When I first heard about the trip to Sriisailam, I was thrilled. Having heard about the experiences shared by disciples who have travelled with Guruji, I was longing for a long trip. Even as the planning for trip was happening, I had a feeling of being invited to Sriasailam. I so excited that I could not sleep the night before the trip, I was awake inside, but didn’t feel tired in the morning. We were waiting to be picked up at Puzhal junction, the moment I saw AAC vehicle a joy filled me and as I boarded, I was in A3 state. Though everyone was discussing a lot, deep silence prevailed in me. We reached Srisailam and settled in our room by 11.30 pm. Mr. Kothandaraman and Mr. Balaji shared a lot of their experiences and while listening, I experienced A3 state and fell asleep. Usually I have difficulty in sleeping at new places, but this time I was very relaxed and feeling at home.
The next morning we started for temple of Lord Mallikarjuna, walking behind Guruji, I felt like I was following Shiva to meet another Shiva. In the temple, I experienced wakefulness without mind. While in the queue for darshan, I was engulfed in deep silence in spite of commotion around. When we went to pray at Goddess Bhramaramba, I could clearly see that feeling of mind was absent and but it came up as when required. When praying at saint Mallamma and saint Akkamahadevi, I was feeling familiarity with the surroundings. At Sri Vrudha Mallikarjunaswamy and Tripahala vruksham a combination of three trees Ashwatha (Raavi), Oudumbara(Medi) and Plaksha (Juvvi), where great Rishi Agastya resides in hidden form and Lord Dattatreya had performed penance, we sat eyes closed and felt we were invited to be there and quickly settled in A3. At Saravati antarvahini well, I felt very connected.
Though we planned to visit Akkamahadevi caves and Ista Kameswari temple, but it didn’t materialize, instead existence chose Ahobilam. After confirming availability of accommodation, it was decided to visit Ahobilam. We visited Mallama kanneeru the jeeva samadhi of Mallama, though the inner sanctum was closed, we experienced her presence outside and completely engulfed in it. All of us saw a radiance spread around Guruji. Initially when my eyes fell on Mallama idol, I saw Guruji’s face. Next we visited Sarangadhara Matham, and here while meditating, when I touched the siva linga, I knew it was Sri Mallikarjuna swami.
We reached Ahobilam at 10.30pm, suddenly I got a drive or some kind of push in me to initiate a discussion with the caretaker at the hotel and he offered a nourishing dinner though it was so late. Later we came to know that the food was prepared for some guests who didn’t turn up. We had difficulty in getting accommodation insipte of prior confirmation; there was a communication gap between the person who confirmed for us and the assistant who was in duty. We started to search for accommodation at other hotels. We were perplexed, Guruji intervened, he called our contact person, miraculously he attended the call and everything got resolved a second and we got the accommodation and quickly settled in to rooms conveniently. What happened in that hour was difficult to comprehend, but later we realized that something changed for Guruji. The next morning after breakfast we planned to visit six important temples which involved trekking and started towards the Ahobilam temple is situated on the top of the first range and referred to as Upper Ahobilam. The place was inviting and had blessings of Ahobila Narasimha Swamy and Godess Sri Chenchu Lakshmi.
Next slowly we trekked to reach the shrines of Kroda Narasimha, Jwala Narasimha and Malola Narasimha, though normally I have joint pains, this time I didn’t experience any pain or difficulty. At these shrines we prayed and meditated and experienced fulfilment. At Malola temple we read about Prahalada badi (school), a place 0.5 km further higher up. Guruji decided we should go there though it was not in our initial plan. The view from here along the path was very beautiful, and finally the top was mesmerising. The place was so enchanting and that we become like excited children. It appeared like a gurukul with Guruji and his disciples, true to the name of this place. We meditated in the small cave dedicated to Prahlada Narashimha Swamy and also there was an idol of the Prahlada carved inside. Guruji in an exalted state said that this place was very holy and didn’t find anything equivalent to this even in Himalayas, for a moment we lost all identity and effortlessly enjoyed a mindless state.
Mr. Sudharsun had been enquiring about Parankusa muni jeeva Samadhi and based on the information, we returned to Ahobilam temple and found the jeeva samadhi and sat for meditation, I was in a no mind state totally absorbed. Suddenly the priest called us and offered prasad, his behaviour was rather unsual, he was very affectionate, the prasad was very tasty and then we realized that a saint was offering hospitality to another saint. The experiences were filled us unspeakable bliss and the purpose of trip was complete. We returned to hotel for lunch and then left for Chennai.
This trip was even more special because I was privileged to travel with Akka (Guruji’s wife) and his two daughters Charupriya and Krishnapriya. The love and care showered by Guruji , his family and disciples is by itself a blissful experience. For most part of the trip l was in silence (inside) with a witnessing quality. I had never before enjoyed such continuous awareness immersed in bliss. I cannot express my gratitude to GURUJI in words but surrender completely at his holy feet.
Sumalatha