Monday, March 1st, 2010

What We Once Were

Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh

Revati gave me an offer which sounded nothing short of flattery.

“Stay here for six months and I’ll guarantee that we will have 1,000 more students.” I do not believe that “my style” as he put it and “charisma” is what really pulls in young men to the ashram. It’s God’s mercy and that’s all. The offer, nevertheless, is an enticing one. Two deterrents are there. One is that I have plenty of responsibilities already at home station in Canada. Secondly I don’t know if I could ever handle the weather here. It’s hot and humid most of the time.

One thing that is critical about my stay in Tirupati is some direction came my way. I had seen a doctor today as I did yesterday. He’s a master at Ayur-vedic medicine. He observed my legs and confirmed something about the left one by the knee region. “It’s started degenerating. The cartilage is going.”

I asked him frankly if I should do any more marathon walking in the future. His immediate response was, “No, Do 10 or even 8 KMs. maximum”.

“Okay! That gives me something to think about. My doctor back home, Dr. Vikas Pandith, had said that my joints at the knees are giving way”. So I’ve been taking capsules for that. Still it may be an inevitable factor that I reduce walking and be satisfied what has been accomplished thus far. “Oh! Krishna, please do confirm!”

Instead of serious walk on the street today I spent considerable time writing. I’m developing a play on the life of King Bharat and I’m looking to make use of animals here – deer, lion, tiger and wild boar. I expressed to Revati a wish to venture to the zoological park, a mere 10 minute drive from the temple. So he took me.

Knowing some of the animal care takers Revati got us to be escorted to the lion, tiger and leopard pens. Amongst them was the largest leopard in the world. Boy, did we get close!

In one scene of the play I wish to use a wild boar. Wild boars and deer were some of the wild life Jada Bharat in the play attempts to stave off from the paddy fields. Boars are quite gross. And to think you and I had probably been through this species in the past!

Anyway we accomplished some walking at this award winning Zoo and also were reminded of what we once were.

4 KM