The Paths of the Divine and the Lila of Destiny

The ways by which the Divine leads us are hidden in the radiance of mystery.
The Lila of God — the play into which He draws us — is beyond human understanding. Yet the heart feels: if love dwells within it, then faith burns there too. And where there is faith, there is no place for fear or doubt, for God Himself leads you by the hand.

Everything He brings into our lives — whether joy or sorrow, gain or loss — is His will, guiding us toward good. Even pain and deprivation, even heavy trials become precious gifts, for through them the soul is transformed, purified, and attains a new dimension of strength.

The Golden Temple of Lakshmi in Vellore

This wondrous story happened to me in India, in the city of Vellore, Tamil Nadu. For several days we had been traveling through South India, on a pilgrimage to the temples of the five elements, where the self-manifested lingams of Shiva reside.

For a seeker of the Divine presence, these places are like the breath of the Universe itself. They are not tourist attractions crowded with foreigners. No. Here gather devotees from across India and Sri Lanka. Many had never seen a white person before, let alone imagined that someone from abroad would dare to walk into such depths of faith.

In many temples the ancient tradition still prevails: not every Hindu is permitted before the sanctum — let alone a Westerner. Thus, every step through these holy places was not just a path, but God’s grace opening gates before me.

In Vellore we reached the Golden Temple of Sripuram, the abode of Mahalakshmi, built at the command of the saint Sri Sakthi Amma. The domes and walls of the temple are covered in gold, but the true gold here is the light of devotion flowing from the hearts of thousands of pilgrims.

The path to the shrine is laid in the shape of a Sri Yantra mandala. Each step along it feels like a step inward — to that sacred place where one meets God.

Beside the temple stands the ashram, where Amma lives — revered as an embodiment of the Divine Mother. Amma’s work is not only spiritual but also compassionate: the ashram feeds the hungry, supports schools, and runs a hospital for the poor.

Here I realized a revelation: divinity reveals itself not in abstract mysticism, but in living action — in compassion, in care, in bringing light where darkness reigns.

The Lila of God

When I stood before the radiance of the Golden Temple, I clearly felt: every moment of life is God’s Lila, His great play. We do not know what roles He prepares for us, we do not understand where the trials will lead. But if love dwells in the heart — then we are already holding His hand.

And all that comes is for the good. Even darkness is but the shadow of light, guiding us to His brilliance.

God always sends us the right people at the right time. For me, He sent a guide — Dmitry, a man of rare depth. He had lived in India for many years, personally knew saints and brahmins, and his heart could hear the invisible strings that God touches in our destiny.

Through his presence and his word, a door was opened for us into places few pilgrims enter — the very sanctum of sanctums.

The Golden Pot of Lakshmi

We were given the rare blessing to enter the altar during the puja of the golden pot — a sacred ritual where devotees pray to Mahalakshmi for prosperity, blessings, and fortune.

The priest carried the shining vessel to each pilgrim, who whispered their names and prayers into it. When the pot reached me, I was no longer here — a trance carried me into a whirlpool of light and sound. It was so dense that I felt submerged, as if sitting beneath an ocean of bliss.

I did not even notice the offering until a voice called my name: “Alla…”
That voice pulled me back, and I realized the pot in my hands was not merely a vessel, but a living chalice of energy — where words became prayers and thoughts turned into seeds of destiny.

Tears flowed down my cheeks, and joy burst forth — pure, childlike, as if my very soul was smiling at the world.

When the ritual ended, we were given prasad — sacred food as a blessing. At that moment, a young woman approached with a baby in her arms and asked:
— Please, bless my son.

I was stunned. A rush of thoughts flooded me: “Who am I to bless anyone? Am I worthy? Do I have the right?”

But the heart whispered: “Do not listen. Believe. Look into their eyes, and you will understand.”

I looked into the woman’s eyes, into the child’s eyes — and in that instant, something greater than myself opened in my chest. I understood: it is not a person who blesses, but God through the person, if the heart is open.

I raised my hand, not from the mind but from the silence within. And I felt clearly: the blessing was not mine — it was the Divine Force flowing through me.

Soon, more people came — one by one, they lined up, asking for blessings for their children, families, and lives. I looked into each pair of eyes and saw in all of them the same reflection of God’s Lila.

We were just pilgrims, seekers of light. But suddenly, we became conductors of light for others.

Thus, the Lila of God overturns destinies: the one who seeks blessing becomes the one who blesses.

The Meeting with Amma

Later that evening, another miracle occurred. We were invited to Amma’s home for darshan. There, among doctors and volunteers, we sat on the floor awaiting his presence. When Amma entered, blessing us with words and smiles, my consciousness dissolved completely — as if I was swept into boundless light and silence.

When my turn came, Amma unexpectedly asked:
— Show me your children.

I showed their photos, and he blessed them, and me as well. In that moment, in my heart I heard a soft whisper, as if God Himself spoke within:
“Bring me that delicious Spanish chocolate with almonds…”

I looked up and saw Amma smiling — a smile where eternity and simplicity, infinite holiness and tender humanity, blended into one.

The Message of My Heart

Live with love for God. Cultivate it in your heart like a sacred garden, and live every moment in trust and gratitude.

Do not bargain with God or expect rewards. He is not a merchant — He is the fullness of Being itself. Everything that comes into our life is His Lila, His play, His grace, leading us to the light.

Remember: God fills your spiritual account not according to your requests or deals, but according to the purity of your love. The purer your heart and the more sincere your faith, the closer His breath, the stronger His presence in your life.

Love is the true wealth given by Lakshmi. Love is the gold that never fades.

Thus my pilgrimage in Vellore ended, but the Lila of God continues — in every moment, in every breath, in every heart where the spark of faith burns.