Raj Guru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Sri Vidyaranya Bharti Swamy, Hampi

 So and  as soon as I called, I had called for the address only, Swamy ji I got scolded for not informing him earlier about my travel plans. I said I would see him in a few hours once I got to the hotel. I got scolded some more “ Kyun beta pura mutt hai na beta seedha idhar aao”.   He sent me the address and in a few minutes called to check how far I had reached where I hadn’t even left yet so my surreal encounter with the Goddess and her glory were cut short and I immediately left. Like a parent, he followed my progress on the road. He actually talked to the police on the check-post to tell him to open the barrier. Then he was standing on the gate for 15 mins till we found our way to the Mutt. One story that has followed me for many years is one of Ram Krishna Paramhansa waiting on the door excitedly for Vivekanand. It is totally true Guru awaits the student just as much as the student awaits the guru. My day was just something else. It was as always an amazingly timed arrival it was a three day guru festival being celebrated at the mutt for the previous Shankaracharya. I was a little anxious, I dont mind sleeping on the floor or eating whatever but what does give me a little anxiousness is the departure from technology and bandwidth. The first thing that Swamy ji gave me on arrival can you guess was the wi fi password. Unbelievable !! I was sent to visit the temples of Virupaksha Swamy and Goddess Abhiraami.