Stay In Puttaparthi And Leaving For Tirumala In Andhra Pradesh State In South India

Stay In Puttaparthi And Leaving For Tirumala In Andhra Pradesh State In South India

Having reached Puttaparthi and taken a room in Rangasai Lodge in Chitravathi Road I wondered why Bengaluru Rajdhani came on Platform 2 when the scheduled arrival from The Big City Of Delhi is on Platform One. Automan Mr Lakshmipati was kind enough to provide the ride and there was no single vehicle to be spotted at this odd hour. The room allotted in lodge was 404 with stay in this town for three days looking to be sure. Here mornings begin early with those pushing the tea, milk cart to push sales in abundance even before 4 AM sets in. Taking milk and tea I came across a boy who had come from Pratap Nagar probably in North Delhi to be a volunteer for sizeable number of days. These milk, tea carts personnel often used to yell Sai Ram Tea Coffee with a bid to rope in as number of customers as possible. They would be at their stalls well past seven with a reminder that tea and coffee disbursed here could bring spring in the steps. 

Cleanliness Is Next To Godliness Has Resonated Through Decades

Cleanliness Is Next To Godliness, Help Ever Hurt Never messages have resonated through decades in Puttaparthi with Bhagwan (Sathya Sai) having all along maintained that Service To Man Is Service To God. Puttaparthi basking in the glory of feats attained by Bhagwan and rescue coming as and when required. Puttaparthi continues to draw people in droves mirroring the fact Bhagwan is here to guide us and inbuilt is the faith to take a journey that is flanked by flag of spiritualism. Ever since Bhagwan departed his presence is still felt in every nook and cranny underlining the import of leading a life of simplicity. Money comes and goes, morality comes and grows goaded one to think on the need to usher in a better world for future generations and their attempts not stymied by commercialisation stripes.  Puttaparthi would continue to be a humble town not necessarily in the coming decades to be besotted by adventurism of 21st century, a century where climate change hullabaloo to climate cane crew look to be mind-boggling and overwhelming. Puttaparthi is light and elementary and those who mark their attendance here are simple beings with trivial wonders even bringing cheers. People from far flung areas come here and connections from Delhi take more than a day with some train schedule looking funny given the odd time they touch Prasanthi Nilayam. Some are lucky enough to come and leave after paying obeisance to Bhagwan the same day as their place of residence is not that far.

Rush Hour As One Day Was National Holiday

As for the stay punctuated with visits to Bhagwan Samadhi (Bhagwan Resting Place) the rush hour was to do with the fact that one of the days was national holiday and young students having come from all across Andhra Pradesh State with this town ushering in three-day fest. Rendition of devotional songs here to stay in the morning and evening sessions and on discipline parameter it fares well. Besides this the innumerable touchdown at West India Canteen And North India Canteen threw one back to the era when Bhagwan was visible to one all and paying regular visits to Devotional Song Hall. 

Leaving For Bengaluru To Go Further To Tirumala

The day I am supposed to leave which is Saturday I pay visit to Lord Ganesh Idol in temple premises and here there are constructive thoughts invoking Lord Govinda's name of Tirumala. Perhaps they have made out I would be visiting Lord Govinda temple in Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh State. Automan Mr Prakash drops me at Prasanthi Nilayam Station with having sighted on the way air strip that has not been thrown open to public. Mr Prakash is well mannered and so is the station master who divulges the coach position of A1. The train to Bengaluru comes well after 8.30 AM and I board with an intent to get to Tirumala as early as possible. The train reaches Bengaluru at 11.40 and as I descend stairs there is a young woman acting as ticket checking personnel. Automan Mr Murthy drops me at Vasuda Residency on S C Road opposite to Movieland Theatre Majestic. The stay in this lodge is least comforting and I try to adjust despite series of irritants. Next day I leave for Tirupati with fervent prayers to Lord Govinda (Lord Venkateshwar) that I get the requisite invite from his sanctum sanctorum (Bangaru Vakili). Airavat is the name of bus service plying between Bengaluru and Tirupati. Though the bus left at 9.25 AM it is in and around Bengaluru city till 10.40. The bus finally reaches Tirupati at 2.55 PM and I am in lodge by 3.15. 

YEDU KONDALWADA VENKATRAMNA GOVINDA GOVINDA