A historical monument, the abode of the Lord of Love. And there I was with around 3500 fellow friends who came for the trip to accomplish the backbreaking feat of charging ahead for the 3500 stairs.
We all were advised to start early, as it would take time to accomplish the feat.. and there we were before the dawn ready to meet our Lord of Love. But it was shivering cold, it being the December winter, and different people had different opinions regarding our defense against this mighty enemy.
I chose to be well-equipped with armor to fight this deadly enemy of cold. A jacket with a woolen neckwear, I felt to be sufficient. Happy with my possessions of armor and reluctantly leaving the other available armors ( hand-gloves and socks were also alluring me to take them on), I went ahead to join the army of my 3500 friends.
1 step.. 2 step.. 50 steps.. 100 steps.. 500 steps.. 1000 steps..
And then the fight began. Believe me, this fight was different than I perceived before. Earlier the fight was with 'cold'. But now it was with extreme 'heat' being felt due to the arduous labor to climb up the stairs. And adding to it, the jacket and the neckwear were now appearing to me as if I had to carry the entire 'army tank' over my shoulders.
1500 steps..
I reflected, isn't it true with the many possessions we try to accumulate in our own lives. Initially, the possessions seem to be our necessity and the only way to survive in the war, but later the same possessions begin possessing us.. and then it appears as the 'army tank' over us.
We try to possess wealth, beauty, intellect, status.. the list goes on... and beyond that we try to possess people who may have those with them. But, unfortunately none of them quenches the thirst of the heart, because the basis itself was 'possession'. It was not the innate feelings of the soul which formed the basis.
Going further steps ahead in our journey for the 3500th stair, we went ahead. After a few steps the leader of our army came like a swift wind, and he went ahead like a charming breeze touching all my fellow friends to become zealous about their individual journey to meet our Lord of Love.
2000 steps..
Surcharged we went ahead...
2500 steps.. 3000 steps.. 3500 steps
And there I was, getting an opportunity to meet for a moment with the Lord of Love, who is there calling upon all of us to reciprocate with Him with our inner feelings from time immemorial.
The sun was already spreading its heat now, and in the light I felt that my 'army tank' over my shoulder has not been worth carrying those 3500 stairs!!
But, it took me the journey to get that feeling.
PS: 'The Lord of Love' is Lord Balaji, at the Tirupati Tirumala Hills.
The leader of our army is His Holiness Radhanath Swami.
