475. Going to a Temple is to connect Consciously with the Deity.!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/god-and-i/going-to-a-temple-is-to-connect-consciously-with-the-deity

A group of young men decided to go to Tirumala on their bikes from Bengaluru. One young man informed about the tour to his grandfather who was relaxing on the easy chair.

“Is there any occasion, Putta?” asked the old man.

“No Thata, just to have Darshana of Lord Balaji” said the young man.

“Good, when you are near the Bangaru Vakili (Golden Gate) you are able to have the Glimpse of the Lord. Do not bring your list of wantons at that time just fill your eyes with His image.” said the old man.

“Thata, is it wrong to ask the Lord to fulfill my wishes?”  

“My boy, He knows everything which includes your mind and your thoughts. He bestows you what you deserve not what you desire. I am suggesting you not to waste the little time you have when you are in front of Him by pleading Him for wantons, instead get aligned to that Divine Consciousness.”

“If that is what I need to do can I not do it here in our pooja room, Thata?”

“My boy, I am proud of you to have a thought like that, it shows that you believe His presence everywhere. Putta, there are some places where the entire environment is incline to a solitary objectivity hence those places have more positive vibrations. I know an ardent devotee can bring the image of the Lord in his mind by just thinking about Him. But it is better to travel to those places every now and then. In such places the connection of Consciousness of the Self with that of the Divine Consciousness happens in a jiffy. Through mere glimpse of the Deity there is an expansion of Consciousness at such places. Some have Goosebumps at the sight of the Lord. ”

   

“Thata, should I tonsure my head?”

“Putta, offering hair to the Lord at Tirumala is an emotional contribution which is left to the devotees. There is no compulsion and it should not be offered by anyone’s instruction also. You should not ask me or your papa also if you feel like offering you can do it.” 

“Thata, I heard that the TTD has made an offer of five Laddus to women who get their hair tonsured.”

“I think some management personal might have put that suggestion. There is no need to make such offers as it need to be left to the belief of the devotees. These business management candidates have these types of suggestions they fail to understand that business and devotion are entirely different; they are smart only to sell products they cannot do the same in the matter of belief and devotion. Some years back a toothpaste company appreciated a suggestion given by one of its management employee to increase the diameter of the mouth of the toothpaste tube so that the volume of the flow of paste is more by each squeeze and thus increase in the sales. Such kind of management personals if asked to give suggestion in temple boards it is very unfortunate. It is not a marketing strategy it is an emotional belief and very personal. Absolute does not need promotion, does He??” 

“O.K Thata, I will remember your words for ever.”

“Not only at Tirumala whenever you go to the temple go with an open heart. Keep aside your agony, wishes, self-image and self-importance. Remember you are same to Him as all around you there. Stand in front the Deity in silence and you will experience the magic that works through you. This is a holy experience of your inner Self with Absolute. It is an occasion where you are subjected to receive some old revelations in light of the level of advancement you have made, your present reality, which makes your life so refreshing, rejuvenating and levitated.”

The young man took the blessing of this grandfather and the next day he left to Tirumala to have a meaningful pilgrimage.