By Acarya Dasa
On September 15th Padayatra arrived in Tadipatri, also known as Tadpatri. Located in the Anantapur district at the border of the Kurnool and Kadapa districts this newly industrialized town has a host of attractions –one of which that caught the devotees attention was the mid 16th century Chintala Venkataramana temple dedicated to Lord Visnu and constructed by King Krishna Dev. The Tadpatri temple has an impressive gopuram[1] and beautifully carved sculptures depicting Krsna’s pastimes. The padayatris drank in the darsana of the Lord and performed sankirtana in the city, distributing 239 Bhagavad-Gitas.
The Lord is within all our hearts –and with the hearing of His glories and the chanting of His names, we ignite a remembrance of our true selves and a happiness that cannot be described. The residents of Tadipatri were about to experience this very thing.
The following day we were out doing sankirtana when we came across a school –seeing an opportunity to preach to young minds, our party approached the school and asked permission to hold a small class and kirtana for the children. The principal of the school was touched by the offer and welcomed us. The melodious kirtana enchanted the hearts of the teachers, staff and the young children who danced and chanted in tune to the holy names. The school’s principal was astounded, speaking to one of our padayatris he said, “The happiness we experienced in the kirtana was out of this world. Thank you very much!” The program ended with everyone taking darsana of Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar and receiving Their infinite mercy in the form of the holy names.
[1] A large pyramidal tower over the entrance gate to a temple precinct.
