Bobbing my head on a religious journey.

        I'm a Hindu by birth and have a very pious family, save for me. My way of looking at religion, be it mine or others' has always been my own. I believe every religion to be a path to God, of whom I believe there is only one form: nothingness that encompasses everything. And at the same time is of more than one form, because there are so many religions that claim their god is the only one. I digress; this isn't about my views on religion but on my own 'religious tryst', rather.

        In my state there are quite a lot of temples, out of which the most famous is that of Lord Venkateshwara atop Tirumala, better known as the temple of Tirupati Balaji. If there is any temple which comes second in fame after the above, I believe it has to be that of Lord Shri Ram at Bhadrachalam. Since I was a kid I'd always wanted to visit three temples more than any others. And not because of their religious fame but for their place in my mind as places of mythological significance. I've only been able to visit one from Bhadrachalam, Antarvedi and Mantralayam so will share with you guys how that went.

        Of all the many friends I have, the oldest and my best friend is one Mr. Sitaram Veeramreddy, whom I've known since I was about 8 years old. We've known each other for around 17 years now and have been nothing but the thickest friends all this while. I'd planned a journey to the Shri Rama temple in Bhadrachalam previously too; once after my 10th class finals were done (end of high school), once after y 10+2, and many times during my B.Tech. It was always with Sitaram that I'd planned to go visit this place. I don't know why, but I'd decided it had to be with him; it was probably because he was the one who was around and agreed when I first had the idea 10 years ago. We both thought the same thing once we set out on our journey; 'This has been a little too long put off!'

        I'd returned from the UK after my masters and it had been 4 months since. In the year I'd been out of the country, my friend had started working for the government and was doing well. I brought up the long put off idea up and he too was excited. "Dude, this time we are going to Bhadrachalam for sure!" "I'll plan within a week and let you know." "No man, I've got this covered. We'll plan it for the weekend following the Republic Day. That way I won't have to worry about using my leaves at work." "Alright, let me know." And just like that he got everything sorted out. We both stay in different cities but luckily the place from where we'd have to leave for Bhadrachalam was more of a halfway point for us both.

        I'd gotten a little idea and advice from my folks who'd been on this journey previously. I had a picture in my mind of what to expect but decided not to spoil the surprise by over-analyzing things. We met up at Rajahmundry and I asked him "How long is the bus journey for?" dryly. I had little love for buses; they made me travel-sick. "Bus? We ain't taking no bus. We are going by boat." "Sorry what?" "Yes. It's a boat ride for most part. And then a bus, but just for a little distance." Now this was something I was hoping would come to fruition. I knew about the boat route but was worried he'd plan it differently because it was summer. But no, boat ride it was going to be and something I'd always remember.

        It was 7 in the morning and the sun was already beginning to drop hints of how hot the day would be. Normally we'd both complain about the heat and stuff but that day we were so truly psyched about this trip. The boat started at about 8 and it was quite the event. The guide giving us accounts of a lot of places on the way which had their place in history. One noteworthy one was the story of a freedom fighter Alluri Sitaramaraju, a revolutionary termed "Manyam Veerudu" (hero of the forest). Alluri Sitaramaraju was a guerrilla warrior who fought against the British oppression in pre-independence India and a legend who's life has been told in many forms and many times. The places where the police stations and post offices he'd attacked during his time were shown, and we could not but get goosebumps as to what we were experiencing. There was a story told to us, of which I will give but a brief gist.

        Apparently Alluri Sitaramaraju had given a sort of an ultimatum to the authority of a police station of then that he'd attack his police station and raze it to the ground for his atrocities. But in reality he'd done the same to about 3 other police stations. The personnel were on high alert to capture and end the great man when he attacked, unaware that he'd planned the same with other police stations to which they'd sent for help. And when the announced time came, the man was seen fighting on all four fronts one after the other, decimating his foes. The guide, of whom I have quire a respectable opinion, had a sense of strong not to mention over-flowing pride when he narrated this tale. "This is where the British felt the wrath of a Telugu man. This is where they feared him. This is where they fled before him. This is where they fell before him. This is where the great man once walked." Goosebumps and speechlessness. Me and my friend who were chatterboxes and always had something to say to everything, were rendered speechless.

        Then we passed through an area called 'Paapikondalu'. The boat containing all of us tourists passed through between two hills of which one had its peaks resembling the face of Lord Vishnu, the original form of Lord Rama looking upwards as seen from a side. I've always looked to Lord Rama not as a god but as a man who set an example of a man who stood by his rules, come what may. "Okka maata, Okka baanam" - One word, One arrow. This was Lord Rama's motto. Though he is a form of Lord Vishnu who'd taken birth to eradicate evil, Lord Rama can be easily said to be the most human of all of Lord Vishnu's forms. The level of emotional and ethical deliverance Lord Rama is put through sends us all one clear message- "Life hits hard, whoever you are."

         Through the course of the day on the boat, the guide told us a lot of things. About the surrounding places, those places' troubles how many good samaritan helped them, the story of how the Bhadrachalam temple was built, and above the story of Lord Rama which we'd all heard from the Ramayana a lot of times since childhood. Out of the many many gods my religion has, I've always had devotion only a few, Lord Rama being one of them. Being in such a serene atmosphere that day, I couldn't help but notice how peaceful I felt, accepting for once that there was a higher power which oversees us and looks after us. I like to believe that there is a god, indeed, but I do not buy the stuff preached by 'god men' or in most false places of worship. I believe that the concept of 'God' was originally created long before affirmed so as to give people an eternal source of hope. A sign of comfort.

        But then, it hit me. Such a pure concept has been turned into a money making idea by some today. Why must man keep pushing? Why can't be accept that somethings aren't to be trifled with? I do not intend to preach about God, no way. For what its worth, I'm only a quasi believer so to speak. I just wish people would stop twisting the concept of God and the purpose for which it was originally accepted. One day, I intend to go back to Bhadrachalam, not as a psyched up kid but as a wiser human willing accept more of what God has to offer.