I had visited Tirupati/South India once before four years ago when taking part in the GBC meetings as a member of the Devotee Care Committee. Already then Revati Raman Prabhu, the Temple President of this yatra and Chairman of the Devotee Care Committee had invited me to visit again in order to offer a seminar to the ladies, and finally now the time had come where I had the opportunity to do so.
Tirupati is a small city of around 300.000 inhabitants and has the mood of a holy dham - famous for its unique Balaji Temple on top of Venkata Mountain, about eight miles from Tirupati.
Our ISKCON temple is situated along the way to Venkata Mountain - a most beautiful and impressive abode of Their Lordships Radha Govindaji and Asta Sakhis. The interior of the temple is indeed an exquisite master piece of devotional art - tastefully composed decorations, paintings and columns depicting the main incarnations of the Lord. Around 75% of all the laxmi for the temple construction had been collected through book distribution. Needless to say: Tirupati receives a never ending flow of visitors to the famous Balaji temple every day of the year - what a wonderful opportunity to distribute Prabhupada's books to them!
I was scheduled to give the course "Men and Women in Spiritual Culture" over three evenings and two entire days of Saturday and Sunday. It was well attended by a nice group of around 80 matajis who eagerly participated. Even here, where the culture is still so much more traditional than in other places of India, the ladies once again received deep transformational insights into the foundations of their own Vaisnava culture based on Srila Prabhupada's instructions from the Bhagavatam. Also here Kali Yuga is entering, and spiritual culture is gradually starting to deteriorate.
Once again it was striking to discover how the male ego objects to even the most subtle desire of the wife of wanting to be superior to him.
As Prabhupada says in SB 3.23.2: "A man's psychology and woman's psychology are different. As constituted by bodily frame, a man always wants to be superior to his wife, and a woman, as bodily constituted, is naturally inferior to her husband. Thus the natural instinct is that the husband wants to post himself as superior to the wife, and this must be observed. Even if there is some wrong on the part of the husband, the wife must tolerate it, and thus there will be no misunderstanding between husband and wife."
As Prabhupada says in SB 3.23.2: "A man's psychology and woman's psychology are different. As constituted by bodily frame, a man always wants to be superior to his wife, and a woman, as bodily constituted, is naturally inferior to her husband. Thus the natural instinct is that the husband wants to post himself as superior to the wife, and this must be observed. Even if there is some wrong on the part of the husband, the wife must tolerate it, and thus there will be no misunderstanding between husband and wife."
Recently one mataji from Europe who is married to an Indian bodied devotee shared with me, how the first couple of years of their marriage had been extremely tough. Her husband was very often angrily chastising her and putting her down, and she had come to the point where she was even doubtful whether she could maintain her marriage vows. I had encouraged her to participate in this course, which had improved things. Then Krsna arranged something in their life, which made it very clear to her that she was not as strong in her spiritual life as she always thought herself to be. Infact, Krsna clearly showed that her husband is actually a much stronger devotee. This realisation put her in a humble frame of mind. And amazingly enough, immediately their marriage relationship changed to the better, and became very harmonious - because she accepted her natural position of allowing her husband to be superior: deep within her heart! She shared with me how previously she had always considered herself to be much more Krsna conscious, and in a subtle way she had looked down upon her husband, thinking him to be "just" a business man and actually not such a serious devotee. So accepting one's husband (or any other person) as superior is not just an external thing of offering service, but it is a matter of deeply within one's heart considering oneself inferior. This is what it means to be humble. It is a certain state of our heart.
Even after we had concluded the course, our ladies here in Tirupati were so enthusiastic to continue with programs every evening during my visit. So we spent two more evening sessions discussing aspects of chanting the holy name. I was also invited to visit our little ISKCON school next door and offer a little program to the teachers, and on another morning to the students.
Govardhana Puja was a nice festival, with the altar being beautifully decorated with lots of fruits and a big cake in the shape of Giriraja Govardhana. The pujaris conducted an elaborate abhishek of Giri Govardhana, followed by a lecture. We concluded the festivities outside, worshiping Go Mata and circumambulating a little Govardhana Hill made from mud and cow stool, decorated with little animals, trees and flowers, waterfalls and kunda's.
In the evening we had another program with the ladies and discussed sweet details of Krsna lifting Govardhana Hill - one of my favorite lilas.
In the evening we had another program with the ladies and discussed sweet details of Krsna lifting Govardhana Hill - one of my favorite lilas.
One early morning the devotees arranged for me a special darshan of Balaji - Venkatesvara, the four-handed Lord Visnu with His potencies named Sri and Bhu.
At 3:30 am we drove up the winding road leading us to the top of the mountain where this famous Balaji Temple is located. Usually the pilgrims are walking up the hill, which takes around 5 to 6 hours. And once they arrive they have to stand in line for another 8 hours in order to get the darshan of the Lord. This is what it means to show eagerness to see the Lord - to happily accept so much endeavor and tapasya!
At 3:30 am we drove up the winding road leading us to the top of the mountain where this famous Balaji Temple is located. Usually the pilgrims are walking up the hill, which takes around 5 to 6 hours. And once they arrive they have to stand in line for another 8 hours in order to get the darshan of the Lord. This is what it means to show eagerness to see the Lord - to happily accept so much endeavor and tapasya!
The devotees arranged a special darshan usually reserved for VIP's, which involved very little waiting time (so I missed out on cultivating this intense eagerness....) We were guided along fenced pathways, passing through several waiting halls and gates. It certainly increased the excitement and anticipation. I felt as if I was about to enter Vaikuntha to receive an audience of the Lord......!
Coming closer to the actual temple area the atmosphere became more and more surcharged with awe and reverance. Everywhere the Lord's servants were rushing around being busily engaged with many important matters, while the atmosphere was filled with the chanting of various mantras beginning with along "Om......".
One could sense a mood of elaborate service in cleanliness, strictness and punctuality, which created an uplifting and transcendental atmosphere.
Finally we were ushered along a narrow corridor up to the very altar to receive darshan of Lord Balaji. Guards were rushing every visitor to move on in order to make the entire process of taking darshan faster. Since it was Friday after the early morning abhishek one could see the Lord's Lotus feet.
Coming closer to the actual temple area the atmosphere became more and more surcharged with awe and reverance. Everywhere the Lord's servants were rushing around being busily engaged with many important matters, while the atmosphere was filled with the chanting of various mantras beginning with along "Om......".
One could sense a mood of elaborate service in cleanliness, strictness and punctuality, which created an uplifting and transcendental atmosphere.
Finally we were ushered along a narrow corridor up to the very altar to receive darshan of Lord Balaji. Guards were rushing every visitor to move on in order to make the entire process of taking darshan faster. Since it was Friday after the early morning abhishek one could see the Lord's Lotus feet.
I noticed the relaxed and detached mood of the leading personalities and pujaris here - they were so much at ease, without any kind of anxiousness for donations, which one can often sense at other temples in India.
Here Balaji's servants have the experience and full faith that the Lord is the most wealthy personality.
It is one of the most oppulent temples in India....
Here Balaji's servants have the experience and full faith that the Lord is the most wealthy personality.
It is one of the most oppulent temples in India....
Visiting Lord Balaji was certainly once again an extraordinary transcendental experience, giving some little glimpse into the realm of Vaikuntha. I must admit, I find it easier to relate to our sweet Syamasundara playing the flute....
On the 3rd of November I flew on to Bangalore.....
On the 3rd of November I flew on to Bangalore.....
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