We were planning our trip to visit Tirupati Balaji Temple and seek his blessings since December 2020. People across the world visit Tirupati Balaji's abode situated in Sapthgiri Hills and hence the temple management has made it mandatory to book time slot for darshan to manage the crowd. As soon as bookings were open on 20th January, 2021 we booked our slot for 13th February, Saturday.
Meanwhile while talking to one of my school friends, Rohit Joshi, he mentioned about more places to be visited around Tirupati Balaji temple. So we decided to cover most of those places in 2 days of time we had in our hand.
Bangalore - Tirupati Journey
We started early in the morning around 06:00 am. I noted down kilometers in the parking- 10,914. Our first halt was to fuel up our vehicle. I didn't miss noticing the fuel station name Hari Krishna Fuel Station.
Immediately after that we picked up Sakshi - Aakanksha's friend, from her place and headed straight towards our stay - Fortune Hotels, Tirupati. Bangalore - Tirupati, 261 Kms we covered in four and half hours and reached much before expected time.
Fasting
Aakanksha had already decided to be on fast until we get darshan. She was mentioning the same to Sakshi. Aakanksha had decided that she would have only fruits and water and nothing else. I had not planned for fasting because I have severe acidity issues and not eating on time or not eating regularly makes my acidity issues extremely bad. In spite of that I was wondering if I should also be on fast too. I had not had even sip of water since I woke up. I made up my mind that I will also keep a fast. I decided to consider it to be a test for myself to see how much I can keep my senses in control. Hence, I decided to continue to not drink even a sip of water, to not eat absolutely anything and break my fast by eating prasadam only after darshan.
At hotel when everyone else were munching on snacks, having milkshakes, fruits, etc,. It could have been tempting for me to look at those delicious sandwiches, strawberry, chocolate milkshakes, etc, on any other day but this is what I had to test !
Fasting isn't just a state where I restrict myself from eating or drinking but my mind should also not be tempted to do the same when I see food and water served to anyone else in front of me. It was a state when I prayed Shri Krishna and thanked him to give me all the luxury as fruits of my karma and never let me feel state of hunger and thirst.
To His Abode
We changed our outfits and dressed up to visit Lord Balaji. Lord Vishnu being in charge of Satva Guna one has to wear simple / traditional, clean outfits before appearing in front of Him. This is already mentioned in the guidelines on the booking website. So we had carried outfits accordingly.
In case one forgets to carry then also it's nothing to worry about. There are many shops on the way where one can buy local outfits. e.g. lungi.
We started around 01:30 pm from our stay at Fortune Hotels. When we reached at the base of Sapthgiri Hills, there was a huge queue of vehicles and it made me worried for a moment if we would make it in time, although slot we had booked was at 04:30 pm.
But, I was confident that if He has called us so far then He wouldn't let us go disappointed.
We went through security check at base where car, baggage and an individual everything and everyone has to go through a very strict security check. Probably more strict than the one at airports!
As we started driving up the hills, the mesmerising beauty of the hills covered with trees, flowers and well maintained clean roads made me wonder if His abode on earth is so beautiful then how beautiful His abode in Vaikuntha would be !
Srivari Padalu
One of the places around the temple is Srivari Padalu - Lord Sri Venkateshwara's Feet. It is said that these are the footprints of Lord Balaji when he set his feet on the hills.
Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 2, Chapter 2, Text 13
एकैकशोऽङ्गानि धियानुभावयेत् पादादि यावद्धसितं गदाभृत: । जितं जितं स्थानमपोह्य धारयेत् परं परं शुद्ध्यति धीर्यथा यथा ॥ १३ ॥
ekaikaśo ’ṅgāni dhiyānubhāvayet pādādi yāvad dhasitaṁ gadābhṛtaḥ jitaṁ jitaṁ sthānam apohya dhārayet paraṁ paraṁ śuddhyati dhīr yathā yathā
Translation :
The process of meditation should begin from the lotus feet of the Lord and progress to His smiling face. The meditation should be concentrated upon the lotus feet, then the calves, then the thighs, and in this way higher and higher. The more the mind becomes fixed upon the different parts of the limbs, one after another, the more the intelligence becomes purified.
Above script from Srimad Bhagavatam describes how one should begin meditation (darshan) of Lord Narayana. Most of the people are unaware of this and directly stands in front of Him and stare at His face.
As I was already aware of this process of meditation, we decided to first visit Srivari Padalu - Lotus feet of Lord Narayana and then visit main temple.
On the way to Srivari Padalu
To The Main Temple
By the time we were done with our darshan at Srivari Padalu, it was already 03:00 pm. We left our belongings except mobile phones, footwear in the car and started walking towards the temple. Ayaansh refused to walk and on reluctant on going to Aakanksha also. So I was carrying him all this while.
All this while we were still doubtful if they would allow entry to Ayaansh because at the time of booking it was mentioned that entry to kids under age 10 is prohibited due to Corona situation. So in case they would not have allowed Ayaansh inside the temple, we had decided to go one by one. That's the reason we were carrying our phones with us so that we could coordinate if needed. We went through more security checks and we were so glad that all of us could enter together and specially Ayaansh was allowed to enter. We were at final check post where we had to deposit our phones at the counter before proceeding ahead.
The corridor to main temple is quite far and one has to stand in a very long queue before he gets darshan of Lord Balaji. As we were moving forward in a queue, Ayaansh started shouting "Paapi ! Paapi !!" I couldn't control my laughter and had to tell him Yes! my dear son ! we all are Paapi !
At the end of corridor we were gathered in a waiting area, waiting to open a gate for our time slot. By now it was 04:30pm. My tiredness was gone but I could feel thirst, I was eager to see Balaji and then break my fast by eating prasadam. Suddenly it reminded abhang by Kanhopatra -
नको देवराया अंत पाहु आता। प्राण हा सर्वथा फुटो पाहे॥
हरिणीचे पाडस व्याघ्रे धरियेले। मज लागी जाहले तैसे देवा॥
तुजविण ठाव न दिसे त्रिभुवनी। धावे हो जननी विठाबाई॥
मोकलोनी आस, जाहले उदास। घेई कान्होपात्रेस हृदयात॥
If you call yourself the Lord of the fallen,
why do O Lord not lift me up?
When I say I am yours alone,
who is to blame but yourself
if I am taken by another man.
When a jackal takes the share of the lion,
it is the great, who is put to shame.
Kanhopatra says, I offer my body at your feet,
protect it, at least for your title.
A story behind this abhang could be found here in this blog .
It's just that my situation was bit different. I was praying as I was hungry and waiting for His darshan. I laughed on myself thinking how did people practise asceticism back then !
While I was lost in these thoughts, suddenly gate opened and all of us started running towards the main entrance. In next 15 mins we were standing in front of Lord Tirupati Balaji. I have no words to describe that moment !
After appearing in front of almighty Lord Balaji, we had prasadam and finally we broke our fast. Meanwhile we didn't realise that Ayaansh also was on fast because of us. In this whole process he ate only things which are acceptable for fast. Since the time we left hotel, he didn't eat anything until he had prasadam. Not even milk. He has been such a good kid every time we travel anywhere !
Return Journey
We collected our belongings, clicked some pictures for memory, purchased a frame of Lord Balaji and Laxmi together and headed back to our stay. After whole tiring day, which was was worth because of pleasant darshan of Lord Balaji, we had a very peaceful sleep that night !
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