Agra and Boda Gaya

I took the train from Varanasi to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal. The Taj is a beautifully constructed marble mausoleum that is adorned with traditional Mughal (Muslim) patterns that have been etched into the marble. Some of the etchings are painted recitations of Muslim prayers, while other etchings have been inlaid with coral, lapiz, jade and onyx stone. The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to commemorate his late wife. The mausoleum was built after the death of Shah Jahan's third and favorite wife. A large garden and fountains extended out from the Taj Mahal and behind it lies the Ganga river, tranquil. A large Mosque and the living quarters of the Shah's other two wives are built around the Taj. The Mosque is still active. The architecture is exquisite, and revealed in the construction are several optical illusions. Inside the Taj is the burial site for both Shah Jahan and his wife. The monuments I saw are replicas; the real tombs lie underneath the main quarters of the Taj Mahal.
This trip also included a tour of other important Mughal temples and burial sites of Muslim emperors. I saw the tomb of the great emperor Akbar, who conquered most of northern India and later converted to Buddhism. Akbar is known for exercising religious tolerance. Akbar's tomb is also adorned with intricate geometric designs characteristic of Mughal empire.

Boda Gaya is located in the India's poorest state, Bihar. My friend and I, whom I met at the ashram, took a taxi from Varanasi to Boda Gaya, where Siddhartha, while sitting beneath the Bodhi tree, attained enlightenment and became Buddha. Boda Gaya is an important pilgrimage site for Buddhist and is considered the center of the Buddhist universe, the Navel of the Earth. The Bodhi tree sits behind the Mahabodhi Temple and is encapsulated with numerous stupas ( carved statues) that honor the Buddha. I made an offering at the Mahabodhi temple in front of the Buddha and then sat in the garden near the Bodhi tree to meditate. All around me were Buddhist practitioners making full prostrations in front of the temple. It was so peaceful and calming. I felt honored to be there. As I stood beneath the great Bodhi tree, a leaf fell from it's branches. I picked up the leaf, recognizing it as a great gift and blessing.