Today I wish I was in Puri.... instead of Perth!
There is no comparison for spiritual interest and excitement.
If I could swim the vast Indian ocean which meets the coastline of Western Australia and stretches all the way to India I could quickly go there, otherwise I will have to reminisce by looking through photos [or start saving for an airline ticket].
For now let's take a virtual trip.
Throughout the year hundreds of pilgrims visit the Jagannath Temple in Puri - one of the biggest in India, dating back to the 12th century. Foreigners are not allowed inside so we stay at the main gate and offer prayers from there.We can see Patita Pavana Jagannath, illuminated within the evening darkness.
And Puri is well known for Jagannatha Prasad which is so potent that merely by its taking one becomes spiritually enlightened.
The kitchen of the temple can easily feed 10,000 pilgrims at one time.The prasadam is cooked in these clay pots of all sizes, and then offered and made available for purchase in the same clay pots.
Some pots are quite huge.
Notice how much rice is in these large pots, as well as dahl and various subjis? The temple is run with strict standards for the offerings. The kitchen is managed by a class of brahmanas whose livlihood has been cooking here for generations.They wear silk cloth and cover their head and mouth for purity.
[to be continued]
