Namo Venkatesa.. Namo Venkatesa.. Sarva Darshan
TaT SaT
(personal experience sorry for any mistakes but my mind and heart are still echoing om namho venkatesaa)
Reached tirupati @ 1AM with wife 2 kids 9&7 and mom 64 , tank was almost empty however wanted all of me and my family (that's a deeper me too) to have darshan together.
Ignored fuel raced to reach Tirumala as I know my vahan(car) has promised me, fill me there on the hills. /\
Took my car to the closed gate went straight to the outpost in my car the Lord had invited me.
Alas Lord had other plans The Ghat road is closed till 3am and took info there was big Q of cars he informed me 3 am first buses will be left and first come first go.. Turned the car to Srinivasam near bus stand ticked would be given @ 5pm for tomorrow darshan join Q before 3-4 hours of issue mostly you will get it always. There was hot idly there on the bandi woke family up informed them of the situation. Mom and wife wanted sarva darshan (me too) The police guy did inform beforehand that it can take up to 30 hours for SD looking at the kids.
Had full breakfast for family and had my last cigarette with hot chai alone (not allowed on the hills). 3 am I was among the first few to enter after a few rtc busses, 2-3 jeeps (damm they really good at those curves) few sumo too... Well I was the first atop the hill before anyone could make it thanks to rtc guys who at the first honk gave me a pass right ..
Parked at the last right allowed, mundan form one of the first halls been there a few times.. No Q so happy ready in 30 mins , tea guy informed me keep the car parked go in free bus from the main circle, rushed no bus in sight lot of people, suddenly lot of cars one guy approached me car ready to drop @ SD entrance it's far 1 km as all waiting hall are full.. Agreed as he said won't charge for children, Agreed. Dropped.
had to walk a lot as roads barricade is present. I don't know how and with what confidence I entered @ 6 am, my son gave up in 30 mins as it's full and barricade with left and right alternative exits ahead so a big push comes no matter what. I gave up @8:45am , took my phone and the Q had not moved for more than 10 mins and it was becoming hard to manage. The brain lit up.
Opened my phone - TTD - srivani trust- I was quick - I knew the info by heart- ready @ 9am 33000 donation for srivani - alas 9:02 it said quota was full when I clicked on pay now and it just stood there I knew.
Started a game with children as had reached a place where the chanting was clear , to count the no chants with breaks allowed well I don't know how the Lord did it. There was only venkatesa in the Q, after a lot of two and fro with the big pond where every lotus is chanting the same name.
Reached a place where phones needed deposit @ 10 pm had no luggage so that also if you have. Lot of people dint go in however mom said they would wait there was space big waiting hall narayangiri hall it's I think. Wasted more than 45 mins to just deposit the phones( can get phone deposit only at the first security entrance no Q 2) .
Q kept going more fuller my kids walking like spiders on the railing it was so just as I said venkatesa. Reached the first hall after receiving a token for darshan next day 2nd dec at 11am was confused so asked the sevaks they said you will have darshan in 6 hours.halls changed one after other had one of the best of sleep(hardly 1 hour twice I think), upma that I never eat was enjoyed and samber rice is always manpasandA prasaad and it happened brahma muharat I was waiting at the bangaram dwaram a abhishek Or archana Or i dont know what was happening however it was full Q stopped for like 10 mins no glimpse of the swyambhu venkatesa yet. Finally started moving and was done darshan(i have been there so many times however this was a no alankara darshan very dark very deep the heat is immense) @6 30 , prasaad and laddu no breakfast as really early missed that starts @ 8:30
I was in a trance no barrier after coming out of the temple I felt something that spoke to me about me but that's not the topic.
I decided I would give it my best shot being more compassionate. No more bad habits that drain your energy and money (i.e.smoking etc etc), healthy food and so many more ,some which I will follow what I did I liked was I was very calm in the Q with the highest voice for chanting some you know are always just a promise when we are high, like I am on his name now every cell of the body is aware of him.
Reached tirupati had my fav karam dosa, wada, poori, informed my wife to continue as children mom eat slow, she whispers hey you quit.
But this maya is so strong, I winked at her told her I never quit, I win. Ordered the strong coffee walked out had the first puff and knew.
What we are is what we choose to be.
Moved @ 10am reached hyd @ 7pm had a beautiful drive however as I got closer to the city I knew I am back to the jungle . The traffic and the hurry people in, including me. It's chaos.
So that's the part of exp that may be useful for who is travelling.
TaT SaT.