Time: February 9th - 10th, 2017
Place: Tirumala
Company: Wife, daughter and parents
Highlights:
Usually a trip to Tirumala is a family tradition yearly once. But the last time I visited was in 2013. In addition, parents tend to visit the shrine every Feb to celebrate their wedding anniversary. So this time, since we were here in India, we all left together in our parents' new car Honda Brio. It was a smooth ride.
Day 1: Left at about 8:45 am and reached Mulbagal Mutt at noon. Went inside for a short visit and bow but the priest there asked us to join for lunch since it was right time. So we enjoyed a delicious Mutt lunch although we had our own lunch packed which ultimately made its way into some needy folks.
Three more hours and we reached Tirupati. But we continued on to Mangapuram temple to visit Padmavathi Goddess. Short queue there but very hot. The queue system is streamlined now and very fast. Mainly because it doesnt enter the main sanctum sanctorum. That done, we went to our Hotel Bhanu Residency near Kapilatheertha. Relaxed for a short while, then walked to Kapila Theertha temple. It was many many years since I had visited this temple. It is iconic, since it hugs the mountain range up close. Headed back, and on the way, saw a Hare Krishna Hare Rama chant on a nearby Krishna Temple. It was a mesmerizing form of Bhakti Yoga. Basked in the glory for some time and headed back to the room for dinner and rest.
Day 2: Up at 5 am, and headed to Tirumala without bath. Uneventful journey. No car-sickness for Tontu, thankfully. Parked the car near Uttaradi Mutt and walked to Pushkarni for a wonderful bath experience, as always. Then visited Varaha Swamy temple. For the first time, realized the significance of the idol. After watching Vishnupuran (for the second time), understood that this temple is for Vishnu's third avatar, and hence the idol really symbolizes a Boar protecting Mother Earth. All these years, I simply visited the temple without knowing the significance (I was loosely told that Varaha Swamy gave permission to Lord Venkateshwara to be situated in this holy place).
After Varaha Swamy temple, joined the Rs 300 queue for Lord Venkateshwara Darshan. (The tickets were booked in Bangalore prior to the trip itself). It was a new line and much faster. The new rule is to have a traditional dhoti and no pants allowed. Although I had a dhoti with me, I had left it in the car. So had to purchase one on the spot and enter the premises. The line moved very fast, and we were near the sanctum sanctorum within 2 hours. Just like in Mangapuram, they have now stopped the line from entering the core of the sanctum. Still, the darshan was quite satisfying. Once darshan was over, we quickly ran to Uttaradi Mutt for lunch. Another Mutt lunch unplanned but worked just because of the timing.
Lunch done, we left Tirumala at 1 pm. It was an uneventful journey back. Reliance Restaurant mid-way is gratifying for a nice loo break and quick bites. Got stuck at Bangalore traffic at evening time and by the time we reached home it was almost 9 pm.
Overview: A much-awaited trip finally concluded. It was a blissful experience - especially the bath in the Pushkarni which Tontu once again enjoyed so much, just as much as she enjoyed in 2013. The back-to-back Mutt lunches were also a surprise and very purifying. The Darshan of Lord Venkateshwara itself was the highlight of the trip and it was satisfying.
Place: Tirumala
Company: Wife, daughter and parents
Highlights:
Usually a trip to Tirumala is a family tradition yearly once. But the last time I visited was in 2013. In addition, parents tend to visit the shrine every Feb to celebrate their wedding anniversary. So this time, since we were here in India, we all left together in our parents' new car Honda Brio. It was a smooth ride.
Day 1: Left at about 8:45 am and reached Mulbagal Mutt at noon. Went inside for a short visit and bow but the priest there asked us to join for lunch since it was right time. So we enjoyed a delicious Mutt lunch although we had our own lunch packed which ultimately made its way into some needy folks.
Three more hours and we reached Tirupati. But we continued on to Mangapuram temple to visit Padmavathi Goddess. Short queue there but very hot. The queue system is streamlined now and very fast. Mainly because it doesnt enter the main sanctum sanctorum. That done, we went to our Hotel Bhanu Residency near Kapilatheertha. Relaxed for a short while, then walked to Kapila Theertha temple. It was many many years since I had visited this temple. It is iconic, since it hugs the mountain range up close. Headed back, and on the way, saw a Hare Krishna Hare Rama chant on a nearby Krishna Temple. It was a mesmerizing form of Bhakti Yoga. Basked in the glory for some time and headed back to the room for dinner and rest.
Day 2: Up at 5 am, and headed to Tirumala without bath. Uneventful journey. No car-sickness for Tontu, thankfully. Parked the car near Uttaradi Mutt and walked to Pushkarni for a wonderful bath experience, as always. Then visited Varaha Swamy temple. For the first time, realized the significance of the idol. After watching Vishnupuran (for the second time), understood that this temple is for Vishnu's third avatar, and hence the idol really symbolizes a Boar protecting Mother Earth. All these years, I simply visited the temple without knowing the significance (I was loosely told that Varaha Swamy gave permission to Lord Venkateshwara to be situated in this holy place).
After Varaha Swamy temple, joined the Rs 300 queue for Lord Venkateshwara Darshan. (The tickets were booked in Bangalore prior to the trip itself). It was a new line and much faster. The new rule is to have a traditional dhoti and no pants allowed. Although I had a dhoti with me, I had left it in the car. So had to purchase one on the spot and enter the premises. The line moved very fast, and we were near the sanctum sanctorum within 2 hours. Just like in Mangapuram, they have now stopped the line from entering the core of the sanctum. Still, the darshan was quite satisfying. Once darshan was over, we quickly ran to Uttaradi Mutt for lunch. Another Mutt lunch unplanned but worked just because of the timing.
Lunch done, we left Tirumala at 1 pm. It was an uneventful journey back. Reliance Restaurant mid-way is gratifying for a nice loo break and quick bites. Got stuck at Bangalore traffic at evening time and by the time we reached home it was almost 9 pm.
Overview: A much-awaited trip finally concluded. It was a blissful experience - especially the bath in the Pushkarni which Tontu once again enjoyed so much, just as much as she enjoyed in 2013. The back-to-back Mutt lunches were also a surprise and very purifying. The Darshan of Lord Venkateshwara itself was the highlight of the trip and it was satisfying.
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