The trip to Odisha was eventful again this time. We took time to have darshan at the Mahima Alekha temple at Dhenkanal on the advise of my mentor. It was an experience so unique that it is difficult to explain.
We were asked to be there for the evening Aarthi. On asking the local people what time it would be, we were told that there is no fixed time and the Aarthi is done depending on the setting of the sun and can be as early as 4ish to 6ish. As we reached, the bells of the temple started to beat.
We rushed in not to miss the Aarthi. The temple by itself is simple in architecture. As we stood at the gate, we saw inside the temple, fire. After a few minutes, the temple was closed. The sadhus were prostrating themselves and some of them were finishing the ritual.
A bit of history as heard from Prof. Hrushikesha Mohanty and from one of the priests in the temple. The monopoly of Brahmans at temples during the 19th century was the reason for the rise of the dharma. Brahmins ruled and people from the lower strata of castes among the Hindus started this movement.
The founder of Mahima Dharma was Mahima Swami. He meditated for many years in the Himalayas and moved across the Gangetic plain before reaching Puri, Odisha. From Puri he went to Bhubaneswar and lived for twelve years on water alone. Then he moved to Kapilash, Dhenkanal where he did penance. There he lived on fruits for twelve years. The next twelve years the Swami lived on cow's milk provided by the ruler of Dhenkanal. He lived in Kapilash hill spreading the Mahima Dharma and attained Samadhi at Joranda in Dhenkanal.
The teachings are interesting. They teach that there is a single God (parambrahma) who is formless and call him Alekha. Hence, no idol worship. Life is full of suffering and the only way to break out of this suffering is to break out of the cycle of life and death and reach the Paramathma.
Hence, the followers of the dharma do not worship any idol. They abstain from eating meat, alcohol and any form of violence. Food and water is consumed before sunset. The day starts early in the morning and finishes at sunset.
The priests live within the temple premises in the monastery. They wear a single cloth around their waist and do not trim their hair or beard. We saw an elderly priest wear only a bark around his waist. He also had a piece of bark on his chest. They lead a simple life and do not stay in a place for more than one day.
So, the temple where Mahima Swami attained samadhi had fire burning in the sanctum sanctorum and the temple is off limits to everyone. One enters the main gate and then there are four gates in every direction leading to the sanctum sanctorum. No one except the priest is allowed entry into this area. Inside the sanctum sanctorum, there was no idol, just a blazing fire. The temple closed for the evening. The priests repeatedly prostrated and withdrew.
The complex has other temples. One temple had a place where all contributions from followers is stored. The priest said that all contributions is kept as is and is displayed on Poornima day when there is a festival. The next temple we had dharshan had an ornate gate. The inside was the same though the tower of this one had a serpent at the top. The priests were singing when we reached here. They blessed the devotees and answered queries. It was here that a priest asked us queries. It turned night and we left. The serpent in Hindu mythology is usually considered a reference to Balarama, the brother of Krishna. What did it mean here in the context of Mahima Dharma. Through our journey back, we were discussing and debating what we had seen and the beliefs the simple ascetics followed. The driver must have wondered about us, husband and wife debating for over an hour.
The visit has left a deep impact on us - that is for sure. Both of us have been going back and forth for the past four days questioning, reasoning and trying to answer our own questions in the quest to understand. The picture of the temple and the blazing fire inside as well as the writings on the wall of the temple and the tower with the serpent are deeply embedded in our mind.
My takeaways from the dharshan :
1. God is formless and if I can accept and follow, completely and truthfully, then the differences I find in this world will vanish. Man sees differences first through the form.
2. The time in the early morning(3:00 a.m. - 5:00 a.m.) is called Brahma Muhurtham. Auspicious events like pooja are conducted during the Brahma Muhurtham and no regard is made to check if it is an auspicious time. Being awake in this time connects you to the world. From darkness and quiet, the world comes to life. Birds chirp and the sun starts rising leaving a glow on earth. The energy at this time must have something that reenergizes the earth. It is also a time to connect with the Maker.
3. Is this life one of suffering ? Yes. No man can say (s)he has not suffered or seen suffering. If the soul is to be reborn again and again, then the soul knows suffering in many many forms. If the soul wishes to break out of this suffering, then it has to merge with the creator, for that is the only way. So, there must be a path leading to the creator. The priest in the temple said, 'just like the life of a sanyasi is not for everyone, the life of a grihastha is not for everyone. Both exist in this world, and one help the other reach the supreme being'. So, a soul lives an ordinary life and gathers wisdom. During this time, the life led is that of an ordinary human being and this may be multiple times where the soul is reborn. The life of a sanyasi is the final leg and here again the soul maybe reborn before it attains the feet of the Paramathma. So, we are all on a path of learning and every step we take forward is a step closer to the Paramathma.
4. The sadhus have a world that is modern, high on material things and a fast way of life. Somehow, through all this, they are able to live the simple life. Doesn't the outside world lure them ? How do they stay away and keep to their beliefs ? The lesson for me was that, no matter what the world tells about me, if I believe that what I am doing is right and is not harmful for any being on earth, then I can stick to it. It can come in different forms : wearing the same clothes repeatedly, driving the same vehicle for years or better still the public transport, wearing very little or no jewellery, moving away from pompous living, sharing things with all beings on earth, not listening to gossip, calling a spade a spade when someone hurts another being.
5. Ask questions. One of the sadhus in the evening asked us a few questions. 'Who is God ? ', 'Where is God ?' and 'What is God's work ?' The third one stumped us. Work for us is waking up in the morning, cooking, cleaning and hitting office and doing this till evening. Otherwise, if at home, it starts with cleaning, cooking, washing and keeping things in order. So, what work does God do ? If He controls the universe, the galaxy, the earth, its happenings and the life of every being, then that is a lot. Again, to what level does He do it ? Would he be really controlling ? Thought process kept going .... to no end.
6. Walking around the temple, there was peace. Also, the pulse was different. Life slowed down. I realized that I was walking fast and automatically, fell into the rhythm. How was it possible that two worlds co-exist : one, which is on a wild chase for something or the other and another, which is slower, makes you feel relaxed, makes you feel at peace, ponder about life and energizes you. It is the energy of the place of course. From where does this energy come - from the earth, or the founder Mahima Swami, the priests or is it from the followers. Hinduism believes that every living and non-living thing has energy. During consecration of an idol, mantras give what was till then stone having energy, powers. This power is reinforced, added, multiplied by the believers and devotees.
In a temple with no idol, what is this energy that brings devotees ? How is this belief system founded on the abstract thriving in today's world ?
7. Am reminded of the young boy finishing his 12th standard and becoming a monk. Varshil Shah decided to change his path and took diksha. 'What made him do it ? What was that question that made him change course ? ' is a question I have been asking since I read that news. Unless there is a power from within, how did this boy who till then lived a normal life wish to renounce and become a Jain monk, one of the most toughest. In the language of today's fast world, 'What makes a monk tick , not be swayed, remain simple and stay on the chosen path ?' For me, keeping focussed on one activity is most of the time difficult.
The visit was worth it for I know it has enriched me, my soul and got me to question the life I live. To that, thanks to the Paramathma for showing the path.
