Shivanasamudra Ranganatha & Shaktigala Varadraja,Perundevi & Vedanta Desikar

SHIVANASAMUDRA

 

DISTANCE FROM BANGALORE : 120kms
ROUTE : There are two possible routes. One through the Mysore road and another through the Bangalore-Kollegala highway through Kanakapura. We took the road through Kanakapura route, quite good roads & picturours scenary around.

Ranganatha Swamy Temple

 Nice Jasmine Mandapam near the Ranganatha swami temple in fron of the Laksmi temple (Ranganayaki).

 

 The famous BLUFF, that is the gaganachukki, bharachukki falls are each just 5-6kms away from the temple.












Bharachukki

On the higher sides of Kaveri is this falls & farther from the temple, also need to watch it from quite some distance on the watch tower.








Gaganachukki
There is a mosque nearby. It is just 3-4kms away from the temple. And there is a beautiful spot for seeing the gaganachukki falls right behind the mosque.


SHAKTIGALA

Near to the entrance of Shivanasamudra you take left to fo towards Ranganatha, if you take right asfter 2 kms there is a palce called Shaktigala, where you have this temple cretaed by Vendanta Desikar of Varadarajar & Perundevi.
More Details: http://www.sathyagalamtemple.info/

Varadaraja Swami & Perun Devi

Vedanata Desikar with Kurma Peetha
When desikar had to reach Karnataka to save from British attacks & save the srirangam temple deties, he came to Satyagala where his follwers were all killed, he smeared their blood and acted as dead to save himself & dieties, thus protected, he made this Kaveri banks as his meditation place.
He later saw the temples of Varadarajar & Perundevi and decided the place to be holy and stayed here doing services to deties for around 12 years.

Here during his inital 10 days of stay and after meditation at Kaveri banks, a tortoise followed him, it continued for few days, which made desikar stop and check with tortoise, the tortoise made a request to make himself as peetam for Diskhitar;s meditation & did not budge until Dikshitar said ok. The next day the tortoise had formed into a stone peetam where Dikshitar used to meditate and this is available in left side insdie at the Perundevi temple.


 

Mantralayam Darshanam - April 2014

Mantralayam Darshanam - April 2014

 

 

 

This was my second visit to Mantralayam almost after 4-5 years, but this time along with the family.

As usually started from Bangalore but from Yeshwantpur station this time (YPR-Bidar Express), which although left the station on time at 7:10PM, but reached mantralayam by 2.5 hrs delay i.e. reached around 4:30AM. Took a rick (shared auto) from station to Mantralayam, reached the Central office to find that our accomodation was booked at Brindaban Cottages (Temple maintained), very close by to the temple. Thanks to my bro-in-law who is a regular visitor there who made some of these arrangements.

 

Quickly cheked into the rooms on 2nd floor, there was a strange scene waiting for us. One person legs were protruding out of the room's door, which happened to be our neighbors, this was the way they were beating the heat during the night's sleep. Although were wondering of the heat but luckily the same day evening there were some light showers and wind which made the atmosphere a lot cooler.

 

So the next immediate spot for me to visit (after a 30 mins nap) in holy places as these is the river bodies where in dipping is considered holy, at the same time lot of fun & meeting with nature directly with the rising sun.
Took my daughter Madhavi & brother Kiran as well it was around 7:00AM there was bright sun light, made madhavi also dip in the waters much against her wish, she started shivering both due to cold and the fear of water.

After all this came back to the room and got dressed up in the traditional attire required for the heat & as well the temple visit, Madhavi also dressed up cooly in her birthday frock (traditional langa davani) & wanted to speak to the elephant standing directly in front of the temple complex. But as usual once in front of this giantic being tocuhing her head she screamed with fear & some joy of having done the ritual.

 

Later went inside the Manchalamma temple which is the starting point and then to the sanctum of Shri Raghavendra Acharya's Brindavanam, the eternal meditating saint who has vowed to stay in there for some hunderds of years and help the followers of dharma to reach their goals (material &/or spiritual) like the wish fullfilling tree (i.e. kalpavruksha).

 

But Madhavi as per her usual nature gets bored and wants to meet the elephants in the front door. But by this they are left, but we have the Krishna's Kaliyamardhana statue in the front, which is her next favourite, so that you move out of the temple.

 

Next important sopt is Bicchale (or Bhikshalaya - place where bhiksha is fullfilled), the famous place of the follower saint Appanacharya of Shri Raghavandra Acharaya(rayaru) where rayaru had great affections towards appana, that he came all the way from Kumbakonam, to this remote palce in Riachur district of Karnataka to bless appanna and stay along with him to perform penance for 10 years at Bichalle.

 

After Bichalle we went to the Panchamuki Anjaneya Alyam where rayaru had made penance for years and lord hanuman had appeared on the rock with his five headed form, to bless Rayaru.

 

Udupi Trip - Dec 2013

Udupi Trip - Dec 2013

Udupi
* 24-Dec: Left around 10:15PM at B'lore and reached by around 8:00AM at Udupi (Durgamba Motors)

* Parashurama Kshetra;  Udupi -Udu-stars; Pi-Lord of - Lord of stars the chandra.

* Place of penance by chandra for recouping from Daksha's curse & worshipped Eshwara - "Chandra Mouleshwara Temple".







* Ananthasana or Anantheshwara Temple
Parashurama himself seated on a silver pedestal, here as Anatheshwara. It is also believed that Madhvacharya disappeared inside this lord temple. Devotees first visit the Chandramouleswara & then Anatheswara before the Krishna temple.



Udupi Krishna Temple

Right side - Madhva Pushkarani

Also known as "Vijayateerta", "Anant Sarovar", "Madhava Sarovar"







"Navagraha Window" - west side of Krishna Idol, where lord can be viewed day & night. Also in the west side there are "Mukyaprana, Hanuman" & "Garuda" idols (brought by Sri VAdiraja theertha from Ayodhya and installed).



Malpe Beach
Very near to Udupi around 6kms (Auto -Rs120, Bus - Rs10 per head)

This is the same place where Srila Madhavacharya got the idols of Krishna & Balarama idols in a lump of chandana,  from the ship captain for saving the ship from whirl winds.

Vadabandeshwara Balarama Devaru - Right hand made into a fist with butter in this hand & left had suppose is having the butter churning rod.

Nearby is the Saint Mary's Island, boat trips are available to the island, but need to go early before 6PM, to make a good trip.

Malpe beach is good place to enjoy the beach, but the tides were quite high (December), also there were bike rides over the sea.

Jai Shri Krishna.....for a good trip to Udupi.

Thirutani Subrahmanya Visit

Thiruthani Subrahmanya Visit - 19/20-Oct



Thirutani Thanikeshan (Subrahmanya)


Visited for daughter (Madhavi's) Chaula Karma (Head Shaving Ceremony);

Date: 19-Oct / 20-Oct-2012

Departure from B'lore: 7:30 AM

Arrival at Thirutani: 2:00PM (6.5 Hrs)

 

Stay At: Kartikeyan Cottages (At entrance of  ascend to Thirutani Temple hill - Rs.600 Advance, refundable; Rs.600 per day allowance - 2 Rooms attached).

 

Abhishekam @ 8AM every morning, tickets provided inside the temple (Rs.600, 4 people allowed, extra persons 100 per head).

Description of Lord Thanikeshan
Lord Thanikeshan, here Subrahmanya/Murugan is called as "Thanikeshan", as i suppose he attained peace after killing demons at this place. Also here there are separate chambers for his consorts "Devasenai" & "Vallisenai".

View of the lord during Abhishekam, Lord Subrahmanya in the main temple is all alone, with removal of all his covering, lord looks so beautiful, with a youthful appearance, with a pleasing smile on his face, with the diamond shaped weapons in his hand. First they apply "Visbhuthi" scared ash on the lord as abhishekam, then followed by panchamrutha abhishekam, followed with pure& good milk obtained from local villages, curd, ghee, honey & tender coconuts. Then the panchamrutham prepared form banans, sugar candy, elachi &dates is applied on the lord, lord looks beautified with this alankaram. Then lord is bathed in pure water & the curtains roll to sides, for lord to get decorated. After the curtains roll to sides, the Lord is visible well decorated with silk clothes, ornaments decorating his legs, crown on the head, lockets in his hands, with weapons like the Vel, Flag in his hands. Beautiful lit lamps on the right handside of the shrine throw light on the lord, revelaing the lord who fills your eyes. Beautful darshanam of the lord happens with the Abhisehkam seva as you are made to sit inside the sanctum sanctorium to view the complete proceedings.

Chaula Karma
Head shaving done near the rooms with nominal fees in Kartikeyan Cottages, so that we could bathe  and get ready directly to visit the lord on the hill. Madhavi (Daughter) had luckily slept when the barber had come with his weapons, slowly the barber shaved her head without disturbing, luckily she slept until the last few minutes, by when she started crying a lot, followed by Kiran/myself. After then Madhavi was given a bathe by granny/mom, decorated the head with Chandanam, she was then decorated with silk clothes & her ornaments. She started crying to see my(father) head shaved, feeling asthough i am some stranger, could not recognize, took a while to familarize.



 

Spiritual Tour to Bhagavat Gita, Bhagavatham

Date: 24-Dec-2008

Why this blog: Always i had thought that tours can happen only in physical material world, this time i made a spiritual tour into some of our scriptures which are placed on highest reagard by all acharyas i.e. Bhagavad Gita (Song of God or Bhagavan) & Bhagavatam (Lila's of God or Bhagavan), obviously as Krishna has said in Bhagavad Gita you will always need a guru to start (little suspense....) & also now because i feel this tour has taken my mind to a different level, which i would like to share.

Note: I do not claim to have ever completed this tour nor do i know the date when exactly i started this tour.

Why did i think of taking this tour ?

Answer to a question is another question - Why do we generally go on tours (spiritual/material)? To feel happy, for a change, Maja madoke guru, ....

Or My neighbour went to Tirupathi twice this year, hey i shall atlest go thrice and also make a kalyanotasava costlier than them, My neighbour went to Kukke and landed up in a Rewarding Job/ Got married/...
My neighbour went to US atleast i will go to Malaysia or Singapore ?....

Or if little experienced for Ultimate Knowledge/ Peace/ tranquillity/ananda,
Or some more possibilities;
In NLP (Neuro Linguisting Programming) terms change the pattern / filters (Pattern is a fixed response to an event, Filters which impact our response in a particular way).

My Reason: To be frank, did not know what to expect in this tour to scriptures... But always had a few basic questions - Who Created this Universe ? Is that God or as Science claims the "Big Bang" ?or As a commoner either cases as the situation may be ? If God has created me and this wonderful (ಆಶ್ಚರ್ಯ ಭರಿತ) world?

Some of My Learnings (humbly submitted):

Note: None of the things expressed below are my derivations/thoughts, they are purely from the scriptures as it is, which can be reviewed by anyone and known.

Who is Bhagavan ? (Because this word has been used in both the scriptures Bhagavt Gita & Bhagavatam)

Learnings:

[1] Definition of Bhagavan
1. Bhagavatam (1.2.11)
vadanti tat tattva-vidastattvaà yaj jyänam advayam brahmeti paramätmeti bhagavän iti shabdyate
The Absolute Truth is realized in three phases of understanding by the knower of the Absolute Truth, and all of them are identical. Such phases of the Absolute Truth are expressed as Brahman, Paramätmä, and Bhagavän.

2. The word bhagavän is explained thus by Parashara Muni: one who is full in six opulences, who has full strength, full fame, wealth, knowledge, beauty and renunciation, is Bhagavän, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead. While Krishna was present on this earth, He displayed all six opulences. Therefore great sages like Paräçara Muni have all accepted Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thats why in Bhagvat Gita - i.e Lord Krishna (Bhagavan) is instructing Arjuna in more confidential knowledge of His opulences and His work. The speaker of Bhagavad-gita is Lord Sri Krishna. He is mentioned on every page of Bhagavad-gita as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavän (i.e as "Bhagavan Uvacha").

3. Bhagavad Gita - Arjuna asks Krishna about his oppulances ? Bhavad Gita Chapter 10 - Vibhuti Yoga is fully dedicated to answer the same.

BG Chapter 10.16th verse - Translation: Please tell me in detail of Your divine opulences by which You pervade all these worlds. 17th verse - O Krishna, O supreme mystic, how shall I constantly think of You, and how shall I know You? In what various forms are You to be remembered, O Supreme Personality of Godhead?

For which Bhagavan Sri Krishna Repled - Ch 10. 19 Verse - The Bhagavan said: Yes, I will tell you of My splendorous manifestations, but only of those which are prominent, O Arjuna, for My opulence is limitless.

Some samples of this oppulances - I am the Supersoul, O Arjuna, seated in the hearts of all living entities. I am the beginning, the middle and the end of all beings. Of the Ädityas I am Vishnu, of lights I am the radiant sun, of the Maruts I am Marici, and among the stars I am the moon.Of the Vedas I am the Säma Veda; of the demigods I am Indra, the king of heaven; of the senses I am the mind; and in living beings I am the living force [consciousness].... so on altast the deduction will be that everything we know and we do not know is actually part and parcel of Bhagavan (i.e Sri Krishna - i.e. to say we are all in his conciousness...).

More Learnings to come up.......
Like Is Bhagvan really the creator of this Universe ? How does this creation happen ? Has this been reported in any scriptures ?....etc. Please let me know your feedback/comments.
..... .....
Some Resources:

1. Bhagavad Gita: http://vedabase.net/bg/en
2. Bhagavatam: http://vedabase.net/sb/en

* Submitting with my humble regards to Krishna Bhagavan *

Chiguru at Hamsa Ashramam of Virajeshwara

Chiguru at Hamsa Ashramam of Virajeshwara


Before we get into the details of the tour, just an introduction to "Chiguru", it is the name coined for the group of people who met at the "Adhi Shankara Yoga Kendra"

to learn the vedic recitation, with common interests in Yoga, Mediation and Veda, in short a bunch of budding Spiritualists. One of our chiguru team members got a book on the autobiography of a "Virajeshwara" - a Scientist & Ph.D in polymer physics from Rutgers called the "Scientist's search for Truth" and got inspired to meet this realised personality. We made a plan to visit the swamiji in his ashram at Anusoni, a little far from Hosur in a place called Kelamangalam.

Date Of Visit: 26-Jan-2008.
Place of start: We all met at the Ragigudda Arch as the common spot for chiguru members to join.
Starting Time: 8:00AM
Website: http://www.swami-virajeshwara.com/Swami.htm

We had 2 cars with all the chiguru members assembled at the planned time , with the research on the net about the Asharam, route to ashram and visiting hours, mainly by Ms. Sudha our captain for the day.

So with the plan we moved towards Hosur Road, and on our way to ashram we had the breakfast which was specially prepared by our chiguru lady companions, to save our time & also our health. Had some good "Upittu & Idli" with lotz of mint chutney and then made our way towards the ashram.

As we were nearing the ashram around 10:30AM, the atmosphere was caming down and there between the fields was a small road and suddenly on the left of the road we saw a small gate to the "Hamsa Ashram", although nobody to either stop us or welcome us, we parked our cars inside and slowly made our way to the small house in the compound.

There we were eagerly waiting to see the guruji enetered the hall of the Ashram, to find the photographs of the well known godesses Sharada, gods Shiva, Rama, Krishna, Shri Adhi Shankaracharya & Guruji of Virajeshwara - Swami Vidyanandaji Saraswathi, who was a disciple of Swami Sivananda Saraswathi of divine life Society, Rishikesh. Then came a lean person in saffron robes, properly shaved aged around 80 years, but did not speak almost for the first 10 mins, which made us feel that might be the guruji is inside and he might be some disciple. Then our other chigiru team members were preparing the tray of fruits we had brought for Swamiji's service, meanwhile swamiji started speaking to us which made us clear that he was really the Swami Virajeshwara, really excited to hear from a very highly spiritual and concious being.

Then we introduced ourselves and made clear of our intentions in meeting him, he invited us to ask some questions on anything about what we have read in this autobiography or our spiritual doubts. So one by one all the chiguru members started asking the questions and swamiji gave answers to all questions very calmly in a mild & serious tone, although after sometime he got really emotional when we questioned about his ultimate realisation and his guruji. He shared some of his experiences about the kundalini realisation and how it feels to one when in Sadhana, how difficult is it to holding on to Sadhana and concentrating the mind.

There was an interesting question to swamiji where he was asked of being a scientist how could he move into this spiritual stream when he uttered the golden words "i no more relate myself to any of these wordly positions as i have realized this as false and the ultimate is only on the progression towards spirituality".

Also on the question of somebody asking that they are not able to concentrate while meditating, when swamiji told that" Start conentrating on your mind, start to isolate yourself from the mind, as if you are saying that you are not able to concentrate then this you must be somebody else than the mind. Also all the energies are the isolated energies of the same shakti which manifests itself as prana, Vak (Speech), Listening power, Seeing Power, also the power which rises in the Kundalini"

Which triggered me to ask him my question "i.e. Is it true that a initial sadhaka has to work in the Dwaita Plane and as he progresses to move on to the Advaitha plane" and to my amusement as an advaitha swami he replied " You're true there in saying that initially one needs to repsect the divinty with the right distinction i.e dwaitha, but the ultimate goal for every sadhaka should be advaitha- Aham Brahma Asmi as the goal".

He was very kind to ask us for our lunch, although our Chiguru team members had arranged for homemade lunch & packaged.

Then swamiji blessed all of us, we bought some of his publications on his biography, realisations, etc. Then swamiji autographed these books for us, we had also got the privilage of having some snaps with guruji.

Then we went on to have the lunch which was prepared by the lady members of our chiguru team, we sat down in the same ashram compound, where there were some more disciples living by, with lot of different kinds of trees surrounding. Then we made our way back to Bangalore thinking about the amazing visit to the ashram.

Take aways for me:
1. Adavitha is the goal for any sadhaka - although one has to do his sadhana in the dwaita mindset to get the realisation to move towards the advaitha goal.
2. Sadhana - means Living in Silence, silencing all the senses with the one minded goal toward the supreme lord.

*****************Hare Krishna Hare Krishna - Krishna Krishna Hare Hare***********************

Trip to Nanjangudu

Trip to Nanjangud
05-Jan-2008

Left Bangalore in the car around 8:00AM in the morning towards the Mysore Road, although there was a mild traffic, we speeded up to make it to our Morning breakfast at Kamat Lokaruchi (Beside Janapada Loka). We reached around 9:45AM, since we had a slow drive towards Ramanagara, had a good breakfast and made our way towards our destination.

We sped our way through, maddur, mandya, srirangaptnam and then in Mysore, we just crossed over the city to reach the Ooty road towards the Nanjangud, we reached the Nanjangud stop and took the deviation road towards the temple, but for our bad luck the road was all dug up and really had a royal way (bumpy drive) toward the temple, accepted it as a test (hardship) thrown at us by the lord, so that we enjoy the darshan.

So we reached the temple around 12:00PM noon and the place was full of activity. But the counters for the Archana & Abhishekam were all closed, also since we were around noon, it was the last darshan & abhishekam for the lord in the morning. So we quickly moved inside the temple complex, directly toward the Lord Nanjundeshwara.

We were exactly at the right time, the abhishekam had just started and by chance my friend requested the temple priest and he allowed us to stand in the front row so that we could have the direct darshan of the lord. There was the Green Shiva lingam which was being bathed in the water first and then Milk, Curds and then the Ghee, the golden yellow color of the Ghee had a good contrast to the Green color Shiva lingam, then followed by the Honey and then the fruits. Then again the shivalingam was washed with water and then the special “Shalyannam – Prepration made out of yellow rice and jaggery” was smeared on the shiva lingam and the eyes, noes and the mouth was made on the lingam. Then there was a managlarathi done to the diety. So after this detailed Darsham of Lord Nanjundeshwara we had the Magalaharathi & the prasadam, then moved on toward the other deities in the complex, i.e. Lord Subramanya, Lord Ganesha and then Parvathi is also there behind the temple complex.

Also there was an intresting thing that people were observing over the terrace of the temple just over the Gopuram of Shiva Ligam there were two Bhiva Trees grown all by themselves with no soil on the top or anybody to water or takecare of them.

Also then I proceded ahead as there were beatufully carved idols of Shiva, Parvathi and their sons, depicting the pastimes of the Lord Shiva, which includes Girija Kalyana Murthy, Bhikshatana Murthy, Ardhanareshwara Murthy, Vishakanta Murthy and many more… very beautifully carved.

It was already afternoon by the time we were out of temple it was around 1:30 PM, we just went a little ahead just in front of the temple, visited the Kapila river ghat , spent some time there viewing the scenic beaty at that place, then moved a liitle further there is a Parashurama Temple, with a very small stream flowing in front of it. With this I suppose it was around 2:00 PM and we were really hungry, we quickly drove to the mainroad and found a good veg hotel and had a good south India full meal, remembering the lord’s darshan for the day.

* Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare*