A Temple That Cures Mental Blocks

Happened to visit Shri Prasanna Venkatajalapathi Temple, Gunaseelam.  This temple is very close to my home town, Srirangam. Less than 30 KMs. Hardly it takes half an hour to reach this place. I have been to this temple quite a few times. This time I went for my daughter's tonsure ritual. Last time I went to this temple in February 2014. The purpose of the visit was different though. Many of you would have known that this temple is known for curing mental illness. In colloquial language, to cure Chitha Brahmai. The lord is so powerful in curing any sort of mental illness. For the fact, in yesteryears, people with mental illness are chained and treated with lord's water over a period of 48 days and many people have been cured, seen significant improvement in the condition. The lord is so powerful.

Currently there is even a rehabilitation center for people fighting mental illness. Just wanted to share my humble experience with the temple in the post. Today, after the ritual, as I stood in front of the lord, after nearly one year visiting a temple because of Covid, there were many emotions that came up. But I decided to take up gratitude. I owe to this lord more than words can describe. Lord Vishnu is the protector, we all know. I was in a state of unknown fear, suffered from insomnia, subsequently mild depression, nightmares, utter confusion in my life in 2014. I was suggested to visit this temple by one of my relatives. As it is close to my hometown, I have heard about this temple and the power of the lord. So I decided to give it a try as I had been trying many things to cope up with depression like yoga, spa, binge eating, binge watching, walking, even prescribed pills  but nothing was relieving my pain or could restore to normalcy.

There is also this saying in Tamil. "Dik atravarku deivamae thunai", meaning; for the Directionless, god is only succour. I was in the same state. With belief in heart, I went to this temple for a cure for my depression and confusion.

Tada moment it was. They splash holy water with a force over faces. Around 12.30 PM, a pooja takes place and after the pooja this is the routine. The force or the water or the belief in the power of God, not sure which does the magic. Just in two days I saw changes in my sleep cycle, pattern and I couldn't believe that I am returning back to normalcy after nearly 85 days of struggle with insomnia, nightmares and depression.

Could feel positivity in and around me. Normalcy seemed a distant dream till that moment. But I saw the magic happening. Maybe I was in the very early stage of clinical depression, maybe it wasn't deep, maybe all my previous efforts in coping up depression paid off at the moment. But I can vouch that, it is a turning point in my life. We all get a chance to feel the divine force. That was my experience to feel the touch of divinity.

As I stood in front of the lord, all I wanted to do was to shout out loud 'Thank You' to him, the protector. Heart was full brimming with Gratitude. That is the temple that helped me realise that, it is all about the mindset. When the mindset is right, everything becomes right. Made me understand a deeper philosophy like Life is not about going to heaven or hell after death. It is all about being in heaven or hell when you are alive, which is constituted in the mind.

Ending with some pauranic notes.

The deity is considered as Lord Balaji's elder brother. If one couldn't go to Thirupathi they can offer it here. Best offer to avail as the place is less crowded than Thirupathi. Hehe. The Thirupathi lord is believed to have descended here and stays on the bank of river cauvery, amongst the lush green shades to bless all as Sage Gunaseelan requested the lord many 1centuries ago. It was then taken care by the disciples of the sage and over the period of time, the temple was hidden under sand and was reconstructed by a Chola king. There is also a temple pond called 'Papa Vinasa Theertham'. The centuries old temple is small with one sanctum for Lord Vishnu but is all powerful.

So if you are someone suffering from such mental blocks, do try visiting the temple along with the scientific medications (if any) or the efforts that you put to cope up the phase. You may be cured, get a new perspective, realise your potential, find yourself in the process. Maybe this place could be your Bodhi Tree. Who knows?