A visit to Basavanagudi
We thought we were going to Basavanagudi so that : my son could attend a campus interview at BMS. While they gave a registration time of 9.15 in the notice, they started their test at 8.30 am. Then they came at 9.40 and lectured the youth on the ills of coming late and let everyone who came late write the test except my son, because they did not like his “excuse” for coming late at 9.20 and ”assuming” that he could join the test late and for the crime of “actually saying so” when attacked. I happened to go back there at that time, to find out when he would finish and I was told with firm disrespect that he could not be allowed to write the test. I said “as you wish” and we left.
So we went to see the Bull Temple, Basavanna : which has been a favorite haunt of my family since my grandfather’s student days. We were in time for the perfect chanting of the mantra pushpam from the Taithreeya Aranyakam of Yajur Veda. As I was gushing forth with various memories, my son struggled with his feelings of anger and pain. I told him, that having raised him all his life to be truthful and self-respectful, I would never expect him to be anything else and just as the organisation thought that servility was more important to them than intelligence, we equally rejected an organisation which expected new entrants to grovel for errors they did not commit!
Courtesy : http://thoughtsofkiran.blogspot.com/search/label/art-water%20colors
The Valmiki Stone : At the Valmiki stone, there now stands an ashram of the nayaks. The authority there said that this was a non-brahmana, nayakara pratisthta done by the people of their jananga who follow the Valmiki Religion. I thought they existed only in Punjab! He also told me that Bedara Kannappa (Bhaktha Kanappa of Sri Kalahasti was one of their own) and that the temple of Sri Kalahastheeswara, next to the Valmiki stone was built by the same caste sangha. (Indian Caste System: Then and Now: Jati, Varna, Kula, Brahmans Then and Brahmins Now, Caste System)
Having bowed to Valmiki Maharshi who is also considered a Bhargava and a Brahmarshi, and having bowed to Sri Kalahasthiswara and Sri Gnyana Prasanna Amba, we set off. (Valmiki, Bhrgu (Bhrigu, Bhrugu)
As we waited for an auto/bus at the Ramakrishna Ashram Bus Stop, we noticed that the place was vibrant with activity. A check with the calendar back at home showed us that today is Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Jayanti. Blessed we are.
Oh yes! and on the was we saw a church (St. Thomas) near Basavanagudi, with a huge sign saying “Om Sri Krista Jeusayai Namah”!!! I have read that Christianity is targetting India and Hindus specifically and I see now that it is turning into Hinduism itself!!
Jai Vajranga Bali! Jai Sri Ram! Jai Sri Jesus too? (If I live long enough I may see this day!)
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