Heartstrings @ Hyderabad

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I didn't know till today that Pt Ravi Shankar married Sukanya Shankar at a Hyderabadi neighborhood temple in 1989 in a quiet ceremony:

 

  http://m.gulte.com/news/13331/Maestros-Secret-Marriage-At-Chilkur

Our very own spicy Deccan Chronicle is all ga-ga about it today with front page headlines titled (misleadingly):

When Ravi Shankar played Raag Kalyan in Hyderabad

DC takes the credit, not for the marriage (thankfully) but for the scoop. The temple at which the wedding took place is about 500 years old but was in obscurity when the event took place. There were not more than 20 visitors per week then. And that was the reason why the couple chose it...the temple was supposed to keep its secrets. But a DC Reporter chanced to eavesdrop and was the first to scoop it.

Ravi Shankar was 69 then and Sukanya 34:

"Recalling the event, Mr C.M.Srinivasaraghavachary Swamy (ahem) then head priest of Chilkur Balaji Temple, told this correspondent that it was a quiet afternoon and a group of 20 people had visited the temple. They had brought their own priest, who solemnised the wedding of Pandit Ravi Shankar and Sukanya. They did not make any offerings, but prayed to the Lord. 'The entire event lasted about two hours. The bride was young,' said Mr. Srinivasaraghavachary, who turned 99 three days ago."

 

  http://www.travel.ithappensinindia.com/chilkur-balaji-temple-hyderabad-location-map-entry-fee-holidays-timings-chilkur-balaji-temple/ 

Ravi Shankar was a devotee of Tirupati Balaji (Venkateswara Swamy) and wanted to have his wedding there. But Tirupati by then was too crowded for a quiet affair and he chose the deserted Chilukur temple which is also presided by the very same Balajee.

But not now.

The fortunes of the Chilukur temple skyrocketed a decade or so ago.

I first heard of this temple from my youngest sister at Nellore, a couple of hours drive from Tirupati. Their only son got admission and schol for a Ph D (turned later into the abridged M.S. for well-known reasons) at Florida. And the couple told me that they were traveling to Hyderabad (12 hours drive) to visit the Chilukur Balajee temple. I naturally asked her why they chose such a far-off place while the Big Brother Balajee was available at Tirupati, virtually a stone's throw away.

And was told that the Chilukur Balajee specializes in granting immediate US visas to his ardent devotees. Indeed, she told me, that this US-Sponsoring God is known as:

"Visa Venkateswara Swamy"

Talking of US Visas my son, who had to get his Business Visa for the US 8 years ago, had to travel all the way to Chennai (there was no US Consulate at Hyderabad which was funny...I think it has a temporary one now). He didn't visit Chilukur though...maybe he wasn't that desperate...like father, like son.

Now that we have a fabulous Outer Ring Road, Chilukur is an hour's drive from our place. This younger brother Balajee here is different in one more respect from his Big Brother at Tirupati...He doesn't accept any donations or gifts...just have His darshan, pray and go away (the visa will come later via courier)....But the temple has grown much and is well-maintained...it must be getting white money from the Government. 5000 devotees visit the temple everyday.

Since I am crowd-allergic, I stopped visiting temples long ago...and I have so far escaped getting caught in stampedes and getting a visa to Heaven.

My wife was always scared of water bodies. When, 20 years ago, my Father died and wished his ashes to be immersed in the Ganges at Varanasi (in his heart of hearts), my wife, son, and I went to Benares carrying his urn. And we went in for the default boat-ride along the Ganges from one end of it to the other. In a country boat. The boatman at Assi Ghat was busy and asked his urchin son to row us along.

And my wife was scared if such a mooch-less kid wouldn't upset our boat and drown us. And I translated her fears to the moochwala pappa. And he rebuked her:

"What better fate could be there for anyone than to be swallowed by Ganga Mai?"

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