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2023 - The Year That Was

Places impact you for a variety of reasons. And the same place impacts different people in different ways. This is especially true when it comes to spiritual experiences, where every single person’s experience is unique. And personally, every spiritual experience is unique, the same person can have different deeply spiritual experiences at different places, at different times. This thought has emerged because of my own experiences over the years, but especially so this year, with different and unique experiences at various places I have visited recently. I began this year with a visit to Baroda (Vadodara) with friends. It was meant to be a relaxed trip, a touristy trip, with our sons. We enjoyed ourselves to the hilt, but the highlight of that trip was a visit to the Lakulisha temple at Pavagadh. It was the iconography of the temple that I connected with, and I spent a few hours simply lost in the details of the figures carved around the temple. There was an indefinable connect with
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10 things you can look forward to reading….. Yes, I am back!!!!!!

Hi folks, I’m back!!!!! And with lots of material for more posts!!!! Those of you who have been looking forward to reading my posts, here is a glimpse of what you can expect to read in the coming days –


1. A little about the temples of Trivandrum – little, because cameras were not allowed, and I felt totally lost without my trusty Canon around, besides, the language was a major barrier between me and the priests…


2. A lot about the museum and zoo – mom and son totally freaked out for 2 ½ hours, while dad fumed in the auto……


3. Poovar – a heavenly island nested between the backwaters and the Arabian Sea… 4 days of total relaxation…..


4. Thekkady – 3 days of trying to keep Samhith amused – in what is now a bustling tourist hangout on the outskirts of a tiger reserve (where tigers are truly elusive)


5. Kalady – an unplanned visit to a beautiful temple – the birthplace of the foremost of the gurus of our age – Adi Shankaracharya


6. The consequences of the unplanned visit – a race against time – a real adventure in the midst of a staid holiday


7. Puttaparthi – Prashanti Nilayam– the abode of Sri Sathya Sai – something I have been planning to write for a while – hope I actually get it down this time.


8. Tirupati – surely the most crowded, the most visited and most popular of all religious destinations …. So not the usual boring details, but details of the pujas we performed… and information for those who would like to perform the same…….


9. Some temples around Tirupati – Note: some, not all….. just those that we visited this time…. And sorry again…. No photographs… wish our temple authorities wouldn’t separate me from my most trusted companion… one who gives me lots of information to share with you………


10. And finally, some assorted glimpses of my journey…… we have used up every mode of transport this time……..


Meanwhile, I am writing this in peace, because Samhith is out again, on another journey – this time with his dad and grandma, while I stay at home with grandpa, who is busy with work…. Now, they are off to Dwaraka and Somnath with some relatives visiting us, who have a major language problem……. Yes, you guessed right… they are from the southern heartland and can’t understand a word of Hindi…… And after all, it is fair isn’t it? Mom and son have had a wonderful 15 days… now it is just 4 days with grandma and dad!!!! But you know what, guys???? I’m already missing him!!!!!!!!!!

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Comments

  1. RajeshMay 25, 2009 at 12:28 PM

    Looking forward to your experiences on all the interesting places listed in your journey.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMay 25, 2009 at 3:23 PM

    Oh I cant wait to read more now...

    I've been to Tirupati and its surrounding temples as a kid and vaguely remember anything. So cant wait to read more!!

    Also.. am extremely interested in Poovar... Sounds great!

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownMay 25, 2009 at 9:18 PM

    Anu, you have literally gone all over Southern India. I m sure we will get some comprehensive experiences. Do keep me posted.

    ReplyDelete

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