This post is continuation of Tirupathi Balaji Darshan.
On our planned trip to Tirupathi Balaji Darshan, we had decided to cover more places nearby as suggested by one of my school friends, Rohit Joshi. I didn't get much time earlier to dig into historical information of the places, so as and when I got time, I tried to dig into the details of them.
On 14th February, 2021, in the morning after I got up at Fortune Hotel, I started digging into details of SriKalaHasti Temple which is around 1 hr away from Tirupathi. The information I found was extremely interesting. Aakanksha and I, both of us were pretty excited to visit the the temple. Details of this same information can be found on this portal managed by Andhra Government.
Image Courtesy - Google Images
It is said that a spider (Sri), a snake (Kala), and an elephant (Hasti) used to worship Lord Shiva in the town to attain Moksha. Therefore, during the Pallava period in the 5th century, the Srikalahasti Temple was built by Krishnadevraya, the king of the Vijayanagara Empire.
We had our breakfast followed by check out from Fortune Hotel around 10:00 am and immediately headed straight towards SriKalaHasti Temple. We crossed a bridge on Swarnamukhi River and started looking for a parking. The road was congested, so we were struggling hard to find a suitable parking. We kept on moving ahead as all the parking slots seemed to be occupied. Shortly we reached the main entrance of the temple and requested a guard to help us finding a parking. He suggested us to keep going ahead until we find a suitable parking. After moving half a kilometer ahead finally we found an empty parking area !
This time we were not really dressed up in traditional outfits. Lord Shiva accepts all sort of devotees including lost spirits, ghosts, etc. However, we were still dressed up sophisticatedly. Ayaansh continued to be reluctant on not walking or going to Aakanksha, so I continued carrying him in my arms. We reached back the main entrance of the temple and like lost kids in a fun fair we were looking around to find someone and to ask for the right direction to the temple. All the boards around the temple were in Telugu, we were struggling to cross the language barrier.
Suddenly, one of the guards approached us who must have noticed our blank faces. He suggested us to contact a person on the other end who would take us directly to the feet of all deities inside the temples bypassing the long queues. We took a pause and decided to explore by ourselves at first. But as we moved forward everything looked very confusing. While we thought it was a temple of Lord Shiva only, we realised there were multiple temples inside. Finally we decided to call this gentleman, who immediately approached us upon calling. He requested some nominal amount for his services and we agreed to that.
He asked us just to follow him and like obedient student we just followed him as he was guiding us though the premises inside that magnificent temple !
Interior of the temple is made in black stone and looks stunning. We were just moving ahead exploring breathtaking glory of that holy place.
As we moved from one temple to another, we were awestruck looking at the long queues at every place. If one decides to stand in all the queues and visit all the temples for darshan then I guess it would easily take a whole day or may be one has to even split it into 2 days program.
We were not just extremely lucky to find a place in the feet of the Divine Deities but we got an opportunity to wait for few seconds, pray and seek blessings at each of place as sages brought aarti , chant mantras and blessed us.
Usually we are not really in the favour of taking such shortcuts when it comes to devotion. However, things happened so quickly that we hardly got any chance to stop, think and make any decision by ourselves. It occurred to me that He had arranged this meet with us and we were just following His instructions one after another. Aakanaksha, Sakshi and I, we decided not to talk about whatever was happening at that moment and just went with the flow. Even now while writing when I visualise the interior of temple, Shivlainga, sculpture of deities, sages chanting mantras and aura of that place, it gives me goosebumps. This has been one of the most unique experiences we ever had while visiting any temples.
It took us hardly an hour to get out of the temple after visiting all the places. Aakanksha and Sakshi moved ahead to collect prasadam while I was taking care of Ayaansh.
Meanwhile a lady selling story and colouring books came to me and requested to buy some books. I looked at her and thought of buying some of them. Only thought I had in my mind is that to help her. Later another lady came begging but I refused money. If that other woman can work with self respect and dignity why this woman wouldn't ! Ultimately it's a matter of everyone's karma !
One may have a question while reading this post that how Lord Shiva and Lord Balaji could be related ? Or what could be the reason for such suggestions appearing by some or other ways ?
Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 12, Chapter 13, Text 16
निम्नगानां यथा गङ्गा देवानामच्युतो यथा । वैष्णवानां यथा शम्भु: पुराणानामिदं तथा ॥ १६ ॥
nimna-gānāṁ yathā gaṅgā devānām acyuto yathā vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhuḥ purāṇānām idam tathā
Translation :
Just as the Gaṅgā is the greatest of all rivers, Lord Acyuta the supreme among deities and Lord Śambhu [Śiva] the greatest of Vaiṣṇavas, so Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the greatest of all Purāṇas.
In another 2 mins a little girl came to us to sell more books. She looked at Ayaansh in my arms and offered another book. I tried to convince saying that I already purchased some books, yet she handed over a small book in Ayaansh's hand. So I tried to reach to my wallet to take out some money. That poor little girl waved at Ayaansh saying bye bye! and refused to take money. She insisted me to keep the book and not offer any money to her. Like it was a gift to Ayaansh from her. It was a bit overwhelming moment for me to see such an unexpected loving nature of that poor girl. She might be earning hardly few rupees in a day by selling those books and yet she had such big heart to offer a gift ! I was completely speechless looking at her loving gestures. I refused to accept it without offering money in exchange and took out final hundred rupees note left with me and offered to her. I didn't take any amount in return and started moving ahead. I took a few steps and the little girl came back running and offered another small book. I was speechless again. Hats off !!! to her and her parents or teachers whoever has taught her lessons of honesty and I bowed to that God who stays in her heart and guide her to become such a humble and loving person ! I pray to the Shri Krishna that let the softness in her heart brighten up and give her happiness more than she deserves ! World needs such people to make it a better place !
Later, we came out of SriKalaHasti temple and started our journey towards Kotilingeshwara Temple near Bangalore...