My Spiritual Travels by R Harishankar. My Spiritual Travels – Spiritual Tour of Mantralayam, Spiritual Tour of Tirumala & Spiritual Tour of Tiruvannamalai.
Spiritual travels rejuvenate our inner energy and gives calmness to our mind. It gives wisdom, courage and peace of mind. Various authors have written about their spiritual travels in the form of books and in electronic form. Here I have given the details of some of my spiritual travels, which I had undergone at my various stages of life.
MY SPIRITUAL TOUR AT MANTRALAYAM
Mantralayam is the holy abode of Guru Raghavendra, who is a great saint, guru and divine saviour for his devotees.
I have first visited Mantralayam during the year 1987 along with my parents and sister. At that time, we had stayed there for about four days. We had stayed in one Private Lodge, popularly known as “KAMADHENU LODGE”. They have provided coffee and lunch at the cost of Re.1 and Rs.5/- respectively. During that period, at Mantralayam Temple, free delicious lunch was served in Mantrara leaves (Mantharai Ilai). We sat on the floor and enjoyed the delicious lunch, which consist of simple food, like Sambar, Rasam, butter milk and one Thuvaiyal. Due to my young age, during that time, I used to think, ‘why they serve only simple food’? But after visiting Guru Raghavendra Samadhi Shrine for several times during that four days period, I came to realise about the kindness in providing sumptuous free food untiringly for all the pilgrims! After eating that holy food, I have also got rid from my digestion problems. Parimala Prasadam, a kind of sweet made out of Rava and Sugar is very much delicious, and we had procured few packets of that divine Prasad!
We had our tiffin in nearby hotels, and I still remember that one dark coloured waiter who kindly approached me, gently pressed my cheeks, and fondly asked my name. He also been wearing a costly Electronic watch, which was a popular thing during that period! We also visited Manchallamma Temple, which is situated close to our Guru Raghavendra’s Mutt. But during that period, we didn’t visit Panchamukhi, Bikshalaya and nearby temples like Venkatateswara Temple.
In course of time, I have visited Mantralayam for few more times, and we also visited nearby temples. Apart from the temple food, few nice hotels like Pannaka are available. Private Lodging houses are also available, apart from the Devasthana cottages. And now we can easily do online booking for cottage reservations.
MY SPIRITUAL TOUR AT TIRUMALA
My father Mr.T.S.Ramasubban was a staunch devotee of Lord Venkateswara, and hence he used to take us frequently to Tirumala-Tirupati. I have visited so many times to the Booloka Vaikunta, but I never got bored. Some forty years back, we could see a different Tirumala, which was covered with full of natural beauty, since during those period, big buildings are not there. We could enjoy fresh air circulating everywhere amidst the cool climate which prevails during all seasons! I have also visited Tirupati temples like Govindaraja Swamy Temple, Ammavari Padmavathy Temple and Sri Ramar Temple. We can also visit and take bath in Tumburu Theertham.
During recent times, I have visited Tirumala through car, and enjoyed the beauty of the Lord, but of course, only after waiting for hours together!
Those who visit Tirumala-Tirupati would get Thiruppam (Good Turning Point) in their lives. Tirupati Laddu is a famous Prasad item which we would get it at the temple. It is also said that the Hill is being visited even by celestial gods and goddesses like Devas and Apsaras and hence we should make a compulsory practice of visiting this temple at least once in a year.
MY SPIRITUAL TOUR AT TIRUVANNAMALAI
Annamalaiyarukku Arohara is a noble chanting at Tiruvannamalai similar to Govinda Govinda chanting at Tirumala. Tiruvannamalai is the holy abode of Lord Shiva and Ma Parvati, and here Lord Shiva is known as Annamalaiyar and Arunachaleswar and Ma Parvati Devi is known as Unnamalaiyar. I have visited this temple several times and also done Girivalam during full moon days. The Girivalam should start from the temple and it must also end from the temple. My first visit to Tiruvannamalai was happened in the year 2000, and thereafter I have gone there repeatedly.
Plenty of Hotels and Lodges are available nearby the temples and pilgrims can make use of it. We would get salvation just by thinking this temple once! Tiruvannamalai temple can be visited on all the days, since it is considered equivalent to Mount Kailash in Himalayas. We can find plenty of Sadhus at the Girivalam path, and we can also donate some food/water and biscuits to them. In Girivalam path, we can find Ashta Lingams (Eight Lingams) installed by celestial demi gods like Indra, Kubera, Nirudhi, Yama and Agni. In the Girivalam Path, we can also find temples like Anjaneya Temple, Raghavendra Temple and Adi Annamalai Temple.
Hence let us keep going to the sacred temples and let us be blessed by the deities.
“OM NAMAH SHIVAYA NARAYANA SATYA DEVAYA NAMO NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
HARISHANKAR