Monday 31 March 2014

                                  God's Own Constituency (3)

                       
                               Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal's presence in the electoral field has added a long overdue importance to this eternal city. Otherwise for the journalists of the so-called national media , Varanasi is a dull news source on face value. Only once a week a journalist of national media can find a happening that can attract attention of metropolitan bhadraloks. So sometime active and successful  journalist   took their posting  in Varanasi as punishment posting. But as and when someone discovers the soul value of the city he or she is bewildered - a stark realization that you have to cover not a city but an entire universe .And to be sure  a poor  journalist can not sit under a bodhivriksha on meditation to attain enlightenment , but simply to do news reporting.
                                  Even if not to report, a journalist here can be reminded by an ordinary Banarasi that Dashashwamedha Ghat is the place there ten ashwamedha yagnas were performed; Mother Annapurna , the kitchen goddess adopted the name of Anna-prenna in Roman mythology; Rajrajeshwari, the presiding deity of Lalita Ghat had migrated to Egypt to become Isis on the banks of Nile; the Brahmins of Varanasi undertook a journey to Jerusalem to become priests; Lord Jesus had studied the scriptures on the Ganga Ghats, Adi Shankara was challenged by a Chandal regrading the nature of ultimate reality; the Lord Buddha had chosen this city to roll on wheel of Dharma .... and never ever say these are myths. In Varanasi, myths are reality and reality is a myth.
                                 While mirroring the past , Varanasi also cradles a message for the 21st century. Annie Besant had announced that future civilization would be created in Kashi and California. The validity of this assertion can only be ascertained by experiencing life in both these cities. Not many Banarasis are fortunate enough to undertake a journey to California but many tourists from North America find their way here for a spiritual journey.
                               
                                   On the face value Varanasi is just like any other city of India, perhaps filthier and more chaotic. An ailing cow or a beggar or a widow dies on the pavement, uncared and unnoticed. The experience was worded by a 19th century British woman writer as : Varanasi is the saddest city on god's earth.
                                    A few years ago , Elizabeth Turner , a tourist from Europe spend 3000 dollars to reach to the conclusion that Varanasi is hell. John Gustafsson, a Swedish chef as luckier - it cost him only a few hindered dollars to discover that the city is worse than hell. Still thousands of foreign tourists visit the city and many yearn to live here forever. If someone ever takes pain to measure happiness index , then city will be on top. And please to debate here.
                                     The city is truly a global village. Citizens of virtually every continents, if not countries, can be seen walking on the roads and narrow lanes . The roads are no more than a street and galis  resemble three or four feet wide tunnels. If  a bull, vehicle of lord Shiva, decides a take a rest and becomes stationary , all movement in the gali gets blocked.
                                     The continent called India is also very well represented in the city. In fact many ethnic groups have their own localities here, speaking their mother tongues and maintaining their distinctive way of life. But even a short stay in the city is enough to be initiated in Banarasisness. And the city accepts all open heatedly. the pandas, mallahs, minor guides and vendors speak  many languages. Of course, their language has a very, very limited vocabulary ; the language of heart takes care of the rest.
                                    Varanasi has many names- Kashi, Banaras, Avimukta. Maha Smashan and Ananda Kanan etc.
                                    ( Some inputs are taken from book Dateline Varanasi )

Friday 28 March 2014

            Varanasi : God's Own Constituency (2)


                So the challenger, Arvind Kejriwal has landed in the holy city of Varanasi to take on formidable Narendra Modi. And he began with a holy style, taking a holy dip in the Ganga at the downstream. Then he proceeded to seek blessings of the presiding god, Kashi Vishwanath, the lord Shiva. He was well apprised about the sacred composition of the city as he made a point to visit temple of Kaal Bhairav , the City Kotwal. Kaal Bhairav is the chief of the staff  of Shiva , in charge of law and order of the city.
                  Authority of Kaal Bhairav is well eastblished and respected and when ever new police chief comes to the city he invariable visits the temple at the first opportunity. After all the mortal one has to seek the permission and blessings of his or her divine counterpart to maintain law and order. Modi, a few week ago  visited the city and had darshan at Kashi Vishwanath temple. But he is still to visit Kaal Bhairav temple.The PM aspirant might also take a holy dip in the Ganga if security apparatus permit. But it will be at his own risk, as the holy river is polluted, though much less than the polity of the country.
                Who will get blessings of the lord Shiva , the Ashutosh ( the lord who is easy to  please)- Modi or Kejriwal. It is anybody's guess. The lord is beyond the good and evil and often bless the devotee demons . And it is  left to other gods to control these powerful Shiva devotees.
                One wonders why Kejriwal missed the temple of mother goddess Annapurna , spouse of the lord who ensures that no one in the holy city sleep empty stomach. 
                Filing of  nomination papers for the god's own constituency will begin from April 17 and perhaps Modi and Kejriwal will file their papers in any date of the third week of the month.

Tuesday 25 March 2014

As world’s oldest city is all set to witness an epic election battle on May 12, 2014,  Banarasis are duty bound  to facilitate fellow journalists from India and abroad, curious India watchers and down to earth researchers understand vital facets of the city evolved over the centuries. The blog is aimed to fulfill needs of surfers looking for historical, cultural and political perspective of the current electoral battle, which in a way would decide the fate of India.
                blog will carry  basic election data, profiles, keen contests and political history of the city and much more.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Varanasi: god’s own constituency

                                                                                                         Narendra Modi vs Arvind Kejriwal                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Varanasi is a great challenge for journalists, for that matter it is no less a great challenge for gods. When Shiva, lord of destruction, chose this city as his winter capital (summer capital is at Kailas-Mansarovar in the Himalayas) he faced stiff resistance from Banarsis. But the latter finally gave in and accepted Shiva as presiding deity of the city. It is not clear what made the Banarasis undergo this change of heart, but one of the reasons must be, as one understands the Banarasis temperament, the fascination for worshiping the phallus. So, virtually every household has a shivaling. And like any enlightened scholars Banarasis know the shivalingas is in reality an emblem of light- the light of life and liberation.
                 And today when the lesser gods of Indian politics are descending here from every nook and corner from the country one wonders how Banarasis will negotiate these guests. And there are many advice of caution for new arrivals. In a city where everybody is a guru and raja don’t ever boast of your credentials before Banarasis lest you will face blunt rebuke: Tun hayuwa ke? (Who are you, by the way) ……ladaoo? And please don’t ask for translation of the key word. And if you keep asking the meaning, kem  chhe, kem chhe then listen- ladaoo chhe.
              Please don’t misunderstand Banarasis we are not xenophobic. We actually consider outsiders as our siblings. There is always a Banarasi element in every human being. Every one carries a Banarasi DNA, dormant or awakened. late  Chakachak Banarasi, the ‘national poet” of Banaras, in his famous kundlis, used to narrate the genesis of various castes and communities of India.  In the annual holi kavi sammelan at Assi, the famous poet, in the presence of thousands of revelers, would remind them that their birth, much more than anything, was result of pilgrimage to the holy city. Chakachak would say, ask your forefathers, they will proudly admit- hum tirthe se vansh badayib tor baap ka kaa (I would extend my clan undertaking pilgrimage to Varanasi, no quarrel please)
          So Narendra Modi or Arvind Kejriwal or any other mortal aspirants, all are welcome in the holy city. It is on our conditions and at their own risk.
           In fact Narendra Modi is the third Gujarati , in recent centuries, who is seeking seal of authority of Kashi for his career. Founder of Arya Samaj Swami Dayanand  visited the holy city in late  19th century to convert the pundits to his new creed. Banarasis would claim that Swami Dayanand was thoroughly defeated in shastrartha.  A few decade later Mahatma Gandhi came to Varanasi to seek blessing of grand old lady of Indian nationalism Annie Besant. Mahatma visited the city many times and had a love and hate relationship with the city.Now it is Narendra Modi's turn to win over Banarasis for his claim for post of Prime Minister. his main challenger will be Arvind Kejriwal from Haryana.
            For us banarasis both of them are trainee ganas of lord Shiva. in the holy city they would be initiated in full ganaship.