N28. Devghat - a Place of Refuge and Learning .m4v

(9'15") Devghat is one of the holiest places in Hindu mythology, lying at the junction of the Sapta Gandaki and Krishna Gandaki. Its new suspension bridge is used by people moving between the religious and secular sections of the town. Since both rivers flow into the sacred Ganges eventually, their banks are a favoured site for cremations. A wealthy sadhu sold her house and land and used the money to finance the building of two temples and a refuge for widows waiting to die. With nothing else to look forward to they spend their time here in worship, waiting for the chance to depart this life and begin over again. (I have merely pieced together extracts from a lengthy chant.) The bell is rung as an invocation to the gods, and summons the monks to prayer. Among Brahmans male mourners traditionally shave the air and some monks do also. Close by there was a school for priests, at which students committed to memory the Hindu holy books ... in Sanskrit. The boys were sent here by their parents as a gift to God (though the older ones, apparently, were drop outs from secondary school). There was also a school for blind children from villages far and wide. It had been opened for only three months, and had 10 students, one teacher, and aids which were generally improvised. The government provided the building and the teacher's salary, and paid the school 1000 rupees a month to house, feed and clothe the children: but donations from overseas were needed to help it operate properly ...

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