Photographs of Gujarat : From Here and There...

“You illumine the whole, wide realm of space,

You rise up facing all the groups of gods,

Facing mankind,

Facing everyone,

So that they can see the Light”

-     Rigveda (Sacred Hindu Scripture) on the Sun God.

[ Sunrise from the moving car on the Mumbai - Surat highway ]

The Surya Dev (Sun God) is driven in a one wheeled chariot pulled across the heavens by seven horses depicting the seven days of the week. Charioteer is Aruna believed to be the redness that accompanies the sunlight in dawn and dusk.

[ Surya Dev - God of light and wisdom at the Surat ISKCON ]

Also known as Tapi, she is revered as a Goddess in Hinduism. The origin of river Tapti can be traced to an ancient story, according to which during a fight between Tapti and her sister Yamuna, they both cursed each other to take the form of rivers.

[ River Tapti - daughter of Sun God ]

A very renowned poet-saint of Gujarat, Narsinh Mehta (also known as Narsi Mehta or Narsi Bhagat) was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna. His devotion was such that the marriage of his daughter was performed by the Lord Himself!

[ Narsinh Mehta - A famous poet-saint of Gujarat ]

[ Flowers in full bloom at  the Vadodara ISKCON ]

[ Sadhus being distributed free lunch 

on the banks of the Gomti lake in Dakor ]