Moving On
Today I am leaving Varanasi, the ancient city of Kasi, where the sadhus say Lord Siva’s trident is buried. Mentioned in the Rig Veda, it is one of the oldest cities on earth. Leaving this holy place I carry with me many precious memories of my pilgrimage here such as: the sacred river Ganges, which purifies all who bath in her holy waters; the temple of Kasi Viswanath with it’s self manifested Siva lingam; the ascetics meditating on the ghats along the river; the Siva bhaktas carrying their 3-prong tridents; the small lanes and alleys throughout the city containing countless ancient temples, shrines, deities, lingams, cows, flower markets, puja paraphernalia and endless streams of people looking for blessings; the Mayavadi sannyasis with their eka-dandas, walking without smiles, intent on merging into the absolute; the burning ghats where one contemplates the temporary nature of this material world; and finally the all-merciful and beautiful deity of Bindu Madhava, whom Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited daily while here and danced in front of in great ecstasy along with His associates. I pray to return to this sacred abode again one day …
gaur amara je saba sthane
koralo bhramana range
se saba sthana heribo ami
pranayi bhakata sange
“All those places where my Lord Gaurasundara traveled for pastimes I will visit in the company of loving devotees.”
[Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, Suddha-bhakata poem, from Saranagati]