My brother Kumar and I setoff to Biligirangan Betta on 18th December. We reached the hilltop at night and settled in our cold, tiled room at the guest house of Vivekananda Girijana Kalyana Kendra, which has preserved tribal information and the biodiversity of the region, and runs scholl for tribal children.
The next day we went to the Bilgiri Rangaswamy Temple and saw the famous 1000 ft. drop into the valley behind the temple. In the afternoon we trekked up to Mulki betta, accompanied by a nervous forest guard, who kept a look out for elephants, for it was the mating season. We unfortunately did not see any animals, except a sambar at a distance, which promptly fled, and heard the roar of a tiger and trumpeting of the elephants. It was a bit exciting, the sense of fear at being chased by a herd of elephants!
Early next morning we set off for great champak tree, Doddasampige mara, believed to be more than 2000 ears old and worshipped by the Soligas, the tribals of that area. I tried to medidate on Lord Shiva, sitting by the side of the 100 lings at the base of the tree. My reverie was interupped by a small gang led by the priest, who set about cleaning up the place. The rivulet is said to be an incarnation of Renuka, the wife of Mara rishi Jamadagni (my gotra!).
The forest cast their spell on me, with its deep silences interupted by bird songs. I tried to focus my consciousness on the peace of the forest and discover peace within me, but my mind kept wandering, including worrying whether we would reach the bus stop in time to go back to BRT. I concluded that one cannot attain peace by a quick trip to a forest. Mind has to be stilled after immense sadhana of spiritual practice.
