I know its 4:05 in the morning. But for some reason, my eyes are in need of sleep but my mind is not.....
So just thought of spending a couple of minutes in posting the first title on the blog and gaining the credit of being the first one to post.... hehehehe.....
I just wanted to share one of the experiences when I visited India for my wedding...
And here it goes.....
Very rarely I visit temples... In spite of the niraharadikshas, bandhs and all the disturbances raised due to this telangana issue, I still somehow managed to go to my all time favorite temple.....
My recent Visit was to Chilukur Balaji Temple. Of course the visit was a pre-planned one as usual, I had gone there to make 108 rounds around the temple as one of my wishes was fulfilled.....The general rule of the temple is that you have to make 11 rounds when you ask for a wish to be fulfilled. Once this wish is fulfilled you have to make 108 rounds.
The purpose of this visit is to make 108 rounds for my fulfilled wish and then 22 rounds for my new wishes.... I had thought of two wishes to ask for. That means I got to make twenty-two rounds. If any of these wishes come true I have to make 108 rounds for each wish. That means if all the wishes come true I got to make 216(2*108) rounds. Actually I had many more wishes to ask for but considering the risk and significance of my wishes, I restricted myself to 2!
We started at my home at 4:45 in the morning. My cousin drove me on his bike. After 45 minutes of journey from my home on those roads with hell lotsa dust and pollution, we reached Chilukur.
And now I recollected the thoughts I had during my very first visit to the temple. As I got down, I could see what makes this temple different from others. There were hoardings and advertisement banners of many coaching institutes, which teach JAVA, SAP, .Net, etc. Also Advertisements of consultants for overseas studies, advertisements of men’s hostel, women’s hostel etc. There were a no. of young men and women wandering around. I said "Wandering around" because I have found many so-called couples there. Should I call them yuppies!! Of course I can as some of them might have come with their wish fulfilled.
For a moment I wondered whether I’ve come to a wrong place like a college festival or a job fair. I confirmed once I got to the inside of the temple. I was taken aback at first. So many people were rushing, walking fast around the temple with some of them running around. We found gaps and went for ‘Dharshan’. This is the only temple probably where you don’t need to give any ‘Dhakshina’. I asked for my 2 wishes. Now came the difficult task of walking around the temple. (108 + 22) seemed easy! I started walking at the speed of the crowd. 5 minutes passed and I made only 2 rounds.(during the 'bussssssiest' times,if u plan on making rounds, all that you have to do is stand in the crowd. You dont even have to walk. They will push you off around the temple along with them in the process of making rounds). That means it is going to take a couple of hours to complete the whole thing. I thought of giving up. Then I heard the Pujari announcing that we can make half the rounds today and the rest latter. Very cooperative pujari! I thought for a while and continued at least to make half of them. I started walking fast and as I walked I made some strange observations.
Unlike other temples, which are meant for oldies, this temple had many young people, which make 90% of the visitors. The average age of the crowd would be somewhere between 23 and 25. People were walking very fast as if they would miss some train if they don’t. I could hear some people saying “81 over”, “only 35”, “10 more left” etc. of course they were referring to the no.of rounds they have made. I heard names of many places most of them in the U.S. like “ Mississippi! Such a cold place yaa”, “Illinois! Good!” “ Is that a state university in Chicago?” etc. Those were the places where many are willing to go for higher studies. And then “when?” This is a big question as they were asking for their date of appointment in the American consulate for visa (the reason for which many come here) or their departure. “21st July”,“23rd July”, “3rd august” etc. came the answers. And also there was one stranger thing in this temple. Apart from the usual devotional songs I could hear some songs like “it’s the time for disco”, “bheegay hoont therey” etc. which of course came from the I-pods or the mobile phones of these youngsters.
I could even hear the poojari saying that the devotees are not supposed to run while making rounds but they are supposed to walk as slowly as a 9 months pregnant woman does. He also announces that chilkur balaji is so good in blessing devotees in respect to their wishes and he fulfills the wishes of the chain snatchers also who will be making rounds along with the devotees. (he then warns the devotees to be cautious and make sure that they still got their gold chains around their neck). This pujari has good sense of humor....
By the time I made 75, I felt a little tired. I thought of giving up. But then, I saw a limp man walking with the help of his crutches. He was also in the crowd making rounds around the temple. I followed him. By the time he made one, I made 2 or sometimes 3. I wondered when he would finish making rounds. Yet in his face and body language, I could find the determination to finish. His determination was my first source of inspiration. The second source being the handsome man in half white and snuff formals. He too seemed very determined. I couldn’t take my eyes off him, such ********* (oh! Sorry govinda! Govinda! ). Then I looked at my cousin who accompanied me. He also seemed determined to finish. I looked at the other devotees and drew inspiration from them. I kept walking at a speed of one round in 45-50 seconds. Two hours passed and I had completed 185! Rounds. Then I reminded myself that I was supposed to do only 130. I’m done with 55(185-130) extra rounds. Then I thought ‘ let this be a down payment. The rest will be paid in installments as and when my wishes come true.
I wonder how successful GOD would be in granting my wishes, but this visit to the temple taught me what determination was, especially the determination shown by the limp man. Also a sense of satisfaction as I finished 108 rounds made me happy. I’m as every body who finishes their 108 rounds would be happy. I wondered for a moment how much satisfaction that limp man might have got. For I also wished that my 55 rounds down-payment be transferred into his account.
The funniest part is that in spite of the pujari repeatedly saying not to talk or run while making rounds, I still noticed people talking among themselves or on the mobile phone. And after completion of the rounds I had to make, I realized that without my notice, I had my concentration more on observing the other devotees rather than chanting the 'venkateswara namam'.
Oops its now 4:35 in the morning. I am glad I am able to wrap up this post in 30 minutes.
Me still not feeling sleepy but would try to kill some time watching a movie....
C ya all in the next post.....
