Purutassi is Perseverance

||Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

 

Aum Namo Narayanaya

 

As hospitable as we are, we welcome our new guest Spring with open arms and jubilation - a bit relieved to let go of our previous guest who pretty much denounced outdoor activity and encouraged inertia. Bringing with it life, fresh scents and colour in bounty, the wonderful season unleashes a new perspective on living. The huge potential of outdoor activities like gardening and walking gifted to us by the extending light hours of day will have us shed some of the accumulated energy stores from Winter. Spring also provides complimentary access to various other feel-good activities - one which shall commence in 16 days.

 

I had a dear friend who waited on Purutassi with such anticipation and devotion that the mere mention of Govinda would immediately paralyse the heart with intense love, forcing the eyes to well with elixirs of joy. The preparations and arrangements would incite tremendous competition between us, to the point of arguing about whose house Venketeshwara will visit first and partake of the sumptuous feasts. To be immersed in such spates of divine intoxication facilitated by the Divine Father Himself, was a rare gift indeed, and shall be treasured by me eternally.

Lord Venketeshwara

 

Purutassi is essentially celebrated by the South Indian community and is dedicated in praise and worship of the great Lord Venketeshwara who resides on the Edumalai or 7 hills of Thirumala. Venketeshwara derives its roots from Vem (destroys) Kata (sin) and Eswara (Lord). Hence, He is known as 'Kali Yuga Varada' (the boon-bestowing Lord of this age who burns away our sins).

 

The month of Purutassi entails strict discipline by bhaktas, who observe vegetarian diets, celibacy, and engage in spiritual practices and observances for attaining the grace of the most merciful Father. However, there are some people whose minds traction on methods of curtailing the fast by scheduling the prayer on the first Saturday and continuing the feasting thereafter. Actually that is no major train smash for the Lord. Being allocated as a month of sadhanas is for the benefit of the bhakta. It is not that the Lord is fast asleep for the year and awakens during this time (as described by some of our ancestors) to bestow His grace on us.

 

The Sama Veda expounds a beautiful idea: “Only those who work hard can think of achieving something. Sitting idle or hoping for results without making an effort is nothing but foolishness. We live in a time when people want maximum output from minimal input. That may produce dividends in a business module, but will not however bear any fruit in the spiritual arena.

 

The mythology states that the seven hills is adi shesha - the bed on which Maha Vishnu reclines; and on the last hill known as Venkatdri is the town of Thirupathi where the Lord is enshrined in a temple of pure gold. I had been to Thirupathi many times prior to 2009, however in that year, I was set on summiting Thirupathi by foot.

 

Resolute and determined, I awoke with bursting enthusiasm at 4am, and was transferred to the base station by the driver with only a bag slung across my shoulders packed with a survival kit of water and a few nourishments. With a constant wave of devotees passing through the gate by the minute, chanting Govinda from the crevices of their hearts, it wasn’t long before that evinced a wonderful flow of adrenalin charging me in the direction of Vaikunta (abode of Narayana). It was short-lived though as by the 250^th stair of 3990, I was lying face down against the stone landing smoothened to fine glaze by the millions of pilgrims who previously stepped upon them. Gasping for breath, my chest reeling with pain, and my entire body aching to numbness, my instinct drove me to place my passport in my pants pocket for easy identification, lest I leave my mortal coil. Unable to even call His name, I resigned to a mental dialogue with the chief of Thirupathi.

 

Dome at Thirupathi

Although many would embrace the opportunity to leave the body within this holy precinct, I advocated and argued for His mercy and grace to allow me to have darshan of at least the dome of His abode from the last step. At this point, seconds seemed like hours. Never to leave the hand of His child, my incapacity was neutralised by a bout of new wind. It suddenly began to rain heavily, and as if beating to the tune of the rain, my legs lifted me toward my destination. At times it did seem as though I was floating on the back of Garuda instructed by the Commander-in-Chief to deliver me to Vaikunta. It was 3 hours and 43 minutes after passing the base station that I stood on the 3990^th stair, heart cramping with emotion and eyes flooded with tears gazing with awe at the Golden Dome presiding over the earth. At this time, all else felt insignificant. Drowned in an ecstacy of divinity, a sense of fulfilment and bliss commandeers your existence.

 

If you recall a few blogs ago, we spoke of the awakening of the Kundalini Shakti -  which is described as a coiled serpent (adi shesa -yezhu malai- seven hills) at the muladhara chakra (base station). The aim is to raise this through to the seventh chakra (Thirupathi ) which is known as the Sushama or thousand-petalled-lotus in the head. Reaching this stage, one merges into samadhi where all sins have been burned away and rests on the eternal ocean of bliss (darshan of Venketeshwara)

 

However, we learnt through experience that the journey is not easy and requires much perseverance and discipline in order to reap rewards. We may slip and fall along the way, but we must immerse ourselves in faith and continue. We for too long have placed emphasis on the superficial components of the sadhana like observing a vegetarian diet. Yes, as much as it assists, we should try to negate the stubborn obstacles that thwart our progress. Even if you are going to observe a vegetarian diet for a week, try to engage in a sadhana of speaking the truth irrespective of the circumstance for the entire month, or refrain from being envious or getting angry.  Practice these for the month and try to perpetuate it thereafter, and you will find your darshan to Him will be expedited.

 

"Where there is harmony between mind, heart and resolution - nothing is impossible" declares the Rig Veda.  Let us derive our strength and inspiration from this quotation and with deep devotion and resilience undertake a special sadhana during this auspicious month to help us on our journey to Vaikuntam is my sincere prayer.

 

With Love and Prayers Always

Yogan