07 Feb Blessings in Tirupati

During the GBC Meetings at the ISKCON Tirupati temple, I had the fortunate opportunity to serve and associate closely with His Holiness Romapada Swami. By Maharaja’s association I was inspired to do various services and run errands for him from morning to night. 

In the morning, whenever I would enter Maharaja’s room, I would pay obeisances and recite Maharaja’s pranama mantra. Maharaja didn’t take even an iota of respect for himself. While seated on the chair or walking in the room, he would bow his head slightly and clasp his hands in prayer. Sometimes, when I said the pranama mantra loudly, he would say, “Krsna Krsna”. I felt as though Maharaja was praying to Srila Prabhupada and Krsna for my welfare. I felt blessed to be with a Guru who took no credit whatsoever and who saw every opportunity as a service. Through this interaction with Maharaja, I could see his qualities of humility, equipoise and kindness shine through. I learned how to receive respect from others and not crave recognition or respect. What many lectures or self-help books try to teach could be accomplished simply by serving the pure devotee, and receiving his non-verbal reciprocation.

After several days of such service, it was time for me to leave Tirupati and travel back to the city I came from. I never had any opportunity to speak with Maharaja besides a few words which were related to service. I didn’t crib about it because as a servant my role was not to bring attention to myself. Instead, I had to make arrangements so that Maharaja could focus on his service to Srila Prabhupada in the GBC meetings. 

Throughout my stay in Tirupati I did not get any time for having darshan of Tirupati Balaji as the services were hectic and I was tired at the end of each day. In addition, Brahmotsavam was being celebrated in Tirumala (the temple on the top of the hill) and there were severe restrictions for devotees to even enter the top of the hill, what to speak of taking darshan. I had no remorse in not having darshan but I did feel it was a disservice on my part to not visit Tirupati Balaji. 

In the ISKCON Tirupati Temple, there are 2 flights of stairs leading to the main temple hall where one can have darshan of Sri Sri Radha Govinda and Astasakhis. At one point the 2 flights of stairs merge and there is a statue of Balaji. After my service to Maharaja was over I packed my belongings, paid my obeisances to Radha Govinda and then, as I was coming down the stairs, I saw the statue of Balaji. Deep in my mind I felt that this Balaji was just a decorative statue kept in the temple. But since there was no way for me to go to Tirupati and I had seen all the local devotees pay obeisances to this Balaji statue, I too paused there and prayed, “The locals worship you as a deity. In my mind, I see you as a decorative piece. But since so many devotees are paying their obeisances to You, You may have a connection to the main Tirupati Balaji deity. O Balaji, I have come to your dhama but I am unable to have your darshan. Today is the Brahmotsavam day in Tirupati and there is no way I can go to the top of the Tirumala hill, have darsana and be back to board my bus by 11 PM. If you so desire, please allow me to come again and give me your darshan.” 

After mentally praying and paying obeisances I turned around to walk down the stairs. As soon as I turned, I saw some ISKCON Tirupati Brahmacharis climbing up the stairs. I had gotten acquainted with them while serving there. They said to me, “Hey, we have got a special Brahmotsavam pass to have darshan of Balaji. Would you like to come?” They had 2 passes and in 1 hour from that time, my wife and I had darshan of Tirupati Balaji – quite impossible for a regular visitor in Tirumala during the Brahmotsavam. 

After darshan of Tirupati Balaji, as we were coming out of the temple, I saw the Utsava Murtis for Brahmotsavam at a distance. Throughout my childhood I had seen the pictures of the deities on calendars, but not up close. I had also heard about Brahmotsavam in Tirumala, but had never witnessed it. But that day I got an opportunity to see the festival. And as if that were not enough, the Utsava Murti came right next to where I was standing and I received His darshan up close. It was then that I understood that Maharaja is so dear to the Supreme Lord that just by rendering service to him, the Supreme Lord feels obliged to personally come and meet the servant, and makes arrangements to meet the servant of Maharaja. In the Isopanisad, the sage prays, “O my Lord, please remember all my sacrifices, and because You are the ultimate beneficiary, please remember all that I have done for You.” But, for one who serves a pure devotee like Maharaja, there is no need for that prayer either. All that we have to do is to engage the remaining portion of our life in serving Maharaja, his mission and instructions in the way he likes. The Supreme Lord’s reciprocation will follow naturally.

– Anonymous