Bhajan Yatra -South Indian temples December 2004

What I am about to write took place in 2004…it was a wonderful experience, these are just snippets.. nevertheless enjoy this as i ponder of organizing the 2nd yatra at the end of the year.Hmmm...

Pre Yatra trip-Kuala Lumpur
Wow! What kinda mess have I got myself into?.I thought. Besides arranging and getting people together(almost everyone seems to have a particular request) , the tour/travel agency itself gave me few headaches on unfulfilled promises as things ALWAYS seems to change when I visit them .Imagine when they told me (less then 2 weeks before the tour) that they couldn’t confirm the airline tickets for 8 people(despite furnishing them the FINAL name list of 32 people a month ahead).Reason giveb - amnesty and peek holiday period and gleefully suggested we should cancel this trip!!? I was furious beyond words nevertheless manage to keep my temper in check and told them under no circumstance this will happen and demanded they sort the flight tickets for all 32 of us.I also stood my ground on few financial issues. By this time even Uncle Jega started having doubts if we choose the right travel agency. At about this time,when I was feeling sad that I might let everyone down on the whole trip,I called Sis.Gayathri (Aunty Rajeswari’s daughter) regarding her Mom, brother (Prahalad)and Sis.Madhani’s Visa application and accidentally mentioned my doubt and fear that this trip might be a failure .What she said next jolted me and gave me the confidence…I will never forget those words…”Prem you are doing a wonderful job!Gods Job! How can anything go wrong? I know you have given your best and let him take care of the rest. Trust me it will be a very successful trip. I haveno doubts about it”..... WOW!!! How true her words are to became…my God!!

Kabaleeswarar Temple
All my initial doubts vanished the moment we set foot in this enchanting temple.We even had a welcoming party and from the 1st puja and the song we sang at this temple….the mood was set for the rest of the trip.I felt a strong vibration growing as we went from one inner sanctorium to another…a sense of peace enveloped me. It was amazing to see the reaction of the crowd when we sang bhajans and the way they profusely thanked Uncle Jega(he was practically looked upon as a demi-god) for coming and giving them something they never had in more the 40 years at this temple…a sense of belonging and appreciation. We became instant celebrities for a short period of time. WOW! ….this was just a beginning of a wonderful journey.

Ucchi Pillayar Temple
A sight to behold even from a far as we crossed the Kaveri River !!! Bhajan was tremendous at this temple from the 1st step all the way up the 642nd step of the temple. I had the rear privilege of seating right infront of Uchi Pilliar in the Inner sanctorium next to Aunty Rajeswari (whom Iwill come to regard as a mother-figure by the end of this trip). Felt very strong vibration. Could I ask for more??…Pillayar in front and a mother beside .Words fail me though the Bhawa lingers on.

Palani
It was an awesome experience to be at Palani and going up the Tramp (still can picture how Bro.Prahalad looked and all the stick he got from me). The scenery below was so captivating it was as though being in heaven and looking down at the Grandeur of the land of Bharat
Bro.Pritivy Raj and Bro.Nithia Nantha decided to go Bald!! Perhaps the only time in the history of Palani …where a group of people stood around, singing Bhajans as their heads were being shaven bald!!! Right there and there we had (or rather born/created) with us “Adi”(Bro.Pritivy) and“Andam”(Bro. Nantha) throughout the journey right up to Prashanti Nilayam…Two wonderful souls…or was it three?(only those on the trip will know what I mean..hehehe)

All the Guys, 7 of us , had the most auspicious puja at the inner sanctorium as we were garlanded by the priest with “Rose Mala”….All 7 of us!!!…and there was ONLY 7 “Rose Malas”

Madurai Meenakshi Amman
Of all the temples that we went to…Meenakshi Amman temple had a profound effect on me.. Something extremely close to my heart and something I cherish more then my life itself…the love of my beloved Mother. TheUnconditional and pure love only a mother can grant has been missing for the most part of my life. It has been nearly 15 years since I physically experienced this feeling until I saw Meenakshi Amman up close and personal. As we were seated in front of her for the 1st time, suddenly a surgeof energy hit me and tears started pouring profusely…tears of joy, love and peace. Tears of being reunited with a mother. Never knew a mere statue could emanate such powerful vibration and divine energy and for along period I was lost in that feeling. Swami, knowing what I desired, granted not once but trices the opportunity to see AMMA for the next 3 days. Instantly my intuition told me that this will not be my last visit to Madurai Mennakshi Amman …Iwill be back!! The bond of a mother and son can never be broken. By the way, is it coincidence that my mother’s name was Paruvathy??Strange is the divine leela. Both Amma are one.

Anadam Nilayam-Madurai
Strong and very blissful experience….a feeling of ananda no doubt.The bhajan here was good especially when the 2 in-house ladies sang!!We also felt a sense of awe and wonder when listning to swami’s leela’sand the personal experience of Uncle Srinivas, the close association of his Father with Swami and the wonderment of how this Anandam Nilayam Abode was built. Pure Namasmaran as we ate dinner while listening to their stories(by the way, Uncle Srinivas's father was the person who built swami the Golden Chariot) …what a blissful experience. A nice prelude before reaching Puttaparthi. I also learnt the lesson in modesty form Aunty Kala…an extremely humble and loving soul with such great devotion. Was a privilege to have her with us.

Thiruparakundram
My istha Deva has always been Murugan…and visiting 3 of the Arupadai Vedu (6 abodes of Lord Murugan)was a blessing itself. After the majestic experience in Meenakshi Amman, we rushed to Thiruparankundram.

After pooja and the wonderfulsight of the celestial marriage of Murugan and Devianney followed by electrifiying Bhajan…something special happened. Earlier during the pooja when I received the Mala from the priest (Normally all this mala’s I would pass to one of the ladies in the group) something urged me to hand this particular mala to a mother (Remember less the 2 hours ago we were in Meenakshi Amman and the experience I felt there?) and the 1st person that crossed my mind was Aunty Rajeswari. When I gave her the mala she was a bit stunned for a while and then sincerely thanked me (I never told her the urge I had earlier to give this to a “mother”).As we were about to leave and having time at our disposal most of us were doing shopping at the entrance of the temple. I was determined not to buy anything. Period!. Suddenly I came across a very beautiful picture of a young and playful Murugan.The picture really captivated me and as I was talking to Prahalad regarding this aunty Rajeswari appeared and insisted to buy this picture for me.I was adamant and said no. Imagine the very next wordshe said…”Prem you gave me the mala and as a mother I accepted it…and I treat u the same as Prahalad.. if you are my son you will not say no”…Now…how can I say no!!!!

I treasure this picture much more dearly now…

Some of the other temples we visited were Pazhamudir solai, Tirucendur(we were there 3 days before Tsunami hit the shores..but never touched this beach side temple), Peciamman, Azhagar (there was a myth abt this temple, were by those unmarried if they sincerely pray within a year marital bliss dawns upon them - 6 ppl from the trip got married..and within a year..including me!!! met my wife in less then a year after this trip ), Pillayar Patti, Tiruvanai Kaval… etc

Hmmm…..just my Thots...Shall we go North or South Indian Temples in December 2010??…help me decide?…and if you wanna jump in the bandwagon..gimme a tinkle