Spiritual Strength Comes By Others' PRAYERS
It never came in my mind, I never gave an attempt, I never thought of it. Recently, i went for Tirupati Yatra with devotee friends. We stayed in Tirupati and we had to go to Tirumala to take Lord Balaji's darshan. Only one day was remaining to take a glance at the Lord. Some devotees planned that instead of going by bus to Tirumala, they would prefer to go by steps, which is a journey of about 9 km, 2500 steps. I never wanted to go by steps because of health issues and just a day before that, I was going through quiet painful backache and joints ache. But all of my friends had decided to go by steps and one of my close friend was constantly pushing me to come by steps. Seeing the enthusiasm of old aged devotees, I also wanted to climb the stairs but I was still doubtful. Then one incident happened that made me change my decision.
There were some buses which were meant to drop some 45 devotees to the foothills from where they would have started their journey to Tirumala by steps. Because of some mis–communication from my side, these buses instead of halting at foothills, directly proceeded towards Tirumala and by the time, devotees realized this, it was too late. Because its a one way route, so now these buses had to go to Tirumala and then come back from top carrying these devotees back again so that they can restart their journey from foothills. So the walking journey which they could have started at 6.30 am was delayed by about 2 hours because of extra travelling. I was repentant as it was because of me that they had to start the walk about 2-3 hours late and that too in hot sun. I decided to go by walk and started in the last batch with my friends with the bead beg in my hand. Constant whats-app messages from other devotees about their reaching at the top was filling me with enthusiasm. I raced ahead and crossed 500 steps and then 1000 steps and then 2000 steps and very soon I was on top, I begged forgiveness from some devotees but they were so joyous and forgiving that they didn't mind the extra travelling.
I had never imagined that I would reach to Lords' place by walk. I had thought that its not possible at least in this life time but if a devotee desires something positive for you then who can stop you. It was my friend desire that I should go on top by walk and ultimately that is what happened. Sometimes, things come to us in a very amazing and unwanted ways but still they are relishing and pleasing to the heart.
By Ashish Kumar
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