Few days back, I got opportunity to visit and stay in the Borav village of Rajasthan for 4-5 days. I hired a taxi from Udaipur and started to Borav village along with my parents. We had lot of luggage with us, 6 heavy bags as we had food items and utensils for preparing food with us.
We reached Borav in the evening and thought that we would stay there in a Dharamsala. As soon as we reached there, 7-8 elderly people of the Jain society exchanged 'Jai Jindendra' and asked for our well being. They invited us for food to their home. We were not allowed to unload a single bag from the taxi. Their children unloaded the entire luggage, and when I resisted them, they said, “These children will also learn to honor guest. Let them unload the luggage”. Suddenly a thought came to me that I had left for the hostel in my childhood and there was no subject on hospitality in my curriculum.
They offered us food. All items in the food were grown/ prepared in their organic farms. Long-thick cucumber, delicious vegetables and the ghee was also prepared in the home. I observed that everybody was very active in that village. The house where we stayed there were 8 brothers of about 60-70 years old. Everyone had a different home and family. I asked one, “where is your home”? He said that we have 35 houses of Jain in this village. The people were so kneaded with each other that despite staying there for 4-5 days, I could not even know which home belongs to whom.
This family had 30-40 native cows and all elderly brothers used to milk themselves in the morning. They had 500 acres of farming and many shops but still did not have a single servant. Many devotees used to visit Maharaj Ji, but there was no food-court. All the society members themselves used to arrange for stay and food for guests in their own home.
We stayed in their house during the night. In the middle of the house there was a neem tree. There was a room with thick walls and stone floor. The stay in the room was comfortable and it gave a peaceful feeling in my mind.
I got up in the morning and reached the temple wearing a dhoti-dupatta. I did not know anyone, but all of them began to say “Jai Jinendra”. I noticed that all the elderly men were preparing the plate with worship material themselves after refining/cleaning. One person asked me to do “Shantidhaara”? I said “yes”. They offered a head-crown for wearing and I did the shantidhaara. They prepared a plate of worship material for me. I did the same process for three consecutive days. On the last day I insisted that any of them should do Shantidhaara, but they replied - 'Atithi Devo Bhav:' (Guest is our deity).
They did not even know me properly, yet so much love and affection. They did not have a concern that who was the guest but they were more concerned of roping love and affection in the hearts of visitors. If people were addicted here for something then it was giving respect to each other.
The dresses of all the people at Borav were simple - white kurta and pajama, though they had immense wealth. They were active with the body and had peace in mind - this is what I read in the books only. I remembered Jain scholar Banada ji saying- 'Wear simple, eat simple, and be happy.' Perhaps more than half of the stress in cities is due to obsession towards good looking life and living standard.
I talked to my parents, they said that there was a similar environment in their village 30-40 years ago. Perhaps their village moved in different direction, but Borav still kept its soul alive.
During the day time went to do darshan of Saint Vineet Sagar. He said, "All the tasks in the world are easy - earning money, etc., even becoming a saint is easier. But the most complex thing is to put your soul into the path of self-liberation”.
Mother asked a person in the society if there is a Yoga class here. They said, “Yes, in the morning they do yoga, you attend it and if you find any shortage then teach them”.
The next day after the Saint had his meals, they brought Maharaj Ji to the temple with band play. People playing band were also from the society. When you talk to them, they say, 'We are all-in-one, we do all the work ourselves”.
The people of Borav use Ayurveda in a very effective way. Everybody looked healthy in the village, but if there is a disease then they know how to treat it with local vegetation. The society of 35 houses also has hired a learned scholar, who imparts religious education to children and ladies daily.
One day before leaving the Borav, my father got coughing, so we went to a medical store to purchase medicines. The store owner was from Jain society and even after lot of pleading he did not take the money for medicine.
A special thing was observed, all the work was done on time in the village. The time of the Worship (pooja), the time of worship completion or any new programme, every thing used to be in time as decided and informed. It is often believed that Indians do not follow the time punctuality in any event but here I observed exactly opposite.
The people of Borav are master in the art of talking. They speak less. They speak pleasant and maintain the dignity of speaker and listener. Nowadays it is said that Indian people are not clear and weak in the teamwork but the people there have shown expertise in clarity and teamwork.
So much love, simplicity and affection, I have not seen anywhere till now. The people said that there is no tradition of bidding for religious ceremonies. People make arrangements for such ceremonies by mutual understanding and discussion.
So much love, simplicity and affection, I have not seen anywhere till now. The people said that there is no tradition of bidding for religious ceremonies. People make arrangements for such ceremonies by mutual understanding and discussion.
There were about 600 houses in the village and everybody has native cows in their home. You will observe many cows wandering on the road in the village.
Perhaps I was seeing ancient Indian culture, which is lost somewhere during the last 1-2 generations. I have been seeing it in the books only, but in the Borav I saw alive.
Original (Hindi): http://tatvagyan.blogspot.in/2017/09/blog-post_10.html
