20th March, 2006, Safari at Tirupati

20th March, 2006, Safari at Tirupati.

Tirupati's deities are Radha and Govinda. They are very beautiful. After
attending Mangal arotik, I sat with the devotees and chanted intense japa
for one hour. Then we went on a japa walk. By the time I finished the japa
walk, I had already completed seventeen rounds. From now on whatever I chant
is extra rounds for my credit.

I gave Bhagavatam class. The verse was on the Mohini Murti. She offered the
demons to divide the nectar if they agreed that whatever She did was alright
whether it was honest or dishonest. She joked with them and said why do you
believe in me? I am an independent woman. They thought that she may not be
honest. She may give them the lion's share because obviously she was
speaking so flirtingly with them. Eventually she gave all the nectar to the
demigods.

At eleven 'o' clock we were at the Padmavati temple. I arrived a slight bit
late. I had a beautiful darshan of Padmavati, she is the most chaste. So I
want also to be fully chaste in my devotion to Krishna and to following my
spiritual master. I pray for her blessings. The temple of Krishna is in the
middle. Originally this was Krishna's temple. Later He gave a space to
Padmavati. On the other side there was a self-manifested deity of Sundara
Raja, a beautiful form of the Lord, king of beauty. In all the TTD
(Tirumalai Tirupati Devasthanam) temples they give out prasad. In this
temple they gave out curd rice and tamarind rice. You could also buy ladoos.
Padmavati had a different style ladoo than Balaji.

We went to the Kalyana Srinivasa temple where the Lord spent six months
after He got married. Afternoon we were supposed to go on Harinam. But I had
a headache. I rested for a bit but the devotees went ahead on Harinam. Then
I joined them on the way when I felt better. By that time they were outside
the Govindaraja temple and I chanted on the long road going up to the
temple. Govindaraja is the big brother of Krishna. It is a Balarama temple.
But He is in the form of Garbodakasayi Vishnu with Brahma coming from his
navel.

We went off to the smaller temples, to Visvaksena, to the Alwar Nila. Nila
was a thief before but he became purified by drinking the water from the
feet of Vaisnavas. Everyone was feeling very blissful in the temple of
Govindaraja. We saw the different subsidiary temples including Andal. Andal
is the Alwar or the saint who promoted chanting Hare Krishna, chanting the
names of Krishna in the streets with drums and cymbals. I told the devotees
that one jeer or spiritual master of the Ramanuja sampradaya said, "Hare
Krishnas are followers of Andal."

Tonight we are going upto Tirumala to see Balaji and have his worship. So by
ten 'o'clock we were driving up to the top of the hill and reached our house
by eleven, took rest by eleven thirty. We had to get up by three latest in
order to go to the worship.

Your well-wisher always,

Jayapataka Swami