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Originally Posted by iliketurtles
(Post 3075508)
I'm not one to enjoy many travelogues, but yours was really something I was glued to. Loved the pictures, loved the passion in your writeup. Two thumbs up, and then some. Cheers! |
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Originally Posted by ebonho
(Post 3080618)
Fantastic National Geographic type pics ADC! Hats off for the ride and the spiritual experience of a liftime bro. |
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Originally Posted by akroy
(Post 3080824)
ADC da, wonderful pics. your thread and wonderful pics made me experience/enjoy the maha-kumbh from the far-far west. |
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Originally Posted by sam_boy
(Post 3081829)
Please let me know when you are going for your next trip. I would accompany you for sure :) |
| [ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6276333.stm ] As a pilot, he went by the name of Kapil Singh. During the 1965 India-Pakistan war, he flew several sorties over Pakistani territory. Reports say his bombings killed many. Pilgrims at the mela Pilgrims at the mela take their holy dip "It's the game of war. If you don't kill, then you will get killed," he says matter of factly. But that was in another lifetime. "In 1966 I was flying an MiG aircraft in the north-east of India. The controls failed. I had a vision of my guru Hari Baba. He appeared in the cockpit of the plane and helped me land safely. So I decided to start another life," he says. Pilot Baba says the new life has given him peace. "I'm more relaxed now, there's no fighting and I can help people." |
| http://articles.timesofindia.indiati...-goddess-durga "When I sit on the swing, I ask the goddess to bless politicians in the country with a mind that hates corruption and works only for the purpose of nation building," he said." Though he has never aspired for a bed of roses, Avadhoot (entry level naga seer) Vijayananda has deliberately chosen a 'swing of thorns' for himself. Everyday after his morning puja, Vijayananada sits on this swing in the ritualistic style with 'vajra' (Hindu deity Indra's weapon) in one hand and a rosary in the other. He sits on an iron swing, the seat of which is actually a 2.5 by 2 feet long tray that contains some 150 spearheads tucked into it from noon to sunset for the last 24 odd years and goes to kumbh with the swing called katon wala jhoola. All this while, he prays to Goddess Durga to bless 'politicians in the country with a mind that is averse to corruption and thinks of nation building all the time'. On the reason behind the drill, he says, "yeh meri bhisma pratigya hai." (This is my ultimate pledge). What Vijayananda does is a form of hatha yoga or a form of abstract meditation. And the entire kumbh mela premise is full of such people. In the six hour long drill, a disciple pulls the swing to and fro. And to add to the difficulty level of his pledge, he burns wood under his swing. "Bhisma pratigya" reminds of the story of Mahabharata in which Bhishma, the son of Ganga took an extremely difficult pledge. The legend says that his father wanted to marry Satyavati, the daughter of a fisherman. The would-be bride's father however disagreed stating that his grandsons would never get a chance to sit on the throne for he was the heir-king and thereafter, his sons and the future generations would have the right to succession. He also said that the children of her daughter and their successive generations would lead and oblivious life. In response to the objection raised, Bhishma took the oath that he would never marry and live as the custodian of the throne and the king on it. Vijayananda's swing of thorns also finds semblance with Bhishma who lay on a 'bed of arrows' shot by Arjuna during the battle between Kauravas and Pandavas. Legends also say that Bhishma spent a part of his life at the Sangam in Allahabad. Today, Allahabad is the only city which has a temple of bhishma. It enshrines a huge statue of Bhishma in sleeping posture and is located near the rear gate of gate of Nag Vasuki temple. Vijayananada never faced any such harsh situation in his life for he took sanyas at a very early age. "I was in my teenage when I met my guru. For the last 40 years, I have been following his way of life," he stated. However, he clarified that his guru never sat on the any such swing. He claims to be sitting on the thorny swing in national interest. "I worship bhagwati (goddess durga) who is the divine mother and one's country is also one's mother. But our country is suffering because of the selfish interests of politicians who represent the population. When I sit on the swing, I ask the goddess to bless politicians in the country with a mind that hates corruption and works only for the purpose of nation building," he said. The seer claims to be doing this for the last three decades. But his dream of a corruption free India and godly politicians seems to be a distant. On does he feel that things have changed for the better or not, he remains positive. "Yes they have changed," he affirms. To support his faith he added, "Public outcry over corruption, governance and nirbhaya are only an example." |
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Originally Posted by Bull_Twin
(Post 3087841)
Hi adc, great fan of your safari an pics you post. Is it possible to get similar "The wanderers " sticker you have on your safari.. Cheers |
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Originally Posted by himadrimondal
(Post 3087918)
Absolutely floored by the photographs, simply fantastic. Your association with the Bullet is as legendary as the Kumbh. Loved the first photograph of your Dad with the Bullet. The other thing that interests me is the Mahanadi Wildlife Sanctuary travel. Would love to know more about this part too. |
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Originally Posted by sanjoy50
(Post 3088243)
ADC - aha what wonderful pictures ! You never fail to amaze us with ur trips . Keep going brother. |
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Originally Posted by adc
(Post 3088845)
It is not that "hi-fi" as it looks! Printed out the font and style on MWord and showed it to a sign painter and sticker fellow near our house and told him about the way it should look and if it is possible. The sticker guy's enthusiasm is what counted - painting number plates and sticking up goofy stickers on motorcycles, he at last found something different to do - he took that MWord document and made vinyl printouts of each and every letter - and finally pasted all those separate alphabets keeping it perfectly alinged on the plastic cadding of the Safari. All in all it was around Rs 500 for both the sides, but some 3-4 years back. |
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Originally Posted by SS-Traveller
(Post 3089346)
clap: An outstanding set of photographs, ADC, and I especially loved the candid portraits. How was the fog in the morning? No pics in the fog? |
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Originally Posted by Samba
(Post 3089548)
Yet another awesome thread i got hooked to. Was just going through the topics of Team BHP and this topic made me stuck over here. Read the whole till now, a very nice writeup with some superb photographs.clap: Eagerly waiting for more to come. |
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Originally Posted by Bull_Twin
(Post 3089510)
And I hope you wont mind if I get similar for my Safari :). Your posts are interesting, unique and very inspirational  |
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Originally Posted by adc
(Post 3089956)
Aare! go ahead and do post the post-sticker image |
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