Temple and the Tree

‘The doors to God are closed,

_{You are late!’}

_{Admonished the priest, as he left;}

_{At Dolbari’s temple for Radha-Krishna,}

_{I was standing alone.}

_{The doors to God were closed}

_{But the temple precinct was open}

_{And in summer’s heavy heat,}

_{I stood quietly under}

_{The massive Kadamba tree,}

_{Smelling its freshness}

_{In the forgiveness of its shadows}

_{There was something}

_{In the gigantic tree}

_{That mesmerised me.}

_{It towered above}

_{Its generous foliage spreading}

_{Like a massive shield of love}

_{I admired its translucent leaves}

_{Shining like flat emeralds}

_{Under the tropical light}

_{Its orange fruits}

_{Glistened like zircons}

_{Capturing the afternoon sun}

_{Looking closely}

_{It resembled a universe –}

_{Barbets, doves, hariyals}

_{Brooding as its stars,}

_{Squirrels, mynas, sparrows,}

_{Drifting like planets all}

_{And then were the tiny worlds}

_{The human eye could barely see}

_{Butterflies, moths, cicadas}

_{The many-armed galaxies}  

_{Slowly unfurling themselves}

_{To the telescope of a distant eye}

_{Then, it hit me –}

_{This was no Kadamba tree,}

_{Vishnu himself}

_{Was holding the Govardhan mountain}

_{Shielding us mortals}

_{From the vagaries of the seasons’ flow}

_{The calmness of this insanity -}

_{Ah, what peace!}

_{As if the serenity of the shrine}

_{Had spilled over}

_{To this courtyard}

_{That God need not be locked behind doors}

_{‘Did you see God?’}

_{My mum asked as I returned home}

_{‘It was late when you started!’ she said}

_{I could only smile,}

_{‘Yes of course,}

_{No one comes from Braj empty handed…’}

_{24th October, 2026}