A Spiritual Journey: Sun Temple, Peace Pagoda, Jagganath Mandir Temple, and Mahima Dharma Monastery
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Published: April 12th 2009
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Mahima Dharma Monastery
Entrance to Temple Area What do all these sites have in common? They all involve people searching for peace, holiness, and the spirit. After all, we are in India. They are different in their spiritual orientation from Sun Worship to Buddhism to Hinduism to Asceticism, some are well known, others are obscure, but they are all in the province of Orissa where we are living for 2 months. As part of my journey, I accidentally wiped out most of the pictures I took of these places. So I borrowed some from fellow travel bloggers (allowed with appropriate credit) to add to the commentary. However, the pictures of the monastery sun ritual at the end are mine and are probably the best.
The most well known site is the majestic Sun Temple at Konark, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of India's signature buildings. This massive structure, built in the 13th century, was conceived as a cosmic chariot of the sun god honoring time and the sun. Thus, there are 7 gigantic horses and 24 huge cartwheels at the base representing the days and hours of the day. This Sun Temple, built on the shore at that time (now recession of 3 km) was known as the "Black Pagoda" which was visible far at sea by sailors. Legend has it that it took 12,000 men working for 12 years to build this monumental structure. The detail
in the stone carvings is quite exquisite and detailed. The statutes are stunning. There was no mortar used in the original construction and it is difficult to imagine how this massive structure could stand. Some of it has fallen over the centuries, but what remains is incredibly impressive.
Next we visit Dhauli, an important site in the history and evolution of Buddhism in India. It involves the famous Indian story of King Ashoka and his conversion to Buddhism. In about 260 BC, King Ashoka came to power by slaughtering members of his family and killing thousands in the battlefield. After seeing the moral bankruptcy of his actions, he converted to Buddhism and issued edicts (some of which are preserved on stone) that there should no longer be any killing in his kingdom. King Ashoka’s actions led to a revival of Buddhism in India, which had been waning at that time. Because of his actions, this site has come to be known as the "Peace Village" and a holy place for Buddhists. In 1972, the Japanese built a Peace Pagoda (a white Shanti Stupa) on a hill with a commanding view of the area with many Buddhist reliefs
set into the structure.
Most Hindus, at least once in their lives, make a pilgrimage to Puri to go to the holy temple of Jagganath Mandir. Puri is an incredibly vibrant, festive, and crowded town and it felt and looked like all the Hindus in India were there on the day we visited. At each of the four gates, there were thousands of Hindus waiting to get in. Unfortunately, non-Hindus are not allowed in. Apparently, there is a huge jet-black statute of Vishnu which is very popular in Orissa. There are very elaborate rituals which require 6,000 men to perform during the course of a week. It is quite an operation and it was Sensory Overload in High Gear.
As if India did not have enough religions. There is yet another new religion forming in Orissa - Mahima Dharma- which is in the monastic ascetic tradition and is based on the rural and tribal cultures of Orissa. We visited its monastic center in the holy city of Joranda on a Sunday evening to observe the daily ritual, which is only performed at sunset. You won’t find this site in any tour book but it
Mahima Dharma Monastery
Sun Setting over Main Temple was a most fascinating place to visit.
The main temple is only opened one time a day at sunset. It is believed that only at that time can the source of the highest indescribable God be experienced. The ritual consists of circling the temple seven times with the young monks playing tambourine like instruments and iron bells ringing out. The highest monk enters the temple while the other monks stay outside and pray in various postures. The ritual lasts about 15 minutes. By that time, the sun has set and the temple door is closed until the next sunset. The beauty of this ritual came from its simplicity.
There are about 100 monks living here and another 900 move from one holy center to another. At the monastery, all the monks were friendly, smiling, and open to visitors. The most holy monks live here as well as the younger monks who are being educated. The monks wear only a gerua, colored pieces of clothing to symbolize the permanent presence of their God, Mahima Alekh, which is conceived to be the void- all and nothing. This God, they believe, can only be approached by meditation, an ascetic life-style, and
Sunset Ritual
Young monks playing instruments to start things off the ritual practices. It was an honor to be present for this peaceful ritual as we all search for that spiritual presence in its many forms and manifestations.
And so the journey ends for now…
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Mary
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Moving spirituality
Your experiences and photos are moving and memorable, conveying the spirit in word and images. Thank you!!!