Closing The Door To Hell
CULTURAMA|November 2018

The Very Sight of the Six Bone Ornaments, Gifted to the Naropa, a Scholar/saint, Is Said to Confer Blessings So Great That the Doors to the Three Lower Realms – Animal, Hungry Ghost, and Hell – Are Closed. What Else Lies in Store at the Naropa Festival, Which Is Held in His Memory?

Preeti Verma Lal
Closing The Door To Hell

It was in a stark cold desert named Leh that I first heard of dakinis, the mythical creatures who carry the human soul into the sky. That is not their only job, though. They are also the spiritual muse, the guardians of the inner mysteries of the Self. I do not know what the dakinis look like. Perhaps pretty. Perhaps beatific. Sitting on a red carpet in the shadow of the 17th-century Hemis Monastery, I was listening to stories about them. Of how, about a thousand years ago, the dakinis gifted Six Bone Ornaments to an Indian scholar/saint called Naropa on the day he attained enlightenment.

The Naropa (1016–1100), who became the Chancellor of Nalanda University but later left the materialistic world and his family for the path of enlightenment. At the age of 40, he met his guru, Tilopa, and attained enlightenment 12 years later. His teachings of the Six Yogas of Naropa are considered to be one of the fundamental pillars of the Vajrayana Buddhist tradition.

It was for the five-day Naropa Festival that I had flown in to Leh. At 11,652 feet above sea level, my lungs should have been gasping for an ounce of extra oxygen. Instead, caught in the milling crowd of monks and nuns, the curious and the onlooker, my soul was packing piety. This was not the biggest of the Naropa Festivals, often called the ‘Kumbh of the Himalayas’. Held every 12 years, the festival is the largest Buddhist congregation in the Himalayas. This September, it broke from the 12-year routine to host a festival two years after the big Naropa.

Bu hikaye CULTURAMA dergisinin November 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye CULTURAMA dergisinin November 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

CULTURAMA DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
CULTURAMA

NFT: All Set To Make History

One of the more common terms that you come across on social media these days is NFT, which means non-fungible token. The concept has left several people perplexed; however, it has not stopped brands around the world jumping at this growing opportunity. Anurima Das delves deep into the fascinating world of NFTs to learn and capture the intricacies of this unique digital addition

time-read
3 dak  |
October 2021
Embracing The Real Estate Boom
CULTURAMA

Embracing The Real Estate Boom

While the pandemic may have initially slowed the real estate dreams of buyers and developers, the trend is seeing a dramatic surge in recent times. Sowmya Putran looks at why it is worth investing in real estate now, more than ever

time-read
3 dak  |
October 2021
Why Do You Need An Interior Designer?
CULTURAMA

Why Do You Need An Interior Designer?

An interior designer can help style a home and give it a fabulous makeover proficiently. Bindu Gopal Rao looks at key aspects that make these designers an essential part of your new home

time-read
3 dak  |
October 2021
Enchanted by INDIAN CULTURE
CULTURAMA

Enchanted by INDIAN CULTURE

She came to India with an open heart, and the country did not disappoint French citizen Delphine Delaoutre. From discovering the unique culture, tasting new cuisines, to getting up close and personal with the people, Delphine thoroughly immersed herself in the local traditions. Team Culturama caught up with Delphine about her life in India

time-read
2 dak  |
October 2021
Hill Stations of INDIA .
CULTURAMA

Hill Stations of INDIA .

Planning to take a break and go on an unforgettable vacation? Embark on a quick and safe trip to one of the many stunning hill stations of India. Team Culturama guides you through a few of the top beautiful destinations in the country

time-read
2 dak  |
October 2021
CULTURAMA

OLYMPIC DREAMS COME TRUE

When Indian freestyle wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya won the silver medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, a proud nation cheered his achievement This prestigious medal tops his other glorious wins including the 2019 bronze medal at World Wrestling Championship and the two-time Asian Wrestling Championships. Meera J Pillai caught up with the star athlete after his incredible win at the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics.

time-read
3 dak  |
October 2021
CULTURAMA

INDIAN HOMES EXPERTS

Global Adjustments has been an expert on Indian homes for the past 26 years. Here's a set of FAQs put together by Team Culturama for those wanting to rent or buy a house in India.

time-read
2 dak  |
October 2021
Adding Too Much Value
CULTURAMA

Adding Too Much Value

A classic problem of smart, successful people is Adding Too Much Value. This bad habit can be defined as the overwhelming desire to add our two cents to every discussion. A slight variation on Winning Too Much, Adding Too Much Value is common among leaders who are used to running the show. Marshall Goldsmith shares his take on workplace behaviour that can make a difference in team building

time-read
2 dak  |
October 2021
CULTURAMA

Build Your Immunity

Immunity has become one of the more commonly used words around the world since the start of the pandemic. Jennifer Thomas shares ways people can make themselves healthier

time-read
2 dak  |
October 2020
My disciples call me MANU MASTER!
CULTURAMA

My disciples call me MANU MASTER!

Varsha Ramachandran shares details of Virtual Bharat’s recent film on the remarkable artiste Manu Master

time-read
3 dak  |
October 2020