Its Mandala Season in South India ! Mandala Season = November / December / January = Sabarimala Season = Tat-Tvam-Asi tedum Yaatra = The journey in search of Tat-Tvam-Asi !
My Grand Father served as a spiritual travel guide / journey facilitator - who assisted numerous individuals in their quest to discover the profound meaning of Tat-Tvam-Asi as they ascended the Sabarimala Hills.
In my grand father's era Tigers were occasionally sighted in the forest as they made their way up to Sabarimala Hills. My grand father took pilgrims through the Tiger Reserve and he has seen many tigers multiples times during this Journey !
Through Multiple treks to the Sabarimala temple my grand father sought donations (Daan) and not Fees (Dakshina).
My Grand father never feared Tigers, as he believed that the DIVINE PRESENCE was always manifested in the Abaya Hasta, providing a sense of RE-ASSURANCE AND PROTECTION !
The Tat-Tvam-Asi Journey !
Lets begin !
Adult devotees maintain celibacy for 41 days !
The Irumudi (travel bag) which a devotee carries on his head must contain Ghee, Sandal wood paste and Coconut. Coconut is a very spiritual element, it symbolizes the human body.
Breaking the coconut and draining its water metaphorically signifies cleansing the BODY by letting go of EGO, LUST and JEALOUSY. Subsequently filling the coconut with ghee represents infusing the "Life-Source-Soul" into one's BODY.
This practice of carrying the bag atop of head throughout the journey symbolizes the respectful carrying of life's adversities and challenges.
The colour black represents - EMBRACING ADVERSITY with RESPECT !
ADVERSITY = Lack of Protection / Sex / Safety !
Upon reaching the top of the hill and entering the temple grounds one will encounter with holy 18 steps. These Holy 18 Spiritual steps will lead you to Sanctum Sanctorum. Each Step represents each Hill located around Periyar Tiger Reserve !
Until you reach the Holy 18 steps you can grasp the hand of your father or any accompanying relative while carrying the travel bag on head with other hand.
I was holding the hand of my father while hiking Sabarimala Hills at the age of 8. This song reminds me of my Journey !
Nevertheless when it comes to ascending the 18 steps, you are expected to navigate them INDEPENDENTLY without assistance or holding anyone's hand. Else you will not experience TAT-TVAM-ASI.
The Holy 18 steps represents the following :
First 5 Steps : Senses - Sight , Sound , Smell , Taste , Touch 06. Kama - Sexual Desire 07. Krodha - Anger 08. Lobha - Avarice 09. Moha - Lust 10. Madha - Pride 11. Maltsarya - Unhealthy Competition - basically the survival game 12. Asooya - Jealously 13. Ahamkar - Boast 14. Satwa - Goodness and Purity 15. Rajas - Passion and Activity 16.Thamas - Destructive and Chaos 17. Avidya - Ignorance 18. Vidya - Knowledge and Enlightenment.
My father did'nt forewarn me about discontinuing to hold my hand until we reached the hill's summit.
And his sudden release left me with a SENSE OF BEING ADRIFT AND LOST !
I started crying seeing the CROWD ! EMOTIONAL MOMENT ARRIVED !
On that occasion my father conveyed to me the profound nature of the journey to tat-tvam-asi emphasizing that it is a VOYAGE OF SELF-DISCOVERY. He made it clear that i must ascend the 18 steps independently and NOT SEEK ASSISTANCE from him. At the same time i should hold the coconut with ghee placed on head tightly and not let it fall at any cost.
To avoid potential stampede, he advised ascending from the corner where police officers are stationed, reassuring me that the police would provide me with help if needed !
He emphatically instructed " Under no circumstances should i rely on my father for assistance".
MY FIRST SELF JOURNEY !
THE CROWD PUSHED ME MULTIPLE TIMES - The police rescued me !
The Journey of Holy 18 steps became a profoundly emotional moment for me when my father CEASED HOLDING MY HAND, leaving me on my own.
Upon ascending the sacred 18 steps ; the initial sight is the inscription of Tat-Tvam-Asi on the sanctum. The first image imprinted in my memory is that very INSCRIPTION after climbing those revered steps.
TAT-TVAM-ASI = YOU ARE THAT WHICH YOU SEEK !
Tat-Tvam-Asi on the top of Sanctum Sanctorum !
Now you offer Ghee to the Lord and put the coconut that represents the body in Fire !
The fire from Coconut Homa - Kundam purifies the atmosphere !
Conscious Mind :
Despite of following all guidelines - Will i become STRAY ?
All desires starts from Sex. Freedom from sexual desires = Protection and Safety !
I have followed the rules of Tat-Tvam-Asi in real life and in 2022 when my home was about to be auctioned I saved my home by myself !
Where is the Abaya Hasta of the DIVINE LORD ?
Unconscious Mind : Recall the moment when your father despite letting go of your hand at the sacred 18 steps, made sure you ascended first ! He was behind you, waiting for you to experience tat-tvam-asi before he embarked on the ascent himself !
Now envision the similar scenario ; conclude your ascent and realise tat-tvam-asi until his journey is also complete ! Let 2023 unfold in this manner !
To all my followers who make fun of ADVERSITY ; Here is a glimpse of ADVERSITY !
Swami Saranam - The word uttered a million times inside Periyar Tiger Reserve !
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