Parashurama Kshetra
By
Murali Murthy
His pattern has been consistent. It repeats until I learn the lesson. Being the regular, ignorant human, I repeat the same mistakes. The loop ends the moment I realize and make corrections.
The realisations, learnings, enlightenment, peace, tranquility, divinity, feeling God and Goodness around can be experienced by me only at Parashurama Kshetra.
It is not a coincidence that the land reclaimed by Parashurama, from the Sea, is rich in culture and strong spiritual traditions.
For Preeti, Udupi is her pride and her roots, for me it's a deeper connect - it's a sense of belonging, it's a calling from a powerful land and divine.
It's almost like a checklist that we tick during every visit, and missing even one temple or one activity feels like the visit is incomplete.
Every day begins by having an early morning Darshan of Krishna.
Live the true Udupi life and feel the life of a localite, at the Maiya's ancestral home.
A day well spent at Madhva's home.
Offering Banana at Sri Ananthapadmanabha Temple, Perdur.
A gratifying experience at Sri Rajarajeshwari temple, Polali.
The vibrations, the energy felt cannot be described. The 10' tall idol of the Goddess is imposing with powerful eyes which you cannot look at for too long, yet her aura is pleasing like a mother.
Darshan of Lord Srinivasa on the occasion of Vaikunta Ekadashi.
Unlike Bangalore, No pomp and show, no exaggeration, no over the top festivity. It's all about Simplicity and Devotion.
A visit to Guru Narasimha Temple and the sumptuous lunch is mandatory, to experience the vibrations, divinity.
Preeti's favourite Anegudde Ganapati temple.
Lastly a visit to Preeti's home deity Brahma Lingeshwara, never fails to give us the calmness, peace of mind and sense of clarity, amidst serene, silent paddy fields.
Even the locals shared that they have never seen such a crowd at Udupi.
For so many decades that I have been visiting Udupi, even I hadn't seen so many from other parts of India, especially from Northern states of India.
While Udupi is our identity, core of our cultural and spiritual power center, for them it was a holiday. It was sad to see them dressed up inappropriately, being loud, being fussy about food as usual. One old man even asked at one of the Hotels in Ratha Beedi "Chicken Soup milega"!
Many tourists were even like "yeh kounsa Bhagvan hein?"
I guess it's time they put up these boards in all the Temples!
All the rituals, rules, exclusions are in a way needed to maintain culture, dignity, sanctity and vibrations of Udupi Krishna and all other temples/Mutts in Parashurama Kshetra.
One strange experience was when I was standing in front of Udupi Krishna, folding my hands and having an amazing Darshan, I thought someone stamped on my foot in the crowd, but the next second I felt excruciating pain. When I looked down, I saw a huge Rat munching on my Toe.
Maybe Jerry thought my toe was a huge piece of cheese!
Blood gushed out of my Toe end. I washed the wound once I reached back Hotel room. Since the bleeding and the pain subsided, I ignored and moved on. But Preeti and other relatives insisted on seeing a Doctor. The first reaction of the doctor at the Hospital was a funny laugh, she then treated me with Tetanus injection and Rabies Vaccine.
Was the Rat Bite a Divine Intervention?
Was it a punishment?
Or was it just a hungry Rat biting on something it thought Food??
