| | Yesterday was a day trip to Kanchipuram to see a Hindu temple that celebrates the marriage of 2 deities under a mango tree - a guide forced himself on us at the gate and tried to make us pay obeisance to his deities - most of which costs money. Sometimes we were able to wiggle our way out, but at one point, a holy man came towards me, arm outstretched and finger ready with red paste. I was like a deer caught in headlights - I froze while he made his prayer to Shiva and had Julian throw some small bills on his plate so that I could run away. I walked out of the temple complex grumpy and frowning at all of the ways that the holy men had managed to suck money out of us (and the ways in which they tried but did not succeed). As we walked back to the car, Julian asked me what was wrong, and I responded, "I did not want to be blessed." Then, "I'm keeping this mark on my forehead all day so no one tries to bless me again." Still later, "I just started my period and it is unpleasant." "So you're sad because you defiled the temple?" My mouth went into a round O as I remembered that women were not allowed in temples during their menses, and we both started to laugh. Julian said, "Well, I think that you and Shiva are about even now." We visited a number of other ancient sites, including an improbably balanced rock nicknamed "Krishna's Butter Ball," but with Julian teasing me about sacrilege every time reached a sight, I did not actually enter another temple building. Today was 9 hours on an Indian train, which Julian was very excited about until he climbed on and realized that these were not plush 19th century trains with dining cars. I hope never to take a train again. |
| | Posted 8/20/2008 7:39 AM - 10 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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