A Brahmin, regarded as a god on earth, and the human repository of the sacred power of Brahman. The whole universe is Brahman...He who consists of mind, whose body is the breath of life, whose form is light, whose idea is the real, whose self is space, through whom are all works, all tastes, who encompasses this whole universe, who does not speak, and who has no care - he is my Self within the heart, smaller than a grain of rice or a barley corn, or a mustard seed; this is my Self within my heart, greater than the earth, greater than the atmosphere, greater than the sky, greater than all these worlds All works, all desires all scents all tastes belong to it: it encompasses all this universe, does not speak and has no care. This my Self within the heart is that Brahman. When I depart from hence I shall merge into it. He who believes this will never doubt. "If reality is absolutely single and unchanging, it follows that change is unreal."

Jaisalmer The heart of the Great Indian Desert. Its temple, fort and palaces are all built of yellow stone. The city is a mass of intricately carved buildings, facades and elaborate balconies. This exotically beautiful town is today one of Rajasthan's best loved tourist destinations. The medieval, magical appearance of the place remains unchanged, perhaps the same today as it was 800 ears ago. The magnificent old houses are all carved from the golden-yellow sandstone of these parts.

The fort crowns the Trikuta Hill, and encloses a quarter of the city within its walls. Within the fort is the multi-story palace, with its finely carved balconies and cupolas. There is also a group of Jain temples, built in the 12th and 15th centuries. Down in the city are the renowned havelies (mansions) of wealthy merchants. These dwellings represent the decadence of a bygone era of prosperity and pomp.