Photography, Authorship and Copyright Notice : All Rights Reserved : Satya Sarada Kandula
Photo Credit : Satya Sarada Kandula : All Rights Reserved
In North India, Siva is called Bholenath. The grand Siva that we understand through the Siva Purana and the simple fun loving Bholenath appear as two different personalities of the same great God. In Rishikesh I saw some videos on display, where a young boy dressed as Bholenath was dancing as if intoxicated, with bells on his feet.
As I was looking to buy some books hard to get in Bangalore, the book shop owner told me that only South Indians and foreigners bought and read books. His theory was that the south Indian devotion was scholarly. Just then some Kavad Log, went past the shop yelling, “Ek Do Teen Chaar – Bhole Tere Jay Jay Kar!” full of fun and faith.
Photo Credit : Satya Sarada Kandula : All Rights Reserved
Even Bhakthi Yoga comes in many regional flavours - and we too were happy to yell along with the Kavad Log, and experience Siva as a simple, pure-hearted and fun loving mountain dweller, who would instantly drink even the worst poison (halahalam) to save others. And in the simultaneously simple, austere, fun-loving and pure devotion of the kavad log, you could see the reflection of the simple, austere, fun-loving and pure Siva himself.
My other write-ups on the trip :
Guns and Spirituality Siva, Scary Roads and Pandas: Thoughts in DevaPrayag Madras Cafe – Rishikesh Sanyasis of Haridwar and Rishikesh Rang Rang Rang Bole!!!
Photography, Authorship and Copyright Notice : All Rights Reserved : Satya Sarada Kandula
