Conjurer & The Sacred Lemons (16 page)

In the hotel in the evening Ursula got opportunity to talk to Shikha.

“The lineage of the Naths starts with
Rishi Dattatreya
, a mythological deity-founder and followed by his nine disciples whose names are

• Machindranath
  or
  Matsyendranath
  (Believed to be Born in the form of human from a Fish  ...in Sanskrit Fish is called as “ Matsya “)
  
• Gorakshanath
  (Strange birth story. Believed to be born out of sermonized ash which was dumped in the garbage bin)
  
• Jalandharnath
  
• Kanifnath
  ( Believed to be born out of Ear of an elephant as per the mythology)
  

• Gahininath
  
• Bhartrinath
  
• RUrsulananath
  
• Charpatinath
  
• Naganath
  

The establishment of the Naths as a distinct historical sect purportedly began around the 8th or 9th century with a simple fisherman,
Matsyendranath
“Shikha started providing more details. Ursula was listening carefully but most of the names and Gods stated by Shikha were difficult for her to remember.

“There are several sites, ashrams and temples in India dedicated to Natha’s Many of them have been built at sites where they lived and engaged in
meditation
and other
sadhana
. Another important traditions is the expertise and practice of Kundalinm, Hatha Yoga & the Shabari Vidya (which gives sholkas or Mantras to guard people from Evils) “Shikha added.

Now Ursula was alert. This is the topic that was interest to her particularly from the issues faced by Patrick back at home in USA.

“Can you tell me a little more about all the 3 topics “Ursula requested.

“ Ursula  this is not so easy as each of the topic itself is a huge collection of the philosophy , customs ,rituals ,books ,slokas and mantras. I will try to give brief insight into it “Shikha replied.

“Let me first start with the Hatha Yoga. According to the legend, Lord
Shiva
is credited with propounding hatha yoga. It is said that on a lonely island, assuming nobody else would hear Him, He gave the knowledge of hatha yoga to Goddess
Parvati
, but a fish heard the entire discourse, remaining still throughout. The fish (
Matsya
) later became a
siddha
and came to be known as
Matsyendranath
. Matsyendranath taught hatha yoga to his disciple
Gorakshanath
and to a limbless man, Hatha yoga was thus passed down in disciple succession.
  “Shikha told the mythological origin of the Hatha Yoga. Today modern Yoga has its origin to the Hatha Yoga popularized by the Nathas.

It was difficult for a western mind of Ursula to assimilate the fact that a fish had heard the conversation of god and later on it become the first Nath known as Matsyaendranath. However she nodded in affirmation to Shikha

“Traditional hatha yoga is a holistic yogic path, including disciplines, postures (
asana
), purification procedures (
shatkriya
), gestures (
mudra
), breathing (pranayama), and
meditation
. The hatha yoga predominantly practiced in the West consists of mostly asanas understood as physical exercises. It is also recognized as a stress-reducing practice.” Shikha added

“Hatha represents opposing energies: hot and cold (fire and water), male and female, positive and negative. Hatha yoga attempts to balance mind and body via physical postures or "asana", purification practices, controlled breathing, and the calming of the mind through relaxation and meditation. Asana teach poise, balance and strength and are practiced to improve the body's physical health and clear the mind in preparation for meditation.” Shikha provided more about the Hatha yoga.

Ursula knew a little about Yoga as it was slowly taking its roots in US by that time and was a major attraction also for few Americans who wanted to try something new.

“What we today follow is the simple asana (posture), which is called the Yoga. However Hatha Yoga is extreme form of physical as well as mental postures. It is practiced by a very few “Shikha added.

“The next important expertise the Nath sect have is the Kundalini Yoga or simply called Kundalini Jagruti.  Kundalini yoga derives its name through a focus on awakening
kundalini energy
through regular practice of
meditation
,
pranayama
, chanting
mantra
and yoga
asana
. Called by practitioners "the yoga of awareness", it aims "to cultivate the creative spiritual potential of a human to uphold values, speak truth, and focus on the compassion and consciousness needed to serve and heal others” Shikha started the Kundalini topic.

Ursula could not understand the concept. Shikha could recognize that and told her to just listen and she would be able to understand if she listen the balance details.

“Kundalini is the term for "a
spiritual energy or life force
located at the base of the spine", conceptualized as a coiled-up serpent. The practice of Kundalini yoga is supposed to arouse the sleeping Kundalini Shakti from its coiled base through the 6
chakras
, and penetrate the 7th chakra, or crown. This energy is said to travel along the ida (left), pingala (right) and central, or sushumna
nadi
- the main channels of pranic energy in the body.
In short you could say with this technique you would be able awake the spiritual positive energy in the Body.” Shikha narrated further details.

“ The practice of
kriyas
and meditations in Kundalini Yoga are designed to raise complete body awareness to prepare the body,
nervous system
, and mind to handle the energy of Kundalini rising. The majority of the physical postures focus on navel activity, activity of the spine, and selective pressurization of body points and meridians. Breathe work and the application of
bandhas
(3 yogic locks) aid to release, direct and control the flow of Kundalini energy from the lower centers to the higher energetic centers.
”
Shikha told Ursula

‘In short Kundalini Yoga is a catalyst for psycho-spiritual growth and bodily maturation. According to this interpretation of yoga, the body bows itself into greater maturation and the awakened energy help the individual to attend the highest from spiritualism, making him capable of doing extraordinary things in life “Shikha tried to summarize the Kundalini yoga.

Ursula could understand the summary very well. She was just amused to learn the vast knowledge about body and mind available in a country like India. However one more topic on interests was still pending. It was now time for dinner so they stopped the topic here.

Next day the Trio along with Shikha started for the Hill stations of Kulu Manali for covering those two snow covered hill stations in India. As there were no air services to Kulu Manali at that time they had hired two special terrain vehicles to take them there. They started early in the morning. On the way they were mesmerized by the scenic beauty of the Kulu and Manali valley.

The group reached Kulu in the afternoon and immediately started their work of video shooting the important tourist attractions there. By 6 pm they had covered all the major points. Patrick was busy in sight seeing while Ursula and the group were on completing their work. The group returned to their hotel at 7 pm.

After freshening up Ursula went to Shikha’s room to continue her knowledge quest regarding the last part of the Nath sect.

“The topic of Shabar vidya is a complicated one. For the last so many centuries the knowledge is transferred from Guru to disciple, sometime it got distorted .some time the knowledge got enhanced.” Shikha initiated his discussion on the topic.

“The Shabar Vidya is a collection of numerous Slokas’s, Hymns and sometimes even the lengthy text. This knowledge is created by the firth Nath –Matsyaendra Nath during his first pilgrimage which spanned at least a decade after taking dikhsha from his Guru – God Dattatrya.” Shikha started to give some background on this based on what she had read on this topic.

“During his Pilgrimage, Matsyendranatha visited many famous religious sites in India and stayed on many temples across India from North to South and West to East. Through his god gifted supreme spiritual and mind power he had asked various gods to give his Mantras or Slokas a power which can help people to overcome their Grief and their day today problems. So if someone practices Shabar vidya then there is very less chance that evil people, evil powers would harm them “Shikha explained.

“So basically it is a book containing various Hymns, Sloka and Mantras. It helps to get rid of the day today problems as well as help to get rid of the evil. Right?” Ursula asked.

“You are right .But please note the true Nath sect use Sabhar vidya only for benevolent things. The true follower will never use this for his own selfish purpose or troubling his enemies. The moment he does that he loses his power to use the Shabar vidya “Shikha explained

“But there will be always some who indulge in malpractices.” Ursula asked out of curiosity.

“Yes dear  ... there had been always people who joined the Nath sect and tried to use the Shabar vidya to harm someone. But those are very less in number.” Shikha added.

“But how exactly the Nath sect sadhus or yogi’s remove the evil or evil spell?” Ursula asked.

“Frankly speaking even I don’t know the complete procedure. But based on what I had read in various local books there is an elaborate procedure which is followed to cure oneself of the evil design, Evil spell or even getting rid of the ghosts. “Shikha explained.

“Suppose I tell you I want to use these services from the Nath Yogi, is it possible? “ Ursula asked

“I don’t know but I suppose it should be possible .Haridwar where we are going on Monday have a lot of yogi’s belonging to the Nath sect. We can enquire “Shikha replied.

“But Ursula, why you want to experiment with something you is not well versed with. It is like playing with fire.” Shikha tried to caution her.

Now Ursula was not having any option but to tell Shikha the entire story. She narrated her sequence of events that happened to the William’s in last 3 months and how Patrick is subjected to something which is paranormal or supernatural force. Shikha was stunned to hear the complete story.

“I am not still able to digest what you told me just now. Frankly I don’t believe in such things “Shikha told her frank opinion to Ursula.

“Neither do we.. Patrick and I never suspected anything called Evil or supernatural till the point when all other causes were eliminated.” Ursula told Shikha.

“But to me Patrick looks alright. He is enjoying his trip “Shikha commented.

“Yes Patrick is a strong man mentally as well as physically. If some weak hearted would have been in his place, he would have died of a shock by now “Ursula told Shikha.

“Ursula have you experienced any of the events that happened to Patrick “Shikha asked

“Yes Shikha, once when he was pushed from the bed I tried to held his hand but the unknown force was so great that he fell down on the carpet. Similar incidence myself and my mother witnessed when Patrick was thrown from the couch to the carpet in the living room “Ursula replied.

“Oh my god. That is really serious “Shikha commented.

“Let me check with my contacts in Haridwar and see if I can arrange visit to a Nath yogi there .Besides we have 4 spare days in hand after the assignment. So it can be worked out “Shikha tried to assure Ursula.

As it was dinner time they left for the restaurant.

Next day the group covered Manali tourist attractions and headed towards Haridwar and Rishikesh, the last two destinations which were to be covered as a part of India tourism documentary.

From Simla the group started for Haridwar which is located around 300 kms away on an early Sunday morning. They reached Haridwar at about 1 pm in the afternoon. It was a rest day for the group. After checking in the hotel everybody become fresh and started for personal sightseeing and shopping in Haridwar.