Sairam friends,
Last weekend, I had been to Chennai for couple of workshop. This trip outside Coimbatore has many firsts.
1.First time without mentioning in StarSai that I am travelling. Apologies as until last minute, I was unsure of my journey. I liked the Workshop topic as it was in Marketing and Product Management but my Mom wasn’t well.
I kept asking Mom if she want’s me to stay back but she asked me not to worry and go. Thankfully, while in train, I had a dream as if we are going to Marudhamalai hills and the priest is sprinkling holy water on my Mom’s face. This dream made me feel my Mom will be fine.
2.First time in Chennai without going to M Saibaba temple. For the past 22 years, whenever I go to Chennai, I will visit M Sai mandir multiple times. I love this temple so much. ( Don’t wanna direct write name of temple. So lets call it M)
Please don’t ask me why I don’t feel like going there these days? A temple should not make you feel as if you are treated low and some devotees are treated with unnecessary honor.
During my last visit to M Sai temple, I found a man loudly ordering the security to allow few special devotees without Que and do Pooja for them. Nothing wrong about it as it happens in any temple.
But the way people who manage temple orders with authority and shouts as if its Shirdi makes me feel painful.
I can’t bear one of the most beautiful temple built by Narasimha Swamiji controlled by people who don’t know how to treat devotees.
May be, Saibaba did not let me go there because of such opinion. I felt Saibaba will be thinking
“If you don’t like a place or temple, don’t go there. You go there and complain me. I can’t do anything to satisfy you”
So I went to Saibaba temple in West Mambalam. A Very small temple but I felt peaceful there. Here too, an old man was shouting at a very ordinary devotee not to stand during Aarti and sit.
(A devotee mailed me asking what I mean by Ordinary devotee. I mean to say devotees like you and me. Not a VIP. Sai is a saint of masses and classes. So everyone should be respected)
For Gods sake, don’t shout at devotees. You have no rights to hurt devotees. You can manage temple without shouting.
When I took my Mobile to take photograph, the priest asked not to take photos but he never shouted. He was just louder. I never felt offensive about it. I felt the priest is just doing his job.
Some people know how to convey something softly or atleast with some kindness and without any authority.
Only devotees who go regularly to temple gradually get this habit of shouting and speaking authoritatively to other ordinary devotees. This happens in temples around the world.
I myself shout at devotees sometimes but immediately regret doing that. So I can’t blame people for what they do. All that I request is please make sure a temple is a place where ordinary people are never hurt or bothered.
3. Saw the Gods I worshiped in Shiva Vishnu temple in T Nagar back in 2003. Its the first time I saw the beautiful little Lakshmi Narasimhar in this temple after several years.
During most of hop from one place to another, I had a good chat with Taxi drivers. I like learning about their way of life and work they do. Infact, I also like to be a driver as you can meet many people in a single day! he he..
Thankfully, I got a train back to Coimbatore in Premium Tatkal. I remembered Goddess Meenkulathi Bagavathi Amman because I feel she’s Goddess of Mercy.
I slept off and had a dream.
It was as if one of this guy in my previous Company telling me that one must not complain too much about their work and have ego etc.
Why I keep seeing guys and girls in past Company in dream? If Sai wills, I wish to go back there. Lets see what happens.
I had a good chat with my Uncle and Aunt and had a nice stay in Chennai. I pray Saibaba to show me a way.
Om Sai Ram
Venkat
