The Sunrise
The Sunrise in Kanhangad was a beautiful event.
Early morning various Bhajans by Shri Bhimsen Joshi, Smt Subhalaxmi, and R N Paradkar, etc were played on the loudspeaker from 4 am. It started with Shree Venkateshwara Suprabhatam. It was dark around when Shri Narayan Bhatji used to climb the steps and open the doors of Bhagavan temple as the lamps were lit the beautiful face of Bhagavan used to glow under the soft light of two lamps burning at His Feet. The Narayan Bhatji used to blow the conch to ensure that the already “Awake” Bhagavan was awake!
Narayan Bhatji used to perform His Abhishek as Shree Venkatesh Suprabhatam by Smt Subhalaxmi was being played on the loudspeaker. He was bathed with tender coconut water and cool water from the well. After He was wiped dry,he dressed in white spotless kafni. A large Tika was made on His forehead using sandalwood paste and vermilion. Garlands made from Tulsi leaves were placed around His neck.
As Bhagavan was made ready for Darshana, the various early morning ochre shades began to be painted on the sky. The cuckoo and other birds sang and welcomed Shree Janananda Swami. The song from the proposed Hindi film on Bhagavan, Jago huha Prabhat, Swami Jago huha Prabhat…..was played on the loudspeaker, Swami strode out of his room and moved to the far end of the ashram near the old kitchen for his early morning ablutions. The entire space like a sponge was soaked with beautiful songs sung by Bhimsen Joshi.
The loudspeaker was playing Jai Jai Arathi Nitynanda from the same Hindi film when the ochre sun rose in the sky. Another large ochre Sun, Swami Janananda walked from the east. He glowed red from the hot water bath and the air was filled with sandalwood oil aroma from the soap that he used. He slowly came up to the Tulsi Vrindavan and with his hand resting on it took a brief halt as if acknowledging her. As he hit his wet ochre kafni in the air before hanging it to dry on the wire, the sprinkle of water droplets in the air reflected thousands of miniature suns. Thus there were two large suns, one in the sky and another by the Tulsi and thousands of suns up there around him!!!
I bowed at his warm Feet placing two Tulsi leaves as I basked in his aura!
