Dedicating this article to devotees who walk to Palani hills for Thai pusam festival 

Sairam friends,

Firstly, my apologies for not writing regularly on StarSai. I am planning several projects and 24 hours is too little for a day. The maximum I could work at night is 1 o clock and after that I wake up only at 6.45 in the morning. I did not express few important incidents which happened last year since I feel when I write in StarSai regularly, its like my personal life is broadcast to the whole world. Spirituality too, Saibaba asks me to not hurry to tell what ever I have experienced. He makes me wait for the right time.

 

Palani Murugan

I love Palani Murugan especially since he has been with me right from childhood. When I was in school, I remember telling his holy name not knowing its called “Chanting”. I just repeat his name in mind as I get scared of all the teachers who asks me if I completed the homework. He he.. Further, during the years when my Mother was sick, when my sister and myself were kids, we used to worship Murugan a lot as my Father too loves him. I wrote about it in the article – Sai Mother

On 9th May 2015, we decided to go to Palani Hills as he’s our family deity and Shirdi Saibaba himself requests his ardent devotees to worship Gods and Goddess followed by their ancestors. During Sai’s life time, there are several incidents like this. A devotee will come to Sai with a problem and Baba will tell him/her to worship the Guru followed by their Father or worship the village God whom they had forgotten.

Starting to Palani Hills

I wake up early only on few days a year and one among them will be when we plan to go to temples. My Parents woke up early but could start in the Taxi only by 7 A.M. Ma prepares idly for us to have while travelling which we had parking the car in a road side shop. While we were having coffee, My Father spilled the podi in the car seat and there was a huge argument between my parents for this. My Ma cleaned it making sure the Car doesn’t hold all the dirt. Finally, We reached Palani hills by 9.40 A.M.

We walked to the area where the Que for winch to travel up the hill begins. To our disappointment, the Que for winch was too long. I tried to find an option as my Mom can’t stand so long. The cable car too was not working the day we went. Finally, my Mom said that she will walk by steps. I was really concerned about it because Ma has become very weak ever since she met with a minor accident 3 years back. She can’t sit on the floor and manages some how. My Father went ahead and we also walked in front of the place where we start to climb the temple by steps. My Father asked me to break the coconut and we worshiped lord Ganesha.

My Mom really walked in the steps to see Murugan

I always get scared if my parents are straining a lot. I scold them a lot but now, all I could do was to pray Murugan to bless my Ma with strength to climb to his holy abode. We walked ahead and took the easy “Elephant’s path” as the steps will be less in this way.

This is what we did.

My Father or myself will hold my Ma once in a while and helped her walk. We sit in the tree shadow every few minutes and make my Ma relax. We will have water or simply watch other devotees walking happily with devotion on Murugan. I took many photos as I wanted to keep it as a memory and show my Sister and Katya.

I had fear how Ma will walk all the way but she managed to do it. She walked slowly and sat when ever she she felt tired. Again, she stood up to walk. I kept speaking something to them all the way. Here are some photos which will make you feel as if you walked with us to Palani Hills.

I have seen this statue of Tamil saint Avvayar and Lord Murugan from childhood days. So took a picture.

A view of Palani as we walked ahead..

As we slowly walked, I was surprised that we were very close to the temple. I told my Ma that we almost reached the top. She was too tired. I held her palm and helped her climb the steps.

 

Here’s the photo of my parents walked ahead in Palani..

It was very hot. I took the tickets for special darshan and we walked fast thinking it was be too crowded. To my surprise, it wasn’t that crowded. We walked quick to the main sannidhi of Palani Murugan. On the way, My Father asked me to take photo of the Golden Gopuram which I denied because some places must be kept reserved for real human darshan than taking a photograph.

The divinity of temples and Gods must be deeply felt in the heart and these diamonds and golds are just to focus our mind towards the God. 

We never had to wait even 5 minutes. When ever I used to come to Palani temple, I used to wait at-least an hour. This time, when I came with parents, Murugan gave us darshan very quickly. It was truly amazing to see Murugan. My Mom especially had good darshan as a lady security doing service there allowed her to see Murugan for 2 more minutes. We came outside and sat near the Bogar temple. We got the prasad and relaxed few minutes.

It was a hot day. So I looked if the winch will be available at-least to go back down the hill but it was too busy and I regret to say that such facilities must be used when you come with elderly people in your family. Even if youngsters use winch, then devotees who can’t walk might have to suffer.

Indian youths are forgetting their roots. We must walk. Physical work is part of our DNA. 

We decided to walk down the hill by the elephant path itself. This time, Amma was feeling so tired. I kept asking her to have water. She had slight problem to breath but was manageable. We waved with a paper sheet over her face as she was sweating.

I usually avoid showing photos of my family in StarSai. I used to publish pictures of our Pongal festival. Last year, when I had been to relatives house, they told that they saw article about our pongal festival with our photos in a Tamil magazine. I was really upset about it because my writings and photography must not be copied without permission. This must not happen to any writer, any where in India. Another famous Tamil magazine, once took my Pongal photos and published it without permission. Excuse me. Your magazine makes money. You are supposed to pay for every single image you reproduce, be it online or in print media. Further, I am not looking for money. StarSai is my treasure. Kindly read this – Everything “Sai” and “Religious” is not Free – Respect others hardwork

Here after, I am going to take action against people who publish stories without written permission from me. Kindly have some media ethics. Please. For Gods sake!

Coming back to our Palani hills trip, my parents sat in this tree shadow. In Most of the photos, Ma did not smile. So I asked her to smile and took this. You can see a cute Murugan statue too.

 

We reached the foothills of Palani only by Sai and Lord Murugan’s grace. Ofcourse, there were lots of arguments but I am used to this when ever we go out. he he..

I love Murugan and I know his powers.

Its 1.23 A.M now. Why am I writing our journey to Palani after several month.

Today, January 25, 2016 is Thai Pusam for Lord Murugan. My Mom asked if I am going to Marudha malai hill temple but I told her that “I will go only if Murugan calls me”. I was making fun with her. She asked me “Are all devotees going only if Murugan calls.” I told her “But I am special”.

I slept off and did not got any dream. I thought why din’t Murugan call me? Am I not special to him?

Then, My friend came home and later we started to Shirdi Saibaba temple. On the way, I saw many devotees of Murugan walking all the way to Palani from Coimbatore. I really felt how much devotion these people must have to walk to have darshan of beautiful Murugan. I regretted for telling that I will go to Murugan only if he calls me. How beautiful are these devotees who walk several Kilometers. Its honestly a divine task to do.

My friend told me that these people walk especially since it gives them will power to withstand any calamity in life. It makes your heart strong and pure.

I lit 6 lamps remembering Sri Murugan today and offered Kumkum to Saibaba.

I reached home, did parayan of Guru Charitra sitting near my Mom and then now writing this article.

I prayed Murugan to keep these innocent people walking to his holy abode safe and secured.

All that Murugan taught me is this “Keep moving and Keep working”

You might have several difficulties and problems in life. I never thought that my Mom could walk over the Palani hills as she could not even sit on floor for past 3 years. She did it because that’s the only option she had to see Murugan. Thousands of Murugan devotees walk miles to have his holy darshan. Are they all healthy and strong enough to walk? They are simply believing that Murugan will help them walk and moving ahead.

So what ever happens in life remember this

“Keep moving and Keep working”

Someday, Your life will be good.

While walking with my parents over the steps, I remembered when was the last time my Mom walked in the steps without using the winch. I remembered it was 20 years back. One our way back in the car, I told my sister “Amma walked over the steps in Palani hills after almost 20 years”.

Love,

Venkat

You can share your experiences and photos you took of Shirdi Saibaba by writing to me