LORD VENKATESHWAR DARSHAN

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LORD VENKATESHWARA DARSHAN

"On seeing her beloved Deity, she was very much moved. Tears began to flow from

her eyes and she clapped her hands in joy. The people began to wonder at her

joyful mood" Sri Sai Satcharitra, Ch.XXIX

In the year 1972. It was my first visit to Tirupathi, the abode of Lord

Venketeshwara. I had read in the newspapers, that there had been a great rush

of devotees to see the Lord, resulting in stampede. I had also heard that one

could get darshan on payment of money. My father had retired. We had built our

houses in Jayanagar, Bangalore, and I had difficulties in my profession. We

were experiencing financial constraints. To put it simply, I did not have money

for making the trip as well as for payment for darshan. However, I felt the urge

to go to Tirupathi.

So what else could I do than to appeal to my personal God Sri Sai Baba. Standing

before his photo, I told Him, "Baba, you know my predicament and my financial

condition. Can I not see God without making payment and without any scuffle and

stampede?’ Having prayed thus, I transferred my problem to Sai Baba and left for

Tirupathi.The bus reached Tirumala at about 8 p.m. and I got an accommodation

not far away from the temple. As I was coming out from my room a friend from

Bangalore told me, "go now immediately, there is not much rush now." I went

accordingly and saw Lord Venketeshwara for the first time. I had not thought

while at Bangalore, that I could go and see Lord Venketeshwara, within half and

hour of landing at Tirumala.

Between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. the next day I had five darshans of the Lord to my hearts content.

The lord was pleased to give me the fifth darshan, all exclusive to myself. At

about 8 a.m. after my fourth darshan, I was sauntering around the sanctum

sanctorum all alone, as all the other devotees had left. I was reminiscing

about my good fortune in being able to see the lord so effortlessly, when I saw

the door leading to the Sanctum sanctorum half – open. There was none around the

place. I peeped in. A few archakas were preparing to give abhishek to the Lord.

As they were busy with their work, they did not notice that the door was half

open. I gingerly stepped in and saw Lord Venketeshwara once again, for full two

minutes, undisturbed and all by myself. I quietly came out, feeling supremely

happy.

Sai Baba of Shirdi and Lord Venkateshwara – the names are different. In fact

they are one and the same.

(Experience by the writer of "The Eternal Sai" S. Maneey)

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