Hallucinating Hampi- Traveler's thought

#1

 

I along with a few other friends were chilling our day out thinking about going on a trip to Hampi. Chippy and Sherin were the only ones among the group who had gone there earlier. As the conversation about the trip started, Chippy drew a map on the chit of paper as she hurriedly sat near me with excitement to describe the topography and geography of Hampi. Sherin, who was cleaning the vessels narrated her memories as well. Saju, the only other guy in the room other than me was making rounds around the corner of his house looking for the charger. He paused to look around in wonder when i exclaimed, "Man, i am going alone, and this is happening soon". The other three of them screamed in a chorus "we will go together". I let out a smile and simply nodded yes, but i had already zeroed on going alone.

April was the month and it was deadly hot this year. Thanks to the rising global warming that added another 2 degree Celsius to the atmospheric temperature. Ever since, I had started earning it was always at this time of the year, my travel hormones rake up. I travelled alone to Mumbai, the previous year, followed by a trek to Velliangiri Mountains in Coimbatore. 

Goa had been on my cards since I graduated engineering, It never took off after being let down by my group of friends, every time I came up with the plan. I finally decided to take a break from work and go on a solo travel. After learning about my unscheduled plan only Vikas dared to hop in, now it was me and him alone, but for him he wanted to go back after spending his time in Goa. He planned and booked his return tickets, while I had no idea about my schedule.

4 days in Goa and almost everything that I did had a first timer's excitement, for all the occurrence that happened from staying in a dorm with completely random backpackers, parasailing, drunk night outs, overnight party, everything about the trip was exciting as of then. Never late before we realized, that we have to check out the next day.

Sheela wasn't at the bar, but a guy was so busy keeping everyone around him happy, and as I walked to him, it was Rohit, the owner of the hostel that we were staying. I had already heard a lot about his nomadic life and so I looked up to his insight about staying in Hampi. He, being a guy with satire said

"brother it is simple, there is a Holy side and a Unholy side, choose to stay in the Unholy side and things will happen" but also warned me about the scorching heat, that might get me dehydrated and advised, or rather put me in confusion to choose wisely between Hampi and Kasol.

Last day at Goa began, by seeing off my travel partner and long  time friend who had booked his return tickets from Margo. I had no return tickets or any plans, but just thoughts. The Heat was really a matter of concern, as two more bags added to my luggage. My digestive acid functioned really well at the time and had already started eating up my fat, I could feel my intestine burning. My eye balls started rolling foods as I saw the name board of Kamath hotel on the other side of the road. My engine was back to normal and the turbine had already started supplying energy.

I walked down to Panaji bus stand, confused about making the decision after doing a research on bus schedules. Having no clue about what to do, I ringed up Midhun, my cousin aka Chiku. He enquired me about the further plans of the trip, to which I replied blank.

He being another solo traveller understood my confusion and said "When you had decided to go, Hampi has already decided to receive you, don't see the place but feel the place so that you won’t feel the heat".

A little motivation was the need of the hour and he had it. I went to the booking counter and booked my tickets, I choose to travel in Karnataka SRTC to Hampi from Panaji.

5.30 am on 3-05-2017. "Hampi - last stop, Hampi - last stop" the conductor shouted from the front cabin. As I got down from the bus, I visualized Chippy's hand drawn map and tried to match it with the description narrated by her, all the time I was looking for the river that I had heard a lot about, the river that divides the Holy and the Unholy side. A tea shop at the corner of the Hampi bazar and few auto drivers becoming tour guides explaining their packages, was the only thing that I saw. With no rooms booked and just 175 INR in my wallet, I went to the shop before I go desperately looking for a ATM. Tea shop conversations had always been an source of information from my previous experiences being a sales guy. Within no time, I befriended Subbiah, a Tamil resident settled in Hampi. He introduced me to Raghu Anna, who would later become the important part of my journey.

Raghu Anna, was kind enough to know about me, before he explained his guide package. I understood that we could either opt between an auto guide charged at five hundred rupees for four hours or a rented two-wheeler or bi-cycle charged somewhere between a hundred or two per day. I felt stranded, as the closest ATM is in Kamalapura which is five kilometres from Hampi. One hundred and fifty rupees was the deal to get me to Kamalapura and back.

I like to believe that the things that followed are nothing but an omen to understand the kindness and honesty of Hampi residents. I had already decided on extending my days of stay in Hampi.

All the ATM counters were closed, opened counters had no money as well, Raghu Anna confirmed with his friend in Kadirampura to find out if there are any ATM counters opened. We were unlucky. I started to feel concerned as I would be left with no money, after I pay for the trip.

Every person who I met there never failed to surprise me with their humility and attitude. Likewise, did Raghu Anna.

Looking at my plight, In his words, he said 

"You can pay me after withdrawing money from the ATM available in Hospet, I will be around near the auto stand, you can call me when you come back"

Hospet was twelve kilometres from Hampi. Completely blown away with the gesture I was subconsciously getting attached to the place and the people. When I came back from Hospet around 7 am, the dawn break smiled brightly on the scenic mountains of Hampi. Raghu Anna had gone home to refresh, before his starting his morning schedule. I handed over the money to Subbiah, before I started walking to the other side.

I had the best time of my life when I lived there. But, I feel it is not my life in Hampi that you should know, but the life of Sahasra. A young solo traveller who decides to go for a leisure drive to Hampi on a weekend during the time of dusshera and gets stuck up there for 13 days which became a career defining moment in her life. 

Hallucinating Hampi- Chapter 1

#2

28^th, September 2016. In the late hours, a black Honda City vroomed through the streets of Indira Nagar, Bangalore and plunged onto the Outer highway. On the seat, controlling the steering with a sheer look on face, was a bold and beautiful women in her late twenties who seemed so determined.

The Caricature of a dancer bowing an arrow painted fluorescent, on the driver side of the bonnet attracted attention in the traffic signals. She was on the Lepakshi route and that continued towards Anantapur. The streets where lit for Dusshera celebrations along the road sides. For once she had stopped the vehicle, and it was 4.30 am in the morning of 29^th, September. 27^th year of her life span started that day. A moment she took to look at the rear mirror, to adjust her hair that fell over her eye lids from her misplaced headband. She loosened up her stiff hands that were tired steering for a long time. Her face shined bright when she read Kamalapur on the sign boards leaving a dimple in her cheeks. She smiled so beautifully that even the sun could wait to rise until she stops smiling.

Sight of the herdsman steering his large herd of sheep on the middle of the road forced her to slow down. Neither she honked nor she raised her voice for the obstruction caused, but remained silent inside the car waiting for the herdsman to clear her the way. Only a moment paused before the sheep's were lined on the both sides of the road, as the herdsman requested her to accelerate, he who was busy controlling the herd asked her apology for the discomfort caused. The generous behaviour of a normal common man during the early dark hours in a stranded place moved her. For a moment she felt lucky, in a time where women are not safe even in the broad daylight, even in their own houses. Her thoughts weren't exaggerating but a matter of real concern.

Sahasra, stepped out of the black Honda city, stripped her headband, let her hair loose and embraced the morning breeze that touched her face. Her face was already glowing out of excitement and happiness. She removed the funky ring that she had received as a gift from Tania, A traveller she met during her previous trip to Kailash. She relaxed and stood there as she was already feeling dizzy and sleepy at the same time.

The Darkness Ceased to exist as the dawn break smiled so bright on the architectural monuments of Hampi most of which were carved out of Situ stone. Shadows of tall structures kissed the land as vendors kept moving in to the bazar to start their day.

Born into a North Malabar family Sahasra was a trained dancer and a natural talent in Bharatanatyam. Having performed in numerous youth festivals, her talent remained untapped because of the reservations her orthodox parents had, in letting her compete at every stage opportunity that came her way. Like every girl in their teenage, she was also ambitious and wanted to reach a better position with the sole motive of becoming independent.

She had nothing else to worry about, until she realized that, many of the people she sees does not exist in the real world. She was already in the 3rd year of Engineering by then when she started feeling insecure about the unusual company around her. She was diagnosed with schizophrenia in the late months of 2011 after she was found chatting with her imaginary friend in the middle of a stormy night.

She was responding well to the prolonged treatment, as her will power and ambition overpowered her hallucination.

                                          ***

At some point of her life, she had left behind her passion for Bharatanatyam. In the early months of 2013, she was inducted into one of the top IT companies in Bangalore. From then, her life started taking turns. She lived in a way she wanted to live. She learnt to drive, she travelled like she was born for it enjoying the nomadic life. Only the name was classical about her anymore, everything apart from that had changed, or she had forced herself to give in to the change.

Soon, she started finding a pattern in her travel and that was visiting the places from the books she have read, living with the characters in the stories that she had read. Destination of her first such trip was Mumbai, after reading the books about the dirty underworld by Hussain Zaidi, and the second was to Kailash after reading various articles on the subject. In a way she was giving back into the hallucinations, neither her nor her friends and relatives understood the change.

In other ways she was becoming a living example, for what turns out to be bad depends on how you choose to use it. None of her books influenced her trip to Hampi, It was a pure destiny call. All she wanted is a solo drive to a less crowded place on her birthday.

                                           ***

Madam, Guide? , the auto driver quizzed. She smiled at him and humbly asked him to help her find a place to stay. Thanks to the freaky jean shorts rolled up to her thighs and the blue denim jacket she was wearing, with one black thread tied on her right ankle, the guy took no time to suggest her a perfect place that he thought she would like to stay. She was excited to cross the river as well. She could see the Bazaar decorated with flowers, serial lights and the road-side vendors building temporary sheds. Looking at her bewildered looks, the auto driver interrupted her thoughts and said

"Madam, all these are for the Dusshera festival which starts from 3rd October".

She was surprised, to see a lot of dancers walking around in dance costumes at the early hours, even before the market woke up. The auto driver looked puzzled when she asked him “where are the dancers heading to?” because all he could see was a cow, grazing at the gates leading to Virupaksha temple and a few local residents. The tourist crowd were just a handful due to the lack of rainfall and raise in temperature from the past three years. Characters that never existed had already started to frame up in her mind.

The auto driver then introduced himself as Ramu Batti, took no time in explaining the guide package which will help her to see and know Hampi in one day. But, Ramu had failed to understand that Sahasra was not the one, among the usual traveller crowd who wanted to see places for the sake of it. Her type of travel were to live and love the place with the people of that locale. With one mid-sized travel bag on her shoulders she asked Ramu to walk her to the hotel. All her childhood fancies of broad necklace, cotton fabrics, Ear rings were taking toll in her mind while Ramu was explaining her about how she could reach the other side by driving forty kilometres. She was excited about crossing the river as that will add to the thrill.
The shortfall in monsoon showers have already left the river in a dried up state that, one can walk up to the other side. Ramu, explained in short about the Kingdom of Vijayanagara and Raja Krishnadevaraya during the walk and also guided her the direction to reach the hotel, located seven kilometres from Virupapur Gadde. Ramu, waved her a timely good bye until she comes back after visiting places on the other side of the river.

As Sahasra stepped into Tungabhadra river and shivers went through her spine. Being fascinated and attached to the stories narrated by Ramu and after witnessing the preparations for Dusshera in the river banks leading to Virupaksha temple, her freaky outfit had nothing to do with what she was tuning herself up to be.

Sahasra’s eye sight gave her own interpretation as she saw art in everything. Elephants being bathed were the royal elephants, meditating pilgrims were sanyasis, and anyone clad in white dhoti resembled a philosopher while men with dandi were soilders. Sahasra was becoming someone that she used to be but this time she unknowingly chose to embrace that instead of being unsecured about the feeling.

Hallucinating Hampi- Chapter 2

#3 

The thoughts and conflicts of Sahasra when she crosses the banks of Tungabadhra to Virupapur Gadde, from Vijayanagara to kishkindha and how Schizophrenia turns out to be a boon will be continued in the this chapter. Hold your breath till then...

Left, Right and Go, like a teenager she splashed the water until the water wetted the sadhu, meditating on the rocks clad in a dhoti over his waist, he looked furious with dreadlocks. From there, her thoughts began to conceive every one with its own interpretation, the characters in her hallucination had no resemblance to any normal people from the 21^st century.

Luckily, her attitude and habits remained to be the same. To an extent that helped the people to not get surprised by her strange reactions. Only time she got back to her senses were when she got distracted. She was going through a strange phenomenon which she had never gone through. Exactly, eight hundred and ninety steps she walked according to her fitness app before she saw the boats docked on the river bank as there was not enough water for the boats to sail.

Maybe, Ramu had felt something special about this 5'8 tall, thin and bold girl that would persist him to stand by the banks of Virupaksha until he made sure that Sahasra reached the other side safe. She had her rooms booked in a traveller’s hostel which was seven kilometres from Virupapur Gadde.

The affordable way to travel within the place was hiring a scooter. The modern girl from the 21st century did not yet realize that schizophrenia has taken over her, and so seeing people riding a bike in the costumes from history looked funny to her. She kept her thoughts to herself or believed it to be real. She hired the bike after surrendering her license copy and left the place to the hotel.

She was warned to be cautious about the petrol level for every seventy kilometres because of the fine-tuned mileage trick, two litre for every seventy kilometres was the count. By then her hallucinating thoughts where on and off and slowly she realized that the disorder is taking toll. This time, she choose not to give up and find a way out of it in her favour. 

She rode the hired scooter to Jungle tree, where her rooms were booked. On the way she, was already making friends with the people who were carrying heaps of hay for their cattle and the kids who were training themselves for the Dusshera performance. She vroomed in the places where she felt unsafe. Which, later she came to know that there is no such unsafe place in the whole of Hampi.

The sulking shrewd programmer was becoming more of a fun loving and motivational human in the due course of time. She checked in around 8.00 am in the morning. Not a clean place for the hygienic girl she used to be but she rather chose to accept it and made herself comfortable with the place. Being the only tourist in the hostel and being a girl was more of a concern for her.Biswas, a 21 year old guy who was in the reception escorted her to the room, eventually understood the nervousness in her face and assured her this place is safe for her to stay.

Breakfast was ready for her, and the hospitality by Biswas and his boys in the restaurant made her feel home. She opted to have Bread and Jam with a cup of black coffee sitting on the specially arranged beds unlike other restaurants. The restaurant hall was actually an open entrance to the hostel.

Unusual tracks appeared on her playlist as she was listening to music. With her eyes closed, she opted to listen to the Bharatanatyam padham. Memories of her winning laurels for her performance to the Tani avarthanam padham crossed her mind as she smiled.

Sahasra opened her eyes to see a pair of beautiful foot, highlighting on the fair skin tone was a richly decorated traditional design using mehandi and a thick ankle chain of gold in two layers which had little pendants and a green stone which looked like emerald, cut into a shape of triangle in the center of every pendant. She was not surprised and looked as if she has been anticipating her arrival.

Sahasra, offered her a place to sit and with the legs folded to the sides she found her place there. Clad in a green Mysore silk saree, costume of the lady reminded her costume that she chose to wear while performing Tani Avartanam. Though her lips movement were evident as she spoke to the lady, thanks to the headsets and the privacy. Biswas and his boys felt she was singing along with the song, while she had already started talking to a character who never existed.
                                         

                                               ***
In the fort complex of Raja Krishnadevaraya is a Mahanavami Dibba, a tall structure built exactly in front of the royal courtyard for the dancers to perform so that the king and his people can witness the performances. Every year at the time of Dusshera, dancers and performers from places in and around the Vijayanagara kingdom poured in to showcase their talent. 

                                               ***

It was 10.30 am and the lady had offered to stay with her throughout the trip. Promising Sahasra that she will answer all her questions and doubts, she wanted to be the guide, to which Sahasra readily accepted. In fact she was infatuated to the looks of the lady and didn't want her to leave.

                                                ***

Chinna Devi, considered to be one of the most amazing dancers of the time and the most beautiful lady who could attract any one to herself and her dance. Obviously, one of the  main reason for why she became the Queen of Raja Krishnadevaraya. Soon to be realized, it was not the stories of Raja narrated by Ramu Batti but the small portion of Rani Chinna Devi the long lost dancer that influenced her.

                                                ***

The imaginary character who would talk to her for the next few days was already set and it was time for the long lost dancer to find more similarities with Chinna Devi. Sahasra had to start her exploration but with priorities set. Three days from then was Dusshera and she did not want to miss any corner of the place to be unexplored.

Biswas was amused in the way he was being looked at by an educated, bold and beautiful girl. But, he did not realize that she was looking at him as Chinna Devi alone. That is when she asked him to explain about how to prioritize the schedule, she was particular in visiting all the places before the dancers start their nine days arpana for Dusshera starting from 3^rd October.

He gathered all his knowledge about the tourist interests and its details in and around the place, looking at this as a chance to impress her he described in his words…

“Madam, Hampi alone is not the tourist place, both the sides of Tungabhadra are of same historical importance. While one is from the 15th century the other is from pre-historic period. The side which you came from was the capital city of Vijayanagara Empire and it flourished during the Krishnadevaraya period and the decline happened soon after internal tensions and communal clashes started, out of misunderstanding. The moment you crossed the river you are in the place called Virupapur gadde, which was the Vanara Kingdom called Kishkindha considered to be the birth place of Lord Hanuman and the resting place of Bali brother of Sugreeva and in here you have places like Chinthamani, Bali Guha, Rakshasha Guha, Durga Temple and the Hanuman temple which also has one of the best sunset views.”

Biswas was surprised when he found her staring at his fingers and smiling at him in a strange way which he is not used to be treated. Sahasra never wanted Chinna Devi to stop briefing and she was so much fascinated by the jewels and looks of her. Things were already becoming awkward, neither Biswas understood that Sahasra was looking at him as Chinna Devi  or Sahasra understood that it was Biswas who is explaining and not ChinnaDevi 

Hallucinating Hampi- chapter 3

#4

Her thought process was already influenced by Chinna Devi, and three days before twenty dancers assemble to showcase their talents. It is not going to be usual this time. Stay put to know how Chinna devi comes back to the 21st century to change Sahasra's destiny

Chinna Devi ceased to exist, but Sahasra did not feel her absence, though she could not remember the first conversation that she had with the Rani. She listed out the places to be visited as described by Biswas based on the distance and started with her exploration. She took the road to the right from the hotel and followed the road trail until she got confused at the "T junction" which is 4 km from the hotel. Sahasra felt blindfolded with no idea about the direction to choose. All she could see was a small tent like tea shop across the road, she went there.

Thanks, to her Tamil colleagues in Bangalore, the tea shop owners were the Tamil residents settled in Hampi and the language barrier was struck down now. She made friends with them and it was not soon before someone offered to help her visit the closest place that is the Durga temple. A lady in her mid-seventies offered to help her, provided she takes her along in the scooter. She agreed, and the lady hopped on to her rear seat. The lady had her own doubts about why the stranger tourist is pretending as if she knows her from a long time, but things were different. Chinna Devi was back and Sahasra was happy about that. Sahasra never saw the real face of the characters who she visualized to be as Chinna Devi.

One after the other, people after people, who talked to her and helped her was Chinna Devi according to Sahasra’s insights. All this time, the first conversation was the only thing she did not remember, in spite of trying hard to re-collect.

The first day had ended, and on the second day morning Biswas who had already fallen for her, hurried to her room and offered a complimentary tea which actually was not. She woke up fresh and found  Biswas's behaviour to be strange and did not react much. Disappointed Biswas who did not want to show the sadness in his face reminded her about the best sunrise point near the Sanapur Lake. She jumped out from her bed once Biswas left the scene, her taste about colour and matching dresses were peculiar that she never bothered about wearing a blue denim Jacket with an orange skirt on that morning. She was no more scared or felt insecure about being a girl or being a lone traveller in a new place.

She never restrained herself from talking to new people because her thoughts visualized them as Chinna Devi. Schizophrenia was helping her in that way, while at the same time there were people like Biswas and many others who were puzzled and baffled by the strange behaviour. If she was talking to the heart’s content with someone, that wasn't her natural instincts.

7.00 am on the 1^st day of  October 2016, she started becoming restless  as she still could not recollect the first conversation. All she could remember was about the preparation for Dusshera that she had to be a part of, and first day of Dusshera was just two days away.

Sahasra could not re-collect about the conversation because, the conversation that happened was with her own sub-conscious mind and not with another person, and if she had to re-collect the only way was to think with a peace of mind before Chinna Devi reappears as another person.

The sign boards on the lake that read "Crocodiles Inside" made her conscious. She had come to witness the sunrise on the second consecutive day and was in love with the aura in the place.

At the farthest end of the street were a group of kids doing their final rehearsals, to perform in front of the small stage that is setup in the premises of Virupaksha temple.

She decided to visit the Bali-Sugreeva guha. As the guide took her through the caves she met a sadhu who was meditating. She decided to relax there and let go the guide. After a brief while of relaxing, she spoke with the sadhu and tried to understand his spiritual life. She did not have her complete concentration on the Sadhu’s narration, as the thoughts of Chinna Devi kept crossing her head. That is when the sadhu spoke about the arpana he was doing to please the Gods. Sahasra smiled as it got her reminded about the rituals in the myths of granny stories.

He further explained to Sahasra “with his arpana to the lord, he is trying to overcome the emotions of kama , krodha, lobha, moha, mada, matsarya so that he can achieve eternity and for him, eternity is when a human rises over all these emotions. And that is when he accomplishes sanyasa”.

Sahasra’s thoughts where exactly the same as that of the Sadhu. She always believed and argued, the supernatural wonders performed by the rishi’s as written in the myths where performed not as a result of performing a yaga alone but also because of the concentration and focus they had, and to get that concentration getting over the human emotions were necessary.

She let a sigh of relief and walked down the hill, but by then after understanding the Sadhu’s life style, she had given completely into hallucination. She did not need another person anymore to see or visualize Chinna Devi.

She started back to the hostel and on the way she met the group of kids who were rehearsing in the morning, and promised to train them. She was no more the same Sahasra who came to Hampi.

She was the new darling of local residents because of the way she behaved and the way she trained. No one from the crowd had another opinion, if someone called her a natural talent. Though all in the crowd were amused at her training, for her she was not alone training the kids. She believed, It was Chinna Devi and her guidance.

3^rd morning of October, The first day of Dusshera.
Sahasra, along with the kids walked to the banks of Tungabadhra River while thoughts of Chinna accompanied her. Before they crossed the river she advised her students to promise this as an arpana to Lord Shiva, while Sahasra vowed to Chinna Devi about her plans to do an arpana on the last day of Dusshera, bare foot on the Mahanavami Dibba.

The kids looked astound, as they could not understand who she was talking to and about how someone could think about performing on the Mahanavami Dibba which is under the Archaeology department. Her hallucinations knew no bounds, as she had forced herself to stay in the Temple premises to practice as she thought walking to her place and back would cost her a lot of time. The culture and habits of hers started to change and she was completely into the 15th century.

Hallucinating Hampi- Chapter 4

#5

Times have changed, Days are getting closer. Her transition has already started how long before it gets difficult for her to distinguish between the real and unreal.

Surprised, were the crowd who had gathered to see the usual slothful performance of the kids

Twenty Dancers on the stage did their Mangalam at the end of their performance, as everyone gathered there rose to their feet in respect for the dancers and their new teacher. It was then, the kids invited their teacher to the stage. Ramu, who was standing among the crowd jumped in excitement to wave his hands. Unlucky Ramu did not understand the freaky looking young girl has already become part of their land and is working to bring back the richness and fame of the region.

Sahasra offered her pranamam to Chinna Devi who was sitting alongside Raja Krishnadevaraya. She guided their students to offer their pranamam to the royal family and the crowd. Perplexed children did not waste time, but obeyed their teacher and offered their pranamam bowing towards the Gopura of Virupaksha temple.

She chose to ignore about the developments in infrastructure, transport and technology when Ramu offered to become her tour guide in return for nothing but as a token of appreciation for helping the native kids to outperform the dancers from major dance schools. Her silence forced Ramu to misunderstand that that she got carried away by the appreciation and so did not bother to ask again.

It was not late before Sahasra called Ramu back, to ask him to narrate about Hampi's tourist interests better. There were eight days left and she had chosen Achutraya Temple premises to be a practice ground while she will rest her back in Virupaksha.
As a token of gratitude, the authorities accepted to her request.

                                                ***

There are 13 major sites of tourist interests and each of it has an interesting story of its own

1.  Virupaksha temple
2.  Achutraya temple
3.  Monolithic Bull
4.  Matunga hills
5.  Hampi Bazar
6.  Hemakuta hills
7.  Vittala temple
8.  Krishna temple
9.  Lakshmi Narasimha temple
10.The king's Balance
11.The Royal CourtYard
12. Rama Hazare temple
13. Underground Shiva temple
Situated in a distance of 35 km radius, Hampi bazar was the major point of access.

                                                ***

Ignoring the present day luxury she chose to walk, she chose to walk to every place. She woke up in the early hours, practiced and choreographed her performance. The deserted Achutraya temple was busy only when the tourists visited between 9 am - 5 pm. The Isolated premises of the temple in the early hours added more to her hallucinating dreams that she was not seeing Chinna Devi alone but every portray of sculptures on the walls of the temple projected in front of her as real life characters.

Now, it started becoming a conflict between her real time and projected characters. It was very unsure to say if she would be able to distinguish between the character's existence.

Chinna Devi fascinatingly looked at the feet of Sahasra moving according to the rhythm and beat of the music standing at a distance. She came forward and appreciated Sahasra for the effort she took in grooming the kids to be better dancers. She was already a superstar in the hearts of the native residents as the tourist crowd started pouring in to celebrate Dusserah in Hampi after coming to know about the unusual performance by the kids.

A town which was depleting in economy had started booming now and Dusshera had become a real festival. Sahasra, could now see the ruins of markets in front of all the temples in Hampi crowded with people as the roofs made of thick cotton fabric were erected. She was happy each time the shopkeepers thanked her for her contribution.

The looks of 21^st century markets crowded with people was something more different from that of the 15^th century. The attire, language and behaviour were different.

In her eyes plastic chocolate wraps on the floor were withered leaves, Tarpaulin sheets on the roofs were cotton fabrics, Vehicles parked at the centre of the ground were little bullock carts. She was at a stage when there was nothing that could not distract her. Remember?, only a strong distraction could bring her out of her hallucination.

She walked to Virupaksha in the afternoons and would groom her kids to give their best performance, the dance programs were between 6.30 p.m in the evening after the arti and 10.00 p.m before the temple doors closed for the day.

 

Hallucinating Hampi- Chapter 5

#6

I don't want to make it long, I don't want to make it fast. Remain intrigued about Anjali and her family who turns up to be a game changer...

When she said Arpana, she meant it. In a time when Sanyasa has different meanings and perceptions. Interesting to her was the perception of the Sadhu who explained to her more about his spiritual life. From the morning of 3^rd October, all she thought about was dance and nothing else. Nothing else was her priority. Ramu, went in occasionally to check if she was doing fine. And on one instance, when Ramu was the only person other than Sahasra in the premises of temple complex they spoke about the extraordinary carvings on the walls of Rama Hazare Temple. In 1000 carvings, the festival period during the times of Vijayanagara was depicted.

Early mornings in the temple premises were not isolated any more. Never before, had been a dance practice so popular. To the thoughts of Shahasra’s choreography Chinna Devi also practiced with her and the dance was turning out to be a performance which needed two people. While, it was evident that she would be dancing alone on the final day of Dusshera.

The onlookers looked with awe, when they saw the costumes of the kids. Her peculiar taste in colours where actually becoming a matter of attraction.

On the 4^th day since October 3rd, Sahasra had already choreographed 3/4th of her dance but she was never satisfied by the quality of the performance. She did not give much into the costumes and as she had not come prepared to be a dancer or a dance teacher. She was already the talk of the town.

Popularity could never dominate her and she remained humbled throughout the days, just concentrating on her practice and the performances of her students.

During the day time she walked around to see more places, and on one particular day she had been to Hemakutta hills from where she saw Kadalekalu Ganesha standing tall with pandits performing their daily pooja. Juxtaposed between the present

and past, it been ages since any daily pooja was performed on the sculpture.

The remains of Jain temples looked decorated to her, with flowers and garlands. She could hear the drum beats everywhere, she was surrounded by temples, and for a moment she felt to be alone in this world when her eyelids met in peace for the first time after sitting for meditation.

Chinna Devi appeared again, but this time she explained how she was refrained from performing during Dusshera. She also took references of Tirumala Devi who the Raja married in due course of time. Sahasra was told to do justice to the arpana which she meant for Lord Shiva. As the Lord he who is worshiped in different forms in and around Hampi.

Sahasra did not yet know that she was already an important personality, who was given the privilege to perform inside the Royal Court Yard. Something which was about to happen after centuries. But, for the hallucinating Sahasra it was another year of Dusshera festival and she wanted to give her best shot, as she chose to dance in front of the entire Royal family.

The 8^th day of Dusshera and things were serious now

People in and around Karnataka had gathered to witness the resurrection of centuries old custom. No one knew about the unusual schizophrenia of Sahasra, all of them believed she had come prepared for this. As she walked back to Virupaksha after the day of practice she met a family near the monolithic bull sculpture.

Ajith, his wife Anjali, Niyamika their daughter and Niranjan their son had this frenzy of visiting places and Hampi was one among their choice. From the morning they have been hearing about the dancer who shot to fame in 8 days and were excited when they finally met her. Anjali being a dancer had came prepared to perform on the 9th day of Dusshera and she had come with complete costumes.

Sahasra accepted their request and invited them to see her practice in the early hours so that they can leave,as Anjali had her performance scheduled at 11 am in the morning, She was ready with her complete choreography at the end of 8^th day.

She stood in the centre facing towards the deity of Virupaksha and started off with Vandanam. She rose from the squat with her legs closing straight, stretched her legs and took the form of Natraja. Niyamika was already in love with her expressions as Anjali looked awestruck.

Her denim shorts left her quadriceps exposed which were already shining with her sweat. When she rose to the form of Natraja, she stood on her toe with her expanded calf muscles. She continued to perform and

“her hands reached where her eyes ought to be, her eyes reached where her thoughts ought to be, her thoughts reached were her expressions ought to be“.

Hallucinating Hampi- Chapter 6

#7

It was raining appreciations on Anjali for the performance as Niyamika ran to her mother to hug, Ajith and Niranjan stayed with the crowd awestruck by the dance. Never before had any of them witnessed Anjali risking her joints to dance as all her performances used to be subtle. She was clearly influenced by the dance practice of Sahasra in the premises of Achutraya.

The next performance resumed after a break. The family left the premises after offering their prayers to the deity. All these time Sahasra was making her final round rehearsals in the temple complex of Achutraya. She had forgotten all her friends and family by then. Only thing in her mind was about the 10^th day morning of Dusshera. Her performance was scheduled between 6 am and 8 am. 

Never in the nearest century had anyone thought about performing in the Mahanavami Dibba. Media and press were barred from meeting her considering her privacy to practice and rehearse. The natives of Hampi also made sure that she did not have to face any kind of hardship.

At the end of 6th day's performance by the children, Ramu along with the Panchayat president approached Sahasra to let her know that they have found an alternate trainer for the children so as to lesser her burden and to concentrate on her practice for the Arpana

Furious, Sahasra raised her voice for the first time without realizing that Ramu only thought for the betterment of her. That was the first time the Hampi natives witnessed her anger. But they understood it is some kind of misunderstanding in communication that made her furious.

What they did not know was, if she walked out of her duties because she had a personal reason. The selfishness would cost her the sanctity of Arpana. She made sure that they didn't get offended and continued saying 

"Had not Chinna Devi mentioned about Arpana, I would not have considered about the performance. When my arpana is not my performance alone but also the performance of 20 dancers for 9 days as an offering to Lord Shiva and Raja Krishnadevaraya, I can't walk out of it at any point to make my performance better". 

Startled and Puzzled, the Panchayat President and Ramu looked at each other on the references of Chinna Devi, but matured were the thoughts of Hampi residents. The president and Ramu soon left the scene adding that she could approach them for any kind of help.

Neither Sahasra nor others who were excited to see her performing had not bothered or thought about the costume she would be wearing. While the residents had their reason to not bother, Sahasra had her reason. For the residents, Sahasra was a dancer who travelled to perform. While Sahasra believed that the 15th century dancer’s costumes are already ready in the grooming room.

Pandals were erected and seats were organized in the Royal Courtyard. The Main stage was elevated 10 feet from the ground as a replica of the Mahanavami Dibba. The seats were aligned in three directions. Facing to the north there were fifteen rows consisting of eight columns allocated for the Archaeology department employees and the people that fall under VIP category. Towards the east and west were twenty rows with ten columns. The Dusshera committee made sure that the children occupied the first three rows in both the sides. Final leg practice was on and that is when the residents near Achutraya complex heard a personalized version of Shiva tandav sthothram instead of the usual “tha thim thim tha” barathanatyam padham. It was now clear Sahasra had been practicing to perform Thandav. The most powerful dance expression in Barathanatyam.

8.00 pm on the 9^th day of Dusshera. Anjali rushed to Sahasra who was resting her back in Virupaksha temple complex after the day long rehearsals. With folded hands she thanked Sahasra for being an inspiration to push her limits in dancing skills.

Had she not seen the practice session of Sahasra, Anjali would have performed the usual subtle track. Sahasra had kept the mehandi mix all ready to apply. After a chit chat about the next day's performance, Anjali quizzed Sahasra about the costume for the performance. Sahasra readily informed about the Rani's commitment to her about keeping her costumes ready as a surprise in the grooming room. "Rani?” Anjali exclaimed with surprise and laughed it away thinking Sahasra cracked a joke. 

Anjali then continued about her wish of designing her the costumes for the performance as a gratitude. Sahasra politely rejected citing that Rani would be disappointed. Repeated reference of Rani did not bother Anjali. She pulled out the dress, chain and ankle chain from the bag that she had brought with her. After an hour of discussion, Sahasra accepted to use the costumes that Anjali had brought for her. With only six hours left for the event Anjali retired to her hotel to come back the next day.

Hallucinating Hampi- Chapter 7

#8

Excitement and anticipation where high in the town of Hampi or the Vijayanagara Empire. Six hours before the Ambiguous event Sahasra would have to encounter the jealousy Sadhu’s

Tungabadhra, did not have enough water to submerge a 5'8" tall Sahasra. It was 3 am in the morning when Sahasra had gone to take the holy dip. The terrain looked pitch dark while the sky was unusually cloudy. She was never bothered, because even if it rains cats and dogs she was determined to perform until her legs wear out.

She wasn't performing for the audience but for Lord Shiva. With folded hands pronouncing "Ohm Namashivaya" her eye lids blinked for one last time before she took the dip. One, two and three, she took the dip and with each dip she looked so brisker than before. Her wet hair shined, even with the minimum light from the moon which remained hidden behind the clouds.

Her hands looked so beautifully decorated with mehandi. She never expressed her excitement but looked so determined. She smiled so little and spoke less to the people who she had acquainted in the past 9 days, and near the mandap she met Chinna Devi.

                                            ***

Before Anjali met Sahasra the last day, Ramu was giving her company during her idle time, and that is when Ramu explained her about the Portuguese Invasion of Goa. Goa being 196.3 miles away from Hampi, the laurels and richness of Vijayanagara Empire was so much spread in the towns of Goa even at that times.

It was in 1510, that Alphonso de Albuquerque captured Goa during the reigning time Raja Krishnadevaraya. One after the other, Ramu explained how travellers who had visited Vijayanagara were inspired and influenced by the rich culture and architecture of Hampi. He continued to explain that the performers of Hampi were invited to dance in their functions.  

After Biswas it was now Ramu, who misunderstood the sweet and lustful looks of Sahasra. It was her interest in women that was becoming so evident, with her lustful looks on Ramu it was clear that Chinna Devi appeared again in the eyes of Sahasra, Poor Ramu never knew.

Had anyone understood about the thoughts of Sahasra she could have been distracted. The disorder had completely taken a toll on her. Influenced by the Portuguese invasion stories, the last soul from the 21^st century that she interacted was Anjali, when she had come to discuss about the costume.

Respecting her request on prioritizing her privacy, no one was allowed to interact with her until she completed the performance. 

A new plot unfolded in her mind as her life had a different story to tell. She smiled looking at the two body guards who stood at the doors of her grooming room near the stage as she walked inside around 4 am. From Jasmine flowers to jewellery, everything were ready and arranged on the dressing table. Anjali had done the preparations but Sahasra did not bother to know who did it. 

She stretched her toe, as her calf muscles contracted when she leaned forward to tie the four lined ankle bells stitched on to the red cloth in her ankle. She blushed like never before while she tied her long hair into plaits. The costumes looked so bright on her fair skin. The pyjamas had handcrafted dwaraka designs stitched on to a cotton fabric with a mix of yellow and sky blue background. The blouse and pallu repeated the colors in pyjamas, borders were blue while the pallu was yellow with a red shade.

Her pinkish lips needed no lipstick while she used charcoal as eyeliner. 5.30 am and with half hour for her performance Anjali took care of the background check. Anjali's volunteering was so much appreciated as she was also pretty famous after the jaw dropping performance the previous day.

Hallucinating Hampi- Chapter 8

#9

As she steps on to the stage, the clouds look bewildered while the gathered audience feels concerned. In a land were rains have been scarce since 3 years they neither could pray for the clouds to be clear nor they wanted to miss the resurrection of a century old custom.

Thousand Eyes rolled when the thunder struck, along with the first beat of the music played in the stereo speakers. Surprised, excited, shocked and bewildered expressions were all around.

Sahasra stood high, shrewd and pointed, on the stage erected 10 feet high from the ground. She stretched her arms to the sides, raised and folded, until her palms met in front of her bosom, while the country speakers murmured the sound "Ohm" in length. Never for a moment since the 6^th Day, was she out of her hallucination. Her performance had a story to say,                a story to narrate

Chinna Devi who was a part of Sahasra's practice was not seen on the stage for the 500 audiences, arranged and seated in the three sides of the stage. Sahasra continued to believe that Chinna Devi was standing next to her, and so the position she took at the left side of the stage surprised the crowd.

The stage was set in a centred way as they felt the performer would be in a centre. She humbly bowed with folded hands to wish the audiences and dignitaries who had assembled in front of her. She politely greeted the crowd sitting at her east and west side. She never felt excited or perplexed when she saw the line of people in the front row consisting of Raja Krishnadevaraya, Rani Tirumala Devi, the ministers and chiefs, few Portuguese traveller’s, representatives from adjacent empires and a large group of furious looking Sadhu's.

"Thim", it sounded in the speaker, with the hands resting on her waist Sahasra thumped her foot on the stage so

hard that the bells tied in her legs sounded as loud as the speaker. The customized recording version of Thandav stothram were to be played.

With the first step, Sahasra looked to her right and smiled wide. The dance was a Solo performance for the gathered audience, but for Sahasra’s audience that included the Raja, Sadhu’s and the Portuguese traveller’s sitting in the front of the crowd, it was a dancing competition with Chinna Devi. Sahasra noticed that her confident and shrewd look has left the Sadhu's perplexed.

All that people could see was Sahasra swirling on the 15*15 stage like a spinning top. All her moves were so pointed and sharp. Every time Sahasra moved to the right side of the stage she twisted her neck to the left to see Chinna Devi. Dancing bare feet, the postures of tandav she expressed standing high on her toe looked more easy and smooth than what a trained ballet dancer could express.

People could not see the spills of blood from her nails nor could she realize. No one had seen that kind of dedication anywhere before. The cloudy sky kept the place as dark as it was during 4 am, though it was 7 am already. Lights were lit all around, when focus lamps erected in four poles fifteen metres away from the stage at four sides highlighted Sahasra.

She never looked exhausted as her dance became more powerful and expressive. People figured out from her performance that she is depicting two characters on the stage and that one expression is the answer to the other.

But, what people did not understand was that she was becoming Chinna Devi and Sahasra at the same time.
The dancer who danced with her during all her training periods for eight days were no one other than her own extended projection.

The Hippie's were already in love with the personalized track. By then many kids around had vowed to their parents to learn Baratham.