As years pass by…

Sairam friends,

This Saturday 19th July, I had been to work since they asked me to do communication round for freshers. It was fun but I felt really bad about the quality of Educational institutes in India. Only few colleges actually give what the students deserve. For the money the parents pay with all their hardships these colleges are not offering opportunities to grow.  I asked if they had seminars, tech events etc and even the famous colleges din’t had. On the other hand, some Colleges which aren’t too popular has taken these efforts on a regular basis.

For those who have completed their U.G, I kept telling they must consider doing their post-graduation as it helps them grow. There was a girl who has done her schooling in Government school but was able to speak well. Similarly, a guy who has done all his schooling in Tamil medium schools spoke really well compared to others.

I liked a girl who spoke about Entrepreneurship as she was the only one who touched this topic. So told them the difference between a Startup and a big corporate. I suggested them some websites to regularly read and update about what’s happening in the industry. This girl didn’t perform well in other tests and lost it which made me think its these failures which helps someone become a successful Entrepreneur in future.

May be its good for her. I must warn you but Entrepreneurship has become a fancy word to few. If you are really hardworking and dedicated alone, you can win. Or else choose to take up a regular job.

For the guys who didn’t spoke well, I told them not to give up and keep attending interviews as a habit. Many youngsters give up when they keep failing which I don’t want to happen to this crowd.

After this, I and my friend went to Canteen. There is this guy who works there all 7 days a week.  I keep telling him he must do his MBA and go out of this place for a better opportunity. He never listens to me but simply smiles.

Some girls and guys limit their growth just because they don’t want to change their life. Please do something to grow ahead in your life.

When I created StarSai, I wanted to spread the message of doing good deeds and gradually I started addressing devotees with a various problems which has benefited few. I have spent 2 years simply coming around holy dhuni of Sai in Nagasai mandhir between 2005 – 2007. I do it every single evening. Sai alone must have counted the number of times, I came around his sacred fire.

Temples I love:

In the evening, I went to Rathna Vinayakar temple, Kamakshi ma temple, and also saw my sweet Annapurna. I spoke to her in mind. It was drizzling when I reached Nagasai mandhir. The boy who works in the shop said, You worry so much and lost all your hair. I told him, It’s OK. I lost my life. Most of my life is gone. So no problem even if I lose all my hair. It doesn’t matter much to me nowadays.

I have been requesting my parents to allow me to offer my hair in Tirupati but they keep telling me, you can do it after you get married. I can’t argue for every single issue. So I gave up. I had prayed Sri Venkateswara in 2010 that I wish to offer my hair in Tirupati but didn’t fulfill my vow so long.  My parents say, you always wanted to offer your hair to God and don’t want to marry. So I after a big fight, I listened to them.

I wish to go Tirupati by Sai grace, offer my hair, and have good darshan of Lord Venkateswara. Let’s see how the lord takes me to his abode.

I am not a temple guy anymore. Not all temples attract me but some temples have really played a role in my life.

These are,

Koothanur Saraswathi temple

NagaSai Mandhir, Coimbatore

Tirumala Tirupati of Lord Venkateswara

( My Father named me as he went there when I was born)

Marundheeswarar temple in Tiruvanmiyur as I used to visit this temple when my uncle lived in a flat near the temple.

Kapaleeshwarar temple in Mylapore, Chennai where I first started lighting lemon lamps to Goddess Durga in 1999. I love the fragrance when I offer lemon garland to the Durga there.

In 1999, whenever I go inside the Karpagambal sannidhi, a very old man used to stand to the left of the door looking at Karpagambal. He can’t speak. He simply says aaah.ahhh..something which we can accept as his chanting in praise of Goddess. He used to stand there for hours looking at Karpagambal and simply say words he can’t utter.

I learned what really is devotion through him. You may not be able to do pooja or even have the ability and time to chant the mantra. You simply stand there looking at the Goddess and blabber. What matters is your devotion. I could feel his deep love towards Goddess Karpagambal.

After few years, when I went to Kapaleeshwarar temple, I didn’t saw this old man. I shall write a separate article about this someday.

and then I like…

Siddhi Vinayakar temple in our colony as my Father and his friends does seva there. My Appa also sweeps this temple and keeps it clean.

Marudhamalai Murugan temple

Anuvaavi Subramamian temple situated in the same hills of Marudhamalai but must be reached from other road in the other side through Kanuvai, Thadagam, Coimbatore. In 2005, every single Tuesday, I used to buy some sugar, flowers and offering to Lord Kalyana Subramaniar and go to this Anuvaavi.  It is said that Lord Hanuman while carrying Sanjeevini mountain got thirsty and stood here. Lord Murugan used his Vel to dig the surface when water oozed out. Hanuman drank this water happily and continued his journey.

I used to drop the sugar near the rocks while climbing the steps of this temple for the Ants to eat. Those are truly beautiful days friends.

Now, about the Temples I wish to visit..I had gone to Shirdi but these are few temples I really wish to go in future…

I wish to go Shirdi, Akalkot, Gangapur in Karnataka and Kuruvapuram in Andhrapradesh where first avatar of Dattatreya – Shree Paadha Shree Vallabha lived.

One of the Goddess temple I have never visited but wish to go is Kolhapur Mahalakshmi temple

I love Kolhapur Mahalakshmi so much and I have spent many days remembering her though the Goddess din’t call me to her so far. I keep telling Kolhapur Lakshmi that I wish to come there with the girl I marry.

Another Sai baba temple, I wish to visit is the one in the outskirts of Goa.

First Saibaba temple after Sai’s Mahasamadhi – Kudal

When I am really bored at work, I used to see Google Maps and find Kudal is in a very scenic place. I wish to build a Saibaba temple in a very beautiful place.

Let’s see.

I hid a few things which happened the last few weeks from writing in StarSai. Recently, someone living in the U.K, a Gujrati girl wanted to marry me but I don’t know what to say especially since I don’t want any girl to change her career, her dreams just for me. I can’t move out of Coimbatore too. It’s easy to like me but hard to live with me and I don’t want any girl to sacrifice their comfort for an ordinary guy like me. They might do it but eventually, after a few days, what if they feel they left a beautiful life to live with someone like me?

Beyond all this, Sai didn’t approve this and I keep waiting for Sai to work on my life. Its Sai’s decision and all I can do is to pray Saibaba to do it soon as I am struggling to make my parents believe that Sai will do it for me.

I don’t know what to do Saibaba.  Please guide me properly.

In a situation where I see my parents only concern is to get me married, I don’t find a reason why Saibaba is calm? I realized maybe Sai thinks I am more happy now and felt what if I don’t get married at all. Being single has its own advantages accept that I can’t make my parents happy.

Based on the experiences I had in this process of falling in love with someone, being separated by fate and repeatedly being hurt, coping with my parents felt whenever they suggest a girl, and finally getting hurt myself, I can do something that will benefit everyone in future.

I know Sai gives me some experiences because he wants me to do some thing to create a better world.

In my previous post about reading Sai Satcharitra every day, I wrote about how I always feel sleepy at work place. Today being Sunday, I tried to sleep in the afternoon but I can’t even sleep for a minute. I closed my eyes, tried to imagine as if I see Saibaba in Dwarakamai but I could not even go to sleep. I kept checking emails from devotees in my mobile and also after some time, switched on my computer and started writing this article.

This article “As years pass by” is just an expression of how years have gone so fast.

How so many things have changed…

My love for Sai remains the same.

Love,

Venkat