March 21st, 2006, Safari at Tirumala

March 21st, 2006, Safari at Tirumala

I woke up at 2.30 which was earlier than I planned. I realized it was the
time for the first group of devotees to go for Suprabhat. Just checked to
see whether they had left or going. Saw that everyone was going but Madhava
Kanta. He was still sleeping in my house. I woke him up. He said he wanted
to go to the later worship. I said there is no later worship. This is the
only place available. Got him up and got him off in time.

We had to report by 3.30. for the puja. Our puja was archana. One of the
devotees had contacts with who was going with us. There were five of us
going for the darsan. Put us in the VIP waiting area. Took us to the darshan
area. There were many people who were big donors and they were put before
us. I was hoping we were going to be close to Balaji and have his close
darsan. But looked like it wasn't going to be possible. Then our devotee
contact arranged that I would be allowed to go in first. Took me by a
separate doorway. The curtain opened and I was trying to go into the darsan
area. The pujari waved me on to hurry up because I looked and saw that the
others were running behind me to get a chowki for the best spot. I also
started running and just barely reached in time at the very front of Balaji.
No one before, between me and Balaji except this pujari chanting mantras. He
was a little to the side. It was really special mercy. Couldn't look behind
but later I heard the other devotees also got good vantage points.

We were at the arcana seva. They offer a thousand and eight offerings to the
lotus feet of Balaji. Balaji was so beautiful. He was fully decorated with
His flowers and weapons. He had the two Lakshmis on His chest. His smiling
face was encouraging all the devotees. I tried to focus my mind and make
many prayers. Prayers for the different temples around the world facing
difficulties, prayers for my devotional progress, prayers for different
devotees and prayers for glorification of the Lord. Chanted rounds. I
chanted four rounds having darsan of the lotus feet of the Lord. I must have
been sitting before the Lord, glancing at His lotus feet for forty minutes,
non stop. This is a most unheard of in Tirumala. Normal darshan periods are
counted in seconds. When I left the room of Balaji I was feeling separation.
We had been together so long. Tears were swelling in my eyes. I will tell
the rest of the events later. Now I have to go on another safari.

Your well-wisher always,

Jayapataka Swami

(transcribed by Su-gita Vani dd, Mayapur)