I completed my morning japa at 6:30 am and was on the mission to quickly leave the temple room to hide and read Srimad Bhagavatam for half an hour before the darshan at 7 am.
I was nearing the last doors separating me from successfully “avoiding” everyone when a devotee approached me.
“Can I ask you a question?” he asked very politely.
“I was so close!” I thought to myself.
“Yes, please ask,” I said, trying to appear undisturbed and attentive.
Devotee began speaking. “I was taking darshan of the Deities yesterday. I noticed that Lord Rama’s left foot is further forward than his right one.” You are pujari, could you confirm that with me?”
“Good question”, I replied.
“Even if it is slightly more forward, it could be only a few micro centimetres, not much.”
I asked him what made him ask this question.
“We are devotees!” He said with enthusiasm.
“We are meant to take darshan of the lotus feet of the Lord daily. I was looking at Lord Rama’s feet, thinking about who to ask this question, and then I saw you today.”
“I knew I knew I was right!” He added.
He explained that before his devotional life began, he used to work for a company making aircraft parts. Whatever they designed was measured in micrometres. The slightest deviation from the required measurement required correction or was rejected.
“Everything must be perfect otherwise the plane will not be able to fly off into the sky.”
With these words, he offered pranam and went to take Darshan.
With only a few minutes left before 7 am Darshan, I quickly ran back to the temple room.
I missed my 30 minutes of morning reading today, but I gained the precious association of a sincere devotee.
As I ran back, I reflected, “the whole morning I’m running around for Krishna, first to reach on time for the japa session, then for reading and now for darshan.”
A devotee is constantly running. Some of us are running to hide and study the scriptures. Others are running for a darshan of the Deities. Pujaris are always on a run to complete the worship on time. Sankirtan devotees are constantly running on the streets to stop the people and share spiritual wisdom with them!
Running towards the Lord’s lotus feet…. That is the idea of spiritual practice.
Ananta Gopal das
5 March 2023
Bhakti Wisdom 