Sri Sathya Sai Baba Teachings

The command was very stern. There could be no way of avoiding or escaping from the severest of all the rituals. "Lie down and roll over, quick, very quick"! This stern command was coming from my very old grand mother. My mother, sisters, and cousins were all looking down at me, as I sat down. I still hesitated to lie down. The flooring was done with stone slabs and they were very hard and rough. There was no protective clothing to give some cover to my tender skin all over body, except a small wet dhothi, tied down my waist. I was not allowed to have any drinks or light food. I was not supposed to eat or drink anything until I had fulfilled the rituals. In the early morning hours, I had just come out of the chill waters of the temple tank. I was not allowed to use a towel and dry up. I was supposed to go through the ordeal fresh from the water.

As I was sitting down still hesitating, defying the stern commands, I saw somebody, may be in his middle age, rolling over and reaching near me, i.e, the starting point, and was overtaking me. A couple of their relatives were guiding him, least he moves away from the stipulated pathway around the temple. For an elderly man, I thought, it is okay. But I was just 11 year old. I shouted back; "why of all the children, I had been asked to go through this ordeal? Why not others too, follow me?" My mother tried to pacify me, "Please Cheenu! (This is my pet name used by family people) "Try to understand. The vow had been taken for your sake. This is meant for your welfare. Years ago when you were still very tiny child, you had been afflicted by a severe disease, and we were informed by Doctors that the disease was beyond medical cure. Hence as a last resort, we had prayed to Lord Guruvayurappan, that Cheenu would undertake "Anga Pradakshinam" Only you should undertake this ritual, and there is no possibility of being substituted by anybody else. Please, Cheenu, try to understand and go ahead cheerfully, Please".

As I was still hesitating, I found some more devotees rolling over. The pressure was too much on me. I had been brought up in traditional orthodox way of life. My respect to elders, and also my Love for God, prevailed on me to just make a try. I stretched on my back. I was asked to keep both my hands over the head, palms together, and then roll over. Hands should not come as a support to the body. "Angam" means parts of our body, and "Pradakshinam" means going round in a clockwise manner. All the limbs and other parts of our body should be in direct contact on the rocky surface, as we roll over.

As I rolled over one time, I thought that all the devotees thronged in the temple were just watching me and enjoying fun. In fact nobody took notice of me, since I was not the only one doing this penance. Many others were seen rolling over and over. The elders were giving directions continuously. I was being constantly directed to chant the name of Lord "Narayana, Narayana…" with each movement. "Don’t look around, just keep on rolling chanting the Divine name. Otherwise your efforts will be wasted" I suddenly developed another fear. If I do not stick to their directions, the efforts could be nullified, and I might be asked to do it all over again. At all costs, I did not want this to happen. Better, to finish of in one stretch.

Slowly and steadily, I was progressing. At times, I used to deviate from the circular path around the temple yard. The cousins were guiding me and pushing me to the correct path, whenever I had deviated. The temple was vibrating with hysterical sounds of "Narayana, Narayana, Narayana….", chanted by hundreds of devotees. I could also hear some devotional music coming over the PA system. Even the hard hearted or shy type devotee could melt over the atmosphere in the temple, and the devotion is certainly bound to come out. I was no exception. As I moved on and on, I started to accept the situation and undertook the penance in good faith. Three fourth of the round is over, and I was nearing the starting point. ‘Soon, it will be over’, I thought. Chanting the name of "Narayana", I almost reached the spot from where I had started, and I was very eager to get up. When I tried to get up, I was pushed back. I was in for a great shock. It was not over yet! I was told to go ahead and continue with "Anga Pradakshina" When I thought it was over, I was told that I have to make two more rounds, total three rounds of Anga Pradakshina!

Though I was physically tired, this time, I did not have any reservation or hesitation. I knew well that there was no way out. I continued rolling over and over, chanting "Narayana, Narayana…" At the end of the third round, I was dead tired, and my body was aching. My mother held on to me with loving care, and helped me to get up. I could see drops of tears in her eyes. This could be on two counts. One reason could be of her concern for me. Another reason could be out of joy that I had fulfilled her vows. The rough surface had made most of the damage to my tender skin. For while I could not stand up. I was shivering and feeling fatigue. I was very hungry. My body has become dirty. I was asked to take yet another dip in the holy temple tank. This time my body was dried out using a neat towel.

The change of dhothi did not bring comfort to me. The strict rules in the temple, stipulates that male members, including boys, should not ware any dress or clothe above the waists. In the early morning, I had to endure the chill weather, and then stand in the Que., to have Darshan of Lord Guruvayurappan. There was a long line, and all the members of the family had to stand up for over an hour to reach the sanctum.

The sanctum consisted of three compartmentalized rooms. Electric lights are banned inside the sanctum. But there were several lamps burning from oil or ghee. At the end of tunnel type last room, I could see dimly the figure of a deity, which was just about two feet high. A priest was doing some poojas. We were not allowed to stand for a while. We had to be content with a just a glimpse of the deity, as we were moving across the steps of the sanctum. My mother felt happy, that she could present her son, in front of Lord Narayana, after fulfilling her vows.

Guruvayur is famous pilgrim center in Kerala in the southern parts of India. The state is known as "Gods own land". The breath taking scenery and natural landscape with backwaters, the big groves of coconut trees, and rich paddy fields, with back the drop of high peak mountains make Kerala very beautiful.

There are several important temples in this state, and Guruvayur is in the top in list attracting millions of pilgrims round the year. In India, for every major temple there is a "Sthala Purana" (the story indicating the importance of the particular temple and the place). The temple of Guruvayur has also got a history. It is said that the Idol, in this temple was formerly installed in the Divine abode of Lord Krishna in Dwaraka. At the end of Dwapara Yuga, Lord Krishna returns to Vaikunta, after finishing His earthly sojourn. The Divine City of Dwaraka, did not lost long afterwards. The city got immersed in the high sea, which is known as "Pralaya". The Guru of the Devas, "Bruhaspathi" and Lord Vayu (The wind God) retrieved the Idol of Narayana, and carried it along the cost, down south, and was installed in a village in Kerala. The name, "Guruvayur" had derived from the fact that the idol was carried down and installed by "Guru" and "Vaayu".

It is also believed that Adi Shankara had visited this temple several times, and it was Adi Shankara Himself who had laid down the procedures of worship in this temple of Guruvayur.

As we started our journey back to Palakkad, some 80 kilometers away, the bus did not make it easy for us. There were more problems and delays. Those days, there were no gas engines for the buses. The buses were provided with coal fired boiler behind it, and this boiler energized the engine to pull the bus. The technical snag and non-availability of mechanics, made things difficult for us. We had to travel a good length of over 20 kilometer by a bullock cart, and then a train travel towards our destination!

In the end, there was satisfaction for my mother and for her mother too! There was cheer in our family. But how can I forget those dreary experiences, which I had to go through on that particular morning at Guruvayur!

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