Spirituality in Nature or Spiritual by Nature:God’s Creation or God in Creation 

Rekha Tukra

Every day hollering sea at the crack of dawn implores me to step out onto esplanade towards the beach to submerge into its turquoise salty water barefoot, knee deep serenaded by softly crashing foamy tides in sync with seagull’s squawking sounds nature’s natural music therapy.

As though effulgent sea is hankered to listen to me and I serenely listening to it, when gently water covered me completely. Momentarily I felt weightless, dually one obviously by buoyant force and probably another what weighed heavily on my mind also got immersed in it.

When I was peering at nearby scores of early bird boaters, sailors at the helm navigating to far with boats raft up with other boats, small ships cruising to far happily singing shanties, it suddenly reminded me one chant of my grandmother which repeatedly played in my ears and head, I replay it humming “Bhavsagarus Dizhem Tar…”

Multiple times it reverberated in my mind and I remember how in our household generally our elders would on many occasions with a sigh exhaling uttering “Bhavsagarus Dizhem Tar” took casually then, hardly elicited deep meaning it signified but now today on diligently delving I can divulge with iteration how our earthly life ‘Samsara’ personified as devout ocean and our Gurus, Gods as oarsmen should lead us towards spiritual salvation when we embark on the boat help us to cross our boat to moor it at harbour apparently pave the way to attain inner realisation, enlightenment and eternal peace.

Moment of Truth:

My mind wanders off onto cliffs and downhill with cascade of emotions wondering inundated, probably reflecting on memories, hence for instance introspecting why, besides having idyllic life surrounded by all the worldly comforts, luxuries, and abundance of accumulated wealth, living fast paced high-tech lifestyle, greedily to advance in life we have turned into social climber, constant expectations, desires are bane of our lives.

Even though having plethora of reasons to be happy on the contrary you start totally loathing your mechanical, monotonous routine mundane life therefore it misses zing nothing to perk up you still thus far can’t fill the void, midst of it we forget we lack modesty to be bare minimalist believer in necessities and sufficiency.

Taking cognisance of this discontentment and frustration you start evaluating the option to escape from own created facade and this complicated life then it gets to this point when it is a turning point how to give life a meaning as though catapulting me to other side of vale, caves, rivers, and mountains of nature’s spiritual sanctuary.

It was worthwhile to ponder as it instantly prompted me either to permanently forsake or likelihood of renouncing imminently, apparently become spiritual traveller to find inner peace in seclusion.

Spiritual Tourism: Our “Reish Waer”

Kashmir: Excitement ramped up sequentially imagining to getaway to gateway of Garden of Sages, “Reish Waer” land where nature and nurturer himself “Svayambhu” blessed the soil made it sacred where Spiritual reality pervading in all aspects what is eternal and real.

It is imperative to understand the chronology it will enable to cement proof of Gods, Demigods who descended and those Kings, Monks, Sages, Scholars and Spiritual tourists validate the significance of place for austerities and attain spiritual wisdom.

Fact of the matter, it is the land that derived its name by sage Rishi Kashyap, Lord Krishna blessed vale by visiting for coronation of Kashmiri queen Yasovati. The Pandvas also had their footfall in vale evidence and ruins suggest so as the name of site goes by “Pandav lare”. The great emperor Ashoka made frequent trips to Kashmir valley; spiritual scholar Swami Vivekananda twice visited Kashmir.

Hamlet, Hermit, Holistic, Hymn and Hari:

Like birds soaring high in azure sky gliding, manoeuvring over luminous sea braving to dive into it momentarily to cleanse then abruptly fleet likewise, I have burning desire to dive into real Vitasta or Ganges river confluence amalgamating with ocean of spirituality to take spiritual bath for brief period to purify my body, mind, and soul.

The H₂O though symbol but natural element of nature in physical form has intrinsically relation with water inside us connecting to physical body elements with physical world’s nature’s elements further with meditations reach higher cosmic elements of light ultimate reality. So is why we pray near all water natural sources.

Natural Springs and A Hermit: 

Gulmarg Potato Seed Multiplication Farm: The below description illustrates an incredible inspirational true story of a Western tourist turned recluse into solemnly spiritual person.

During early eighties when my father, Deputy Director formerly was posted to district Baramulla, overseeing for agricultural and horticulture Dept., Tang Marg jurisdiction and Gulmarg Potato Seed Multiplication Farm, this Farm is nestled on terraced slope green grassy hill on high altitude extending swathes of farmland for cultivation and for terraced farming to whole stretch so far, your eyes can see.

Interestingly, this westerner tourist was so bewitched and moved by spectacular landscape especially natural water springs on top of the mid hill plus its tall pine and fir trees on the brow near summit which compelled him to forsake thereafter he never returned to his native country instead made this hillside his abode,

where it is said this foreigner turned into yogi to meditate in midst of nature, jungle, calm and quiet in solitude essentially to satiate his ignited spiritual curiosity.

He manually levelled acre of slope into flat area, himself meticulously designed and built a big wooden log house with forest wood material consisting of exposed beams high ceiling also all outer walls boarded with wooden planks, did he use other human resources which is debatable as remains unknown.

His carved in italics “Leopard’s Den” on wooden name plate on the main entrance of lodge on veranda was till date visible from far, there was an old-style big gong thereby suspended from veranda beam with striker still functioning properly and which he had installed.

Meditation Deck: 

This interior of wooden cottage till date seemed impeccable, comprised several specious rooms, store, and separate pantry in outhouse in back garden surprisingly it still was in ship shape so had the original character remained till intact.

Therefrom while taking a tour, eventually on backside of cottage house we discovered elevated protruded deck area, our chef Mr. Amsheikh AKA ‘khuda Dost’ who had mystic power himself was entrusted to tour guide narrated us how this wooden deck this westerner hermit utilised for his daily meditation further adjacent overlooking were garden beds blooming with variety of all perennial flower’s kaleidoscope beyond.

Natural springs: 

Simply were awestruck when Mr Amsheikh showed us five natural water springs formed at different heights and levels on mid, upper hill, two springs had crystal plain still water and other two had milky aqua colour water, fifth one on the top hill sprouting bubbly Smokey water but not flowing, there was popular widespread myth while travelling through this starch of land Saint Babareshi had dig hole with his stick on these spots consequently these water springs had erupted.

Henceforth for that reason no one was permitted to wash their feet or utensil as it was considered entirely very pious, holly somehow.

From foothill you can trudge on zigzagging trail to intersecting grassy hill with wildflower meadows with daisies, dog flower, blue bell, lavender etc in between using narrow few steps of slate stones blocks leading to cottage. Enroute, we plucked cheery, crunchy pink apples from few trees that grew in the premises it was joy to enjoy lot of apricots too.

Bael Patra: 

Later, on another day whilst trekking through slightly steep dense woody forest, saw loads of conifers cones on moist soil intertwined with the thick pungent fragrance reaching to us from hilltop, although unprepared but excited to see such mystified ethereal beauty, we plainly were bowled over by treasure trove which was hidden from our eyes so far now been revealed, considered it quintessential to see God Shiva’s favourite offering leaves to worship him.

The hillside was carpeted infinitely with evocative aromatic “Bael Patra” green Bilva leaves, shrubs with enormous scent engulfing hill. We all kids hurriedly plucked Bael leaves filled in bags as souvenirs so to retreat safely back to our guest house lodge because of fear of wild animals like Lions and Bears which were sighted by hikers roaming on peak top hill.

It remained bothering us forever specifically how this westerner hermit evaded encounter with wild animals while living in solitariness and tranquillity, just speculating may be animals realised his spiritual power so never harmed him.

After our whole family returned home from unforgettable trip of “Gulmarg Potato Farm” afterwards we distributed all the bags full of “Bael Patra” to our next-door neighbour whose son’s Yagnopavit ceremony was in coming days of summer of 1981.

To be continued………

Rekha Tukra