It was 6:00 A.M as we whizzed past the sleepy shops on the road. Crowds bustled in the Kelambakkam streets, where we cut past to the Kovalam road. The riders vanished off sight with lightning speed, couples with tight back bags, families headed for resort picnics. The sun had pulled open the pale curtains of the sky as we reached the highway. As we drove swiftly in the traffic-free roads, the Sai Baba temple appeared on the left toward Pondicherry.
We got down before the board that read the timings-schedule and halted the bike in the vacant parking space aside from the temple. As we set foot inside, there was hardly anyone around. We got off the slippers and headed toward Lord Ganesh. A tree-lined path was set parallel and led us to the main shrine of the temple. The temple blended with nature as the boughs had huddled leaves that blocked out the heat off the ground.
The tiny leaves tickled the fingers as we moved, awing at the setting. As we got into the first chamber of Sai Baba, the brass lamp was lighted and threw an oval illumination on the walls. Right after I surrendered to his feet, my worries lifted off. His second chamber had an inbuilt-fire hearth where the sacred ashes were collected from time to time. It was a take-away for the devotees.
On the backside of these chambers, was a large hall. It had a row of pillars on either side. A curled smoke emanated from the center where the prohits were seated erect around the four sides of the ritual pit. They uttered rapid and breathless chants, one of them poured ghee on a wooden spoon, while others dropped dried branches and developed the yajna. Sai Baba was seated on the dais, enclosed by a deck in his pilgrim robes. We climbed a couple of stairs to seek him. Adjacent to the hall was a tiled-verandah which held the shrine of Lord Shiva. We settled down and basked in the warming sunlight. While wandering in the garden, We stumbled upon a cottage. The air smelled of charcoal as the large vessels, and utensils lay outside. The temple men cook food for devotees on Thursdays. The trust receives ample donations for the service. Immense grace finds those who quench the hunger of people.
The morning hunger kicked our way to the Mammalla restaurant. It was only 8:30 A.M, and the waiter listed so many dishes. Soon after that, a plate of mushroom dosa stopped at our table. I sneaked peaked the mushrooms and savored the stuffed masala. Plates of Idlies arrived while we chattered.
On the way home, we encountered a plant nursery. We walked through the luxuriant plants that spread the entire land. There were leaves of all shades of green that refreshed the eyes. I stepped on the bamboo bridge over a pond, which rolled as I walked down to a cabin that showcased pots of various colors, materials, and sizes.
I was pleased to see the fresh leaves and pecks of flowers. There were air purifiers, orchids, shrubs, creepers, and so on. Nature has the potential to brighten your mood in an instant.
We reached a greenhouse full of indoor plants. There were Syngonium, cacti, succulent, and pothos. Some leaves dangled from the hanging pots line on strings. A sweet chirping came off from the flutter. We discovered a bulbul nest in a hanging money plant. The tiny beaks shook and opened as the mother fed them. We picked plants with well-grown stems and dense leaves. The nurseryman discussed the advisable shade, required water, and manure for each plant we bought. We could not wait to get home and adorn the windows with the new saplings.
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