Ireland, India, & the Transcendent
In a topsy-turvy, very crazy world, it's good to remember there's much that lasts much longer than our lives....
I recently returned from India and have been meaning to share a few photos and sat down to do it when I realized it’s St. Patrick’s Day! So why not share what’s eternal from both lands?
In Ireland I visited Glendalough Monastery, founded in the 6th century A.D. by St. Kevin. It was attacked in the early 13th century by the Normans, but the haunting remains of churches are everywhere here, along with rows of ancient tombstones of so many who stepped upon this earth so long ago.
In India, in the south Indian state of Karnataka, on the road from Bangalore to Mysore, I visited Somnathpur. The temple there is an exquisite example of architecture from the Hoysala dynasty. Built in the 13th century, it was attacked in the early 14th by the Muslim sultanate in India at that time. Because the main idol of the temple—an idol of Krishna—was destroyed, the temple is no longer considered a living temple where one worships.
However, because it’s no longer an active place of worship, it’s so quiet….a rarity of temples in India…and who’s to say the gods aren’t there, just because people declare it so?
In fact, I’d say, the transcendent finds its place, in a space abandoned by the caprices of human nature….
The epics, after all, are so comforting. They say: your own story is unique, yes, to you, but it’s not really that singularly special; it’s a story told by the universe a million times before. But it’s up to you to find meaning from it. The settings may be different, the languages may sing in foreign syllables. But really you’re just another story upon the same earth, and underneath the same sun, moon, and stars, as every other story that’s ever been told.
Speaking of stars, the temple is built upon a star-shaped platform: because while from our perspective upon the earth, the sun and moon are eclipsed, the stars are never out of sight….
On the left, the conical shapes are images of the gopurams (temple towers) in North India. Imagine, people traveling up north, in bullock-carts, upon horses, spying such different architecture, being moved by it, and bringing elements back….slowly, thoughtfully, dreamily…..and what’s more transcendent than dreams?
This is a thought-provoking reflection Nartana. I love the concept of a persons story only being unique to that person themself - but the universe has already seen their story countless times before. Puts it all in perspective! And the pics of you in the temple are amazing! Like you stepped out of those very walls.