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Sai Baba Kodaikanal trip - A
report, March 2001
Swami came to kodai on 11 th of this
month. He reached madurai at 2.20 pm by flight and from there he
proceeded to kodai at 4pm, in his white Mercedes which has come to
the airport.a large continent of foreign devotees had accompanied
him.
As words
started to spread people had arrived along the road sides to have
a glimpse of the Bhagawan.
The next day he
started his daily darshan at around 8am and the evening darshan at
3pm and bhajans afterwards.
Devotees from
nearby kerala and district of tamil nadu were coming in large
numbers after the news of his arrival spread. No rooms were
available in any hotels and room rents had sky rocked. in contrast
just 2 days prior to saibaba visit, rooms in kodai were seen
begging!
It is three
years since saibaba has come to kodai.ashram. Since last so many
years it has been the practices of saibaba to spend the summer in
kodai for the benefits of the overseas devotees who cant bear the
hot summer in the plains.sai baba used to stay in the house of
devotee Mr srinivasan and darshan was given from there.Around 7
years back Mr srinivasan donated around 3 acres of prime land
overlooking the lake to the central trust along with buildings
which became “Sai Sruthi” kodaikanal asrham .This asrahm is very
beautiful and full of gardens and chirping birds.
For devotees
darshan at kodai is always an experience. since the number of
devotees are less (3000-4000)chances of getting padanamaskar and
interview are more from kodai.for evening bhajans, foreign
devotees are invited to sing bhajans ...
In kodai the
business and vendor always pray to saibaba to come early because
when sai comes business booms. The whole kodai becomes alive with
a large influx of people.this time is called baba season.
When baba did
not visit kodai for the last 3 years the business in kodai was
greatly hit.
Unconfirmed
rumors say that saibaba was dissatisfied because of the fleecing
of devotees by shop establishments and the sky rocking of the
rooms rents when saibaba comes..
Last month a
large continent of business people from kodai had gone to banglore
to see saibaba and had requested him to come to kodai.
When saibaba
came it was heard that he will be in kodai till 27 th. However
saibaba left kodai on 20 th for banglore.For the local business
people it seems that they have not learned there lessons because
during this time also it was fleecing and more fleecing of
devotees of hard earned money.
Kodaikanal is
one of India’s most beautiful hill stations located at an altitude
of 2133 mts. (7,00 feet) frequented tourists in large numbers
right through the year.
Places of
interest include Bryand Park, Pillar Rocks, Lake Solar Observatory,
Perumal Peak, Silver Cascade, Telescope Houses at Coaker’s Walk
and Kurinji Andavar Temple, Bear Shola Falls, Berijam Lake, Museum
and Orchidorium at Sacred Heart College, Shenbaganur. Very good
trek routes are available. Mudurai (120 Kms.) is the nearest
airport and Kodai Road (80 Kms.), hte nearest railway station.
Regular bus service to Madurai and other towns available The
nearest railway station Kodaikanal Road (80 kms) is directly
connected by rail with Madras, which in turn, is connected with
all of the important places in India. Kodaikanal is connected by
road with Madras- 520 kms, Ooty- 264 kms, Trichy- 197 kms,
Coimbatore- 175 kms, Kumili- 160 kms, Madurai- 120 kms, Kodai
Road- 80 kms, Palani- 64 kms, Munnar- 90 kms, Periyar- 160 kms,Places
Of Interest Kodaikanal Lake- 5 kms, Coaker’s Walk- 1 km,
Astrophysical Observatory- 3.2 kms, Fairy Falls- 4.8 kms, Kurinji
Andavar Temple- 3.2 kms, Shenbaganur Museum- 5.6 kms, Pilar Rocks-
7.2 kms, Green Valley View- 6.4 kms Excursion: Silver Cascade- 8
kms, Dophin’s Nose- 8 kms, Perumal Peak- 11 kms, Beryam Lake-
21 kms, Kukkal Caves- 40 kms.
Photos of
Kodaikanal ashram, and images taken with my digital camera on
15-5-03 can be viewed at
http://saibaba.tk
Manoj A.P. |
