[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I am Lila Weaver and this is blog is a continuation of my pilgrimage to India. In the previous blogs I told the story of leaving Cape Town, South Africa and stopping over in Dubai, just to have a Falcon perching on my arm.
In the last blog I share my journey to Delhi where I met Karman and from there our pilgrimage started.
India is a vast country so a pilgrimage on foot between the five Takhats will be challenging. Therefore we flew from Delhi to Patna city in the Indian state of Bihar.
Our last visit to Sri Harmandir Sahib was so powerful, and life changing for me, that I did not expect anything as profound would occur on this leg of the pilgrimage. Well, let me tell you I was still blown away by the experience.
We arrived at the Gurudwara, or Temple, Sri Patna Sahib around seven that evening after experiencing a horrific four and a half hour bus trip from the airport that should have taken us forty five minutes. The streets were congested by police and protesters. We were just grateful to arrive even though we were exhausted. We’d been travelling since six that morning. We decided to go and give thanks, meditate and visit the Langar hall and only then check into the hostel accommodation[/vc_column_text][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”351,352,353,354″ img_size=”650×650″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Sri Patna Sahib was beautiful inside, the pure energy penetrated my being and I was so thankful to be there. I was entranced by the beautiful white engraved marble temple walls and gold embossed ceiling. After giving my donation and giving my respect to the holy Granth I enjoyed Parshaad.
While I was walking through the temple I noticed the amazing artworks of pearl and shell incorporated into the pictures on the walls, I saw two falcons beautifully inserted into the marble, and knew something amazing is going to happen to me here.
I sat down to the right of the area where the priest and musicians sit. I sat for a few minutes listening to the hymns being sung, suddenly tears just started to roll down my cheeks. Everything was too much and I felt totally overwhelmed. As if I was touched in a way I’d never experienced before. After meditation the tears were still running down my cheeks, Karman patiently waited for me, I noticed him nodding and doing a head tilt to show we must leave the Gurudwara now. I get up slowly, tears still streaming down my cheeks. He guided me towards the Langar hall. We collected our plates and sat down on the mats waiting for our meal to be dished. If you were wondering, yes I was still crying, and it was noticeable to everyone around us.
Karman advised me to wait outside the temple in the courtyard while he continued to do his community service. We washed our hands and as I looked up above, the water fountain there he was; Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th guru.
I gasped for air, I cannot believe my eyes. Right in front of me I saw there is a beautiful falcon perched on the shoulder of Guru Gobind Singh’s shoulder. I felt a bolt of white light entered the top of my head and further expanding my heart chakra. I felt an immense love and uncontrollable feeling of “I’ve arrived home”. This is unthinkable that I was led here. But here is the proof.
After everything I had experienced including meeting my new guide, Guru, my teacher in the first hour of my arrival, I decide to stay right there.
I walked as if I was in a trance and I sat down on a mat looking up at the beautiful temple changing colours. It was a glorious and pure feeling, a feeling of utter devotion and surrender. I am in awe, how great thou power. The years flashed through my mind as if it was yesterday and how the journey led me here to be initiated into a higher realm of awareness and purification. At this stage I was so overwhelmed; I was not sure what it all meant. I just knew I was touched and that I’m now different.
Sitting there on the mat, looking up at the Gurudwara towering above me and transforming into an array of beautiful colours the knowledge starts streaming into me. I have been here before in a past life. This led to the most profound visions flashing through my mind and the tears kept on coming. The days following this experience, I had vivid dreams of fighting in the war and saving people from burning temples. These dreams did not make much sense then, but as my journey continued I learned more about the history of Guru Gobind Singh, It was like building a puzzle, piece by piece.[/vc_column_text][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”355,356,357,358″ img_size=”650×650″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The old me had to leave and was washed away by the holy waters at the Golden Temple. This made place for the new me, the ability to receive the teacher and guide. The message the falcon brings and the initiation will become clearer to me at a later stage, as it always does. Karman arrived a long while later and escorted me to my room.
The next morning we decided to go on a bus trip to visit the other gurudwaras and get a better understanding of the history of this Guru. In the main courtyard of the temple complex is a huge cranberry tree, which bears fruit yearly, this tree is very old. Guru Ji used a Cranberry Tree twig to brush his teeth and when done he pushed it into the ground and blessed it by saying :” whoever are childless, and prays here must eat from the fruit and their wishes of bearing a child will be fulfilled”.[/vc_column_text][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”359,360,361″ img_size=”650×650″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Guru Ji visited an old lady who prepared food for him in a tiny earthen pot. During the serving more and more devotees arrived Guru Ji blessed the food and the story goes that the little pot never emptied. Sri Handi Sahib, Gurudwara is named after the earthen pot.
This Gurudwara overlooks the Ganga River, or Ganges as we know it, the temple is situated right on the banks of the river.
Here we took the opportunity to take a boat ride on the river. We washed our faces and took a sip of the water which is believed to have magical powers
The pure energy that rises from the Ganges is visible and the energy this mighty waterway exudes can also be felt. We saw freshwater dolphins but unfortunately were not quick enough to catch them on camera.
On the banks of the river we met a young newlywed couple, they were doing their rituals to bless their life together.
At the Gurudwara Kabagh we were able to gather holy water from the same well the 10th guru used to drink from. Unlike most of the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panj_Takht
, Patna Sahib does not have a holy tank, the water from this well is transported and made available at Patna sahib.
On our way back we discover a tiny Gurudwara, the priest is very friendly and I am blessed to share Parshaad with him.
Once this was the Palace of Rajah Fateh Chand and his queen Bishambra Devi, now this building is also used as a Gurudwara.
Our pilgrimage in Patna is now coming to an end and we are preparing ourselves for our last prayers at Patna Sahib on this night.[/vc_column_text][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”362,363,364″ img_size=”650×650″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Every night the Priests lay the holy Granth to rest. This is quite a unique ceremony and the first one of its kind for me to experience.
This huge book is carried from the front of the temple to its own room where is will be securely placed on a soft bed and covered by a beautiful cloth. The Head Priest walks towards the room at the back of the temple with the holy book on his head. An entire entourage of musicians singing and playing instruments, and devotes are following him. The beautiful sounds ring through the temple. Everyone is inquisitive to see what is happening and push to get to the glass window to see how the book is being put into bed.
Karman finds himself right next to the Priest who is carrying the Holy Granth as the whole congregation is proceeding towards the Sukh Aasan Asthan, the room where the Holy Granth Rests at night.
The Priest silently gestures to Karman and he goes down on his knees and starts straightening the white cloths that cover the carpet which the Priest is walking on. Karman continues to tidy and straighten all the cloths ahead of the Priest’s feet until they get to the resting room or Sukh Asan Asthan. The Priest gently places the Sri Granth Sahib on the bed and covers the holy book, so it can rest.
This is a very rare experience and Karman knows that he has also been blessed by the 10th Guru and his Falcon. Karman received a gift bigger than what he could have imagined.
Both of us were humbled and felt extremely blessed. Deep gratitude filled our hearts and we now know the truth in the saying, “He who gives one step to god will see how god gives one hundred steps towards you.”
I will leave India as a person richer in my thoughts, humbler in my outlook, touched by the Divine and deeply grateful.
I will return to continue and complete the Pilgrimage, I now know it’s required of me to take a few more steps to experience the blessings of the remaining four Takhats.
During our final Langar meal in Patna we both came to the realization that we must complete the Yatra or the Pilgrimage of the Five Takhts together. Guru Ji brought me onto this guided journey. The message of the falcon was ”Open your heart and I’ll show you the Kingdom”. And so it is.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]