You will find many articles and blogs that share techniques about health and fitness. This isn’t one of them, on the contrary this targets the most primary question of all time, Is their a solution to solve to our problem? or the problem is just a way to learn ? You will understand one thing for sure that these books, only work for some people not everyone. All personality development, health and fitness books are very necessary to help you grow. But the concepts in the books can only be understood when you have gained enough experiences from your own life. In this blog I want to put a light on what I have learned from my journey in Tala Village, and a eye opening experience at Kuda Caves in Maharashtra. This is me sharing the discovery of my path.
Located in the unexplored forests of Tala village in Maharashtra, India. There lie the Archaeological Site known as Kuda Caves, a representation to the rich knowledge of ancient history and spirituality. Believed to have been excavated in the first century BCE, these caves stand as proof of a long-lost era. The invite exploring adventurers to hike into their secrets. For Most People archaeological site are like a maze to wander and enjoy their journey. But for Archaeologist’s (The Explorers of the world) these are like grandparents telling bedtime stories about glory and knowledge. Buddhism is a world wide known culture. But very few people understand the true technique Gautam Buddha wanted to share in this world. Till today monks use this techniques to stay young and live a healthy lifestyle.
First lets Know about Kuda Caves of Maharashtra and later we will learn about the wisdom they have passed through the generations living in Tala village of Maharashtra.
Discovery and Location
The Kuda Caves comprise fifteen small and simple caves. They are located away in the dense forest environment of Tala village, of Maharashtra state. While their exact origins remain unknown in the journey of time. Archaeologists and historians believe that they date back over two millennia, making them an invaluable archaeological site in the region. What amused me was the lifestyle these Buddhist monk use to experience and follow to reach enlightenment. Yes “Enlightenment” I know it sounds like a cult word. Coming from a ferocious rock solid background of science this word strikes my nerve too. But coming this far, I think it has something more to say than what we are being continuously influenced by the world.
I have heard this many times that the path of enlightenment is completely out of the typical human society concept. To walk this path we have to loose all the material assets like home, family, friends, etc. that is when you realize true bliss. But that is not a complete truth. Their is a lot more to this. The people who say this path is extremely difficult are not wrong. They believe to hold such knowledge, you need to empty you bucket of memories. So they suggest walking this path in early age, so that you can grab as much as you can. But what if I can tell you this entire logic just vanish away when you realize the true nature of universe, and why exploring is better than knowing. Stick to the end and we will find out together.
Lets move onto another aspects of these caves, that is their architecture and features.
Architecture and Features
Despite their modest appearance, the Kuda Caves in Maharashtra show remarkable architectural and artistic elements. Carved into the rocky area, these caves showcase a simplicity that represent their historical significance. Decorating the Verandahs (Porches) of the Chaitya (prayer hall) are detailed carvings showing the peaceful face of the Buddha. Along with symbolic representations of lotus flowers, wheels, and mythical Nagas.
As a coin that has two sides, as cylinder that can be seen as square from one angle and a circle from another every single experience coming from this universe has multiple perceptions and all that controls it, is you perspective. In the same way their are two beliefs that people have about this world, firstly that it was created by some (the religious way) and other it all happened cause of circumstances (the scientific way). Believe me, I have followed the circumstances path for a very long time. Later even explored the religious way, just to reach a point where they both collide together just to show the destination is the same for both. I will share my experience in both paths later on but for now lets conclude that we all are like leaves on a tree getting nutrition from the roots.
Life
The whole point of this charade called life is this knowing where are we getting this nutrition from. Any path you choose, where you decide to go in search of this information or believe in your instincts, we eventually reach the roots of the tree. And well, as I said earlier that this knowledge is so vast you need an open mind and huge space in your hard drive to load this software. Because later when you reach at the roots you will find that the nutrition comes from the earth which composes of fertile matter created by millions of long shaded leaves. That is enlightenment, and this knowledge is not for everyone.
Even “Shrimat Bhagwat Geeta” A Hindu Ancient Script was not supposed to be heard by everyone. It’s actually a conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna (One of the Pandav). Lord Krishna gave Arjuna this knowledge cause he was capable of handling it and it was his destiny to hear it. It’s absolutely essential for us to realize that the knowledge of reaching to the roots is so vast that it cannot be learned in one life. We go through this birth and death cycle again and again to complete this journey. And the only way to enjoy this is by experiencing each lifetime fully on your own and not taking anyone else lessons. Everything happens in a cycle in this universe, but the process is so long that we see it as a straight path from birth to death.
Take for example these caves. Every cave that we encounter are not just homes for the travelers but like window where you can get a glimpse of the time spent by the people who lived some time in these abodes passing memories and stories.
Evolution and Cultural Significance
Over the centuries, the Kuda Caves located in Maharashtra went through a transformative journey, witnessing the transition from early Buddhism to the Mahayana tradition during the 5th and 6th centuries CE. This evolution is reflected in the addition of sculptures and artistic motifs characteristic of Mahayana Buddhism, further enriching the cultural history of the caves.
There is a tradition done every year by Buddhist monks that reflects evolution in a very simple way and how we should perceive it. There happens a festival every year where monks spent many days to draw a very detailed Rangoli (A Colourful art of dry powder colours) on the ground. The art is so detailed and is done with enormous patience and dedication. But after the art work is created these monks wipe this art mixing all the colours and destroying the art completely. What a shame, right? That’s precisely how we should take evolution in to our understanding. The more we get attached to the destiny, the more it will hurt loosing it. The more we love the path and enjoy the process the better is our overall experience.
Notable Features and Inscriptions
Each cave within the Kuda cave complex holds its own unique charm and significance. The first cave, is decorated with ancient writings in Pali Language carved upon its walls. It serves as a strong reminder of the lives and aspirations of those who once found solace within its confines. Meanwhile, the entrance to the sixth cave stands with majestic elephant carvings, symbolizing strength and wisdom.
Elephants have a very great importance spiritual journey in the Asiatic countries. Elephants are considered as the architect of the forest and hold a special place in Hinduism to symbolize lord Ganesha’s Power. For me, they show how enormous power can still be calm and peaceful. You see it’s all about perspective. You came in this world out of no where actually. All you can remember is opening your eyes. The only proof that this world exists in front of you is because you feel it using your senses. If your turn them off that is death or to some people enlightenment.
Not Solution but Existence
The point of me writing this blog is simple. Instead of seeking for solutions all the time for your infinite and self generating problems try to just experience this existence. Let me simplify that for you. For example, you get pricked by a thorn and you went to your mom for treatment. Their are multiple possibilities here if she’s from a strong family she can say that it’s ok it will heal on it’s own. If she’s from a pampering family she might even take you to a doctor for treatment. In todays world we are so obsessed with prejudging the outcome that we forget that we are experiencing all the pain and suffering for one purpose, that is know and grow in this world.
It is absolutely necessary for us to believe in “Karma” and “destiny” to stop this world from trapping you into influencing things that you actually don’t want to do. Because as soon as you share a experience people will start telling you what you should make of it, because they feel similarity in both experiences (one which they have experienced and other yours), but believe me it is an illusion both can never be same and so it’s important to not seek for opinion and neither give out opinion about anything because if you do so your are voiding someone from taking those lessons and learning for yours. And learning is the only thing we come to do in this life, remember? The leaf searching for the source of nutrition.
Moment
Similarly, I want you to take this caves as a moment in your life in experiencing time itself and what it has to teach you. A treasure of historical insights is waiting for you within the caves. As evidenced by the thirty inscriptions found throughout the complex. These inscriptions show testimony to the generosity of the Buddhists, monks, and a diverse array of donors, including iron mongers, bankers, gardeners, writers, physicians, flower vendors, and even a minister.
As all the big things need help from others, it is necessary to know that the history glorifies valor and heroic victories. True gratitude comes from knowing one fact that even if a person seems alone he never is. As I mentioned earlier the entire universe exists cause we feel it. This shows the whole universe is with us during whatever is happening in our life. That is why we should show gratitude. It’s ok to be happy after doing something good on your own. It”s ok celebrate, jump a little in the sky, but come back on the ground.
Most people jump so high that they don’t realized it was the earth that pushed them. But practically how can we comeback to earth? It’s simple actually how we all come back to earth when we jump? Gravity right? It like a love our mother earth has for us. Same way we Idolize a deity in any form, that’s why the sculptures.
Idols
We are not that good of an Artist ! How many of you can explain a sketch artist the face of someone you just met. It’s not easy to explain unless we see them everyday like our parents or friends. So that made me realize the importance of Idols. We are moving towards an open minded society as we are evolving into the new age. I believe open mindedness should not come with ego and pride, then you lack the element of exploring possibilities. For example, looking at any culture seems at a glance like illogical and not reasonable. But that is how it feels that may or may not be true. I feel the science we have learned showed have different purpose. Science should not disprove anything, but it should help explore the possibility and discover new things.
Preservation and Accessibility
When I first visited these ancient caves I was mesmerized by the knowledge and timescapes this place has passed through their presence. I wonder how people passing through this cave would have experienced the shelter they provided for the travelers. The experience made me overwhelmed by the mere thought of what a treasure these caves must have been perceived by the travelling monks, when they have traveled so much. So I went into one of the cave and imagined myself as a traveler who has traveled this varied adventurous life.
I went in and sat there for a while just to get another surge of thought that completely changed my perspective again. I went inside to explore so I hadn’t made any pre-judgmental thought of what I would find inside, this made me feel like a explore. But truely even though I was not expecting any new experiences but still I thought of experiencing what the explorers felt. That’s when I realized true bliss of Nirvana. Our minds are so over crowded by the experiences people have shared with us in the past that we fail to understand one thing. Not everything happens in the world has to happen with us. If everyone’s experience was the same the world would stop to exist.
Don’t go Hard on Yourself
We go to hard on our selves to experience the good moments others have shared with us. Well its disaster as soon as this thought starts in the mind, as it stops us from living in the moment which is happening in front of us and moving further every fraction of second passes. This is the biggest barrier of todays world that stops us from enjoying the ecstacy of the present moment. It also alters the path of our future. But sadly most people see this disaster as their own fault, It’s not actually ! Even this is a lesson, nothing is actually your fault.
It’s Ok to not be in the moment, it’s OK to let pass a moment, It’s OK. Just be open to the possibility that a day will come where you will realize your doing something wrong may be yet you will not act on it, but one day you will do that too. All I want to convey here is for instance if I am sharing you all this bliss about life doesn’t mean you will experience it right away just by excepting what I am saying. Everything has a right time set in the clock of this world when you don’t hit the snooze and just wake up. Just don’t wait for that moment. It’s OK to dream and procrastinate for a while.
To Let Go or Never quit?
Most the time people find this quote as a offensive statement that makes people lazy and loose hope. That’s because most of the time it is heard and not felt. Let me explain, most of the time people who have actually experienced the moment of letting go, went through a turmoil of processes to each that moment. And also not ignoring the fact that the experience came to them in this lifetime because of their path towards their destiny.
But when they reach their moment and get the bliss that it beholds, as any other child in this universe, they are so eager to publish their findings. The people who say just let go are actually glorifying their victory. Imagine a person who was cured from a sickness by a particular doctor’s medicines. Now, what if that person shares that prescription with someone who is going through the same sickness but has different biology. Will that medicine work the same for him? It may or may not.
That is why we need a trained person like a doctor who has not just cured the sickness but has actually studied about it. Like GURU. Another absurd word for this high profile world and to me once. But now when I come to see it this way well even I needed or may be still need this Guru in my life. I came to a point where everything which I based my whole thought process on was not ground but a turtle with a dragon mouth and mermaids tail fin. Ha Ha ha! My point is the more firmly you believe in something, the better surprise you will get when life proves you wrong.
Gurus or traditional Doctors?
But if you keep your perspective positive (when your moment comes) The surprise won’t look like a shock, if not you will be shocked. But still do not worry because shocks make you strong so that is win situation for you.
Most of the time people look at gurus or even Buddha like to whom people visit to solve their problems. No, that not true. Problems are solved as a result. What a guru or any enlighten person does is give a proper push. To give your thought in the right way to help you vibrate in a more systematic way. For Example, Imagine you are a stuck in a whirlpool. Most people don’t know the fact that the only way to get out of the whirlpool is to let go.
If you swim to get out of the whirl you will drown more quickly as a tired person cannot hold his breath for long. as you are drag down and just at the moment when the whirlpool releases you, you loose your breath. You need to stay put hold your breath and let it sink you so that you drown and from the bottom you rise from the side using the same force that dragged you down. This is what a GURU does. Directs you in the right way.
Preserving the legacy of the Kuda Caves is of great importance in Maharashtra state. To ensure that future generations can continue to excel at their timeless beauty, experiencing what I experienced. While the caves require a degree of effort to access. The journey to Tala village promises to be a rewarding one. It offers a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of Maharashtra.
Holy Places or Archaeological places?
Places like this which are called pilgrim places are worshipped for a reason. This places are like scenic views that you see while driving your car around a mountain (Ghat). Imagine a long road trip alone, meeting new people, exploring places, experiencing problematic situation, bad weather, pleasant atmosphere, and so much more this actually a simple perception of life for me. But in Konkan region had blessed my journey with Sahyadri Mountains.
The spectacular thing about this mountain range is that its like a fort wall erected that separate the Konkan beach from the deccan Plateau. So if you drive through this range this mountains give a short quick views of the beach atop the mountains. These sights are one of kind and they give a short but very sweet scenes of happiness and pull your drifting mind into the present moment. All these places are similar to such views. They help your mind, body and soul to reconnect and act as one.
This documentation provides a comprehensive overview of the Kuda Caves located in Maharashtra, incorporating details about their discovery, architecture, cultural significance, notable features, and the importance of preservation and also my own experience in this monument. My name is Vipul Bambardekar, In my next blog I shall share the stories I heard from the villagers surrounding this village.