Sakori: Garlands of Memory
...Upasni's Sakori, a self-contained little campus of pastel temples, each unique and imaginatively sculpted by a Divine pastry chef working exclusively in Love!
...The excitement of the auspicious day of our visit, December 24, anniversary of both the dropping of Upasni Maharaj's body, and the birth of Godavri Mai.
...The musicians and dancers who began performing in the foyer of the main Temple, just after we went inside. The drums and those "bagpipey" Indian horns that alone seem to be able to convey a mood of spiritual ecstasy!
...In the main building, feeling the deep sense of something Cosmic still going on there, as we were instructed where to bow down before Upasni's crypt, and then again near the shrine to Godavti Mai, where several aged kanyas sat chanting Vedic texts as they have every day for years. Everything in the Temple so colorful and soothing to the eyes and ears: pages from Divine Imagination.
...Once inside the Temple, the decision whether to take photos of this beautiful and holy site. I chose not to, as it seemed important to be fully present, rather than trying to compose or imagine the next shot.
...As we walked along the sidewalks to and from the brick building we passed, but did not stop at, a large glass showcase, in which was a life-sized or bigger model of a dog that looked like a daschund. (It may actually have been a stuffed dog.) It seemed a bit comical among all the temples, but also very sweet. I wondered whether it had been Upasni's pet. The word "Teja", I believe, was printed in large letters below the case. There was no time to stop and read the whole sign.
...from the main hall, we walked to the small brick building where Upasni Maharaj sat with Merwan intermittently for 7 years, mostly at night, and finally folded hands to him, saying, "Merwan, you are the Avatar and I salute you." Sakori has an atmosphere of peace and joy throughout. I could only keep thinking "this is Real." It was incredibly momentous to visit several of our world's "Places of places," of which I had read and heard for so many years.
...On our way out, we received little round (delicious) coconut cakes as prasad, and a red bindi mark was placed upon each of our foreheads. We sat under a large tree in the foyer outside the main Temple for this, and Murshida Conner spoke to us, as well. Now and then, one of the kanyas would come over and pay respects to Murshida.
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