Few can muster the courage to argue with the meaning of my title in this publication. India is truly a very mystical country. Even the air there is saturated with something unusual. By inhaling it, you are already charged with unusual energy and your karma is cleared on many levels.

In this sacred year of 2012, I spent 38 days in India. It was a wonderful trip and was simply given to me by fate. Some kind of stranger, who did not reveal his name, paid me in full for all travel and organizational expenses. Air travel and insurance is already a substantial amount. Every day I wonder why this man did not reveal his name and decided to remain an invisible hero.

Arrived in India early in the morning. I was the first passenger on the Delhi Metro. I needed to move to the metropolitan area - New Delhi. Arriving at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, I was somewhat surprised by its modernity, although I understood that it must meet world standards, being the main airport of the country. I was very impressed by the richness of the airport and metro in this country. All this did not fit into the mind, since poverty raged outside the windows. The smell of poverty and poverty is present at every step in India. There are millions of people living simply on the streets. For some, their home is an ordinary blanket on the lawn, for others it’s just a cardboard box under a tree. There are a lot of poor people! But there are a lot of very rich ones.

Even those who have not been to India know that cows that do not belong to anyone roam the streets of the cities of this country. The cow and the monkey are sacred animals in this country. In addition to these sacred animals, other homeless animals also walk along the roads and garbage dumps: chickens and goats, donkeys and wild pigs, old horses and bulls. So they wander from one trash can to another... There are a lot of rats, snakes, elephants, tigers... The benefits of stray animals are very great, as Hindus believe - they clean the streets of cities from pollution, garbage and rotting food. However, they are not as peaceful as they seem at first glance. The same applies to Indians. I have never seen so many angry people in my life!

I built my journey and pilgrimage according to the principle “In the footsteps of Krishna and Buddha.” During this time, I covered more than 20 thousand kilometers, visited many states, cities, and villages. I will dwell only on the main points.

Krishna is the most famous avatar (divine incarnation) of Lord Vishnu, born on July 20, 3228 BC. At one time, he taught the world great teachings that spread throughout India and led to the emergence of various independent branches of Vaishnavism.

So, Vrindavan is a city in the state of Uttar Pradesh, 70 km from Agra. This is a city of 7000 temples! More than 5,000 years ago, on the site of Vrindavan there was a small village of Gokula, where Krishna spent his childhood and youth. Krishna was born in the city of Mathura, but hiding from family enemies, he was forced to live in the village with his adoptive parents. Here he tended cows, played with gopi cowherd boys and played his wonderful flute.

Now the city, home to only 68 thousand people, is the world center of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. There are already a little more than 7 thousand temples dedicated to Krishna. You can meet many Europeans here.

I brought a lot of dry rudraksha fruits from Vrindavan. Rudraksha beads work on various levels: physical, emotional, planetary, karmic. Rudraksha enhances the power of prayer, improves physical health, normalizes blood pressure, weight, raises tone, increases the well-being of the place (home) where it is revered and kept. Each of the readers of the “Key” magazine can contact me to receive their own personal sacred bead.

After visiting Hare Krishna shrines, I discovered that chanting the transcendental sounds of the Hare Krishna mantra is a sublime method for reviving our Krishna consciousness. All of us living souls are originally Krsna conscious. It’s hard to believe, but I understand with an inner feeling that this is true. It's my personal opinion.

Before leaving for India, I came across this phrase: “You will be surprised that Buddhism in India is different from your ideas about it.” This phrase is true - I made this conclusion for myself when I found myself in Western Tibet.

The basis of Buddhism is a strongly linear perception of time, reflected in its dogmas of karma and continuous development. The first says that a person today lives according to karma, which was formed by his actions in past lives. And in today’s life, through his actions, he forms the karma by which he will live in future lives. The dogma of continuous development implies that any entity of our universe will pass (or has already passed) during its reincarnations the path from its most primitive state to the state of Buddha.

Buddha Shakyamuni traveled a lot, so in India there are many places associated with his name. But four are considered the most important of all: Lumbini (now located in Nepal), Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar. The first and last are the places of birth and death, the other two occupy a central place in the history of the doctrine. In Sarnath, the Indian emperor, the Buddhist Ashoka, installed a grandiose stupa (religious building) on ​​this site, as well as many temples and monasteries, most of which were subsequently destroyed by Muslims.

Bodh Gaya is the place of Buddha's Enlightenment or Great Awakening, which he achieved by meditating for 49 days under the Bodhi Tree. Now at this place there is a tree, which, according to legend, is a direct descendant of that same Tree, and the Temple of the Great Awakening with a 52-meter Mahabodhi stupa. Now this place is a center of pilgrimage; temples of all world schools and movements of Buddhism are located here.

In addition to the holy places, I was unexpectedly carried into Indian Bombay and taken out of it just as quickly. The morning began with a crowded and noisy train station. I moved to an area with the exotic name of Colaba and found a hotel there. A night in any hotel in India costs from 4 hryvnia with our money. A room with a large double bed, TV, private bathroom and toilet, and balcony will cost approximately 25-60 hryvnia.

Come to Bombay and you will immediately understand how much a pound is worth. In this city of just over 20 million people, life in the Dharavi slum can be stressful. A depressing sight! I've never seen anything like this before! A black mountain of garbage, a girl in a pink sundress climbing over them, sewer rivers and babies splashing in them, old people with broken limbs, faces covered in ulcers, all the wounds covered in worms and flies... Who needs details of Daravi’s life can watch the film “The Millionaire from slums." That's where it was filmed.

Although Bombay itself (Indians call it “Mumbai”) is very modern, rich, beautiful city. Bombay is the financial capital of India and Delhi is the political capital. Bombay also has many temples, holy places, museums, and parks. Fascinating embankment. A fascinating panorama near the Gateway of India overlooking the sea. But to enjoy real sea (ocean) landscapes, beaches, water - go to GOA or Kerala. This is south India.

There are not even words to describe the beauty and what we saw in those places. I especially liked Palolem beach and that local Catholic church on the beach. The place itself is imbued with an aura of mysticism. And so that you understand my condition, by mystical experience I mean the experience of direct personal communication with the Divine (Absolute). The affirmation of the possibility of direct union with God is the essence of mysticism, as, for example, soul reincarnation. Various mystical doctrines are found in all world religions and beliefs and have common features: they gravitate toward intuitionism and symbolism; involve the practice of certain psychophysical exercises or meditations necessary to achieve a certain state of mind and psyche.

For questions about this publication, with suggestions and comments, call my numbers: 063-0544188, 097-6064330 or write to the editorial office.

, reiki master, traditional healer

Those who have been to India know that there is an incredible number of architectural structures there. The various palaces and temples are magnificent. You can feel the greatness of the ancient builders and feel respect for their talent.

When you first look at these photographs, you think that this is also some kind of temple or palace. Only then do you pay attention to the details and realize that something is wrong here. The building goes deep and below you can see bright green water.

It turns out that this is an ancient rainwater collection system. These are unique underground wells. The depth of these stone structures reaches twenty-five meters. They are created as charitable projects by the rich people of India to help solve the problem of prolonged dry periods. During spring rains, water accumulated in these wells and residents could use it for their needs. Some wells are filled with groundwater.

For a millennium, Indians have used these buildings to conserve water. They are now abandoned. Due to uncontrolled use groundwater Most of the wells have dried up.

Some wells are maintained for display to tourists, but mostly they are dumps with garbage that local residents dump there.

Yoga; disgusting - poverty, unsanitary conditions, slums, overpopulation, gas pollution, leprosy, burning of widows, professional beggars; relatives - Afanasy Nikitin with his “walking across three seas”, “tea with an elephant”, “Hindi-Russi bhai-bhai”, Ravi Shankar, “tramp” Raj Kapoor...

All this is India - a kaleidoscope of the most contradictory, amazing, shocking phenomena, the living mystery of which continues to attract seekers from all over the world - both adventure and truth, and often this attraction occurs unconsciously, like hypnosis. Often (especially from Russians) one hears about the feeling of recognition that arises at the first meeting with this country. The reaction of Indians to Russians is invariably friendly, even emphatically friendly. Once, a rickshaw driver who was picking me up, learning that I was Russian, joyfully remarked: “You’re Russian, which means you’re my sister.” How would he know? After all, he may not even be taught to read and write. And why do many Russians burst into an inexplicable smile when they hear the word “India”?

It is known that India remained a constant magnet for all yogis and mystics who lived behind the Soviet Iron Curtain, which further strengthened the attraction of this magnet, and heartbreaking Indian films made entire cinema halls weep throughout the Soviet Union, and even a cell for thieves in law on a hairdryer "was called "India". Here lies something deeper and, most likely, “Hindi-Rusi bhai-bhai” is much older than the time of Nehru-Khrushchev.

Russia, without fully realizing it, is close to India. Some historians (V.N. Tatishchev) attribute the first Russian-Indian contacts to ancient times (9th century AD), which is confirmed by numismatic finds in the territory of the former Kievan Rus and in the Volga region, as well as testimonies of Arab travelers. The Kashmir courtyard, for example, existed in Moscow since the 12th century. The cucumber designs on our shawls and painted lacquered boxes came to us from Kashmir, the northernmost state of India, while the Kashmiris heat water for tea in samovars, which have the same name and look similar to ours. In the northern state of Himachal Pradesh there are ancient wooden temples dedicated to the mother goddess, like two peas in a pod similar to northern Russian ones. One Jesuit monk, who visited Russia and India in the Middle Ages, wrote that Indian temples reminded him of Moscow churches, and the fearless Rajputs and Marathas reminded him of our Cossacks. A deeper layer of this connection is in language. Russian (and to a greater extent Old Slavic) is close to Sanskrit - the mother of most modern languages ​​of India. And the point is not only in the similarity of the grammatical structure of the language and in the literal coincidence of many words, but, above all, in its ability to convey the sacred and accurately describe sublime states of spirit. For example, it is easier to translate Sanskrit into Russian than into English. But besides these external features, there is something in common in the character and behavior of Indians and Russians. This is the “maybe” principle, some recklessness and carelessness, the belief that “somehow with God’s help everything will work out”; This is life together, en masse, little attention to the individual personality and its value, to the inviolability of “privacy”, i.e. “private life”, which in the West is considered the basic principle of life. Still, no matter how hard Peter I tried, and no matter how hard we try to imagine ourselves as Europe, “we are Scythians” and “we are Asians.” Although Russia is in the middle (God willing, in the golden one!) between east and west, in its entire structure it is still greater than the first, and, according to historians, the Slavs were oriented to the east from the early times of their history. Our Slavic ancestors affectionately called even the Turks living on the Ros River “their filthy ones.” And, please note, wizards in Russian fairy tales always have an oriental appearance. IN ancient Russian literature India has always appeared as a magical land of inexhaustible wealth and abundance bordering on paradise. It was also considered the homeland of the Rahmans, holy omniscient righteous people living in constant communion with God. A copy of “The Tale of Varlaam and Joasaph” (11th century) - an adaptation of the life story of Buddha Shakyamuni, was kept in almost every monastery, and during the time of Peter I, theatrical performances were staged based on its plot.

Having absorbed almost all the world's religions like a sponge - Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Islam (here you can even meet Orthodox Ethiopians and Jews, who are no different from ordinary Indians, except for special surnames, for example, Abrahams, and visiting a synagogue ), - India has turned into a kind of reservoir of spiritual search and potential of the planet. Due to inexplicable reasons, possibly related to the geographical location under certain stars, a significant part of the population of this country for thousands of years devoted their vital forces not to social reconstruction and improvement of material well-being, but to the search and realization of the truth, which was seen as comprehension of the origin, essence and goals of human life. The tradition of this search was passed down (orally for a long time) from generation to generation and was not interrupted even under the yoke of cruel conquests (the most ruthless invaders were the Afghans, who destroyed everything in their path), no less cruel and frequent than those that befell Russia, almost completely having lost its old customs, which were in many ways close to ancient Indian ones. It is believed that this ancient tradition has no beginning and end and contains a certain universal, unchanging code of knowledge about human nature and the structure of the world. A necessary condition the acquisition of such knowledge was and remains simplicity of life, since a life too overloaded with material worries leaves no room for spiritual life. Thanks to such an amazing vitality of ancient customs on Indian soil, India is a unique place where, against the backdrop of all the joys of civilization - super-modern hotels, banks, shops and ubiquitous Internet cafes - you can see sadhus dressed in orange clothes - ascetics who have been wandering around India since time immemorial, visiting holy places, never stopping at any for long, and countless temples, many of which are several hundred years old. There are many such examples of the meeting of ancient times with the present day: recently, Indian programmers discovered that the encoding method that the grammarian Panini used around the 5th century BC. in his treatise, containing the entire Sanskrit grammar in a compressed encoded form, can be used in modern programming. Sanskrit itself, the language of the world's most ancient literary monument - the Vedas, cannot be called dead, since many representatives of the highest caste of Brahmins speak it fluently to this day. In addition, there are free schools where they teach spoken Sanskrit even to foreigners. Just like yoga - the art of mastering the spirit and body, the ancient science of life, Ayurveda, is becoming increasingly popular both in India and abroad.

Each state of India is a separate country with its own culture, language, way of dressing, and cuisine. And everyone who comes to India, if he is looking not only for new exotic experiences, can discover for himself, or rather in himself, something that transcends the ordinary and ordinary habits of thinking and acting. If you tune in correctly to India, it can, like a litmus test, reveal the authenticity of an internal or external situation and provide an answer.

Marina Tsvetaeva once called Russia “a country that borders on God.” Indians believe that God, or, if we talk about Hinduism, gods, live everywhere in countless and varied forms, but, above all, within. The Russian proverb “the church is not in the logs, but in the ribs” perfectly reflects Indian religious ideas, according to which the purpose of human life is to discover this inner God, or the Universal Principle of All That Is. Perhaps it is this view that explains the amazing tolerance of Indians towards representatives of other religions and sounds like a unifying leitmotif in the fantastically diverse Indian symphony.

Jul 15 2017

India is a country located in South Asia. The country borders with many other states. The country's area is 3.3 million square meters. m. India includes several union states and 28 states.

Geographical location of India: Deccan Plateau, Himalayan Mountains, Indo-Gangetic Plains, which is located between the Deccan Plateau and the Himalayan Mountains.

People traditionally begin to get acquainted with India from Delhi, the capital of the state. And one day is not enough to see all the sights. Delhi has many temples, tombs, museums and many other interesting things. Therefore, tourists will have the opportunity to raise their cultural level and learn a lot of new things.

Delhi combines tradition and innovation. Old traditions and culture directly influence new culture and art.

It should be noted that tourism development is connected with many alternative proposals. You can just lie on the beach or go on excursions, gain a lot of knowledge and expand your horizons. In Delhi, popular attractions include the Golden Triangle and the Taj Mahal. And this is easy to explain, since these places are truly beautiful and interesting. After all, it doesn’t hurt tourists to raise the level of cultural development.

If a person is ready to learn and work on something new, or improve his personality, then here is the opportunity to learn Ayurveda, do yoga or meditation. You can improve your health in Kerala. Moreover, here you can not only cure some diseases, but also simply arrange preventive measures for the body.

Also, one of the most famous places visited by tourists is Goa. For some it is a suggestion of a paradise, for others it is an opportunity to hang out, for others it is an opportunity to simply relax.

India is attractive to foreigners for its special variety of attractions, climate and culture, which many guests are interested in with undisguised delight. Although a holiday in India may not be suitable for everyone, everyone will experience emotions. Some will love the country, the people and the culture. And for some it will remain a mystery - why this place is so popular among tourists and pilgrims.

Hanging column. Lepakshi, Andhra Pradesh

Lepakshi is historical place associated with the Ramayana. It is located near Hindupur in Andhra Pradesh, 120 km from Bangalore. It is good to go to Lepakshi on a weekend for sightseeing - the hanging pillar of the temple with painting on the roof, Sita's cradle and many more.

A village without doors. Shani Shignapur, Maharashtra

Photo: womenpla.net

Shani Shighnapur is known for its famous Shani Temple. This village has never witnessed any crime, which is due to the blessings of Shani Dev. There are no doors or locks on the houses in the village. Taking note of the near-zero crime rate, UCO Bank has also lifted the 'lock' on its branch in this village, the first of its kind in India.

Contrary to the laws of gravity - a magnetic hill. Ladakh

Devi Nair is a popular place among tourists. Magnetic Hill is a short drive from Gurudwara Pathar Sahib. There is an illusion created that vehicles slowly moving up. Try to capture this miracle with your camera! The mysterious hill is located at an altitude of 3.3 km above sea level.

Land of Snakes Shetpal, Maharashtra

Shetpal in Sholapur is famous for snake worship. Every house in this village has room for cobras in the rafters of its ceilings. Not a single case of snake bites has been reported in this village despite the fact that they move freely in every house.

Roopkund Skeleton Lake. Uttarakhand

This lake is known as Skeleton Lake or Mystic Lake. 600 human skeletons were discovered here. The lake is located at an altitude of about 5 km in a mountain valley and freezes in winter.

Kodinhi Twin Village

Residents of Kodinha in Mallapuram, Kerala, have managed to baffle scientists. There are 350 pairs of identical twins per 2,000 inhabitants! It is rightly called the village of twins.

Mass suicide of birds. Jatinga Valley, Assam

Jatinga attracts ornithologists and bird lovers as it is visited by huge flocks of migratory birds every year. Between September and October, especially during the dark and foggy nights, hundreds of birds fly at full speed towards trees and buildings and are killed.

Earth black magic Mayong, Assam

The name Mayong is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word Maya. Many legends about people disappearing into thin air, people turning into animals, and animals being tamed are associated with this place.

Red rain. Idukki, Kerala

Idukki is famous for a strange phenomenon called red rain. The first case of red rain was recorded back in 1818. In Hinduism, red rain signifies the wrath of the gods and signals destruction and grief. Some people believe that killing innocent people causes red rain.

Descendants of Alexander the Great in Malana, Himachal Pradesh

Residents of the village of Malana believe that they are descendants of Alexander the Great. This village was completely cut off from the rest of the villages in Malana. The people living here consider themselves to be members of a superior race, so they avoid interacting with anyone outside their community; they cannot even be touched.

Largest river island Majuli, Assam

Majuli Island is located on the Brahmaputra River and has large wetlands that are home to rare and endangered avifauna, including migratory birds that arrive during the winter season.

Mummy of Sangha Tenzing in Ge village, Spiti

If you think that mummies were only discovered in Egypt, then this is not so. The amazingly well-preserved 500-year-old mummy of Sangha Tenzing, a Buddhist monk from Tibet, was found in a small village called Ge in Spiti. He was found in a sitting position, his skin and hair well preserved.

Unusual motorcycle in Bandai, Rajasthan

This motorcycle returned to the scene of any incident even after its fuel tank was empty. Since then, people have honored him, believing that he has supernatural powers.