Elephanta Island

I took a 30 minute boat ride to an island northeast of where I was staying in Mumbai. The island, Elephanta Island, has been a place of religious significance since before the second century BC. Around the 7th century AD, a series of Buddhist caves were carved out of the hillside. The caves were interesting, but after seeing the caves at Ajanta and Ellora, these were not particularly impressive, but it was a nice peaceful place, especially after the tension remaining in Mumbai. While I was there I met a group of Hindu monks. They had come to Mumbai to celebrate their guru's eighty-eighth birthday, but the guru decided that they should not celebrate due to the recent tragedy in Mumbai, so the monks decided to visit the caves before they returned to their home in central India. They had brought their own fresh vegetables to prepare their own food. They invited me to join them for a meal. The food was very good and very fresh. They are strict vegetarians, no eggs, no onions, no garlic. They make a life long commitment to service, giving up all material belongs, no sex, and no contact with immediate family. This particular sect only admits men older than 21 years and having a college degree, and having permission from their parents to sever their relationship with them forever. The food was great and they all seemed very committed (some were from the US, UK and Japan), but it was too much for me, so after an enjoyable meal and discussion, I went my own way.