My Musings

We went to Chilkur Balaji Temple on Sunday, 8th Jan 2006. My wife had suggested the trip and I agreed right away.

The temple, which is said to be over five centuries old, is some 50km away on the outskirts of the city from our place.

I had heard of the temple and its popularity among the ambitiousyoung people seeking higher education in foreign universities or bettercareers abroad. For this reason the Temple is nicknamed ‘Visa Temple’!

It’s said that anyone praying to the reigning Lord Balaji (Vishnu)at Chilkur Temple for a visa to a preferred foreign destination isgranted their wish. The aspirant-devotees whose wishes have beenfulfilled offer ‘pradikshan (circumambulation )’ around the temple bychanting the Deity’s praise. A round of 108 times is the minimum. Somedo ’sayana pradikshan (rolling oneself on the ground around thetemple), an extreme offering expressing their gratitude and devotion tothe wish fulfilling Deity.

Chilkur temple is without any Hindu temple architecture or art work.It’s just a small concrete structure with compound walls. Another smallshrine close by devoted to Lord Shiva shares the compound and thedevotees pray there as well.

It’s said that 75,000 to 100,000 devotees visit the temple in a week. Fridays and Sundays are the busiest days at Chilkur .

On our return, after a few kilometers, I saw two huge hoardings of’Higher Education in Foreign Universities’ and ‘Visa CounselingServices’ erected prominently on both sides of the road meeting themain road ahead.

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