Puri 3--On to Konarak

We visited the temple of Lord Jagannath the next day with a lot of expectation and a feeling of tranquillity. That was rudely shattered by the Pandas at the temple premises. Most of them are actually con artistes masquerading as religious assistants. With glib talk, force, persuasion often reaching imposition, and promises of bad luck to gullible ladies, specially the uneducated--they fleece money like any local goonda or thug. Their sole aim is to get money for themselves. I saw no signs of prayer or meditation--only a mad rush to thrust some flowers or trinkets(supposedly holy) into unsuspecting hands, and then demand and grab money in the name of the gods.

Hindu religion in these places leave nothing for the original concepts of prayers, introspection, meditation and faith--and it is slowly sinking under the trappings of rituals ,mindless utterances of mantras, and the highhandedness of some priests who are forming a mafia inside these holy places of prayer and devotion. I am a Hindu, and am pained by the desecration of this magnificent , erudite and tolerant religion by some who practise it inside the temples. We did ultimately get a person who managed to impart the true meaning of the prayers and its necessity and restored peace and contentment to our ruffled minds--but he was hopelessly outnumbered by his opposite counterparts. But then, I suppose all religions face this problem.

Having paid more than Rs 1000 for bhog cooked by priests who hold their breaths  while cooking and where everything is hand made, we made our way back to the hotel.

The next day we went to Konarak via the Chakratirtha road and the National Highway 260. It was a marvellous drive beside the sea coast and a wildlife sanctuary.

 

The road wound this way and that, and there were surprises at almost every bend. We stopped a while 3 kms ahead of Konarak and made our way through some Akanda plants--and then on topping a crest we saw a deserted , almost virgin beach stretching away for miles.... Naturally it is a coveted place for picnickers, couples and the indefatigable fishermen.

We entered the premises of the Sun Temple and found it in semi-ruins thanks to the environmental assault and the periodic cyclones and floods. Though a massive restoration project is on, the originals are damaged. Yet in areas the completed figures still represent the prowesses of the courtesans, as well as paying homage to the Sun God. The chariot wheels are still intact and the lion crouching on top of the elephant still reminds us of the King Narasimharaja who had the vision to build this unique edifice.

Works of architecture, religion, philosophy, science, and art in its various forms are strewn throughout my country in all corners and from all ages---- and I am so glad that I was born an Indian and I stay in India.