Do Prayers Precipitate Rains?
Episode - 4 ,
Tirumala temple bell Miracle
Part - 2
Sri Ganapati Sastry pointed out that the rain Gods would shower their blessings if "Varuna japa" was performed. He explained in details as to how I should go about it. He would not be able to lead it, plagued as he was with old age and ill health. However , he named scholars from all over the country who could undertake the ritual.
Tirumala temple bell Miracle
Part - 2
Sri Ganapati Sastry pointed out that the rain Gods would shower their blessings if "Varuna japa" was performed. He explained in details as to how I should go about it. He would not be able to lead it, plagued as he was with old age and ill health. However , he named scholars from all over the country who could undertake the ritual.
Lord Varuna
We decided to launch "Varuna japa" from November 1. But it could not take off because of some reason or the other. One scholar after another faced problems in responding to our invitation for reasons ranging from ill health to a death in the family( making him ineligible to take part in the sacred task). As the water level in the Gogarbham reservoir plummeted further, the engineers feared they could not supply water for more than a week. Despite all out efforts, a few more days passed by without the launching of "Varuna japa" on which we had pinned all our hopes. In my silent prayers, I asked the Lord, "What is this ordeal? How long is this going to last? Wont "Varuna japa" take place properly? Have you approved of it or not?" The final deadline for stating the three-day "Varuna japa" was November 8 as we had only three days of water supply.
As if in answer to the question whether the Lord had approved of "Varuna japa" or not, the Tirumala hills reverberated to the tolling of bells at "Bangaru Vakili" in Srivari temple around 2 on the night of November 7. Tirumala was startled.
People took to the streets wondering how the bells tolled at that unusual hour. I was woken up to be informed of the strange phenomenon.
We could not believe our ears. How could the bells ring when the temple doors had been shut and locked after the midnight "ekanta seva"?
Those given to rational thinking reasoned that some pilgrims stuck inside the temple might have rung the bells to get the temple doors opened. But then the temple doors were finally opened as usual for the "Suprabhata seva" at 3.a.m., and every nook and corner searched to find out who could have rung the bells, none could be found.
People took to the streets wondering how the bells tolled at that unusual hour. I was woken up to be informed of the strange phenomenon.
We could not believe our ears. How could the bells ring when the temple doors had been shut and locked after the midnight "ekanta seva"?
Those given to rational thinking reasoned that some pilgrims stuck inside the temple might have rung the bells to get the temple doors opened. But then the temple doors were finally opened as usual for the "Suprabhata seva" at 3.a.m., and every nook and corner searched to find out who could have rung the bells, none could be found.
Rare picture of Lord Venkateshwara Swamy temple
I felt the ringing signified God's clearance for "Varuna japa".
"Varuna Japa" was to start ealy in the morning. The Vedic scholars, who had excused themselves earlier, turned up that day in full strength.
"Varuna japa" comprises many rituals. Some scholars stand for hours in chest deep water in the temple tank, "pushakarini", (recycled unpotable water), to chant 'mantras'. Some perform "abhisheka" to the Lord's processional deities. Some conduct "homam" to propitiate the rain Gods, while many others do 'japas' or recite 'Vedas' and 'sastras'. After three days of such activities, the programme concludes with the conduct of "snapana tirumanjanam" (holy bath to the Lord) in the "pushakarini mantap". At 7. a.m. on the fourth day, "sahasra kalasabhishekam" , sacred bath to the Lord with water from one thousand vessels) is performed to mark the smooth conclusion of the ceremony - by way of thanks giving.
The entire three- day programme went off without any hiccups smoothly. Even as the "snapana tirumanjanam" neared completion on the evening of the third day, the sun shone brightly and the sky was clear. Utterly disappointed, we consoled ourselves saying, "We have done our job. What else could we have done?".
After the sacred bath to the processional deities in the "Pushkarini Mantap", the priests, Vedic scholars and other temple employees including me were taking the deities back tot he temple. Technically, the 'varuna japa' was over. 'Abhisekham', to be performed the next morning was part of thanksgiving and not part of 'varuna japa'. Press reporters , who had been closely watching the developments were heard commenting that the "Varuna japa" produced only tears but no showers. Could rituals produce rains? commented some in derision. The naive and gullible Executive Officer would have to explain away a lot of things. The atheists openly ridiculed the Executive Officer's superstition resulting in huge wastage of funds. I was deeply hurt.
After the sacred bath to the processional deities in the "Pushkarini Mantap", the priests, Vedic scholars and other temple employees including me were taking the deities back tot he temple. Technically, the 'varuna japa' was over. 'Abhisekham', to be performed the next morning was part of thanksgiving and not part of 'varuna japa'. Press reporters , who had been closely watching the developments were heard commenting that the "Varuna japa" produced only tears but no showers. Could rituals produce rains? commented some in derision. The naive and gullible Executive Officer would have to explain away a lot of things. The atheists openly ridiculed the Executive Officer's superstition resulting in huge wastage of funds. I was deeply hurt.
Where did we go wrong? Was I foolish enough to have believed what all Sri Sastry had told me. Had I been gullible? Had I failed to follow the instructions properly? Had we committed any indiscretion?... As such questions plagued my mind, a large raindrop on my head jolted me. There were claps of thunder and flashes of lightning. There was a sudden heavy downpour.
The priests had to run into the temple with the deities to ensure that the deities did not get wet. As a matter of precaution, a special "chatram"(umbrella) was normally brought on such occasions along with the deities. The "chatram" was not brought that day as the weather was so clear. No one ever even though of rain though we were performing 'Varuna Japa' for rains.
We virtually had to run in to the temple, a few yards away. All of us were completely drenched. The rain continued unabated the whole night until the beginning of "sahasra kalabhishekam" at 7 a.m. the next day.
As the "sahasra kalabhishekam" was to begin. the Chief Engineer came running to announce jubilantly that, "the Gogarbham reservoir is overflowing". Fantastic, that meant sufficient water for one full year. As tears of joy rolled down my cheeks and the beard(which I had been growing as a vow to get to get the rains), I prostrated before the Lord Srinivasa involuntarily, and commenced the thanksgiving ceremony.
Significantly, there was no rain anywhere nearby - at Tirupati or Renigunta or Sri Kalahasti or Chandragiri or Railway kodur. The rain battered only the Tirumala Hills.
Was it a mere coincidence? Or was it the outcome of the 'Vedic' ritual? Was it the Lord's benediction?
The priests had to run into the temple with the deities to ensure that the deities did not get wet. As a matter of precaution, a special "chatram"(umbrella) was normally brought on such occasions along with the deities. The "chatram" was not brought that day as the weather was so clear. No one ever even though of rain though we were performing 'Varuna Japa' for rains.
We virtually had to run in to the temple, a few yards away. All of us were completely drenched. The rain continued unabated the whole night until the beginning of "sahasra kalabhishekam" at 7 a.m. the next day.
As the "sahasra kalabhishekam" was to begin. the Chief Engineer came running to announce jubilantly that, "the Gogarbham reservoir is overflowing". Fantastic, that meant sufficient water for one full year. As tears of joy rolled down my cheeks and the beard(which I had been growing as a vow to get to get the rains), I prostrated before the Lord Srinivasa involuntarily, and commenced the thanksgiving ceremony.
Significantly, there was no rain anywhere nearby - at Tirupati or Renigunta or Sri Kalahasti or Chandragiri or Railway kodur. The rain battered only the Tirumala Hills.
Was it a mere coincidence? Or was it the outcome of the 'Vedic' ritual? Was it the Lord's benediction?
OM NAMO SRINIVASAYA
OM NAMO NARAYANAYA
OM NAMO VENKATESAYA
OM NAMO NARAYANAYA
OM NAMO VENKATESAYA
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24th December 2016
24th December 2016