Ajmer - where Baba Himself bowed down.

My sister Dolly and I took a trip to Jaipur and from there to Ajmer, to visit the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti - Garibnawaz to his millions of followers. It was Ramadan so the shrine was not crowded, and we got to spend time there.

Before we left Meherwan reminded us to bow down to Khwajaji on everyone's behalf, including Beloved Baba's. When I asked him why Baba's behalf too, he said that Baba went to Ajmer several times and bowed down to this Perfect Master. We had a long (comparatively speaking) time at the inner shrine, and I offered prayers for everyone, especially for our Erico and Heather, who remain critical.

The energy there is so powerful that tears came unbidden and I honestly could not think of a single thing to ask for myself. I prayed for my family and my friends, for Gary who is going through a very difficult time, but though the Khadim (one of the Shrine's care-takers, believed to be descended from the Khwaja's family) kept saying 'Ask for anything - business, love, health - He will hear your prayers' I just could not think of anything. Instead, I felt a great sense of gratitude that I was able to be there once more, and to breathe the truly spiritual essence surrounding the place. We threw handfuls of fragrant roses over the tomb, and went around it once, before leaving very reluctantly.

Outside there were Quawali performances at each door. These are, we were told, on-going between the 5 daily prayers (namaz) during Ramadan. We left Ajmer feeling at peace, and with a sincere desire to return again. I now know why Meherwan asked us to bow down on the Avatar's behalf too. Baba always said that He bowed down to the love of His Lover, and here is one of the greatest Lovers of all time. Jai Baba!

Khwaja Sharif of Ajmer - Garibnawaz

Tomorrow my sister and I leave for Jaipur, and from there we'll take a day trip to Ajmer to pay our respects to Moinuddin Chisti, affectionately known as Khwaja Sharif or Ajmer Sharif or Garibnawaz. He was a perfect master, Baba said. He was also the initiator of the quawalli form of Sufi music made so popular by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

Baba visited Ajmer and the shrine of Ajmer Sharif more than once. We too will go and say hello. If we are lucky, we'll be able to stay late enough to hear a quawalli performance. I've been 3 times before, but this is Dolly's first time. She's very excited.

We may even manage a trip up into the hills to Pushkar, the holy place of pilgrimage for Hindus and the site of one of only 3 temples dedicated to Brahma the Creator. Pushkar is a town of temples, it has 1008 temples in a small area, and the Pushkar lake. It is said that when Brahma was carrying the elixir of life to Swarg (paradise) three drops spilled onto the earth. One fell into the Ganges, one into the Godavari river near Nasik and the third drop fell into Pushkar lake. Thus, while bathing in the two rivers will cleanse all sins, it is enough to only look at the lake at Pushkar to have the same result!!

I, however, took a totally unplanned dip into the holy waters the last time I was there, and was immersed over my head. This was a result of wanting to cool my feet on a hot and sunny day, slipping on some green algae and sliding into the lake. I came out very cleansed. Unfortunately, since then I've probably accumulated a lot more sins, so perhaps another dip is called for. If we make it there, that is. Baba went to Pushkar too. Its lovely to know that we are in places where the Avatar of the Age walked too.