Trip to Tirupati

My last visit to Tirupati was back in 2002. I was coming to India after my education and subsequent employment in US. I travelled with my extended family. We booked kalyanam ticket and had a good darshan. But, the crowds were annoying to say the least. shoving/pushing and all the bad things that one associates with a typical darshan. I told God, do I need to come Tirupati to go through all this? Can't I visit you in Birla temple in Hyderabad or elsewhere.

Move ahead by 12 years. I moved back to India for good. Visited many temples all over but I never made a genuine attempt to visit Tirupati. I don't know any VIP and do not like to hassle one even if I know one. Somehow, I shut that thought. Once in a while, I used to wonder if I will go to Tirupati ever.

Last weekend was different. A close friend of mine decided to get married in Tirupati and this is a friend whose wedding I would attend even if he did not invite :-). Since accommodation is so tough to get on the hill, I was planning to do a drop-in, spend few hours and return to town of Tirupati for overnight stay. A week before the wedding I came to know the wedding was at 11.30 in the night...oops. I had to plan an overnight stay on the hill now. However, my friend took care of it. Saturday morning, I started driving to Tirupati, with two buddies of the groom who were also attending the wedding like me and who turned out to be thorough gentlemen. One of these guys somehow pulled strings and got a suprabhata darshan for two. Both of them were regular visitors to Tirupati and started discussing how Lord Venkatesa would tease and test before giving darshan. Somehow I firmly believed, since I never made a sincere effort to get darshan, I would n't even get it.

By Saturday evening, we reached the tirumala hill and I realized the 300/- darshan ticket was only available online. So, its either sarvadarshan or no darshan for me. After participating in my friend's wedding till late at 1.30, I went to bed with the plan that as soon as my friends returned from suprabhata darshan, we can start driving back to Bangalore. Meanwhile, JEO in Tirupati, who is a family friend of groom's family came and visited them. My friend's mom asked if I had darshan for which answer was no. At 1.30, before going to bed, I kind of cursed my own apathy in figuring out all these things and making arrangements for darshan. Even though, I had no reason to complain, part of me was disappointed.

At 4.15 there was a knock on my door. When I opened it was not my friends returning from suprabhatam. Someone in groom's family were dropping out of VIP break darshan tickets they had, owing to ill health and they asked me, if I can get ready in 10 mintes, I can join them for Break darshan. Whoa...I could n't believe it. There was barely any time. I took a cold shower, got ready in 10 minutes and rushed to meet the folks waiting outside. Squeezed into an already crowded car, accompanied them to JEO office and got the tickets and 5.30 I was in break darshan queue. I did not have an ounce of idea on what was waiting for me. After walking through the queue and waiting in the hall for 10 minutes, we were ushered into main mandapa. I was drowned in my own thoughts. What a beautiful way for the Lord to give me a darshan. I was immersed in my own Japa. I was n't expecting any pushing and shoving as I knew it was a VIP darshan. walked peacefully into bangaru vakili. few feet away form the garbhagudi. All of us were lead to the room in front of garbhagudi. There he was...in all his glory. I was waiting for my turn. groups of 20 were asked to form 2 queues. After Arati, teertham and sathagopam, they were let go. my previous group ended right in front of me. After their service was over, I was the first man standing right infront of garbhagudi. I stood there for full two minutes. Mesmerized with the darshan and overwhelmed with the opportunity I had. It was surreal. Till 2 hours ago, I did not have an iota of hope about having a darshan. There I was standing right infront of lord for full two minutes. Strange are the ways of God. Whatever it is that I did to owe this blessing from God, I wish I did more of that :-)

For next two hours, I practically was floating in air with joy. At around 8.30 we had breakfast and started out return journey to Bengaluru. I still marvel at the leela of God and I wonder if I will ever get such an opportunity. But thank your Lord. thank you for making my day.