A Visit To Sringeri-1 Poem by Indira Renganathan

Determination cloaked me armoured
And I shut my material mind at once
Which was done greatly resolutely
Sindhoor, ash, rakshai from forehead
Signalling all holy the spiritual road
Lighted on was my crinion

'Why not, why not you dear me'
I told myself spiritually clad
Readying for a visit to Sringeri
A journey straight to Mangalore
Winding through the heights therefrom
Sringeri levelled up in preaching clemency

Friday's auspice brought high favour
That opportune fortune arrived timely
A holy hall throning His Holiness,
JagathGuru ruling kind, visioning keen
Thronging silks scenting strong enough
Religious jamboree incensing ritually rich

Watching eyes queuing to be blessed
Tensed moment perplexing all selves
A dharshan of all the deities scurrying
Albeit the temple queen spared more time
No where I heard the sounding temple bell
Until my stomach tolled the lunch-bell

A jostling yearlong birthday-celebrations
Jam-packed luncheon even in the mutt-mess
Sitting-eating was of unruly our folks'way
Agonized mind exhaled gasping pains from heart
Night fell on Thunga's silent composure
Disturbed Saturday rose for the closing function

Well, that was all at the Shashtyabdhapoorthy
Filled with functional prayers of Poornahuti
Of Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamy, the JagatGuru
As devout hearts again thronging at the finale
My heart sat aside isolated unable to watch
Provoked with feelings of desires and disgust

I can not wipe away my stained heart with pooja
Nor can I wash off with my tears the impurities
Not even my prayers can justify my guilty soul
For closed my material mind was open throughout
Guru alone, Guru alone can guide and waken
In shearing sparkle my sleeping mind spiritual