Mayapura, India
Srivas Angan is the birth place of kirtan
in the modern age. The home of someone by the name of Srivas Thakur is the
location where just over five hundred years ago ecstatic chanting occurred. But
it was not until four and a half centuries later that kirtan made significant
inroads to the world outside south-east-Asia.
This afternoon a group of perhaps just
over 150 people processioned to this place. The people- where did they come
from? They hail from all over the world just as one of the saints Bhaktivinode
predicted that Americans, Russians, Germans and more would converge at this
sacred place and give glory to the one responsible for birthing the sankirtan
chanting movement. That person was Sri Chaitanya.
It was an uplifting rhythm trek with
kirtan that brought us to the Angan. This is the real way to execute
pilgrimage, with song. I had the honor to lead the chanting on the way over but
had to leave at some point, only to be somewhat annoyed. The traffic is
aggressive here. Trucks, cars, scooters and bicycles rule the Bhaktisiddhanta
Marg, the road with a width of an average North American driveway.
What will this mean ten years from now, in terms of traffic congestion?
I met my dear spiritual sister, Sishaka, on my return walk. She is an
avid walker and cyclist. She expressed some concern about the energy of traffic
on this pilgrimage trail.
As India gets more and more modernized and her national pride continues
to surge while trying to catch up with the rest of the world, it might be smart
to look at safe traveling trails.
What made the procession different
was the police escorts. In their presence there was traffic control. I
love the police for this reason. They were backing the Pilgrimage and that's
commendable.
May The Source Be With You!
5 KM
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