The Dancing Monk

"The dawn tears the cloud bladder

On orange tray, the Ash scatters.

The mystic aura, the enigmatic chants,

Feel like Heaven on this holy land.

On the banks of river lied an aged monk,

Draped with saffron, wearing a red gown.

Grey eyebrows and white bear showed age

Wrinkled face and eyes with dried tears."

The Tea-Bar Riddle:

The grey sky bladder tear apart by the dawn rays , It looks as if ash sprayed on saffron tray , the Mystic aura and the enigmatic silence on the bank , where the only possible vibes are those on river Ganga which speaks the pain of thousands dead bodies submerged in it and on other hand also rejoice of million who took there first bath to purify themselves off all the malice they did. Everyday starts with this twin feeling on the two opposite banks of the river which are like two ends of life one the birth and another is leaving it in sanity. There are saints , Kids , flower vendors, and many homeless souls, for them this is the last piece of land they posses , the steps of the river's ghat, which lead them to the heaven, It may be a dream and there may not be anything called as heaven but that's what keep them alive.

On the corner of the platform , there sat a Monk in grey and saffron , They all call him the " the dancing monk" as he starts his day with his dance which carries on till the time there are only spirits left on the bank , way past midnight. He looks like the devils from dungeon from his appearance , his tattooed body makes him a masterpiece of east. I tried speaking to him , trying to ask him why he lived like a monk , what is his inspiration the driving force, but to my expectation the only language he knows is dance. He dance for everything he want to convey , When I wished him good morning he replied by nodding his head like they do it in kathak , An ancient Hindu dance form. I left the platform and came to a road side tea-bar.

I decided to observe him, all day long and try to converse if possible with him, to go to the deep roots of this. I sat at the tea-bar comfortably, people around, told me he came here some 15 year ago , He was a professor in a arts school in Banaras. He came here for the cremation of the 25 year old son who passed with a sudden heart attack, After that day he never spoke much and from last many year he seldom speak to anyone. The only way he communicates is by signs and signaling for his daily routine needs and rest, he only dance. People, tourist mainly find it entertaining; donate him with a few penny each day. People say the locals here call him to dance on the birth celebration or the Ganeu ritual in brahamans, at the Vishnu ghat, two blocks from here. He is mostly seen on the kaal ghat which is four blocks just after Vishnu ghat , dancing endlessly , totally engrossed in the music of the chants from temple , the drums of thunderstorms in monsoon, the percussionist, the bells of temple being the keyboard.

time for me stopped as if the its asking for a question to me , why is he like this ? what made him stop speaking ? taking all this riddles in my mind I ordered for a rusk and masala tea while I saw him cleaning himself in the river and tying his long serpentine hairs.

The Kaal Ghat:

It was just 7:00 O Clock , and I saw the first cremation ceremony starting at the kaal ghat , few bald men got the body of a young girl who committed suicide in the village a few Km from here, The monk saw them coming and started his dance , it seems he danced in a pattern which signifies the pain he felt for each person who left this earth , he cried ,screamed and danced opening his hair , it looked as if lord Shiva is in his ‘Natraja' form , where he dances so furiously that the earth almost came to an end . His eyes could speak a million emotions his hands moved as if asking for help, he needed from so many years , a shoulder where he could lie down and cry for the loss he had. Each note of his dance speak of as if praying to lord for the peace for the past soul. It seems he can connect directly to the souls and convey them to reside in peace and not wander around this mortal land.

As the time pass by, it started raining and the men left cremation throwing few pennies at him but he didn't stopped dancing he came close to the ash of the burning body which was still hot , cried like a mother who has lost his child. He touched the burnt wood as he would love his own son , who passed 25 years back, the memories of cremation were still burning in his heart. He danced in the rain like asking god why he takes those who are loved so much. Each note was so clear and specific that even the proficient dancers would fail to attain such emotional backbone of expressions to the movements which are meaning less if we there are not sentiments attached to it.

I could see the red eyes blowing like burnt charcoal, the pain on the forehead, the tattoo which describes the seven stages of human life and lords quotes on it. which describes the shlokas from Bhagwad Geeta , The Hindu bible for one from west. It says whatever happened happens for a reason and one must not repent or be joyful over it and on whole what is important is the karma you do. The abhinaya (mime acting) performed drenched me of sweat completely as I have never seen someone dancing with such vigor over a funeral ceremony.

I finished my tea and ordered for a water jug as I was almost in tears and wanted badly to talk to him, I asked the vendor why anyone hasn't talked to him or helped him , He said in Bihari accent that everyone in this earth is a materialistic fool and no one is emotional enough to help such a pleading souls . The municipality people take them as beggars and thrash them of each time any VIP visit is there. They are nothing but a burden on this earth.

The Vishnu Avatar:

Paying the vendor, I followed the Monk closely, he knew someone is following but didn't stop, He danced as if showing me I am a fool to follow and there is no use. He made faces like they do it in Kolam dance (devil dance: performed by masked men). I was bit frightened, as they said he had beaten a men to death when he tried to mimic him a few years ago. I followed quietly, He stopped looked at me ,he suddenly came close to me and offered me a hand shake I was terrified for a second but somehow felt good when I touched him , The warmth was blissful, I started conversation but to no good doesn't lasted for a second as he again started dancing this time in oddisi (Odissi features the ‘tribhang' or ‘three bended' body position, accentuating the natural female curvature - and is considered to be a softer I couldn't interfere him and following him was the only option left for me to know him , But for cheering I had a connection with him and he doesn't mind, me following.

Over the Vishnu ghat as always there was a ceremony going on where the infant baby is brought to the bank for his first bath another of Hindu ritual, which expresses that the river Ganga will bless the child and would always keep him safe from hazards and problems in life, the monk offered a prayer to the goddess and started performing another dance this time it was different and there were a lot of happy notations were there, his actions clearly defining the joy. There was one thing which I didn't notice before was that he carries a bag with him and keeps it very close, whenever where ever he goes and within seconds I thought this would give me all the answers to my questions if somehow I get to open it up. He danced for nearly five continuous hours without a drop of water or food and then as the people left he collapses in a corner of the platform. I rushed towards him but he was subconscious. I could see the tear drops over his eyes and the wrinkled face showing the marks of pains clearly as he regained, to see me he was shocked and frightened , I told him I offer no harm and gave him water to drink. He refused and ran so fast that I couldn't follow him. I was surprised as why he didn't accept my offerings.

I left for the hotel with a sad mood, after a holy dip in the river hoping to meet him next morning.

The Bag with Answers:

I followed him for six days up-to that platform on Vishnu ghat , I saw him dance till midnight a few time , Saw him laughing with tears in his eyes , watched him washing his body in the river , people throwing stones at him , in return he jus smiled and danced in the most illustrious way I have ever seen. Each day I would offer him water but he never accepted.

On the last day of my journey I offered him the water bottle again and turned back to move, to my utter surprise I heard the cracking of the bottle seal. I turned back, he saw me with emotion less eyes but I could still make out he want to cry, cry for what has happened to him, cry for his salvation. I sat nearby after gulping a few sips, He just leaned over my shoulder and ........ Silently but yet not spoke a single word. He slept over my shoulder for 1 hour and then realizing I may be getting late stood up and offered his bag, I couldn't say anything; He forced me to take it. When I tried opening it he stopped me as if telling me not to open it now. I just nodded my headed in assurance.

I started leaving the Ghats as I had a train to catch, But I was stopped by him , he screamed looking towards sky as if pleading god to take him on his lap, and then started dancing. I couldn't move a feet as It was something I have never seen before, I was confused is it a dance or a prayer or plea to someone for help. His emotions were so many to count that, one couldn't make which mood he is in, there was joy, anger, mercy, sympathy, love ,care. But I need to move, his eyes were telling me he wants to meet me next morning. I was surprised as butterflies just kept on burping as I wanted to know more and more about him. To my surprise I thought he'll speak something there but he just thanked me by "namaskar" mudras. It's a notation in Hindu rituals to express good will.

I took my train , in the compartment I opened up his bag I could find a diary , A pen, a broken watch , A photograph and a cloth something like a scarf . The diary was tattered , the pen wasn't working , the watch was stop as if time has finished for him and he is being left here out of mercy to live his life full with no colors, no joy. The only thing which keeps him going was DANCE: the eternal way to connect to the one who made this world.

He was a Professor of arts and drama, the only way I could describe how I knew all the dance forms was because he had mentioned each one in his diary, He also talked about those happy days when he used to come to the Ghats with his family and kids. After a few year I went back to Kashi: the Holy land, Searched for him, asked the Tea-bar vendor what happened to him , they say Its being years they haven't seen him. I hope he rested in peace, he deserved so badly. Life is like that only It make you really plead for what you deserve most , for few who are born with the silver spoon it may be a cake walk But for rest of us it's a daily workout to maintain the fit body. The visit to that place and meeting the Dancing Monk was one of the most memorable period of my life. Lets dance our way out to let our emotions spill out, Lets gets connected to the Lord.

diary spoke a lot about his glorious life and awards he won and how a sudden change in the life can devastate your complete mortal life . I still hope I meet him over some station and talk to him, As its so much to learn from him ..........Each time I pass through a holy place or asome ghat,My eyes go searching for him... The sage from from the silent land.... The dancing monk.

The Saga Continues : S.D.