Tanubhrt.This.Side

When I came to Bangalore, I did come with few plans, not that I am not doing them, but well, I think that may be and may be, there is something about visiting temples, that is indeed divine. There is something which I have experienced, but I cannot tell you as of now, but something about visiting temples, that makes the same path smoother, the same thoughts sharper and cleaner and calmer, more like fast tracks whatever is about to happen!

It’s been two weeks since I landed in Bangalore, and beyond every alcohol and party, it was today that I went to Indiranagar for some shopping, not the mall shopping, but the shopping that local do. There is one very interesting thing which I liked about Bangalore, even when I visited it over last few years, is the frequency of temples and the beauty of those temples. Beyond the traffic, the influx of people coming in, the modernisation and every possible thing, the city has found its way to make new temples and to plant trees. Something that Delhi should definitely learn, or may be it has tried and failed.

Either ways, I found myself in the local market area of Indiranagar, in the pavements of which you will find women selling flowers, a corner in which someone would be selling pani puri and a group of uncles chit chatting over either a cigarette or filter coffee. I would not say I visited two of the most grandeur temples, but visiting both of them did something that makes me at peace with myself a little bit. The first one I visited is this one – PRASANNA ESHWARA SWAMY TEMPLE , btw, Prasanna Eshwara is a common name for Shiva temples, in Bengaluru. There are a couple of other temples with similar names, because obviously all of them would be referring to Shiva temples.

Not that North Indian temples aren’t good, but something about these temples, the local ones, which do not have many people coming, they do offer so much peace.

And there has to be something about the doors, I know for some this is normal, just a basic carving, but the fact that you can see this carving in almost every door of a temple in Bangalore or South India, is what I really appreciate. Or may be watching the same old plain doors or the too modern doors in the offices of IT, the reason could be any, but I could stare at these doors for as long as it takes. It is a Shiva temple so there was obviously Shiva, with Ganesh and Parvati and Nandi facing them.

Did you know, in each temple, the vehicle of the Lord is kept facing them in the opposite direction. I think it is happening every where, probably something I noticed today all over again. TBH, I wish I could upload more photos here, but I am such a bad photographer, moreover, in places or temples, I think it is more important to embrace the beauty and the vibe of the place, than to overthink about the perfect angle of the photo. I sat down in this temple, and felt at so much peace or calm, my mood instantly lifted up and the crankiness with which I roam about, I felt as though was removed. I came out of the temple feeling so much lighter.

And then I found this house. Straight out of Pondicherry or may be the vibe of South India is like that. I am still figuring out. But loved this house, don’t you think the architecture of this is so personal, as if someone travelled the world and captured something similar in their eyes, and wanted to build something of their own. This house looks like of someone who has lived life, from the choice of architecture to the choice of colours, everything felt so unique.

Moving across this pavement or path, I found a pani puri guy, he was selling pani puri and I had a sudden urge to have it. Do you also feel that there is something weird, weird in the openness and love with which we meet people when we are away from home, yet with so much hostility when we are nearer to our home, or home town. Is this some drama that I only do or others also fall into this trap! Don’t you think there is so much binding in a language only two people in the room know of, or sometimes in a language that is novel for both. Either ways, I met this guy, he told me he is from UP and his father makes gold jewellery, not that he makes it in his own shop, more like a worker who does that. When I asked him on why he is also not doing the same, he told me about the biases he has for that work. The fact that one has to study and how much of precision is required to make a jewellery. And the honesty he had for his work was beyond explainable to me. Even when I persisted that just give me something I need to move to another place, he asked me to wait for a while, until he is done preparing the masala and could serve me in peace. We bonded over family responsibilities and how sometimes living away from home induces both guilt and liberation. For may be to meet oneself, one has to renounce every relation that they have.

The next stop for today was this temple, not that I had planned but it did happen. This is what I was talking about when I said there is something divine about temples, specially when you don’t go with any wishes or commands or sadness, for when you just visit a temple like visiting a friend, you fell the warmth of the relation.

This was the next temple I visited, and too be very honest, both the temples that I visited are local temples, please don’t confuse them with the major shrines with similar names in Bengaluru. So, Kodanda, in this form, he is typically depicted alongside his wife, Sita, and his brother, Lakshmana, representing protection, righteousness (dharma), and the victory of good over evil.

If you also visit the temples in Bangalore, you will definitely find this style of temple. This is the Dravidian style of architecture. So, I went inside this temple and wanted to click some photos, when the temple priest called me to say that it was not allowed, but when I told them that I want to write about all, his guards fell down, clicked a photo for me, and the uncle beside me with the crooked Hindi explained to me everything. It was in this temple, that I understood that the divide of the North and South India is not in the minds of poor or may be middle class, it is in the minds of the rich!

Not that rich, but also not that poor to be called middle class. In these two weeks, that I have stayed in Bangalore, with people I have shoed utmost respect, have returned me with more love and respect. They have also understood that the person is not bad, it is just a language barrier. Be it the random people I met in shops or in temple, or even the auto walas. It was felt, I did felt that barrier, but only when I found myself sitting with people of my age, working white collar jobs, earning good enough to feel the struggle but not enough to keep up with the rich.

On that note, signing of for today! There are few more stories that did happen today, and over the last few weeks, I will start posting more often, reminding and telling you that I am trying to sparkle, to live again.

Stay Tuned!

Amore,

Tanubhrt This Side