29/06/2024
The Heart Touching True Story Behind These Two Rare Photographs From The Sanctum Sanctorum Of The Tirumala Temple.
Read on..
In 2017, on the advice of legendary IAS officer Sri PVRK Prasad - former Information Adviser to PM Sri P V Narasimha Rao and also the former Executive Officer of TTD - I wrote my first book, ‘God On Call’ (English) which was based upon some of the most spellbinding miracles occurred in the lives of a few glorious legends during the tenure of office of Sri Prasad.
Sri Prasad personally narrated these great miracles to me and said, “Aditya, I wrote them in Telugu and also in English but the English version did not receive much attention. Now you must write in English again. Perhaps this is the design of Sri Varu”.
But why only me when Sri Prasad had the choice of choosing anyone from among so many great writers who will write better than me.
Earlier, Sri Prasad read a sensational true story which I wrote in 2012 on the legendary life of Smt M S Subbulakshami. This story went viral across the world and was read by millions of Indians more importantly by millions of Kanchi Paramacharya devotees.
Overnight this story not only made me a star but also gave me tons of confidence that I can write the way people love to read. The story went so viral that it one day reached Sri Prasad who at that time was with his daughter Madhavi in Chicago.
He immediately sent me an email complimenting me for my story and also my writing style. What surprised him the most was that am the son of his well respected senior friend, Sri KYL Narasimha Rao.
Father was Principal of SR & BGNR govt. Degree college in Khammam when Sri Prasad was collector there. His daughter, Madhavi was my junior at the St. Joseph’s High School in Khammam. Divine Connection.
In 2014, upon his repeated requests, I wrote a 44 part series which was about an ardent devotee of Goddess Gayathri. Initially, for about six months, I was very reluctant to write this story because I knew it would exhaust my creative energies.
However, upon constant push from my father & wife, I wrote it for one full year, posting one part every Friday. People in about 59 countries would eagerly wait those days for my posting of the story every week.
Sri Prasad became a big fan of my writing and became fully emotional after reading the 26th part - which spellbound the readers - and told me,
“Aditya, what a writing babu..?? Outside, you appear like a simple person but look like you go into a Divine trance while writing. Else such extraordinary devotional output is impossible for any writer to generate. You made me more popular all over the world today with your writing of this story. Earlier only Telugus knew me”. PERIOD
With that impression upon me and with so much confidence in my writing abilities, Sri Prasad asked me to write about those Tirumala miracles that occurred in the lives of the legendary Swamy Sri Ranganathananda of Ramakrishna Mission, Sri Rallapalli Ananta Krishna Sarma and Smt M S Subbulakshmi among others.
Believe me, I wrote that entire book of 12 extraordinary stories in only 17 days. It was sold like a hot cake and created a sensation all over India & US and many other countries. It transformed not only the lives of many but also mine.
Sri Prasad not only attended the book launch in Hyderabad - which was released by Bhagavan Sriram Sir on 24th March, 2017 - but also gifted many copies to many IAS officers like Sri Mohan Kanda and many Peetadhipathis across India.
Coming To The Point
In this book I also wrote the heartbreaking story of Sri Nagaraja Rao, a simple teacher with a large family from a village in Karnataka. In 1963, Lord Venkateswara appeared in his dream and told him, “what Nagaraja Rao, can your family present me 108 Bangaru Kasula haram (108 Gold Pendant Necklace)..??”
Nagaraja Rao ignored that dream but the holy Lord appeared again and asked him “what Nagaraja rao, won’t you give me Haram..??”. This time Nagaraja Rao took the dream seriously.
The very next day, the entire family sat down and took one of the most extraordinary decisions to have been ever taken in the devotional history of Tirumala Temple that after 16 years moved not just the Holy Lord and Mother Nature but also everyone who read about it.
Here’s What Happened.
Since their poor financial condition did not allow them to make such a costly necklace, the entire family of Sri Nagaraja Rao, including children, decided to eat only one meal a day until they could save the money to make that Golden Haram.
After eating only one meal a day, saving every paisa, for the next 16 years, the exemplary Nagaraja Rao family finally reached the Tirumala Temple in 1979, along with the Golden 108 Pendant Necklace, and met Sri Prasad, who at that time was the EO of TTD.
Sri Prasad went into a deep shock listening to Nagarajao’s Divine experience and also about his family’s dedication. He later presented this miracle in his Telugu book, “Sarva Sambhavam''.
I presented this same story - as narrated to me by Sri Prasad - in my book, ‘God On Call’ but in my own style and narration. At the end of this story, I made an appeal to the readers saying, “please let me know if you have known Sri Nagaraja Rao family or have his contact details”.
I too tried on my own to find out the whereabouts of this family; on my request Sri Prasad too tried through his sources but neither of us could succeed. Unfortunately, Sri Prasad left in August, 2017. Later, I left it there as a close and shut case. PERIOD
However, as though ordained by the Holy Lord Himself, a young female software engineer by name Sowmya from Blore contacted me in April this year - she somehow got my number - requesting me for a copy of my God On Call book which is sold out everywhere.
Many send me such messages and mails everyday and I send them from my personal copies. I have sent a copy to Sowmya as well. After quickly reading the book, Sowmya made it one of her life goals to find out the whereabouts of Sri Nagaraja Rao’s family.
Since she’s from Blore and speaks Kannada she became more eager to accomplish this lifetime task. For about 15 days, she tried through every possible means and reached out to many people.
Finally, through a local Karnataka leader, she could get the contact number of Sri Nagaraja Rao's son, Suresh. She called him and spoke to him in detail and also heard many more amazing experiences from him. After obtaining due permission from him, she recorded that conversation to send me.
At about 5.30 PM on the evening of 26th June, Sowmya messaged me and informed me the same. I was so delighted that I straight away called her and gathered all the information from her. Here’s what she told me,
‘Aditya sir, Sri Suresh was a kid at that time but still participated in the great ritual of fasting and had only one meal a day. Even today, the Holy Lord keeps appearing in their dreams and keeps guiding them. He shared everything in the conversation with me which I have mailed to you. I felt amazed talking to him more so listening to the family’s spellbinding experiences.
Their devotion towards Lord Venkateswara is truly unparalleled. But unfortunately they are still living in a poor financial condition today. His wife has had a strong desire to visit Tirumala for years but could not visit it even once due to their financial condition.
I asked him, don’t you have any complaints against the Lord or don’t you feel sad that He is so unkind to you and not given you enough despite being so devoted to Him..?? You know what he said in response, Aditya sir..??” Saying so, Sowmya choked, broke down and went into complete silence sobbing.
I remained silent for a few seconds and let her vent out her emotions. Then, I asked her in a low tone, “what did he say, Sowmya..??” Composing herself she said,
“When My Lord Is Rich, So What Am Poor..??”.
I became numb for a moment. Found it very difficult to hold the pearls gushing out of my eyes.
“Sri Padmanabha, Purushottama, Vasudeva, Vaikunta, Madhava, Janardhana, Chakrapaane. What is this devotion..?? What is this surrender to You..?? Is this not what You call Saranagati..?? Is this not what You taught us all..?? Is this not how you want us all your children to live..??
Is this not how we are meant to be..?? Is this not the same mind set and same devotion that we all must cultivate..?? Then, why are we not like him, Swamy..?? Why do we not have the same surrender..?? Where lies the mistake..?? In Your teaching or in our learning..?? Where are we heading..??
Why are we always complaining..?? Why are we always impatient and restless with ourselves and also with our own world..?? Why are we always dissatisfied and dejected in life..?? Why are we always so unhappy and always searching for happiness..?? And why is happiness a mirage to us all..??
Conclusion
I told Sowmya, “Sowmya, there are 1.4 billion people living in India today and from among them, the Holy Lord has chosen us to connect with that family. A noble family that was devoted to Him for generations without expecting anything in return. You and me or for that matter any other Indian can ever be like them..??
Why do you think the Lord has chosen me alone for this task..?? Because He knows I can stand by that family from now on and also tell their current story to the world in the most appropriate manner.
Don’t worry, Sowmya. They won’t be living in such poor condition any more. It’s the end of all their bad living conditions. It’s my duty now to stand by them and provide them all the financial assistance.
I have an army with me, which the Lord knows, that will stand by me in whatever such task I take up. We did in the past but this is going to be one of the major tasks for us in the coming future.
I will also talk to the new TTD EO and arrange for a special darsan to that entire family. We shall take care of all the expenditures”. Conveying her thanks to me for making her a part of such a big accomplishment, Sowmya disconnected the call. What I must further tell you all here is,
“The reason why my book God On Call is nowhere available today is because I have been planning for over two years to write the God On Call : Golden Edition with 50 extraordinary chapters.
It’s 70% ready and I even made a soft launch in December, 2023 but could not release it yet due to some other compelling tasks in the last six months. I now understand that It happened for good. I can incorporate the new experiences of Sri Nagaraja Rao’s family into my new book.
In this regard, I am planning to visit in July, along with my wife, the village where Sri Suresh resides and will spend a day with him. Will talk to him, listen to him, eat with him and laugh with him. Those will be unforgettable moments in our life. As I always say in my writings,
“All delays, all denials, all the problems and all the health issues in our life are for a reason. And all for good”.
Photos : Sri Suresh had sent those two photos. That Golden Lakshmi Ammavaru Pendant is one of the 108 Pendants from the Kasula Haram the Nagaraja Rao family had gifted to Sri Varu in 1979.
The second photograph is of Sridevi Bhudevi Sametha Sri Malayappa Swamy Varu - the Utsava Murthys inside the Garbha Griha of Tirumala Temple - adorned with the 108 Kasula Haram gifted by Sri Nagaraja Rao’s family.
శాంతి రూపానంత జలరాశి నీవు, నవ నవైకానంద నౌకను నేను.. సంశుద్ధ మానస సరసిని నేను, ఆనందమయ రాజహంసవి నీవు.
Hare Srinivasa
Narrenaditya Komaragiri
Author, Founder, Chief Admin
www.tirumalesa.com
