Olive thanked God for the day, for each individual plate of food, for our family, for her toys, for her friends, and for the baby growing in my tummy, finishing her prayer with her fist balled up in excitement, “And thank you for everything, in the name of Jesus and the name of God, Amen.” Even at one year old, he was learning the importance of prayer. Her run on prayer made the baby a little anxious as he zoned in on his breakfast plate, yet he was patient. I nodded and she continued with her sweet little voice, doing the best she could to pronounce the words that would express our love and gratitude. Our three-year-old daughter, Olive, asked if she could be the one who prays. I placed their plates in front of them and then invited them to join me in giving thanks to God for the food He provided for us. Still, the devout unable to breathe their last in the holy city can take solace from the Hindu belief that will come a step closer to salvation if their remains are cremated there.Our children sat at the kitchen table waiting eagerly for their breakfast. "But we can only accommodate a limited number." "More and more old people want to come and stay in Varanasi," said the official, Manish Kumar Pandey. The manager of the home, Mumukshu Bhavan, which dates from the 1920s, says it has reached full capacity, with more than 80 residents, although demand for places remains high. So you feel that if you attain salvation then you won't have to suffer anymore," added Ram Pyari, who is in her 80s. "One has to face so much suffering that one gets fed up. "Now I don't feel like living in this world anymore," said Ram Pyari, another resident of the home, as she prepared a meal for her husband, who is mostly confined to bed in what he is certain are his final days. More than a million people live in the ancient city famed for its temples and bathing spots beside Hinduism's holiest river to which the devout flock from all over the country for rituals marking events from birth to death. "As far as possible, shun all these things. "Our Indian philosophy is, those who seek worldly comforts can never go to God, can never reach God," said the white-haired Sastry, his shoulders draped in a yellow shawl with scriptural phrases picked out in saffron. The couple, who live in one of the spartan community homes across the sacred city meant for those seeking to live out their twilight years there, were inspired by the example of his mother, who had lived in the same place.Īlthough Western-style retirement homes are growing popular, Sastry has no interest in worldly comforts, preferring to spend his final days immersed in study and prayer. So we are proud that we are going to die here." "We invite death," Sastry said soon after chanting his dawn prayers while dipping fully clothed into the waters of the river three times. Now he hopes that by dying in Varanasi, he can break the tenuous cycle of death and rebirth, an article of faith for many Hindus, in order to attain salvation. More than a decade ago, the 82-year-old former college teacher and his wife left behind comfortable lives in the southern city of Hyderabad. VARANASI, India (Reuters) - Murali Mohan Sastry is waiting peacefully for death on the banks of the Ganges River in India's northern city of Varanasi, revered by millions of Hindus.
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