Hostel Tour (07/12/2025)

Sairam. With the Divine Blessings of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the hostelers and staff of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Educare, Chrompet, had a memorable spiritual trip to places in and around Kanchipuram and Vellore. The air on the morning of 7th December 2025 was electric with excitement, filled with boundless enthusiasm. Led by Correspondent Sri S. Loganathan, the group had its first stop at AJS Mahal near Kanchipuram for a hearty breakfast, fuelling them for the day ahead. We then proceeded to the hallowed Kanchi Kamakshi Temple. This magnificent shrine is globally renowned for the sacred Sri Chakra, installed by the great seer Adi Shankaracharya. This potent cosmic diagram is believed to emit divine vibrations that purify the atmosphere, dissolving all sorrow and agitation.

A short walk led us to the awe-inspiring Sri Ekambaranathar Temple. Various Yaga Shala rituals were being performed at that time in preparation for the temple’s Kumbabhishekam, scheduled for the day after tomorrow. It is one of the revered Pancha Bhoota Stalas, the five elemental shrines of Lord Shiva, and it uniquely represents the element of Earth (Prithvi). Here, we gathered to sing soulful bhajans, our collective voices rising in harmony, and we captured the moment with a cherished class-wise photograph.

Returning to AJS Mahal for a delicious lunch, we were graced by a beautiful, unplanned divine coincidence. By Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s infinite grace, we had the privilege of meeting the esteemed committee members of the Mahal. They introduced us to a revolutionary educational scheme conceived by them: “Aham Putthunnarchi.”

The members eloquently explained how children traditionally learn alphabets as A for Apple, B for Ball. Their scheme reimagines this pedagogy spiritually: A for Asanas, B for Breathing (Pranayama), C for Chanting, and so on. This profound reinterpretation of learning left us deeply inspired and uplifted.

The journey continued with lively bus rides filled with camaraderie and song, leading us to Vellore. Our first stop there was the breathtakingly opulent and serene Sripuram Golden Temple. An astonishing 1,500 kilograms of pure gold, applied in fifteen meticulous layers, covers the entire structure, making it glow ethereally against the sky. Within its sanctum resides the magnificent Sri Lakshmi Narayani statue, crafted from 70 kilograms of solid gold. The temple premises—nestled amidst lush greenery, fragrant flowers, and tranquil water bodies—offered a calm and serene environment perfect for quiet contemplation and prayer.

As if the day’s blessings were unending, another unplanned event awaited us through Bhagawan’s compassion. We were guided to a sacred Shirdi Baba Temple in Vellore, which had also undertaken strenuous preparations for the Kumbabhishekam scheduled for the second day after our visit, and which holds a special connection to our Beloved Swami. He had sanctified this very temple during His visit to Vellore in 1990, personally lighting the holy perpetual fire, the Dhuni. The temple head shared his moving testimony, narrating the temple’s establishment and explaining how Swami’s divine guidance and his own selfless service to Swami transformed his life entirely. His heartfelt words, “All of this was possible only because of Swami,” resonated deeply with us.

Then an elderly Mahila devotee of Swami spoke a few touching words about Swami’s love being equal to that of a thousand mothers. She was also a key contributor to the development of the temple and played an important role in Swami’s visit to Vellore. We then joined in singing devotional bhajans, participated in the elevating Mangala Aarthi, and partook of the blessed prasadam, feeling Swami’s palpable presence. We reached our hostel safely, concluding a day that was vibrantly energetic yet deeply spiritual—immensely enjoyable yet profoundly instructive. This tour was woven with threads of devotion, history, divine grace, and joyous fellowship—a memorable experience that strengthened our bonds and reaffirmed our spiritual path.