Outside the gates, the world is bustling, and one encounters a harsh cacophony produced by the unyielding love of Indian truck and bus drivers to their magnificently loud horns.
But as soon as one goes through the gates, even though the dissonance is still loudly audible, something changes. The air becomes a bit more still, time slows down.
The first thing that is expected from one is the removal of footwear (as with any religious Hindu temple/complex). It feels good to take sandals off - moist and sticky from the day's excretion.
After walking past a space designated for parking, one finds himself facing a small building, which holds some monuments in remembrance of Sri Ramana, the revered ascetic who's legacy (among others) is this ashram.
There are plenty of seating places outside, facing the gate, and the cold marble offers much needed relief from the intense heat.
After sitting down, one can observe the animals residing in the ashram: peacocks and monkeys.
Watching the male peacock up close, opening it's colorfully beautiful feathers into a fan, creating the illusion of a half-circle filled with blue-green eyes, is a unique and awe-inspiring sight.
The monkeys are friendly creatures, unafraid of the humans that visit and dwell in the ashram, as if they too, are capable of perceiving the serenity of the ashram, they play with each other, somersaulting merrily, climbing trees and occasionally causing a good amount of mischief by snatching a valuable item from someone, such as a camera or a cellphone.
Further inside the ashram, there is a big airy meditation hall, where one can sit down and listen to the beautiful Hindu chants in Tamil, supposedly the most ancient language still spoken today, and watch a variety of Hindu pilgrims pay tribute to Sri Ramana.
This place is tranquil and quiet, and I would definitely recommend a visit.
0 comments:
Post a Comment