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Authors: Colleen Houck
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body in Star Trek. Ren had seen Star Wars so he kind of understood what I was talking about, but Kishan soon lost interest. When I brought up the time travel episodes, Mr. Kadam seemed particularly keen to know what happened to all the characters in the future if the space-time continuum was disrupted.
Finally, the snow-capped mountains near Katra came into view. I had thought the Himalayas were cold in the summer, but now, in the winter, the air was downright freezing. The worst part was that we’d have to hike up thirteen kilometers to the mountain temple.
“I’m sorry, Miss Kelsey. I promise that we will rest often along the way,” Mr. Kadam said.
I shivered. “Fine. Snowy mountain peak temple it is. I’m just glad this is the last quest.”
At sundown we asked the Scarf to set up a thick tent with mounds of blankets inside. Mr. Kadam made us hot bowls of stew using the Fruit, and I used the power of the amulet to warm the interior of the tent. Heat waves of energy pumped from my hands as if I were a radiator.
The next morning was cold and bright. After a breakfast of hot cereal, we donned several pairs of wool socks, spiked hiking boots, and layers of cold-weather clothes, topping off the layers with down jackets. Ren kept creating extra things for me to put on. Unsatisfied with my scarf, he made a thicker one and wrapped it three times around my neck. Then he added a ski hat that covered my whole head except my face and put another hat with ear protectors on top of that. When he started criticizing my gloves, I pushed him away and told him to go bother someone else.
“You’re not in Antarctica, Kells,” Kishan commented as the four of us started the hike to Durga’s temple.
“Bug off. Ren’s being overprotective. It wasn’t my idea.”
Kishan grinned. “Here. At least I can carry your backpack for you. Looks like you’re packing double your weight in clothes anyway.”
I shoved my bag at him and marched off toward the mountain in a huff. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”
Kishan laughed uproariously, and the four of us hiked toward Durga’s temple.
Mr. Kadam caught up with me quickly, followed by Kishan and Ren, who took up the rear after staying behind to break camp.
On the way to the temple, Mr. Kadam walked by my side and kept me distracted by talking about the area and its shrine.
“Would you like to hear the story of the temple?”
“Yes,” I said. I slipped on an icy patch of ground, and Kishan was next to me in an instant, his hand under my elbow to lend me his support.
Mr. Kadam inhaled the brisk mountain air and let it out with a sigh. “Around seven hundred years ago, a demon called Bhairon Nath chased Durga, or Mata Vaishno Devi as she was called then, into these hills. When Bhairon Nath found her hiding in a cave, she cut off his head with a trident. It is said that the large boulders near the mouth of the cave are the petrified remains of his body.”
“I have a question. Why do Hindu gods and goddesses have so many names and forms? Why can’t Durga just be Durga?”
“Each form is called an avatar, a reincarnated form of the goddess. In one life she may be called Durga; in another she may be Parvati, for example. The concept of reincarnation varies from religion to religion. Some believe a person is reincarnated because he needs to continue to learn, and he only stops reincarnating when he has gleaned from his human life that which he needs to know to ascend to the next level of existence.
“In Buddhism, reincarnation is seen not so much as the same spirit inhabiting a new body, but it’s more that the old spirit gives rise to a new one, like a dying flame igniting a new candle. The candles are different but the flame comes from those who have gone before.”
“But aren’t gods and goddesses already enlightened?”
“Ah, in India our gods and goddesses are not perfect.”
“It’s still confusing.”
“Yes.” He smiled. “Many also believe that
Finally, the snow-capped mountains near Katra came into view. I had thought the Himalayas were cold in the summer, but now, in the winter, the air was downright freezing. The worst part was that we’d have to hike up thirteen kilometers to the mountain temple.
“I’m sorry, Miss Kelsey. I promise that we will rest often along the way,” Mr. Kadam said.
I shivered. “Fine. Snowy mountain peak temple it is. I’m just glad this is the last quest.”
At sundown we asked the Scarf to set up a thick tent with mounds of blankets inside. Mr. Kadam made us hot bowls of stew using the Fruit, and I used the power of the amulet to warm the interior of the tent. Heat waves of energy pumped from my hands as if I were a radiator.
The next morning was cold and bright. After a breakfast of hot cereal, we donned several pairs of wool socks, spiked hiking boots, and layers of cold-weather clothes, topping off the layers with down jackets. Ren kept creating extra things for me to put on. Unsatisfied with my scarf, he made a thicker one and wrapped it three times around my neck. Then he added a ski hat that covered my whole head except my face and put another hat with ear protectors on top of that. When he started criticizing my gloves, I pushed him away and told him to go bother someone else.
“You’re not in Antarctica, Kells,” Kishan commented as the four of us started the hike to Durga’s temple.
“Bug off. Ren’s being overprotective. It wasn’t my idea.”
Kishan grinned. “Here. At least I can carry your backpack for you. Looks like you’re packing double your weight in clothes anyway.”
I shoved my bag at him and marched off toward the mountain in a huff. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”
Kishan laughed uproariously, and the four of us hiked toward Durga’s temple.
Mr. Kadam caught up with me quickly, followed by Kishan and Ren, who took up the rear after staying behind to break camp.
On the way to the temple, Mr. Kadam walked by my side and kept me distracted by talking about the area and its shrine.
“Would you like to hear the story of the temple?”
“Yes,” I said. I slipped on an icy patch of ground, and Kishan was next to me in an instant, his hand under my elbow to lend me his support.
Mr. Kadam inhaled the brisk mountain air and let it out with a sigh. “Around seven hundred years ago, a demon called Bhairon Nath chased Durga, or Mata Vaishno Devi as she was called then, into these hills. When Bhairon Nath found her hiding in a cave, she cut off his head with a trident. It is said that the large boulders near the mouth of the cave are the petrified remains of his body.”
“I have a question. Why do Hindu gods and goddesses have so many names and forms? Why can’t Durga just be Durga?”
“Each form is called an avatar, a reincarnated form of the goddess. In one life she may be called Durga; in another she may be Parvati, for example. The concept of reincarnation varies from religion to religion. Some believe a person is reincarnated because he needs to continue to learn, and he only stops reincarnating when he has gleaned from his human life that which he needs to know to ascend to the next level of existence.
“In Buddhism, reincarnation is seen not so much as the same spirit inhabiting a new body, but it’s more that the old spirit gives rise to a new one, like a dying flame igniting a new candle. The candles are different but the flame comes from those who have gone before.”
“But aren’t gods and goddesses already enlightened?”
“Ah, in India our gods and goddesses are not perfect.”
“It’s still confusing.”
“Yes.” He smiled. “Many also believe that
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