Stephansdom wonders

Vienna Views
Originally uploaded by tharikrish

Stephansdom or St Stephan's Cathedral is in the center of Vienna. Roof mosaic is not the only wonder here. Host of cryptic symbols and signs add to the mystique. Female and male elements, life and death, the two headed eagle and strange numerology are seen here.

Most of the people who walk into this cathedral and streets surrounding it do not see the ghosts who frequent this place, Many tombs used to be here, but leaving a few they were all removed. However, a lot of unknown tombs still lie in the depths. Their inhabitants wander through the arched gateways of this scared place.

All the symbolism points to a hoary past, when endeovour to reveal light was the main purpose of the life. Healing, the realization of eternal life, was the occupation of the people who frequented this place, long before the Roman encampents came up. Romans too pitched there tents to taste the sheer tenacity and vigour of this soil.

Vedas talk of a Great Teacher who sat on the banks of Danube. He had golden hair and his eyes were sparking blue. Who was his mystic who visited India 10 000s of years ago to participate in the Rajasuya Yajna of Emperor Yudhisthra, after the Mahabharata war?

Was he one of the Great Masters in a lineage of Great Ones who sat here? He was to give unsurpassed powers to Vienna that it remained the capital of Europe for 100s of years. The mystical powers were sought by as diverse seekers as the Romans, Gypsies, Turks, Jews, Templars, Teutonic and Maltese Knights and later Hitler.

Wandering ghosts still frequent the place, and stew up an vicious odor in the spring. They come here to die, and become deathless. May the Great Master who sits here have mercy on them and deliver them, without delay!

Vienna Views

In Vienna from 22 March 2009 on an assignment to IAEA, and with many holidays in the last one month, I spent a lot of time on the streets and Schloss (Palace) grounds. Each of the three schlosses of Vienna have their unique characteristics.



Hofburg Imperial Palace rise above the Roman ruins. Before the Romans, it was a Celtic habitation. Danube flows a bit away from the city centre - Innere Stadt, unlike maybe in other cities such as Budapest and Bartislava. The river front in Vienna thus is not that lively as other places.

Schloss Schoenbrunn is the outlying hunting estate modified later on as a palace. Roman ruins, though artificial, grace this place too. Perhaps a good walking ground on a sunny day, ancient culture could be hiding in the depths here t00.