WE LIVE in a scientific world. Science takes precedence over religion, faith, philosophy and gospel. But experience makes us realise that faith is the big source; the power and the healer. One cannot exist without trust, love, belief, confidence and faith.

On the new year day, my better half suggested we go to the Koradi temple. It was a drive away from the concrete dwelling coupled with an outing and visit to the shrine. I had been to this place during my childhood. The temple was under a huge tree and surrounded by the lake on one side. There were a few shops selling items to be offered for worshipping.

The sellers sold marigold flowers, lotuses and coconuts. One or two shops sold sweets and eatables. But I was in for a big surprise. The surroundings of the temple had a big parking area. The parking area was full of four wheelers and two-wheelers. A huge complex has shops selling puja items and other consumables like soft drinks and packaged food items.

There was a long queue of devotees and visitors. We joined the queue and could not see the main entrance as the queue was a serpentine one. We had decided to go to the temple in the second half of the day after lunch. Standing in the queue I saw people around who had come with reverence from long distance and humble origins. We were advancing at snail’s pace and I was getting anxious. Would we be able to make it before sunset? The brain was stormed with strange thoughts and negative emotions. Is it safe? The question of social distancing, hygiene etc. My expressions had changed and my better half asked me the reason. I told her we would not be able to make it to the sanctum. As time passed, I became sceptic. I saw an old lady with a bent posture being led by her grand daughter in front of me. The granddaughter kept assuring her that the goddess makes a smooth way for her.

In a moment, my thoughts changed and I was ashamed of my scepticism. I changed my perspective.

The serpentine queue changed to a line. I could see the temple at a distance. With knowledge of science, mathematics, time management and other angles, I had calculated that we shall be able to make it in the sanctum after six o’clock and it would be dark. By this time, the traffic would have swelled, people would be impatient and it would be chaos around. The mind became calm and so did the people look orderly. The anxiety gave way to tranquillity. In the sea of humanity was serenity and the evening clouds made a beautiful shade. There was not a big force to control the crowd but two guards and a lone policeman at the entrance to the sanctum. The surrounding was beautiful and colourful flowers decorated the sanctum. No rush, no pushing, no commotion and I was proved wrong.

Definitely, a super power works which no one can fathom. We paid our obeisance to the Goddess. Smoothly, we moved out. The Sun was setting and the sky had a beautiful pink tone. I saw a flock of egrets hovering above the lake at far. While we were on the way to the parking area for our car, I saw the queue of worshippers had bulged. They may be the ones who had firm belief in the Mother. This is the faith that brings them from far and wide. Some may have come from their humble dwellings on foot unlike me who had the luxury of travelling in an automobile with closed glasses to avoid the atmospheric dust and surrounding noise. There were no traffic jams and no chaos. We were back home with a positive start of the new year, leaving behind scepticism, negativity, frustration and negativity. My experience changed my perspective in totality.