Mumbai - Elephanta Caves

Mumbai Trip in a week - 24 to 29-Dec-2017

First Flight for my Dad (72 years) and daughter (06 years), enjoyed the flight thoroughly and went to Chinana (Father's Brother) House in Mumbai,  Day 1 first half was mostly meeting, greeting and feasting.



Wish to convey my heart felt regards to all Shantaram (Chinana), Hema Aunty (His wife), Cousin Swetha her sweet daughter Sahasra and mainly Cousin's Hubby Venkatraman (Sai) for all their hard work to ensure we had a fun filled stay in Mumbai. Mainly Venkatraman (Sai) without his skills like driving in Mumbai Traffic, Knowledge of Mumbai's nook and corner, etc. Would like to dedicate this blog to him and his patience to show us around in Mumbai.

From Right- Cousin's Hubby Venkatraman (Sai) with daughter Sahasra, 

Cousin Swetha  and; her Mom Hema Aunty, My Wife Divya and Daughter Madhavi.

Day 1: Evening drive to Gate Way of India and Marine Drive

Left home after a sumptuous lunch at 4 PM and browsed through the European style buildings before reaching the destination, like the Bank Buildings, Library, Mumbai University, etc and finally around 6:30 PM at the Gateway of India, made our way to the monument to have a good view of the same.

Monument was lit to match the din around with a mild lighting of monument to give the heritage look. Arches also looked so geometrically aligned, to give a beautiful view of the monument.
Opposite to this is the view of the Taj Hotel the old and the new, which
refreshed the militant attacks on these monuments. But the beautiful lighting of these just made them fade away in their bright twinkling of lights, also a cool breeze beside the Gateway of India gave a soothing feeling for the long travel and day so far.

Next made our way to the car and hit towards the Mumbai famous night time highlight i.e. Marine
Drive with the Necklace road lit with the street light along with curved coast strip. Children had some snacks which was carried from home they had fun time feeding on the same. We also enjoyed the cool breeze by sitting on the Marine Drive side ways along the sea border, with lights all around.


Meanwhile on our way back got to see beautifully lit two other major buildings i.e. Mumbai Corporation Building (Purple Light) and Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus (earlier called Victoria Terminus, watch closely it was 9:30 PM).








By this time we had made most of our day 1 and all exhausted moved back towards home in anxiety towards the next day.

Day 2: Morning Drive to Temples (Siddhi Vinayak and Mahalakshmi)

Again we made the next day geared up to get all the blessing for the Star Lords of Mumbai, Prabhadevi Siddhi Vinayak Ji and Worli Mahalakshmi Temple.

Prabhadevi Siddhi Vinayak Ji- By time we reached the temple it was already 11:30 AM and there was huge queue bigger than Hanuman tail, so we had to do some Jugaad so my Cousin's Hubby Venkatraman (Sai) was very handy in dealing and get a special VVIP darshan, such a small deity of Vinayak Ji but such a peaceful stage in the center of the hall (slightly below the ground level).

Worli Mahalakshmi Temple- Very near to the Haji Ali is the famous Mahalakshmi temple which has lot of stories related to the Mumbai's history. 3 dieties of Sakthi here Mahakali, Mahasaraswati and Mahalakshmi. Again had a lucky visit to the temple even though there was a huge queue to reach the sanctum. Lakshmi ji seems wanted us to visit here and take her blessings we got the closet view of the deities and lotus flowers which were presented to the deities as prasad. Jay Mahalakshmi.

After all the divine travel moved to have some fun time at the famous Juhu Chowpathi beach we reached on time there around 5 PM enjoyed the waters and eateries around till 7 PM.

 After all the enjoyment with the water waves and swimming in the still Arabian Sea, enjoyed some of the Mumbai Chats. Mouth watering chats like Vada Pav, Bhelpuri, Mixed Ice cream with Rabdi,etc... Also got some raw mangoes sliced and also strangely some Saunf plants with saunf seeds which were being sold by some hawkers around.

Day 3: Day for rest and Shopping @ Dombivilli Market Place

Day 4: Drive to Elephanta Caves

We planned for a long day, hence left the home early by 7 Am as we had a 2.5 hrs drive to Gateway of India and reached around 9:30 AM there. Tickets for the Ferry (to and fro) - 180 Rs per head and additionally Rs.30, there was a entry fee near the Elephanta Caves. We waited anxiously to board the ferry and have the exciting 45 mins travel on the sea to reach the Elephanta Caves, finally around 10 AM we boarded and started sailing. Took some nice snaps from the breezy ride on the Ferry.

Reached the place around 11 AM where there is road which is like elephant trunk which leads to the Island of elephanta caves, there was small toy train ride which we could also cover by walk very easily, but took the ride for fun (Rs.10 per head). From there walked or rather climbed the steps towards the entrance of the Caves where the tickets are sold for the caves, but on the way you get to do a lot of shopping of interesting souvenirs of your trip to Mumbai and Elephanta caves.

Elephanta Caves (Gharipuri)

As we reached the first caves, it was the main summit of the cave temple of Elephanta. Not getting words to express the excellent Shiva Sculptors found inside could not imagine the workmanship and skill of people who created such a beautiful temple dedicated to Shiva and his pastimes like Gangavatarana, Kalyana Sundara Shiva, Nataraja, etc.

Day 5: Perosonal Trip to relatives places.
Got to know about Mumbai's traffic travelling across. Flight back to Bangalore, there ends the fairly tale (Trip to Mumbai)

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KukkeSubrahmanya- Belur-Halebidu

KukkeSubrahmanya- Belur-Halebidu


For a change went to Kukke through Mysore to Coorg, stayed for a day & then towards Kukke Subrahmanya. But for our bad luck the Bisile Ghat road was under construction & had to take the deviation, Sakleshpura - BMRoad - Gundiya, entered to Kukke Subrahmanya.






25th Dec & 26th Dec @ Kukke


Huge rush at Kukke Subrahmany being continuous 3-4 days leaves together lot of devotees had joined. 6:30 Am visit on Sunday in the queue ended with Darshan around 10AM (almost 3-3.5 hrs).




Someshwara Temple

Temple nearby around 3 Kms on right hand side from Kukke temple towards the Kumara Dhara on the half way, with Kumara Dhara flowing near this temple and also very less known but a big temple and surrondings with water stream was a beautiful view and with almost no people around.

Kumara Dhara river flowing in front of the temple also have steps to reach to river.

Belur- ChennaKeshava Temple

Wonderful temple from Hoysala ruler Vishnuvardhana, welomes you with the "Hoy - Sala", the symbol of Sala killing a Tiger.

There was a incident in the past when Sala one of the desendents of hoysala rulers was in his gurukula, once there was a tiger attack when his guru exclaimed "Hoy- Sala", means Sala attack this tiger and threw a stick to him, which was later killed by Sala, there by the descendants are called Hoysalas.

Pillars inside Sanctorium - Suppose there are around 48 pillars and no two pillars are similar and the decorations on the pillars are also so intricate that you can put your fingers within those carvings, so intricate designs of various designs, gods & goddesses on the pillars.

Madanike - Forms of dancing women depicting various dance steps depicting different aspects of bhava & forms.

 

Halebid - Again some 10-15kms from Belur one more splendorous hoysala temple but decided to Shiva, with lot of glorious pastimes of Shiva, Ramayana depicted on the Outer walls of this temple.

Ramayana - Sala Vriksha Upakatha - Where Sugriha before accepting Rama as his friend to eliminate Vali, puts a test to Rama to bring down 7 Sala Tree all together with a single arrow beautifully depicted here.

Mahabrahata - ChakraVyuha-War between the Pandavas & Kauravas, with the formation of warriors called as "Chakra Vyuha" depicted wonderfull with various Elephant riders, Horse riders & other armies forming a circular formation -ChakraVyuha.

Gajacharmambhara Shiva

The Gajasurasamhara form is associated by scholars to the epithet Krittivasa ("who has skin as his garment"), used in the Vedic hymn Shri Rudram Chamakam for Rudra, a Vedic God associated with Shiva.

The Kurma Purana describes the tale of Gajasurasamhara, when discussing the Krittivashvara ("The Lord who has skin as his garment") linga (the aniconic form of Shiva) of Varanasi. When an demon (Rakshasa) assumed the form of an elephant and terrorized Brahmins who were worshipping the linga, Shiva emerged from this linga, slew the demon, and removed the elephant skin, thereafter wearing the hide on his upper body

In sculpture, Gajasurasamhara is often pictured with eight arms. These multiple arms are uncommon in Shiva's iconography and are exclusively used in his combative forms.^[6] In such multiple-armed images, Shiva may carry various attributes like the trishula, a damaru, sword, kapala, pasha, deer, ankusha (goad), vajra (thunderbolt), arrow, gada (mace), khatavanga, tanka (a chisel-like weapon), bow, snake, the elephant's tusk and akshamala. His hands may be held in suchihasta mudra (gesture to draw or point out attention) or vismaya mudra. At least, two arms hold the elephant skin around the body. Gajasurasamhara is shown wearing a jatamukuta (matted hair crown), with a jatamandala (braided hair spreading from the head, forming a circle around it) and garlands of skulls. The jatamukuta may be embedded with skulls and durddhura flowers, while the jatamandala may be adored by Shival's usual attributes such as a snake and the crescent moon. His face is fearsome with round rolling eyes and protruding fangs.

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 *