Bombay Srinivasan
Story behind the photo – 79 CHILDHOOD DAYS & UPBRINGING
(The Fire Walking)
Those were the days when as a young boy of 12 year old, and I was studying in the 7th grade of middle school, in a small town in Palghat (Kerala).
We lived in an Agraharam, where a group of traditional Brahmins live. These Agraharams are cluster of tiled houses, built in rows on both sides of the road.
There are many temples outside the Agraharam areas, where you can find temples exclusively for Devi, known as “Mariamman”.
The villagers conduct the daily worships. The method of worship is based on devotion, and singing in praise of the Amman. In many such temples there are ORACLES, possessed devotees. When the singing starts, this Oracle starts dancing to the tune and the beat. It is believed that Devi is manifesting in the body of that oracle. I have been personally witnessing awesome supernatural powers in these oracles while they are supposed to be in trace.
In my early age, late one evening, while we were playing in front of our homes, I saw a big crowd moving along the road of the Agraharam. The group of persons who were beating the Thappattai, and Udukku preceded them, and a couple of them were singing. They were walking backwards, facing the Oracle who was just behind them. The sight, which I witnessed, was perplexing. The oracle was wearing a yellow colored Dhothi, waist down. He had long hairs, but the front portion was bald, and displayed some scars over there.
The Oracle was in a condition of trance, or seemed to be possessed, and was dancing to the beating of the drums. He was holding a big open type earthen pot, and fire was ranging high from the pot. It was terribly hot, and the people nearby were sweating profusely. It seems that the oracle did not feel the heat, though the pot was resting squarely on both his palms. Of course, there were a bunch of Neem leaves as insulation, but they have been badly burnt out due to the excessive heat. The procession had already covered a good length of 2 kilometers, and by the time, it reaches back the temple, they would have covered 5 kilometers are so. It was quite astonishing to see such a feat of endurance, braving the heat, and the stamina, which he had to withstand such long procession, dancing all the way with the firepot on his hands.
Many of the people from Agraharam followed the procession to the end. I was very much enthused by this rare experience, and I too followed them.
On the arrival in the temple, which was in the outskirts of the village, the oracle circled the temple three times and emptied the fire from the pot into a long hearth, which contained simmering fire. Some devotees were fanning the fire with thick matted pads, using them as a hand used fan, and the fire was glowing red-hot. The hearth, the pit containing the fire, should be around 20 feet, long and 6 feet wide. I was told that a good 2 feet depth had been filled with fire. They would have burnt two cartloads of firewood to create this fire. I was told that the oracle would walk over the fire. I was also told that he would pick some more people to walk on the fire pit! And it did happen! The oracle selected me to be one among them.
We were directed to follow him. The destination was a river about a kilometer away. My grandmother was very excited to know that I had been blessed by the selection as one among a few, by the Oracle. We took bath in the river and returned to temple, wearing wet clothes.
On arrival, we were directed to stand in a queue, in front of the fire pit. The Oracle stood for a moment near the approach of the Fire pit, and started walking over the Fire. He covered the good 20 feet length, with about 10 to 15 strides. I was trembling with fear, to think what is going to happen. One by one, the selected devotees were directed to follow suit. It was my turn now. But I stood hesitating. The Oracle gently patted me and pushed me into the pit. I took my first step on the fire. I did not feel much heat though under my legs, it was quite warm. In a hurry I took further steps and crossed the long pit in quick time. I was wonderstruck to note there were no burns under my legs, and I was quite safe. I could not understand the rationale behind the entire episode. How is it possible that you do not get burnt, even while walking barefoot, such a length over the simmering fire?
Devotees were chanting the names of Goddess in loud voices, beating the drums, and the entire crowd was hysterical. But I must admit that there was really something mythical and supernatural in the entire event that took place within an hour or so.
This experience of fire walking made me think of the Power of God and Goddess, and the devotion became deep rooted, in the years to come. Perhaps, such experiences were gradually preparing me in my path of devotional pilgrimage. The urge to spiritualize my life had been planted in my young mind on that memorable day!
Those were the days when as a young boy of 12 year old, and I was studying in the 7th grade of middle school, in a small town in Palghat (Kerala).
We lived in an Agraharam, where a group of traditional Brahmins live. These Agraharams are cluster of tiled houses, built in rows on both sides of the road.
There are many temples outside the Agraharam areas, where you can find temples exclusively for Devi, known as “Mariamman”.
The villagers conduct the daily worships. The method of worship is based on devotion, and singing in praise of the Amman. In many such temples there are ORACLES, possessed devotees. When the singing starts, this Oracle starts dancing to the tune and the beat. It is believed that Devi is manifesting in the body of that oracle. I have been personally witnessing awesome supernatural powers in these oracles while they are supposed to be in trace.
In my early age, late one evening, while we were playing in front of our homes, I saw a big crowd moving along the road of the Agraharam. The group of persons who were beating the Thappattai, and Udukku preceded them, and a couple of them were singing. They were walking backwards, facing the Oracle who was just behind them. The sight, which I witnessed, was perplexing. The oracle was wearing a yellow colored Dhothi, waist down. He had long hairs, but the front portion was bald, and displayed some scars over there.
The Oracle was in a condition of trance, or seemed to be possessed, and was dancing to the beating of the drums. He was holding a big open type earthen pot, and fire was ranging high from the pot. It was terribly hot, and the people nearby were sweating profusely. It seems that the oracle did not feel the heat, though the pot was resting squarely on both his palms. Of course, there were a bunch of Neem leaves as insulation, but they have been badly burnt out due to the excessive heat. The procession had already covered a good length of 2 kilometers, and by the time, it reaches back the temple, they would have covered 5 kilometers are so. It was quite astonishing to see such a feat of endurance, braving the heat, and the stamina, which he had to withstand such long procession, dancing all the way with the firepot on his hands.
Many of the people from Agraharam followed the procession to the end. I was very much enthused by this rare experience, and I too followed them.
On the arrival in the temple, which was in the outskirts of the village, the oracle circled the temple three times and emptied the fire from the pot into a long hearth, which contained simmering fire. Some devotees were fanning the fire with thick matted pads, using them as a hand used fan, and the fire was glowing red-hot. The hearth, the pit containing the fire, should be around 20 feet, long and 6 feet wide. I was told that a good 2 feet depth had been filled with fire. They would have burnt two cartloads of firewood to create this fire. I was told that the oracle would walk over the fire. I was also told that he would pick some more people to walk on the fire pit! And it did happen! The oracle selected me to be one among them.
We were directed to follow him. The destination was a river about a kilometer away. My grandmother was very excited to know that I had been blessed by the selection as one among a few, by the Oracle. We took bath in the river and returned to temple, wearing wet clothes.
On arrival, we were directed to stand in a queue, in front of the fire pit. The Oracle stood for a moment near the approach of the Fire pit, and started walking over the Fire. He covered the good 20 feet length, with about 10 to 15 strides. I was trembling with fear, to think what is going to happen. One by one, the selected devotees were directed to follow suit. It was my turn now. But I stood hesitating. The Oracle gently patted me and pushed me into the pit. I took my first step on the fire. I did not feel much heat though under my legs, it was quite warm. In a hurry I took further steps and crossed the long pit in quick time. I was wonderstruck to note there were no burns under my legs, and I was quite safe. I could not understand the rationale behind the entire episode. How is it possible that you do not get burnt, even while walking barefoot, such a length over the simmering fire?
Devotees were chanting the names of Goddess in loud voices, beating the drums, and the entire crowd was hysterical. But I must admit that there was really something mythical and supernatural in the entire event that took place within an hour or so.
This experience of fire walking made me think of the Power of God and Goddess, and the devotion became deep rooted, in the years to come. Perhaps, such experiences were gradually preparing me in my path of devotional pilgrimage. The urge to spiritualize my life had been planted in my young mind on that memorable day!
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий