Wednesday, March 5th, 2025
Srikakulam, India
Some of the greatest monks of the last two millennia, like Sankaracharya, Ramanuja, Madhava, and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, visited the location where the Kurma/tortoise avatar has been honoured near Srikakulam. Our group was told to prepare for a 3 AM pickup by the bus. I hate to say it, but no one in this country tends to be on time.
When we reached the Kurma Mandir, the gates for the 4:30 AM opening was also not a reality. We were eager – eager to see something rare – the snan, or bathing, done daily of the stone image of Kurma with the use of mantra, milk, sandalwood paste, water, and herbs. The pandit, or priest, was most favourable to us. He told us of pastimes and pointed to the door that leads to a tunnel destined for Varnasi, hundreds of kilometres away. There is a warning at the door, “Danger, wildlife and snakes reside here.”
Our team was fascinated by the operation of the snan.
Within the courtyard resides a fenced-in section for actual turtles of the region. We caught them piled up on each other. It is a breed I’ve never seen before. By the side is a lake where pilgrims, bathe themselves all for the purpose of purification.
In the evening, we prepared ourselves for the last of our shows for a series of “Hare Krishna Utsava.” My amigo from Gainesville, Florida, Kalakantha, was there. He gave a class. Excellently executed. Then the drama. Vamana was a hit.
MAY THE SOURCE BE WITH YOU!
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