The adventure continues and we will go to Sri Yukteswar’s Karar Ashram tomorrow, we also plan to get a close-up view of the famous Jagannath Temple, as non-Hindus are not allowed in we will view it from a nearby building.
The location of the Golden Sands (Sterling Holidays) Hotel where we are staying is wonderful. We are outside of town; in fact it is a very bumpy dirt road with mud puddles the size of small ponds on the way to get here. So, it is far away from the noise and the dense packing of hotels along the beach in town. With a beautiful view of the ocean and a pristine swimming pool it has been a welcome respite from Delhi and Calcutta.
We have very limited use of the office computer for internet, but the food is good. We have gone to skipping dinner in favor of a protein/greens drink. Cost is about $40 a night, this includes breakfast buffet. There are no bugs, a steady breeze from the ocean, and temperature, humidity and beauty reminds me of the coast of Mexico. There are many religious paintings/icons in the hotel which helps give a feeling of something more than pure materialism, and the staff is excellent, although English is spoken by a very few.
The hotel has hired some artists to create traditional murals on the entry to the hotel. We watch them work, drawing and painting largely freehand, but with incredible precision. It is wonderful to see anyone who is a master of their craft at work.
Tomorrow we are determined to make it for Karar Ashram and the famous Jagannath Temple.