Your parents sowed the seeds of spiritual interest in you, your mother taught you Dharma, you have said. Can you expand on that?
My mother was a theosophist, although I was too young to realise it. Righteousness — doing the right things and in the right way — and honesty were the two things she insisted on. My father was a seeker. He would be engaged in conversations with Raja Deekshitar, whenever he visited the Netherlands. Both parents were spiritually inclined and I must have imbibed it.
Why India and what are the aspects you like about it?
I love ancient civilisations. And I’m curious. Yes, it could have been any place — Greece, Egypt, Africa... Bharatanatyam brought me to India and well, the rest, as they say, is history. I love the food, the spicy flavours of the South and the sweets... and of course the warm weather. But that is at the superficial level. What binds me to this land is its heritage, the tradition.
What, according to you is the essence of Indian tradition/culture?
Dharma — that would be the essence of the culture of this land. The consciousness about the right and the wrong. And taking responsibility for the actions — Karma. I agree that there is corruption and malpractice but people are aware of it. It is awareness of Dharma and Karma, which enables us to realise the wrong and the right. Our wrong choices have led to climate change and political upheavals. But course-correction is possible, provided we take the responsibility. This is the best gift India has for humanity and it is for this reason that the rest of the world needs India. In the Gita, Lord Krishna speaks of the dark Kali Yuga and we are already in it. Also this is the land of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, which have so much to teach. It is here that people are living the principle of Dharma.
Liesbeth Pankaja Bennink
What are the temples you have visited, apart from Chidambaram?
I have visited several temples, names of which I cannot easily recall... My guru Rajamani took me to Tirupati, where we participated in rituals. It was a beautiful experience. And Narthamalai...
You are convinced that the beliefs as practised in India are not superstitions. Please elaborate
This is the land of Sanatana Dharma — it is a way of life. A discipline, which lays down do’s and don’ts and emphasises on purity — everything to elevate a human being at the spiritual level. To teach people, impart knowledge about so many things — astronomy, astrology, biology and so on. I would say that Man primarily is an Intellectual being and secondarily a Material being. It is the material that creates Maya and distracts him and it is to raise above that, a discipline was put in place. It is connected to the Universe, a kind of code. Failure to understand the code leads to doubts. For instance, Saturday is not the preferred day to buy new clothes. The reason is that the day belongs to Saturn and it would be appropriate to purchase metals instead on that day. After my long association with this land, the people and those who practise the old way of living, I’m convinced that there are reasons behind these beliefs and they are not blind superstitions.
And we have lost a lot in the past few years?
The invasion and occupation of foreigners have robbed this country of its amazing wealth, not only material but intellectual. Knowledge. Sadly most of it has been lost for ever. The people of this land were made to believe that they were inferior to the West. Gradually, the people succumbed and started doubting themselves. It was all a part of an agenda to destroy India and its glory. The brain drain, which has happened in the past three decades, has taken away precious talent. Inside temples, I find the original granite replaced with marble, which takes away the Energy and those harsh tubelights. With the abolition of the Devadasi system, an inherent part of temple heritage has been wiped out. Wootz steel has completely disappeared from the Tamil land, although attempts are being made to revive it. Prof. Sharada Srinivasan has been conferred Padma Shri for her efforts in this direction.
Certain things can only be felt and not explained. Do you agree?
Well, what first is a feeling or intuition gets a shape if you search for the science behind it. Words and images do emerge. From the Unknown to the Known. But yes, some concepts, say Upanishadic or Advaitic can only be realised and not described. There could be things, which are beyond the human level of expression. Quite possible.
How difficult or easy has been your research? In India, information generally is tough to access and documentation not really meticulous. Often riddled with suspicion and scepticism. Especially when the seeker is not an Indian.
No, it was not easy at all. First, the topic of my research was not just history or philosophy, per se. It dated back centuries and often the information was not direct. It had to be decoded and this required help. Especially way back when Internet was not known and communication was not advanced. It was difficult to access texts and books. Raja Deekshitar showed me the way and his family was wonderful.
You are sure Aryan invasion never happened. Can you explain?
Well, as a young student, even I subscribed to the theory that light-skinned people crossed the mountains to overthrow the natives and occupy their spaces. But that was before I came to India, met Raja Deekshitar and learnt about the way the Rishis lived, the Vedas and so on. There was a huge gap between the India I read in text books and what I saw and learnt from guru Rajamani and Deekshitar. I read books debunking that theory. Thirty years of research has taught me that Sanatana Dharma was a way of life on this land thousands of years ago, when people lived with Nature and had mastered the movements of planets. They belonged here.
Liesbeth Pankaja Bennink
History, Spiritualism, Art — you straddle all spheres. Are they exclusive or complement each other in your research?
There are no contradictions here. Specialising in one aspect is a Western concept, which doesn’t work. Things are interconnected. One leads to another. Ayurveda, Yoga, dance, Sanskrit, art, astronomy, astrology, metaphysics... they are all linked, holistic. Like the Cosmos. Like a temple. The outer prakara leads to the inner corridors and deeper the niches and still deeper the sanctum or the centre. The Chit Sabha of Chidambaram. Like Indra’s Net, the multifaceted jewel, where each face reflects the others infinitely.
Have you been to the North of India?
I have not seen the North much. So can’t talk about it.
How do you keep in touch with Bharatanatyam?
Through practice. At least to keep myself flexible. I meet some of my friends in the field. And I read books. I would mention Unfinished Gestures of Devesh Soneji as one of the brilliant works on the subject in recent times.
Lifetime work
A Dutch by birth, Liesbeth Pankaja Bennink reveals an extraordinary affinity towards all things Indian. She attributes it to her mother, an Indian. Life in Europe was typical with Western education and ballet classes until Liesbeth came across Bharatanatyam. She went to a museum and witnessed a documentary on Lord Siva. She was mesmerised by the abhinaya and expressions of Ram Gopal and his group. The desire to learn this sensitive dance form became deep. Her relentless search for a teacher led her to guru Rajamani in Amsterdam.
Meeting Rajamani in a way proved to be a turning point because the Guru taught her not only Bharatanatyam but all about the land to which it belonged — its people, culture, heritage, etc. A historian — having graduated from Utrecht University — Liesbeth visited India with her teacher to perform and fell in love with the country and its ethos. Dancing at the Chidambaram Natyanjali created a new awakening in her. The temple with its golden roof and Nataraja became a life time obsession. Guided by Raja Deekshitar, who became another Guru, she explored the science behind the temple, where Siva manifests as Space — Akasa.
Recently, Liesbeth presented a lecture, ‘Chidambara Rahasya, Science or Secret?’ for C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer Foundation. Among other things, she explained the significance of many aspects — the temple’s location, its construction and the number 21,600. She marvelled at the accuracy of Indian astronomers, scientists and architects. “I don’t have a head for Math. The numbers and equations are someone else’s work. The Internet has exhaustive material on this but I took it from there to do my research and establish the facts,” she said. “The temple, in its entirety is the key, which can unlock a treasure trove of information. There is no mystery, only we need to look for the answers in the right place,” she underlined. Liesbeth firmly believes that by going back to their roots, Indians can find the answers to many challenges. “Many of you don’t know the treasures you have lost. Be aware of what is left and cherish it,” she almost pleaded.
“I have only scratched the surface. Raja Deekshitar is no more but with the invaluable insights he has given me, I’m continuing to work,” observed Liesbeth, who urged young students to develop an interest in the subject. The hall that morning was overflowing with historians, academics and college students. “The response humbles me,” said Liesbeth. “That so many people, including young students are interested is a good sign,” she added. Liesbeth can be reached at liesbethpankaja@gmail.com
