Alluring Ellora

 "Hey what's Ellora? Where is it?"  These questions from my friend when I told her that  we were planning a trip to Ellora and Ajanta completely took me aback. I tried to explain the greatness of Ellora caves but soon discovered that I was way out of depth in my own knowledge of this great work of art. It is true that we are blessed with so much history and culture but are only dimly aware of it. I realize it now after so many years that a much more rigorous study is needed to fully appreciate the unique aspects and magnificence of not only our own but any history and culture.  

We had engaged a well read ITDC certified guide Amol  who came highly recommended by my cousin Anil, who himself is a very senior and well respected guide in India. The description about Ellora that follows is all thanks to the sharp analytical mind of Amol as well as his in depth study of the region's history and culture.  He literally brought the stone monument alive.

So let us begin the enquiry. What is the distinguishing aspect of Ellora? There are over 100 caves of which  34 are open for viewing. These were carved out between 6th and 12th Century CE and reflect Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism.  All these caves are 'Carved Out' of the rock as contrasted with 'Carved In' monuments which are plenty all around the world.  So whats the essential difference?  In this case, the building material is carried out of the cave where as in Carved in caves, the building material is carried in. 

Said differently, this monument was created by creating spaces with in the rock and chiseling away the rock to bring forth the intended form or structure. Do you now see how difficult this is? For one, there is no possibility of rework - so it has to be right the first time each time. This as we all know is a tall feat to achieve in any area of work.

We spent much of our time visiting Cave # 16 which has the Kailash Temple. The temple is decorated with some of the boldest and finest sculptural compositions to be found in India. 

The sculpture depicting Ravana attempting to lift Mount Kailasa, the abode of Siva, is especially noteworthy.   Ramayana and Mahabharata stories are carved out on the side walls.
 

Like me I am sure you will be wondering why would this large monument be carved out of rock in this part of the world. The answer came from our guide that this place was along an ancient trade route to other countries. This meant that the traders who passed thru here would see this monument and spread the word about its magnificence and thus the fame of the King who sponsored this will travel far and wide.

Last but not the least, one marvels at the technology that made chiseling and digging tools  that could break basaltic rock.  The steel that is required is carbon tempered steel and one wonders how the people in those times got their hands on these!!

Ellora caves are highly accessible from the nearest major Airport which is Aurangabad Airport or Railway station or as we had done, you can simply drive in your vehicle. From Mumbai it took us about 8 hours end to end including a couple of stops of about 1 hour for lunch and tea.

Best time to visit is winter months since the ambient temperatures are nice and pleasant.  

 

Only Being

What if we all could just BE? Not BE this or BE that but just BE. A pure state of Being with no further qualifiers.

A Tree can BE, a dog can BE but you and me need the extra qualifier like BE busy, BE Sleeping, BE Bored, BE rich, BE successful, BE kind, Be Greedy and on and on.. this goes on. Every day we look for yet another state of BEing. Thats what we call variety.

So I decided to try just being..like breath which just is below our consciousness. Setting aside self consciousness is not that easy.. unknowingly we have become so much attached to our identity that is has become the only SELF that we know .. although like an onion, as you peel off the outlayers, more layers with in get discovered until one comes to the core which is ....

This is the beauty of SELF that at the core there is singularity as a mathematician will say. Here all mathematical functions become UNDEFINED. It is not zero which still has a very clear definition but it is UNDEFINED.  Even then we never doubt whether we EXIST. How do we know this?

All this peeling is the reductionist thinking...  the only tool that we are taught since school and we have excelled in this skill. How we know for sure that we EXIST is certainly not because of this analysis but all the same we have KNOWLEDGE. Can there be other way of knowing other than thru analysis. It must be so. What can we call it? Perhaps INTUITION? Now lets not analyse what is INTUITION for this technique or tool starts where Analysis stops..

What INTUITIVELY we understand is the TRUTH which as we just saw was not reachable by analysis but easily grasped thru Intuition. Trust your INTUITION and JUST BE..

Happy BEING 

Caring and giving

Picture this - An aging lady neighbor of mine recently suffered a stroke and is confined to living a partially paralyzed life... Her spouse who is even more senior is the only person available to look after her on day to day basis...

Both have lived together for over 50 years and all along this lady has handled the house hold chores while her spouse and children were pursuing their careers..

Tables have turned now... Care giver now needs to be cared for and the care receiver of years has to turn into care giver..As you rightly thought, this is not going to be easy on both! Entitlement enjoyed over 50 years is not likely to undergo a sudden reversal. Giving does not come easily to most of us while receiving is easy!

Situation was no different in this house as well.. First how exactly one goes about caring for the other, what does he do and to what extent .. what about his own routine, own friends, own life! The husband reacts in a knee jerk manner refusing any external assistance and jump in to play a heroic but foolish knight in shining armor to his beloved wife..

So far so good .. but is this sustainable over days or weeks or months or years who knows for how long? Can you just park your life on hold and expect that you will have the motivation and energy at this advanced age to carry on the heroics.. That the answer is NO was evident to every one including to the husband who gave in with in 4 weeks - after being a bundle of nerves and  exhaustion. He was sniping at the very person whom he was caring for, being rude to visitors, neighbours who he felt were some how to blame for his state and very quickly slipped into victim hood himself.

First Take Care of yourself Sir.. a Well wisher whispered in his ear.. wear your own oxygen mask before you reach out to help the other. Moment must have been right because immediately light bulb flashed in his head and he saw clearly where he was headed. ..that Mantra worked, husband hired help, resumed normal life and all is well as it can be there after!

Logical, common sense you say but then who said humans always act logical?  First Heal thyself physician ..

Aren't we all giving care to more or less extent to someone during our lives.. many a time it could be as simply but not trivial, lending a sympathetic listening ear, giving counsel, mediating in a disagreement, imparting a new and essential skill, tending to a temporary disability or illness, taking care of someone's children or pets and ... Shouldn't we ensure that we are emotionally, financially and physically fit enough before getting into being a care giver? Situations are different and exigencies of situation may draw you into care giving role before you are prepared but then we owe it to the person we care for that we quickly muster the resources needed to be able to play the role with out being a victim our self...

Something to chew on!