The Holy Town and my Bizarre Wish

Tirupati was one enlightening and exhilarating trip – For two reasons.

• One, Mom and Me got ample mother-son time, talking about minutiae – something we haven’t had a chance to do in a long, long time. (Yeah, she got hold of all my new girlfriends and imaginary ones at that).
  
• Two, I had a chance to rest after the hectic BTP time – tortuous to say the least.

I do not know what it is about the temple town that keeps bringing me back , but I for sure know that I will keep coming back. Tirumala, the temple town, has its own old world charm – the constructions and facilties are amongst the most modern available – but there is that radiance in the place and devotion in the air, a rarity in the modern world. For once you feel transported to a different land where the path to Nirvana replaces El Dorado for countless sinners turned devotees.

Most of the people who know me tend to mostly believe that I am an atheist. Well, this must serve to clear the airs, I am no atheist. I do pray when I have an exam or when I am mired in troubles (Just like the vast majority out there :P ).

I walked all the way to the top (from Alipiri to Tirumala), must have been around 10 kms. The ascent started with a series of steep steps for about 3kms (89.5 degrees steep it felt). Anyways, when I look back and see, I just find no reason why I walked. Was I trying to see if I was fit? Did I want to try and immerse myself in God for sometime and try experiencing his pull? I seriously don’t know. Did I ask God for a favour in making the climb??? Hell, No. If only I had. Anyways, I made interesting observations as I made the climb. You should try it once.

I have been to this place umpteen times. The mad rush just seems to keep growing year after year. You hardly get to see the Deity in the heart of the temple for 5 seconds. Yet in the mere 5 seconds of my presence in the Sanctum Sanctorum, the absolute radiance, and the spiritual high is something I always look forward to. And in those 5 seconds a small prayer indefinitely escapes my lip – thanking the Lord for what I am and asking him for a small favour each time. This is my yearly ritual with the Lord, but this time I asked him for one of the most bizarre wishes – I hope he isn’t stunned by the wackiness of my ask. Well, about the wish, I’d make it public if it is delivered, or else it’ll be our little secret.