THE CALL OF THE SPHINX
Stepping across the wide threshold I walk down the 21 steps that
descend into the cool pillared hallways of this ancient place of worship.
Here, in the heart of the sanctuary, the Almighty is worshipped as the
Formless Creator and as Nataraja, the Lord of Cosmic Dance. Glancing to
my left and right side I see two Mythologyical beings that observe the devotees
who enter. Seated on a raised platform they have lion’s bodies and human
faces. We call them purushamriga or human-beast. The ancient Greeks called
them sphinxes.
In body and spirit I am as one with this sacred place. I am called Raja
Deekshithar and was born as a member of the family of hereditary priests who
have cared for this holy place since the time of its origin. As I grew up I
absorbed its essence and it became an inseparable part of my being. But
beyond its walls there was another world. This world was calling me, and I
wanted to be part of it. I read about people’s struggles and achievements.
About other cultures and their way of life. I followed its call, and set out on my
journey to become part of that world.
Along the way I learned about the pyramids of ancient Egypt, and about
the Great Sphinx of Gizeh that is guarding them. Realizing its resemblance
with the guardians of the 21 steps, I wanted to find out more. I asked the
elders of my family. They could not tell me much. The purushamriga was
unique to our temple. It came from heaven to guard and protect. And India
was not known as a land that knew of the sphinx. Then another voice began
tugging softly on my consciousness. Spontaneously following I found two,
then four, and finally numerous sphinxes among the sculpture of my
home-temple. And later as anonymous and un-known guardians in countless
other sacred places all over India.
When I tried to share my discovery with the world, I met with disbelief
and doubt. Sphinxes in India? Wrong country! But I tirelessly followed their
call. I gathered evidence about their place and role in sculpture and Mythology.
I approached countless publications with requests to publish my discovery.
But my attempts were mostly met with silence. My discovery was ignored
and disregarded. The road to acceptance took many years and was finally
achieved in three steps. The Indian sphinx first found a place in Bres, a
cultural magazine from Holland. Next it was accepted on Sulekha, a
web-magazine. And finally the purushamriga reached the world stage with an
article recently published by Marg, an international magazine on Indian
art-history.
When I followed the call of that other world I never imagined I would one
day be able to inspire others with my story. Having followed the call of the
sphinx I am proud to celebrate the cultural wealth of my nation and share it
with the world.
