Draksharamam Temples and special opportunities for Rao

From Visakhapatnam, we took the same Taxi to Rajahmundry, early in the morning. Once reaching the hotel there, we engaged another Taxi which Nirmala arranged through another friend of hers. I called my firiend, another Nirmala who was staying there with her son and family. She was thrilled, I was thrilled. We visited them, had a meal with them and her son Narasimha is a wonderful young man. Rao and he had a lot to talk about the Temples. He suggested that Rao should wear a silk dhoti to perform the Linga Abhishekam in Bhimeswara Temple in Draksharamam. We did not carry one. But Narasimha was very generous. He had a new one at home given to him by Sri Nagaphanindra Sarma garu as a blessing. He convinced Rao to wear that to the Temples. 
Rao sponsored Linga Abhishekam to the Crystal Lingam there. We watched him from the outside of the shrine. No priest was there. Rao was allowed to do Rudra abhishekam all by himself. Since he knew the whole procedure by heart, he had absolutely no problem.

I was asked to go out to the shop and buy the necessary paraphernalia that Rao needed for the poojas. That is another adventure in a new town.
The next pooja he did was the Kumkuma pooja to Sri Manikyamba. They let him inside the innermost area to do the Kumkuma Pooja. We were not allowed to take any photos. I bent down to see Rao from my Darsan line. I asked the priest that was controlling the queue whether I can click the Camera. He said 'no' and added " He is not a priest. He is a retired Engineer from Machilipatnam" I just smiled. Did not tell him that it was my husband in the inner shrine. Rao's face was glowing. I never saw like that. He gave karpoora arati to the Devi and showed it to us. The total time at that Sakthi Peetham was about two hours. Worth the trip!!!

Draksharamam is also called Dakshina Kasi and is located in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. The Siva Linga in this temple is said to be one large crystal about 2.6 meters long, they said. It is one of the five Arama Kshetras.

It is located at about 40 km from Rajahmundry and is considered to be a sacred pilgrimage destination in Andhra.  The architecture of the temple is a blend of both the Chalukya and Chola style. There are inscriptions dating from 1080 AD to 1434 AD,. 

Try the link below to get more information. If not clickable, please copy and paste the URL>
http://temples.weebly.com/draksharamam.html

Araku valley and Borra caves

I heard about the Araku valley long long ago from my sister when she was a student of Andhra University, Visakhapatnam. They used to go for plant collection in their Botanical excursions. It was an interesting life for them - unlike us, Mathematics students whose life was dry - books, pen and paper!!!!!.

There were many suggestions from so many people  for this trip. Some suggested going by train in the caves. Nirmala wanted that. But to get the train tickets, you have to go to the station and make advance reservations. It was costly also. Personally, I thought that the excitement was only of the train going in the tunnels. You may miss out on the scenic beauty. There were some teachers and children who were visiting on an excursion. They brought lot of excitement into the caves. I manages to go up and down the uneven steps. The Taxi driver took some photos with my Mobile phone camera. I will try to add them once I locate them.


Nirmala said that she is not impressed with the Araku valley.

The valley is very scenic, but nothing extra ordinary for someone who has seen the National parks of North America. But the Borra caves were interesting. Nirmala was not interested in walking around the caves. I just picked up courage and went down the caves.

Overall, the trip was good.

You may see this link for a lot of information.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borra_Caves

In and around Srikakulam. Srikurmam, The Sun God, Sangameswara etc.

Srikakulam - Nagavalli river Sangameswara, Arasavalli, Srimukha Lingam

Koti Madhava and Srikoormam Temples at Padmanabhapuram

Srikurmam - is situated about 12 miles from Srikakulam, in Padmanabha puram if I remember correctly. I think this is the only Temple in India where the deity is in the form of Vishnu's Kurma (Tortoise) avathara. We did our usual whispering of our special request here also, by touching the idol with bhakthi. My camera ran out of battery during this tour and no hotel had the charger available. The photos are from Wikipedia.

File:Srikurmam_Temple_view_Srikakulam.jpg

1. Srimukhalingam.

Srimukhalingam lies on the banks of Vamsadhara River. It is about 30 miles north of Srikakulam. The Temple is dedicated to Shiva. The architecture resembles that of Orissa Temples. Orissa being the neighboring Province, this makes sense.

File:Mukhalingeshwara_temple_,_srimukhalingam_srikakulam.jpgsuryanarayana temple

2. The Suryanarayana Temple - This is the closest one to Srikakulam. Less than a mile and is situated in Arasavalli. The drive in this part of Godavari district was beautiful. Being in December, a cooler time, the vegetation was in full bloom. I loved the Coconut palm trees.

File:Arasavilli_Suryanarayana_Temple_Entrance.jpg

More of Srimukha lingam - Sri Mukheswara Temple. See the architecture, slightly different from the typical Andhra style.

We did go to the sangam, where the three rivers Vegavathi, Swarnamukhi and Nagavalli meet. One of the 5 lingas Sangameswara is located here. This is about 35 miles from Srikakulam. This Temple definitely needs money for renovation and to be better maintained.

I don't remember what else we visited here.

More on our Andhra Temples' yatra. Some details as I recall

Let me start with the Vinayaka Temple. This is called Anada Ganapathi Temple. By the way, this is located in Simhachalam near Vizag.

If you have a particular request, wish that you want fulfilled by the Lord, you offer a piece of jaggery and whisper the wish.

Simhachalam is famous for Varaha Narasimha Swami's Temple. This was built in the 11th Century. The Temple is located on the Hill top at about 245 meters. Inscriptions on this Temple date back to 1098 AD.

(All of us know the story of Prahlada who was a Vishnu devotee and for that reason was tortured by his own father Hiranyakasipu.) For unknown reason, we attented several Narasimha Temples in this year's yatra. 

By the way, this Temple is famous for the Chandanotsavam which is performed annually on Vaisakha suddha Tadiya (the 3rd day after the new Moon in the month of Vaisakha, which varies between April and may).  It is on the Chandanotsavam day that the Lord's Sandalwood paste is removed and is covered with a fresh layer of Sandalwood paste brought from Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. The ceremonial process would take some time and during the process of removal of the sandal paste, the sanctum sanctorum doors will be closed. Abhishekam and special pujas will be performed after the diety is fully uncovered. This happens at around 3:00 PM. 

How to reach Simhachalam??
One can reach Simhachalam from almost any where in Vizag. If you get down at the Waltair Railway Station, you can visit Simhachalam by Bus ( 6A ) or hire a Cab.

If you like to have a more comfortable journey, hiring a cab is always a good idea. That is what we did to visit all the local Temples.

The next one I want to explore is KanakaMahalakshmi Temple.

Goddess Sri Kanakamalalakshmi is the presiding deity of the Visakhapatnam locals. She is  the family deity of rulers of this area and the present location of the temple was in the rampars of their fort, located in the middle of a narrow street in Burujupeta. Unlike in other temples in Andhra Pradesh, if not in South India, that the devotees can directly worship the deity. It is a practice completely different from any other temple where the devotees can only come up to the sanctum sanctorum but cannot enter it. A devotee can break a coconut and pour the water on the idol, apply kumkum and turmeric himself or herself. It is common that milk abishekam being performed by devotees. The temple priests perform the daily puja but the devotees worship the Goddess on their own. 

Thursday is the most auspicious day for the Goddess and thousands throng the temple every Thursday.

The month of Margasira according to Hindu calendar (observed as Margasira Masam) that generally comes during November-December every year is considered the most auspicious one. The festivities began with the traditional nadaswaram followed by the abhishekams, Sahasranama pooja etc.  Especially on a Thursday nearly two lakh devotees throng the temple to have darshan. Besides, panchamruthabhishekam and ksheerabhisheka seva, special programmes like recital of the Bhagavad-Gita, Sapthasathi and Mahavidya, Lakshmi homam and Srichakrapuja are being conducted during the month.

A unique feature this year is the Ashtalakshmi alankaram from December 22 to 30 at the temple premises. Besides the beautiful Ashtalakshmis, there is an idol of Sri Kanakamalalakshmi towards north and facing Her is Sri Rajarajeswari Devi on the south beginning form the sanctum sanctorum and the eight Lakshmi idols are distributed equally beside the two idols.

Like I said before, we were there for Her darsan on the right day of the right month.

OLD IS GOLD, but, NEW IS GOLD too - Friends, relatives and family

The special tone to this particular Yatra was that I spent some quality time with some of my friends and family whom I haven't seen in years. Even though my post title says "old is gold", I met some young men and women, strangers who became very close to the heart. So, NEW IS GOLD too.

On Dec 9th, when I attended a wedding in Nellore from my side of the family, I had such a happy reunion with so many of my cousins, friends, extended family and so on. Some of whom I saw after 5o years. We would not have recognized each other if we had met on the road. But we all were very happy to see and to chat.

In Rajahmundry, I could spend time with a friend of mine and her son's family. I met her first time in 1962. In later years she attended both my children's weddings. I met all her three grown children. It was another awesome reunion. We talked to each other many times afterwards. Her son and daughter-in-law are angels!!!!

I met a cousin from my father's side of the family in Vijayawada. I have seen him only three times in my whole life. The first time was in the 50s and the second time in the 70s (he came to my in-law's place to see me) and the third time in Dec 2012 during my Andhra yatra (he came to the hotel room with one of his sons and was able to meet my husband also). He told me that his mother was very fond of all us sisters. I told him that my father was very fond of his mother, who was father's uncle's youngest daughter.

The strangers I met - one young man who helped us in Allahabad Kumbh Mela came all the way from Lucknow and went out of his way to make us comfortable and because of him we felt so safe during the Mela. He was God sent. I had to brush up on my Hindi. He spoke no other language. I very much want to meet his wife one day.

Next we spent quality time with two wonderful families in Maharashtra. One in Mahur area and the other in Parli area. Both have the same last time, but are not related. There was a lot I learned from those young families. The affections in the extended families, respect for the elders, unity between brothers and their wives, the simplicity in the way they all lived and so on. They did not speak any English. So, my fluency in spoken Hindi had to be improved. Their little children spoke only Marathi. So, we used sign language there.

I was able to connect with my grand father's brother's great grandson over the Internet and phone. But could not meet him and his family in person even though they lived in Andhra pradesh..

In addition to all this, we met an American from California and his Hawaiian wife on the train, on our way back to Chennai from Varanasi on the Rameswaram Express. He gave me many leads for voluntary teaching etc. They were on their pilgrimage of some service activity in their Catholic Mission.

Last, but not the least, I have to mention that we met two of my friend and travel companion Nirmala's relatives. They were very affectionate family. The way one young man came home from work during lunch break and took care of the needs of his physically disabled father. I admired his patience and love. In this modern world, there are still some families like that.

I thank God for sending all these special souls into my path.

On my way to Hyderabad from Tirupathi on the train, I met another interesting person. That experience was different and so, I will write about it in my next post.

Visakhapatnam, Rajamundry, Vijayawada

First, I want to give a list of the Temples that we visited. Then, as I recall, I will post the detailed experiences at each Temple. It may not be in any order.

We left Tirupati by train (Tirumala Express?) at 8:50 p.m. on December 19, 2012. Reached Vizag (Vishakahpatnam) by 11:30 a.m. on Dec 20th. The journey was comfortable, consumed the food we packed from home. Met a family from Vizag who had tons of relatives, friends and acquaintances from Machilipatnam, my husband Rao's native town. This always happens. Our topics were only around that town.

Here is the list of Temples:

Dec 20th ---Simhachalam - Vinayaka Temple at 3 p.m.

Dec 21st--- Left hotel at 6 a.m. and saw:

                   Srikakulam, Nagavalli river, Arasuvalli, Srikoormam, Srimukha Lingam
 
                    Koti Madhava and Srikoormam Temples at Padmanabhapuram

Dec 22nd --- Arakku valley, Borra caves (Not Temples, just sight seeing).

Dec 23rd --- Left at 6 a.m. again. It was Mukkoti Ekadasi celebrated in some Temples.
                     Annavaram  Satyanarayana SwamiTemple at 11:30 a.m.
                    Visited Kanaka Mahalakshmi also. Reached Pitapuram (పిఠాపురం) by 2:30 p.m. the same day.

Dec 24th --- Draksharaamam, Gollala Maamidada Temple (Sun), Bikkavolu, Dwarapudi

Dec 25th ---  Ryally (Jaganmohini Kesawaswami Temple)
                     Mandapalli (Mandeswaraswami Temple)
                     Mukteswaram (Mukteswara, a Shiva Temple)
                     Appanapalli (Sri Balaji Temple)
                     Antarvedi  (Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swami Temple)
                     Vaanapalli (Pallaalamma Talli Temple, near Kakinaada)

Dec 26th --- Dwaraka Tirumala, near Eluru (we used to call it chinna Tirupati in the 60s)
                     Janga Reddy gudem (Maddi Anjaneya Swami Temple)

Dec 27th --- Peravali (Ranganatha Swami Temple)
                    Teeparru (Anjaneya Swami Temple)
                     Paalakollu Temples: Ksheera Ramalingeswara, Maavulamma, Rama, Kubera Swami, Sai Baba, Venkateswara and the Pedda gopuram. Went to Bheemavaram.


Dec 29th --- We passed the following villages and visited some Temples in Krishna district :
                     Kuchipudi , Movva, Srikakulam, Peda Muttevi, Ghantasala, Mopidevi, Hamsala deevi.
                   
                     The above villages are very familiar and very nostalgic for Rao, who grew up in that area and still has relatives living there.

More towns and villages and more Temples in that area. I just do not have the details. One can search the internet, get the details and visit them. Too many for me to go into details.

Dwaraka Tirumala, Ramalayam
Yadavalli Anjaneyaswami. Must see the Maddichettu
Dwarapudi Jyothirlingams
Group of Gods
Nidadavolu etc.
Lakshmi Vinayaka Temple
Gollala Maamideelu
Ramaalayam
Mirrored room (Addalameda)
Satyanarayana swami
Subrhmanyaswamo
Tekusettipalem
Appanapalli Venkateswarudu
We wen by boat along with the Taxi on the boat. Reached Amalapuram.
From there, Mukteswaram Shiva Temple
Inavelli Ganesha Temple
Mandapalli Shani Temple
Ryali Jaganmohili Temple.

I am glad we finished all this while I am still active.

On our way to Amma Karunamayi ashram

The road is beautiful for most part. But very rough for a few miles. I thought that the Indian car tires must be very strong. For a while I thought we were driving on large pebbles. We had darsans at Jonnawada Kamakshamma, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swami first. Both were blissful, very nostalgic for me.  Kamakshamma's Temple is also very familiar to me. During summer months our relatives also used to join in providing food and thirst quenching water, light butter milk to the devotees free of charge. I think each family sponsored a few days. The pooja and prasadms were delicious.

For the Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, I climbed the small hill in my younger days very easily. Now the car takes you almost to the top. Adilakshmi is the name of His consort here.

On the way, we needed to eat lunch and was tough getting a pure vegetarian place. But, luckily someone suggested a one man owned hotel in a small lane in a village (forgot the name). The driver got the directions and we had  wonderful homemade meal there. He was from Palghat area in Kerala and was knowledgeable about Machilipatnam which impressed Rao even more.

After visiting these two, we arrived at the quiet ashram. It is spacious and clean. Lot of security. At first I only saw white people. Then I found out that there was a retreat going on the next day or so. We tried to get accommodation in the foreign section. We were asked to sit and wait for someone to come and talk to us. Rao mentioned some familiar name from the USA and the staff told him that that person was there. Within an hour he got a room and a key. Paid the fee and was happy. When we came out, Amma in her car was returning from a visit to her school. We stopped along the side of the road and had a glimpse of her as her car entered her residence compound. Rao decided to stay for the Yoga retreat for 3 days and I returned to Nellore to spend 3 days with my sister. We went to the Rapur bus stand to check the bus timings for him to return to Tirupati directly from there.

I had wonderful time in Nellore with my sisters. I returned to Tirupati per my original schedule, but, Rao extended his stay at the Ashram for two more days (one day at a time). He would have stayed longer, but we had reservations on a train to Visakhapatnam on the 18th.

I copied and pasted the following information from her India website for those who are interested:

International Headquarters Penusila Ashram
Sri Penchalakona Kshetram
Nellore District
Andhra Pradesh
INDIA – 524 414
Tel: 08621-221615
Email : communications@karunamayi.org

Directions:
From Nellore town, Penchalakona is 70km. From Thirupathi, it's 100km.
Every 90 minutes there is bus service from Nellore RTC busstand. By taxi, it takes about 90 minutes.