Day 2 Darshan

Day 1 ended with my frnds visiting the "Kalyana Katta" place where they had their heads shaved and me taking rest. We had our darshan at 3:30 am in the morning as the reporting time and darshan time as 4:00 am. But none of us had any sleep and I was sure we could reach the place at 5:00 am and stil have darshan.

I had my alarm at 3:40 am but got up only at 4:30 took care of my morning ablutions and was ready by 4;40 am. My frnds were all ready too by 5:00 am. Aditya was sceptical that we might miss the darshan but i was sure that we could still have darshan and that the line would now be leading to the temple without us waiting in those waiting halls. Arun was saying we might have to wait in the waiting halls as he always remembered waiting in those halls whenever he went for darshan.

We reached the queue which is opposite the Vijaya Bank by 5:30 am taking a morning walk leaving our cell phones and footwear in the room itself as we did not want any unnecessary stoppages near the temple. The queue was quite big and Aditya now was happy that we would have the darshan for sure.

The queue proceeded without much ado. But the notable thing missing was the security arrangements. The finger prints which were taken while issuing the tickets were not cross veririfed because of which any one else who could have stolen or got hold of the ticket could have the darshan instead. Also another notable thing missing was the collection of the tickets which was not done and a person could have second darshan if he were quick enough.

Now about the darshan. I had not visited the temple from January 2007 and I found that many things changed. The temple roof from inside was now decorated with a gold plating. This cannot be just described but should be seen with one's own eyes. Also the well in the temple was now decorated with gold plate. This has been renamed to "Bangaru Bavi" english translation "Golden Well".

For AAD, before the lord and the devotee there only one gate would be there as separation. But probably because of the rush of or could be because some repairs were being undertaken, the darshan ended in the place from where devotee could see the lord. Butdevotees were given a clean view by making sure no person would be obstructing the view of the devotee. Usually "theertam" holy water would be given to the devotees taking the AAD darshan, but that was also missing.

Notable things for AAD, temple would at any cost be closed at 7:00 am in the mornign on Saturday. Hence people who have AAD tickets will have to make sure they are in the line by 6:00 am in the morning so that they can have the darshan by 7:00 am.

This is my first time where i have seen people taking the free prasadam and wasting it.

Next post will be journey to Padmavati Temple and journey back to bangalore