Tuesday, March 18th 2008

Tuesday, March 18, 2008 - Durban, South Africa

This morning I sat down as usual to the class delivered by the presenter for the day. The verse from the book “Srimad-Bhagavatam”, Tenth Canto, Chapter Seventy-four, Text 15 was presented by Bhakti Chaitanya Swami and I found it to be a subject that was very interesting – eye brow raising even. The verse takes us to the huge Rajasuya sacrifice which was held in Hastinapura (current Delhi) at the time of establishing Yudhisthira as king of Bharat, greater India. At the event commoners and the more elite engaged in merrymaking. One popular habit was to smear a substance combined with oil, yogurt, tumeric, and butter all over each other’s bodies. People used to do this to the opposite gender. In particular, this activity was also a practice with courtesans. Prostitution occurred in the ancient cities of India and as we have all heard before is the oldest profession in the world. I am to assume that sannyasis (or monks) were excluded from this party habit. In any event, it’s interesting.

The Bhagavatam is full of intriguing tales telling of old customs. One of my favorite stories involves Lord Shiva, a massive ceremony and in-law dynamics.

Incidentally here in South Africa at the market place you can purchase a spice called mother-in-law revenge and another one called mother-in-law exterminator.

5km