I remember during my childhood a monk used to visit our village every year, almost at the same time of the year.
He used to come and live in the village HANUMAN temple for two to three days.
His main purpose of the visit was to tell the PREDICTIONS for the coming year which had a direct relationship with the villagers. The predictions used to include type and quantum of rainfall, warning about any disaster like floods, epidemics, etc.
I had observed that the villagers believed that his PREDICTIONS had always been true and it helped them to plan their life for the coming year.
This PREDICTION telling was a small ceremony.
One the first day of his arrival he would roam around the streets and gullies of the village and he would announce his arrival and the PREDICTION time the next morning.
The next morning all the villagers would gather in the small ground near the Hanuman temple.
The monk used to get ready in his formal dress, which included his prominent red turban, sandals made of wood, a many-layered rudraksha mala, three prominent white lines of vibhuti on his forehead and a bell.
He would come in the middle of the crowd. The crowd would fall silent. He would sound the bell. And then start telling the PREDICTIONS in a typical rhythm.
It wouldn't last two to three minutes. Most of it was in cryptic and gibberish language.
But the villagers were used to it. They would decipher the message from the PREDICTIONS.
Immediately after this ceremony, the monk would leave.
No one knew where he went and from where he came. He neither expected anything nor accepted any offering.
One thing that always attracted me as a young boy was that he always carried a LANTERN, an UMBRELLA, and a BUNCH OF KEYS with him always.
They were part of his formal dress. It intrigued me. Though the PREDICTIONS ceremony was in the day time, he still carried the lantern. He used his umbrella though it wouldn't rain and there was no sun. Considering his lifestyle it was for sure he hadn't locked fortune and carried the keys always.
It is only now I understand the SYMBOLIC IMPORTANCE of those items he carried.
These symbols were a clear message for the society, which was easily comprehended in those times.
The LANTERN It indicated the light for the pathfinding. Come I will lead. You can follow me.
The UMBRELLA It indicated protection. Whether it's rain or sun, come to me. There's protection here. Symbolically speaking protection from
adversities.
The BUNCH OF KEYS It indicated, that I have the answers to those secrets that would help you to live a prosperous and happy life.
Such profound were the lives of such great men.
The SOCIETY and the WORLD desperately need such people who carried the LANTERN, UMBRELLA, and BUNCH of KEYS
BECOME ONE, OR AT LEAST RECOGNIZE THOSE FEW WHO ARE LEFT