Report
by Sri H.V.Prasad
Sri
Swamiji embarked on His second journey to Africa (first to Egypt in
1984) on 30 April 2001. Leaving Mysore and arriving at Madras, Sri
Swamiji visited Madras Ashrama where a send off program was held.
Thereafter Sri Swamiji flew via Singapore, South Africa (Johannesburg)
and arrived at Victoria Falls airport in Zimbabwe on May 1st 2001
at 10.30 PM. Aruna Malani of Hyderabad and her son Krishna Kumar Malani
of Zambia received Sri Swamiji and a cool and wonderful Africa beckoned
Sri Swamiji.
Victoria
Falls Town is a border town in Zimbabwe and leads to Zambia. We crossed
the border and entered Zambia. In Zambia, Sri Swamiji stayed in the
house of Sri Krishna Kumar Malani in the border town of Livingstone.
On
2nd May, At 9 AM, Sri Swamiji traveled to Victoria Falls situated
on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. This is the longest water
fall in the world. It is a whopping 1.75 miles wide and huge torrents
of water hurl down 150 meters and brings down a peak average of 550
million liters of water per minute. The water falls in to a creek
formed in between a flat African land. Sri Swamiji walked on the path
in front of the falls and said the Victoria Falls has immense power.
The falls welcomed Sri Swamiji with huge sprays of water emanating
from the bottom, which drenched Sri Swamiji. Sri Swamiji walked the
one-mile path and saw the full fury of Victoria Falls. Sri Swamiji
loudly chanted the Mantra "Om Aim Hreem Shreem Lalitambikayei
Namaha". As we crossed the bridge across the creek of the post
falls river, we were mesmerized to see a round rainbow, which looked
like a welcome garland for Sri Swamiji. Having never seen a round
rainbow, it was spectacular. Sri Swamiji wished to perform Sri Chakra
Puja near the falls where the sprays of water (like a drenching rain)
would be the natural Abhishekam to the deities.
In
the evening Sri Swamiji, visited the Musi-oa-Tunya wild life park.
The road in the park which runs along the upstream of the mighty Zambezi
river (before the falls) is a popular crossing place among the animal
to reach the river. We stopped near the other end of the park and
Sri Swamiji walked to the river and spent a few quiet moments there
and watched the sun set behind the river.
On
3rd Sri Swamiji went on a boat ride on the Zambezi River and watched
rhinos and crocodiles in their natural habitat. Sri Swamiji played
an indigenous African wooden instrument on the boat.
In the late afternoon, Sri Swamiji visited the falls again and had
taken with him the Sri Chakra Puja box and in the full shower of the
water spray from the falls (like a stormy rain), Swamiji sat near
the edge in front of the falls and performed Abhishekam to the deities
with the water from the rain. It was very unique. The rain was so
strong that Swamiji many times was barely visible in the thick water
mist that encircled and engulfed Sri Swamiji in the Puja place. After
about twenty minutes of Zambezi River Abhishekam Puja, Sri Swamiji,
all wet but happy pointed to a unique rock formation in the falls,
which looked like a Shiva Lingam. Sri Swamiji said it is very unique
and the vibrations near the falls was very powerful and genuine.
That
evening Sri Swamiji was presented a dance show of various provinces
of Zambia. Later the members of the Hindu Samaj called on Sri Swamiji
and invited Sri Swamiji to visit their Samaj and Bless them.
On
the 4th May (Friday), Sri Swamiji visited the Zimbabwe city of Victoria
falls and saw the falls from that side. Sri Swamiji also visited a
crocodile farm, which is helping the preservation of various crocodiles
of Africa. The oldest of them was an 80-year-old crocodile. In the
evening Sri Swamiji visited the timber factory of Sri Krishna Kumar
Malani and Blessed it.
On
5th May (Saturday) Sri Swamiji went in a micro light plane. The openness
is the biggest feature and it took off with relative ease and it flew
all over the falls and the up stream and the flight lasted for about
15 minutes.
Sri Swamiji played piano for a while and then left for the Hindu Samaj.
There Sri Swamiji gave a lengthy discourse in Hindi. Prior to this,
Sri Kalyandas of Hyderabad gave an introductory speech in Hindi. Livingstone,
which has about 30 Indian families, attended the program.
On
Sunday the 6th May, Sri Swamiji celebrated Narasimha Jayanti. The
108 names of Narasimha ware chanted and Ganapati Homa was performed.
The
next day, Sri Swamiji went on a safari ride in the park and saw many
animals.
Sri
Swamiji immensely enjoyed the calm and quiet of the Hwange park and
the vast open park had a watering hole next to it, which was frequented
by many animals in the evening and night. Sri Swamiji spent the evening
watching the animals and the round and bright moon, which rose behind
the watering hold and carpeted the landscape with soft white light.
On
8th Monday Sri Swamiji traveled back to Livingstone. On the way Sri
Swamiji stopped by in a village. It was remarkable to see that the
village which made up by about 20 thatched houses with about 100 inhabitants
all making a living out of agriculture and animal husbandry looked
so happy inspite of the non existence of electricity and telephone
system. There was a craftsman who made exquisite wooden carvings from
the fallen and dead trees. Sri Swamiji was given a fruit, which he
said would enhance the vision of the eyes.
In the evening Sri Swamiji visited the Victoria falls again and saw
the falls in moonlight. Standing near the edge where the falls swooped
down, the rising moon caused a rainbow in the water spray. It was
quite unique to see a rainbow in moonlight. Sri Swamiji meditated
for quiet some time and then returned home.
On
9th Tuesday, Sri Swamiji left Livingstone at 12 noon and journeyed
to the Victoria falls airport and then flew back to India via South
Africa and Singapore.
Sri
Swamiji arrived in Bangalore Ashrama on the 11th May at 11 AM.
Jaya
Guru Datta