Spiritual Quest

I was watching this movie – ‘The Guru’ on Star Movies. I realized that I always got topics to blog, after watching a Hindi movie. The Guru made me think about a certain topic, and here, I am putting a new blog, on what foreign travelers seek in India.

I am not talking of those people, who come see Kerala, Agra, Jaipur and go back. I am talking of those who come here, stay for a year or so, the hippy kind of guys, who stay in all the hill stations of Himachal, trying to search for their true identity, and search for their soul.

Whenever I read some foreign tourists travelogue, of his travels in India, they are full of words that are completely Indian.

1. They seem to know more about our Vedas and Scriptures .
2. They know exactly what ‘Om’ stands for and its 100 meanings.
3. They know the stories of Rama, Krishna and the Mahabharata. They know about the preachings of the Gita as well
4. Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare, Hare Krsna Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna Hare Hare ! They know this and love listening to it. They know Lord Krishna had 16000 wives, and think its cool.
5. Money God Hanuman, Elephant God - Vignesha, Ganesha, Niranjan, Vakratunda, all his many names & meanings
6. Lord Shiva and his Trident, and the Ganges, and that its flows out of his tresses
7. They know about all the sacred pilgrimage centers on the Ganges
8. Hindu Gods with 2 or more wives – Shiva, Vishnu, Ganesha, Karthikeya, Krishna..they know it all, better than us
9. Shuklam, Bharatharam, Vishnum, Sashivarnam….
10. Nava rathnas, their effect on our lives, the semi precious stones and their effects too
11. Rahu, Ketu, Shani….
12. Prithvi, Jal, Vayu..
13. Kundalini – what ever that is
14. Chakra inside us – Indian Life Science, I guess
15. Kama Sutra and Vatsyayan
16. Surya Namaskaram
17. Vaastu Shastra, Astrology, Palmistry, Ayurveda, Homeopathy
18. They want to learn yoga, meditation, and enroll into courses
19. More and more of them are becoming vegetarians, are giving up drinking and smoking.
20. They talk about cosmic forces, energy, good karma, bad karma, spiritual healing, inner peace, enlightenment and ignorance
21. Also Biryani, Kababs and all its varieties – Tangri, Kalmi, Haryali etc, Idly, Dosa, Rasagolla, Gjam ( Gulab Jamun ), Sambhar, Rasam, Chutney, Malabar Fish Curry, Goan Pheni, Dum Aloo, Dal Bhukara, Chettinad Kozhi Urundai, Andhra Gonkura…..Bhang, Adrak Chai, Lassi hmm.
22. Most weddings in India are 3 day long ceremonies. The significance of ‘Saath Phere’
23. Akbar, Babur, Mauryas, Chalukyas, Marathas, Tipu…who succeeded whom. I am sure they read up a lot
24. Tamil Nadu Express goes to Delhi from Chennai, about Deccan Queen, Darjeeling hill train…
And a lot lot more

They all come here with a clear agenda, India was attracting them like a magnet. So they save up and come. These are some of the statements that you will hear from them, or find in their travelogues.

1. What I experience in India is above and beyond the laws of natural science.

2. I feel light in the mind, the heart and the soul
3. I want to heal my soul spiritually
4. I am here on a spiritual quest
5. I came here to search for inner peace
6. I have come to learn yoga and meditation
7. I have come to achieve a higher state of consciousness and hear my inner voice
8. I have come to communicate with God. Here I found that God is in me

Wow ! That is enough reason I guess. There are loads of them who come year on year and keep visiting again. Because, they believe that India has changed their life, for the good and has left a good effect on this. Something that their country could not offer.

There are some of them, who come here, have a great time, go back and write travelogue that don’t talk great about India. They write that the roads are filthy, there are too many beggars, too much dirt. When I read such stuff about my country, I feel really sad. But, there is another group that really respects our country for its true nature, culture and diversity. Thanks to them, that the tourism Industry in this country is slowing growing.