The STORY BEHIND THIS PHOTO : 58 THE DIVINE FOOT PRINTS
The STORY BEHIND THIS PHOTO : 58 THE DIVINE FOOT PRINTS: I recall those wonderful days of Divine darshan sitting on the sands in front of Prashanthi Mandir. The border for the darshan enclosure was along Arch, where we can still see the old clock ticking minutes away. On either sides of the arch were series of small Mandaps, and in the center there was circular landscaped garden. A idol of Lord Ganesh had also been installed there. I think that this Lord Ganesh has since been shifted to Eswaramma Samadhi area. Beyond the Darshan enclosure there were couple of lawns, dotted with few flower beds and coconut trees also. In the first lawn area, devotees used to sit and wait for the tokens to be taken. And the devotees used to rush in through a Vicky gate. The first line border would have been secured by the strict sevadals. The devotees used to sit in a semi circular line. The ladies section would also have same system of arrangements. The depth of crowd waiting for darshan would be 6 to 7 lines only. After the devotees had taken their seats, the lady volunteers would swing into action. Armed with brooms, they will carefully sweep the rest of the sanded areas, where Swami will be walking. Yes, Swami will be coming out of his room in Prashanthi Mandir, and would slowly walk through sands. Royal slow steps, taking Him nearer and nearer to his eagerly waiting devotees! The little, little Divine feet would leave behind, the markings of His route to the devotees. We devotees! What are we to see… The majestic Royal walk of Bhagavan, His benign smile as He nears the devotees, the circular motions of the Divine Hands, and now watching the appearance of beautiful foot prints being left behind Him!!! Lo, and behold the entire scene is filled with Divine vibrations. After satisfying the devotees with Divine Darshan, Swami will walk back to the veranda and then into the interview room. The devotees hitherto waiting quietly on the sands get up and move out. They make a mess of the smooth sand surface of Divine foot prints. However some of them will be careful, especially those who are on the first line to quickly lean down and pick up handful of sands from the Divine Foot Prints. Needless to say, I had also succeeded few times in collecting the sand from those wonderful foot prints, put them in my Hand Kerchief. Then it will be deposited safely into plastic box, to be taken back to our Homes. With Love & Regards,
