We continue on the road to Chennai (if you missed the first of this series, you can catch it at ‘India 2 Adventure Part 1’) after finishing a delicious breakfast.

Darshan, now feeling a little more comfortable with me, tells me many stories about past trips he has taken with clients and it is immediately apparent that he loves people and loves what he does. And as I experience his driving skills, recognize that he is a very good driver.

Driving here requires that you must drive very defensively and have a great and quick response to the second-by-second changes in the traffic.

The roads here are full of trucks, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, bull carts and many many pedestrians. Here is a truck of sand (and we saw hundreds of these kinds of trucks) delivering sand to build roads, commercial buildings and homes as the area is growing so quickly due to the tech industry. The decorations on the truck belong to a certain truck-owning family.  The peacock is the bird of India and the rooster is the symbol of the deity they pray too.  In India, the rooster or cock is the attribute of Skandha, personification of solar energy – also known as Lord Murugan. Skanda, is variously known as Lord Murugan a Bachelor god as well as the Kārttikeya/Kumara, the Warrior God of War, who wields a bow in battle. The lance called Vel in Tamil is also a weapon closely associated with him. The Vel was given to him by his mother, Parvati, and embodies her energy and power. His army’s standard depicts a rooster. (https://japanesemythology.wordpress.com/rooster-symbolism/)

We were told that there are 50,000 new cars on the roads in Bangalore every month. In a city of over 6 million people, that just sounds crazy!

As Darshan is driving, I am just taking pictures (remember I am in a moving vehicle and am an amateur photographer). Darshan proves to be extremely capable while all along telling me stories. He talks lovingly about his wife Mona, and their twins, and also about his mother and extended family. He talks about traditions and his success in owing not one, but two cars as he successfully builds his business. As we are bonding, he asks few questions of me, out of respect and not feeling comfortable yet, but he does inquire as to if I am comfortable in his car and with his driving. I assure him I am.

There are so many schools and colleges in this area, here is one of Engineering.

The number and variety of sites here is awesome.  Sometimes it feels as if we are moving back and forth in time. As opposed to the modern building we just viewed, here we have a chicken coop with a roof made from coconut leaves woven together. Chickens are a big business here and there are many different dishes on menus that use chicken as a main ingredient.

And of course we have KFC!

We also see more temples, again on the top of a hill.

Along the road you will see these statues of different Gods and Goddesses.  Here Goddess Durga is being worshipped by two ladies.  The mother of the universe, Durga is believed to be the power behind the work of creation, preservation, and destruction of the world. Since time immemorial she has been worshipped as the supreme power of the Supreme Being and has been mentioned in many scriptures – Yajur Veda, Vajasaneyi Samhita and Taittareya Brahman.

The word “Durga” in Sanskrit means a fort, or a place which is difficult to overrun. Another meaning of “Durga” is “Durgatinashini,” which literally translates into “the one who eliminates sufferings.” Thus, Hindus believe that goddess Durga protects her devotees from the evils of the world and at the same time removes their miseries.

There are many incarnations of Durga: Kali, Bhagvati, Bhavani, Ambika, Lalita, Gauri, Kandalini, Java, Rajeswari, et al. Durga incarnated as the united power of all divine beings, who offered her the required physical attributes and weapons to kill the demon “Mahishasur”.

Durga is depicted as having eight or ten hands. These represent eight quadrants or ten directions in Hinduism. This suggests that she protects the devotees from all directions.

Like Shiva, Mother Durga is also referred to as “Triyambake” meaning the three eyed Goddess. The left eye represents desire (the moon), the right eye represents action (the sun), and the central eye knowledge (fire).

The lion represents power, will and determination. Mother Durga riding the lion symbolizes her mastery over all these qualities. This suggests to the devotee that one has to possess all these qualities to get over the demon of ego.

Durga’s Many Weapons
• The conch shell in Durga’s hand symbolizes the ‘Pranava’ or the mystic word ‘Om’, which indicates her holding on to God in the form of sound.
• The bow and arrows represent energy. By holding both the bow and arrows in one hand “Mother Durga” is indicating her control over both aspects of energy – potential and kinetic.
• The thunderbolt signifies firmness. The devotee of Durga must be firm like thunderbolt in one’s convictions. Like the thunderbolt that can break anything against which it strikes, without being affected itself, the devotee needs to attack a challenge without losing his confidence.
• The lotus in Durga’s hand is not in fully bloomed. It symbolizes certainty of success but not finality. The lotus in Sanskrit is called “pankaja” which means born of mud. Thus, lotus stands for the continuous evolution of the spiritual quality of devotees amidst the worldly mud of lust and greed.
• The “Sudarshan-Chakra” or beautiful discus, which spins around the index finger of the Goddess, while not touching it, signifies that the entire world is subservient to the will of Durga and is at her command. She uses this unfailing weapon to destroy evil and produce an environment conducive to the growth of righteousness.
• The sword that Durga holds in one of her hands symbolizes knowledge, which has the sharpness of a sword. Knowledge which is free from all doubts is symbolized by the shine of the sword.
• Durga’s trident or “trishul” is a symbol of three qualities – Sattwa (inactivity), Rajas (activity) and Tamas (non-activity) – and she is remover of all the three types of miseries – physical, mental and spiritual.
Devi Durga stands on a lion in a fearless pose of “Abhay Mudra”, signifying assurance of freedom from fear. The universal mother seems to be saying to all her devotees: “Surrender all actions and duties onto me and I shall release thee from all fears”. (About.com)

We go through many, many small towns on our 6 hour drive and I am able to catch a few pictures.

But as I told my husband Mike, for every picture I took, I missed 100 more that would have even been better. Here is this beautiful woman selling flowers and vegetables.

I find the women fascinating, all so beautiful. These three women are at a bus stop waiting on the bus.

You will also see many people bare-footed. It is hard to take pictures in a moving car and it would have been impossible to stop for every picture I wanted.

It would have taken a week to get to Chennai LOL. I am still really learning how to use my camera, which lens is best for what and which setting is best for what. Above, a vendor selling clothing and a fruit stand.

There are stands for just about everything in every little town we pass through.

Here are large pieces of bamboo.  I did not know that you could cook bamboo and put it in food.  We actually had a soup at a Thai restaurant that had little pieces of bamboo in it later in the week…who knew!

Of course cows in town just strolling along.

And a little girl not too thrilled with the rickshaw ride.  Honey, I think I had that driver once too. They have no fear!

This little dude in a school bus challenged me to take his picture once he looked down through the car window and saw my camera.  He gave me a thumbs up after I did!

And then there was this old guy just crossing the street.

We were minutes outside of Chennai now, so this looks like a good place to stop.  Catch the next blog tomorrow.  Thanks for reading and sharing with your friends.  Check me out at  www.thebalancedyogi.com  for all my blogs and info.  I am also now expanding my schedule to offer more private one on one yoga lessons as well as private and corporate classes. You can also schedule an Ayurveda consultation by calling me at 972-658-1600. Let me know if you have an interest.

Blessings,

Peggy