June 17, 2012

The Lightness Of Being




An elderly couple soaks in the bustle on the ghats off the Ganges, keeping the three lamps company on a quiet evening in Varanasi. Soon the sun will dip behind the shrines amid ringing of temple bells and they'll return home while the river will nudge the lamps gently away before steering them along on its long journey through time.

In ancient India, divinity rode on rivers, dispersing light and lightness of being.


26 comments:

Grannymar said...

From my perspective there is a great sense of peace in the photo.

Agnija Bharathi said...

Very poetic.

Susan Scheid said...

Your photograph and accompanying text have buoyed my morning with a lightness of being. Lovely.

Balachandran V said...

I remember when I saw Ganges for the first time in 1986; Kumbhmela at Hardwar. I was overwhelmed - I did not know what to do - finally I sat on the steps, stretched my feet and dipped them in the Ganges - I still have the photo, when I stepped on the river for the first time. Rivers, be it Ganges or Periyar, evoke a spiritual surge in my mind...

am said...

Thank you for this photo this morning, along with the thought that divinity rode on rivers. I have just learned of Sitalsasthi, the festival of divine wedding, inspired by your post.

Connie said...

What a lovely post, Anil. I really liked this.

Anil P said...

Grannymar: Thank you. The river Ganga, combined with its antiquity, makes for a serene experience despite the hustle and bustle along her length at Varanasi.

Agnija Bharathi: Thank you.

Susan Scheid: Thank you. Early mornings on the Ganga are an experience by itself.

Balachandran: In 1986, the ghats might have been an entirely different experience during the Kumbh Mela.

Indian rivers evoke their spirit from India's civilisation and the faith of the pilgrims that courses its veins.

Am: Sitalsasthi is tied with Gauri-Shankar. And yes, auspicious, and divine. Thank you.

Daisy: Thank you.

Arun said...

Now that I know you have been there, I would be keen to read your views on the city..

Anuradha Shankar said...

lovely photo, Anil! and it looks so serene... reminds of all the times we went boating on the ganges..

Fishbowl said...

nudge the lamps gently away before steering them along on its long journey through time." This line stayed with me..long after:)

Pon said...

classic…

Shooting star said...

nice shot!!!

Rajniranjan said...

Nice capture.

Anil P said...

Riot Kitty: Thank you.

Arun: Sure, there's a lot from there. Will post them over time. Actually I went there some time ago, some years ago.

Anuradha: Thank you. Always a pleasant memory.

Fishbowl: Thank you. A river will evoke certain emotions that stay the course.

Priyarajan: Thank you. If you're interested in including me in your research and feel I could be of help, you're free to reach me over my ID provided in the sidebar.

Pon: Thank you.

Shooting Star: Thanks.

Rajniranjan: Thank you.

RAJI MUTHUKRISHNAN said...

Lovely shot - peace in the twilight years is what we hanker for. Beautifully captured.

Thank you for leaving such a nice comment on my post. I appreciated it!

austere said...

Just so solemn, this capture.
Like the white space between words.

Shyamanga said...

You have made a simple (but wonderfully framed) pictured heavenly with your beautiful words.

zephyr said...

What a lovely photograph and post.

thank you so much for visiting and commenting on my blog. i look forward to reading and visiting yours.

Di said...

Exquisite!

Anil P said...

Raji Muthukrishnan: Absolutely. Even otherwise, we do. Thank you.

Austere: Liked the analogy with the white space between words. Thank you.

Shyamanga: Thank you. There's something about rivers, more so about the Ganga.

Zephyr: A pleasure, thank you.

Di: Thank you.

marly youmans said...

Lovely. We are all drawn to water--as in the marvelous start to "Moby Dick."

Beth said...

I want to tell you how beautiful this photograph is, and what peace it brings to my heart so far away. I was here the other day, but didn't comment; now I must!

Anil P said...

Marly Youmans: Thank you. So rightly said. Water is hypnotic, more so when the river has a history, a culture, and a tradition to it.

Beth: Am glad you did. Thank you. Varanasi, on the banks of the Ganges, is peaceful as well.

Anonymous said...

The comfort, the companionship, the peace that comes after years of being together and sharing each other's views.

This is what I perceived from this beautiful moment.

Thanks.

Red said...

I was in a canoeing accident where my canoe capsized and I have not been able to canoe or raft after that incident.

Watching them sit on the edge like that is making me edgy :)

Anil P said...

Gardenerat60: Thank you for your perception. Much of it, I share myself.

The years spent is what adds to the moment.

Red: That must've been a bad accident. And I can imagine, and even relate to your memory.

An ordeal like the one you mention can be scary.

Am glad you escaped.