Your Friendly Philosopher & Guide

In the room I was resting and contemplating what went wrong? Why can’t I see any chance of darshan? Was there any flaw in my prayers? Or was it because Lord Narayana didn’t wanted me to meet him? I recollected something that my Guruswami had told me once - that whenever you plan to go to any temple or to meet any deity, you should not club it with other events (like I had clubbed it with friend’s marriage). Also you should not plan pilgrimages as picnics or trips – at least while going (like going to Ooty before visiting Tirupathi). And – you should not go to relatives’ house or friends’ house on your way back, you should come back directly to your house after the pilgrimage is over.

I was wrong in one context that I had clubbed my Tirupathi’s visit with my friend’s marriage - which was wrong and I had apologize.

The marriage reception was in the evening, and it got over by 10.15 pm. It was already time for me to go back to the room and take rest as the marriage was scheduled the next day morning at 6 am.

As I was getting ready to leave, another client of mine (my friend’s uncle) met me, and we were having a casual chat. He asked me is the darshan over? I said no. And he asked me when was the last time you visited Tirupathi, I said 15 years back. Then another friend of his joined us. He said he wanted to consult me for astrology when I am in Chennai. I said fine, give me a call before coming. He asked me the same question, did you have the darshan – I said no. He said let me try. He took his mobile phone, spoke to someone, and told us – let us go! I said where? He said we could have a darshan tonight! I was surprised completely.

It was 11 pm, and he took us (7 of us) to a cop, who supposedly was his relative. The cop put us into a cabin, where people were waiting since 12 noon. And they belonged to the next slot to be allowed for the darshan. We waited till 11.30 pm in the cabin, and the queue started moving. Of course it was a huge queue. And the rush was immense, as it happened to be a 2nd Saturday. The queue moved fast, and at 1.30 am I could see my favourite deity Lord Narayana in all his glory! It was an awesome feeling, and I felt my prayers were answered – directly.

The marriage went on well in the morning, and to my astonishment my friend had arranged a car for me to go back to Chennai. As if he was completely aware that I puke like a pregnant woman in buses, especially while traveling in hill stations. My visit to Tirupathi was a memorable one - good stay, good darshan, good food, good marriage, and good travel too.

Om Namo Narayanaya!

May God Bless All – with prosperity, peace and happiness!