“True devotion means becoming the hand of the Divine. Whatever comes your way, you will know how to transform it into something beautiful.” - Sadhguru
My adventure into the lap of Gods and Goddesses started with a walk up & around the sacred Arunachala Mountain/hill in Tiruvannmalai, a pilgrimage that is meant to be walked barefoot and in silence. Somewhere close to the top we sat on the rocks overlooking the town temples, for a few moments of stillness and meditation. Soon, the nearby monkeys overtook our space and it was time to move on.
Something had started to shift in me. In the next couple of days we settled into a little town, close to Vellore, in the literal lap of the Goddess at Sri Narayan Peedam.
There I attended daily pujas (rituals) in accordance with Vedic scriptures, meditated, practiced asana, did seva ( selfless service) amongst many other activities.
I sat next to Hindu priests perfuming daily pujas ( rituals) , dressed in their simple yellow robes, barefoot. Seated, cross legged their ankles permanently bruised, chanting Vedic mantras for what it seems hours on end. I admired such deep, heartfelt devotion for these daily practices, performed twice daily, every day. Every single day.
I could still feel their deep voices vibrating in my chest. I left the Temples speechless every single day, thinking...how can someone be so committed to something (invisible) with so much love?
I mean, I can't say I do anything with so much love and devotion every single day. Even putting my beautiful kids to bed...it's not loving every single time. Most of the time it's actually stressful.
(parents may relate :)
I was in awe of their devotion. To perform this beautiful ceremonial offerings to their Gods; Ganesh, Lakshmi, Shiva, Saraswati... twice daily, to chant and meditate for hours, to love a deity with all their being. Not in a fanatic kind of way. In the most beautiful, divine kind of way. To offer food, flowers, sweets and fruits, to bathe them, dress them, adore them. DAILY.
All the while my body and mind was seeking comforts...so I planned every temple visit: Is it worth it for me to wake up at 3:30 am to go witness the beautiful Lakshmi ( Goddess of Prosperity) puja (ritual) and what will I get out of it? I mean I just did one that same day, albeit to a different deity. Then, if I do go, how can I prepare for the utmost comfortable experience possible: which meditation chair should I bring, or would a cushion suffice (pictured above I am holding one!).
My mind continued into many possible outcomes: A wall to rest against would be nice. So nice. After all, I will be sitting with no to very little movement for 2 hours or more. You gotta be comfy
(I heard the loud inner voice)!
Little by little, as days passed, I started to let go of my chair, even my cushion. The inner dialogue quieten. My feet were getting dirtier by day and my only pair of footwear, a beautiful dusty pink flip flops got eaten by adorable puppies, resident doggies at Peedam. I didn't even flinch. No shoes, no problem. Not sure if it was that my devotional levels were deepening, or I just love dogs so much to ever be upset.
Each day felt the same, yet different. The rituals and offerings remained constant, but I felt an ever-deepening connection to divinity within me. Despite the discomforts—the hard bed, the the same food, the occasional bugs in my living space, there was me, barefoot, eating food with my fingers, that wasn't exactly pleasing my senses... yet content and peaceful.
Coming home, I began to think of devotion in a new way—not just through prayer and chants, but in how I tend to my daily practices, my children, my work, and how I nourish my soul. Even my wobbly words on here...a humble try to craft these letters on a Saturday evening, it's a devotion.
As Sadhguru beautifully reminds us, it’s about turning whatever comes your way into something beautiful. That is devotion.
with love,
Danica
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