Nara Simham!

The Malluru Narasimha Swamy Temple Entrance

It was over two years ago, that a devout follower of Aalayam Kanden called me to speak about the Malluru Narasimhaswamy Temple. The way she went about describing it, I was hooked. I got in touch quite immediately with my colleague and friend in Hyderabad to explore possibilities of visiting. However, as with everything else, this desire too had to wait for the will of God, which only came true last week. And the same friend to whom I had first spoken excitedly about the temple was able to accompany us too!

I am not surprised any of this happened. Ever since Aalayam Kanden began, six years ago, I have come to clearly understand that whatever I write here, is purely dependent on His will, and so be it!!
So we set off, all excited at 4 am in the morning towards Malluru from Hyderabad. After crossing Warangal and Hanamakonda cities, we entered the dense reserve forests through which we drove for about five kms to reach the foothills of the Hemachala hill on top of which the temple is located.

The way to the temple through the dense Hemachala forest

It is believed that the Narasimhaswamy manifested as an Ugra moorthy in a cave on top of the Hemachala hill and was brought to light by Sage Agasthya. In order to pacify the Ugra Moorthy and calm him down, Agasthya installed Goddess Lakshmi in his chest and Lord Hanuman as the Kshetrapalaka.

We crossed the arch and the newly constructed shrines for Venugopalaswamy and Uma Maheswara and took the 74 steep steps that lead to the shrine of the now Yogananda Narasimha swamy. The sight of the magnificent lord is awe-inspiring. He is over 9.2 feet tall and the only swayambu Narasimha in standing posture. He is found with a crown and four arms carrying the conch, discus, mace and lotus flower.

Steps leading up to the temple

The Narasimha avatar, a combination of man and lion, was taken by Lord Vishnu, to answer the prayers of his devotee Prahalada. At Malluru, the Lord is said to be depicting the human form.

Over weekends and special occasions, the abhishekam is performed at 12 noon. The abhishekam comprises of smearing oil all over the body of the Lord who has emerged on the wall of the cave. Several devotees bring bottles of oil for this purpose. The priest pours the oil into a vessel and passes it around to the devotees who in turn drop coins into the oil, and make their wishes. It is believed that these wishes definitely come true.

The priest takes a Tulsi leaf and presses it lightly into the chest of the Lord and to the wonder of everyone watching, the leaf goes into the chest and disappears. When the priest removes his hand, the dent is no longer there! It is believed that Narasimha is found here in the human form, with flesh and muscle! Even the garlands are placed on either side of the shoulder and gently pressed and they cling to the body of the Lord!

Not just that, there is a secretion of sandal from his navel. No one really knows how this secretion happened on certain days of the month. The priest mentions that sometimes the secretion turns red or white. This, according to them, is the wound that Narasimha suffered while fighting Hiranyakasipu.

The paste that secretes from the navel is given to those couples who seek childbirth, or to those suffering from chevva, rahu or kethu dosham. The persons concerned have to come in person and perform some rites, before the sandal paste is given to them. Consuming the sandal paste grants couples bonny babies and they then come back with the new born to perform abhishekam and offer prayers.

There is a stream running near by called the Chintamani theertham. The name, Chintamani is said to have been given by Queen Rudramadevi. No one really knows the source of this stream, but the water is crystal clear and sweet to taste. It is an elixir for all chronic ailments and the stories of those who have been miraculously cured after consuming the water from this stream are plenty. Devotees bathe in this stream and carry water from here in containers and consume the same over days.

Photo courtesy : Google

The water does not get bad over time, unlike water from other rivers. The temple is said to date back to 4000 years to the time of the Satavahana king, Dilipakarana. The Kakatiya rulers, Rudramadevi and her grandson Pratapa Rudra have given several grants of land and money to the temple. The hill on which the temple is situated is crescent shaped and was called Hemachala in the past. Now it is known as Malluru.

The Chintamani Theertham that cures diseases

Every year in the month of Vaikasi, on Suddha Chaturdasi day both Kalyana Utsavam and Brammotsavam are performed in this temple with great pomp and glory.

How to get here: The temple is 70 kms from Bhadrachalam, and 127 kms from Warangal city. There are buses from Hanamakonda and also all buses that ply to Eturnagaram stop at Malluru.

Temple Timings: The temple is open from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm with a lunch break between 1-2.30

Contact info: 9440634985, 9666887393

The Harihara Kshetra of Urukunda!

The Lakshmi Narasimha Veeranna Swamy Temple at Urukunda

Aalayam Kanden has been fortunate in bringing to its readers several lesser known and unique temples near Mantralayam in the past. Check out this link to read about all the other posts about temples near Mantralayam. Yet another to this wonderful list is the very unique Lakshmi Narasimha Veeranna Swamy temple at Urukunda, about 30 kms from Mantralayam.

So what is so special and unique about this temple?

The Sanctum Sanctorum in this temple comprises of a Peepal tree under which are the idols of Veerabadra Swamy and Lakshmi Narasimha and both are worshipped as per Veera Saiva Tradition! The Peepal tree is considered to be the main deity and there is no roof to the temple. Surprised? Let us go back into how this all came into being.

The Sanctum Sanctorum at the Lakshmi Narasimha Veeranna Swamy temple Urukunda
Photo Courtesy: Adoni Places

History of the temple: There was a sage named Hiranya (popularly called as Eranna or Veeranna in these areas) who did penance for many years under a Peepal tree in Urukunda village. All the cows that grazed in the village used to flock around him and he spent a lot of time pampering and talking to them. The villagers brought fruits and food to him and sought his blessings. Sage Eranna helped to cure chronic diseases and ailments of these kind villagers.

One day, Sage Veeranna disappeared from his usual place under the Peepal tree. At about the same time, an idol of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha appeared below the tree. The villagers believed that the sage had appeared before them again as Narasimha Swamy. They placed the idol of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha under the Peepal Tree and started worshipping him.

They also wanted to place an idol of Sage Veeranna alongside the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy for worship. Since Sage Veeranna had been like a guardian angel of the village, (Kshetrapalaka), they made a silver idol of him represented as  Sri Veerabadra Swamy and installed it next to the idol of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha.

There is also another version of the story, that Sage Eranna used to advocate a lot for Saiva-Vaishnava unity, and after he disappeared two idols of Veerabadra and Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy were found below the Peepal tree and the villagers started worshipping them together within the same Sanctum Sanctorum.

Both Veerabadraswamy and Lakshmi Narasimha are worshipped as per the Veera Saiva tradition to date.

Sri Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy at the Sanctum Santorum of Urukunda temple
Photo Courtesy: Adoni places

Poojas and abhishekam are done to the holy Peepal tree. There is no roof to the Sanctum Sanctorum and one can worship the holy tree from the sides of the temple even if the main temple is closed. The temple draws several thousands of devotees through the year, who come to be rid of mental ailments and physical diseases.

Guru Raghavendra Swamy's visit: Once when Guru Raghavendra Swamy was travelling along the banks of the Tungabadra river, he is said to have told his disciples about the Urukunda temple and brought them there to worship Lord Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy and Veerabadraswamy.

Worshipping at the temple: As mentioned earlier, pilgrims throng the temple on Mondays, Thursdays and New Moon (Amavashya) days. The Telugu month of Sravana is very very special at this temple.

About ten to fifteen lakh pilgrims visit the temple during this time every year. On the third Monday of the month, the devotees make sweet rice on makeshift stoves outside the temple and offer it to Eranna Swamy and the devotees. Every year on this day, it rains very heavily in this area. However, devotees are able to cook the rice on the wet grounds using wet firewood which is considered to be a miracle of Sage Eranna.

On the last Monday of the month, there is a Pallaki Seva wherein the deities are carried to the river Tungabadra, for Abhishekam. During this month, people offer blocks of Vibhuti (holy ash) to Eranna Swamy and take it back to their homes. This vibhuti is then applied to the forehead of the person who is suffering from any ailment and is also taken orally and with the blessings of Eranna Swamy, the patient is cured.

People who stay in and around Adoni, take it upon themselves to visit Urukunda atleast once a year, especially during the month of Sravana, and offer rice, dal and jaggery which is used in the preparation of Prasadam. It is estimated that the temple provides food to a cost of around one crore rupees with the help of these donations during this month.

The Holy Peepal Tree at Urukunda under which Sage Eranna meditated

Marriage ceremonies in these areas usually begin with prayers to Eranna Swamy and once the rituals are completed, the groom and bride are brought back to the temple to seek blessings for a happy married life. They come back again after childbirth to offer the birth hair (tonsure) of the child to the Lord as token of gratitude.

The temple has been recently renovated and there is a large waiting area with shops outside the temple. This area would also serve as a place for people to stay and rest during the Sravana festival. Food is available at the Anna dhana chatra during the day for pilgrims who travel from long distances to visit the temple.

Shrine outside the Urukunda Temple

How to get here:

Urukunda is accessible by road and train from both Adoni and Mantralayam. It is about ten kilometres from Kupgal railway station and 27 kms from Adoni. Local jeep drivers at Mantralayam can help in taking pilgrims to Adoni, Basaladoddi and Budumuladoddi Hanuman temples and Urukunda which can all be visited in about half a day's time if one starts early from Mantralayam. (Articles about all these temples can be found in Aalayam Kanden here.) or one can take any local train and get down at Kupgal or Kosigi stations and take a share auto from there. Nearest place of stay would be Mantralayam or Adoni although there are a few modest cottages that belong to the temple.

Temple timings:

The temple is open throughout the day from 5 am in the morning till 8 pm at night.

Temple Address:

Urukunda Sri  Lakshmi Narasimha Veeranna Swamy Temple,
Urukunda, Kauthalam Mandal,
Kurnool District,
Andhra Pradesh - 518344
Phone: 9491000738 , 9966390671

For jeep/taxi services from Mantralayam to the temple, you can contact Mr Srinivas at 098850 27919/ 098859 72488

The waiting hall outside the Urukunda temple

The Goddess in the middle of the forest!

A view of a stream running through the woods in the Srisailam Forest

Ishtakameswari Devi - The Goddess who fulfills all our desires! Who does not want their desires fulfilled? However, in order to achieve that, one needs patience, faith and endurance. The Ishtakameswari Devi temple is located underground in the middle of the Srisailam Tiger Reserve - A dense forest with no proper roads, access only through authorized jeeps, and the strength to bear with the one and half hour journey which threatens to juggle your bones and intestines!

During the last two trips to Srisailam, much that we desired, we were not able to visit Ishtakameswari Devi. There are a limited number of jeeps, that are allowed to ply into the forest and the booking must be made in advance (the previous night). This time around, we were very keen that we somehow visit the temple and our prayers paid off. We were able to book two jeeps the previous evening and were all set to go - armed with water, biscuits and pooja items, as nothing is available inside the forest.

Jeeps all set to go into the forest towards Ishtakameswari Devi temple

The jeeps are allowed to enter only at 9.30 am so we had to wait for a while outside the tiger reserve where there are shops for people to buy supplies, drink tea/ lime soda, considering the jerky ride. Soon, we were at the forest  check post, where the entrance fee is collected, the number of passengers in each vehicle checked, and approvals verified. Each jeep is allowed to carry only five people, to make sure the vehicle is able to climb the uneven terrain comfortably.

One has to but wonder at the prowess of the young jeep drivers who maneuver the jeeps effortlessly through the dirt tracks inside the forest. Soon, we were moving into the forest, on one hand admiring the glory of nature as it spread before us, untouched and raw, and on the other hand, clinging to the side rods and the holders above, for dear life, making sure we did not fall out, as the jeeps juggled their way into the forest.

It was as if we were all put into a mixer to be churned up. Minutes grew longer as the 11 km stretch from the forest check post took close to an hour to cover.  We then reached a landing, beyond which the jeeps could not go. From here, we had to walk through the forest, making our way over slippery rocks, and small pools of water.

Walking through the jungle towards Ishtakameswari Devi Temple

One has to be very careful while walking. It is better to wear shoes or sandals with a good grip so that one is able to walk comfortably through the wilderness. Avoid high heels or flimsy footwear. We could see a couple of people slipping during the hop, skip and jump through the stones.

Chenju children practicing their trade inside the Srisailam forest

Soon we came across a clearing where we could see the inmates of the forest - the Chenjus (hunters). These people stay within the forest and hunt animals. The women sell forest products like honey and fruits near the temple. The children are found practicing with their bows and arrows. Look at the little boy shooting at the target and the even smaller ones, sitting down and waiting for their turn!

A few hundred meters further we could see the first glimpse of the hunters settlement. Right in the middle of it, underground, is the Ishtakameswari Temple. Before visiting her, one has to go down steep rocks to the perennial stream that runs all around her temple, to wash their hands and feet.

The perennial stream that runs around the Ishtakameswari Temple

Senior citizens will definitely need help going down and coming up. We were lucky to be in the first few jeeps that went to the forest, so the temple was almost empty. One has to go to the entrance of a small cave like structure and then crawl inside towards the Goddess. Once inside the cave, there is space for the person to sit cross-legged.

The priest sits towards the right of the Goddess and it is amazing how he is able to sit in the restricted space, with very little circulation of air and light, throughout the day. The only light that comes in, is through the opening of the cave and at a time, only three to four people are allowed inside.

A sneak peek into the Ishtakameswari Devi Temple

Photography is strictly prohibited inside the cave. Once in, the priest allows the people to sit around the Goddess and meditate for a few minutes. He then asks each one to put Kumkum on the forehead of the Goddess while making their wishes. One can definitely feel a quiver running down the spine while doing this. The skin on the forehead is almost akin to human skin and the pressure of the thumb against it brings an indescribable feeling and you automatically feel tears welling up.

The picture of Ishtakameswari Devi (Courtesy: Ishtakameswari Devi Devalayam)

The priest then gives Kumkum and bangles and one has to crawl their way back into the opening of the cave and then carefully step out. By the time we came out, we found a long queue of people waiting for their turn to worship the Goddess. Many of them carry flowers, fruits, and sarees to adorn the Goddess. Once their genuine desire is fulfilled, they always come back to thank their Goddess and demonstrate their gratitude through their offerings.

A number of people waiting to go into the Ishtakameswari Devi Temple

Other than the main Goddess, there are a row of very old idols placed inside the thatched roof that constitutes the Artha Mandapa. The temple is estimated to be in existence from the 8th Century and has been popular even in those times.

Ganesha and other deities placed in the Ishtakameswari Temple

The Chenju women sell honey and photographs of the Goddess under a huge tree. Each bottle of forest honey is sold at Rs.500 for 500 gms and there are a number of takers. They also use the jeeps coming in and out of the forest for their commute into Srisailam and back for procuring anything that is not available in the forest.

Buying honey from the Chenju women at Ishtakameswari Devi Temple

Once darshan is complete, the people are requested to move back, in order to allow for the next set of jeeps to come in. So, soon we were on our way back, jumping up and down in our seats as the vehicle made its way through the rocky terrain. But there were no two thoughts in agreeing that this was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

One of the smoothest areas during the drive :)

How to get here:

• The temple is about 21 kms from Srisailam out of which 11 kms are through the forest. It takes about an hour and a half to reach the temple. So one has to plan at least four hours to visit Ishtakameswari Devi Temple.
• The only mode of transport is jeep. Only ten jeeps are allowed per day, so jeeps have to be booked the previous evening itself, if it is in a weekend. On weekdays, it would be wise to book the jeeps as early as possible, to avoid disappointment.
• The jeeps charge Rs.800 per person which includes the fee paid to the forest department at entry point.
• The jeep ride is rough. Although the drivers are extremely skilled, and there are safeguards like holders and crossbars, it is important that children and senior citizens are placed in the middle. To get a better idea about the terrain, you could watch this video by Naveen Konam here:  http://youtu.be/wiWDjmo4ft0
• People with back problems are advised to wear appropriate gear during the trip.
• Please do not litter. The forest is extremely clean and free from any garbage which is a remarkable thing. Let us try to preserve the environment too.

Temple Timings:

The first set of jeeps is allowed inside the forest at 9.30 am and a maximum of ten jeeps are allowed per day. There are times of the year when permission is not granted so it is better to check in advance before planning a trip.

If you happen to be in this part of the world, you must definitely not miss visiting the Ishtakameswari Devi Temple!

The Lord of Yadagiri!

The tower of Yadagirigutta Sri Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy Temple

Sometimes you want to visit a temple over a long time, and it somehow does not happen even over a number of visits. Then all of a sudden you find that without any prior planning, the Lord has called you and you are on your way to visit him. For me, this has happened on multiple occasions, and so I was not surprised when my colleague Prabhakar Reddy offered to drive us to Yadagirigutta which I had not had the opportunity to visit over several trips. Instead, all I could think was " Chalo, Bulaava Aaya Hai!"

The drive from Hyderabad was a little over an hour. Yadagirigutta is near Bhongir and is located on a small hill. It is also called Pancha Narasimha Kshetram. Several hundreds of devotees throng the temple every day to seek the blessings of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha. The legend of Yadagiri is amazing and I have attempted to provide it in a detailed manner here( as all the literature available at the temple is either in Telugu or in Hindi ) for the benefit of those who read neither. Apologies for the poor quality of the pictures. As cameras were strictly banned, I had to rely on some long distance pictures on my mobile and a few screenshots from a video on the official website of the temple. Credits for images used from the temple have been provided on the respective pictures).

After Hiranyakashyap was killed by Lord Narasimha, the Devas invited Goddess Mahalakshmi to join him and cool down his anger. When she saw the Lord in anger, his form and actions frightened her and she did not attempt to go near him. Instead, she started singing his praises with folded hands and lowered head, in a sweet voice. Pleased by her devotion, the Lord gave up his anger and invited her to come near and placed her on his lap. 

Seeing this beautiful form of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha, Prahalada sought the boon of worshipping him in the same form there for which the Lord replied that he would appear as Sri Lakshmi Narasimha at Yadagiri wherein Prahalada could worship him and that he would stay there forever granting the wishes of those who worshipped him. Saying so, he left Ahobilam and moved towards Yadagiri with Brahma and the Devas showering flowers on him.

Lord Lakshmi Narasimha appeared in a broad cave on top of Yadagiri . Lord Brahma washed the feet of the Lord with water from his Kamandalu and sprinkled it on his head. This water flowed down the hill and formed the Vishnukund. Bathing in the Vishnukund and worshipped Sri Narasimha through Sri Narasimha Gayathri rids one of all sins and grants them all their wishes.

Vishnukund at Sri Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy Temple Yadagirigutta
Photo Courtesy: Sri Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy Temple

It is believed that Prahalada and the Rishis who dwell in a cave in the nearby Venkatagiri hill come every night and worship Sri Lakshmi Narasimha at Yadagiri. A lot of people have smelt incense, and heard the beat of drums from the temple at night. Pilgrims are restricted from bathing in the Vishnukund at night as it is the time for Rishis to bathe. There are people who have heard splashing sounds from the pond at night and those who attempted to go near have had the experience of being pushed away.

Performing the rites of ancestors in the Vishnukund gives the benefit of performing an Ashwamedha Yagna. Tamil months of Vaikasi, Maasi, Panguni, and Purattasi and Swathi star that falls on a Saturday are auspicious to bathe in the Vishnukund and perform donation of cows, land, food or Rudraksha in memory of ancestors. After donating, they chant Sri Narasimha Gayatri for forty days to rid themselves of diseases, enemies and losses.

It is believed that Savitri Devi, Gayatri Devi and Lord Varuna worship the Vishnu Kund in the form of light in the middle of the night. Witnessing this is said to rid one of all diseases. Shukla Paksha Dasami, Dwadasi, Thrayodasi, Pournami, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are significant for bathing in the Kund and offering rites to ancestors.Similarly bathing here during eclipse rids one of all sins during previous births. On these days, thousands of people bathe here and earn the virtue of bathing in all the holy rivers of the world.

The Sudharshana Chakra that has been installed on top of the temple has great powers. At night,there is a certain glow around it which is proof of the magnificence of the Lord residing inside. The Chakra is about 3ft X 3ft in measurement, but its glow can be seen as far as six kilometres away from the temple. Some people have experienced the Chakra moving towards them as they approached the temple in the dark,guiding them towards the temple.

The Lord is also called Vaidya Narasimha and has appeared in the dreams of several devotees and cured them of diseases. Several devotees have felt him performing surgeries on them after which they have been miraculously cured of chronic ailments. Devotees have been asked by him to give up specific things at the temple which has also cured them.

Shiva Temple at Yadagirigutta:

One day in Kailash, Parvathi asked Shiva about the specialty of Yadagirigutta that made him look longingly and pray towards it every day. The Lord replied that it was a special place where Rishis were worshipping Sri Lakshmi Narasimha. He further said that he too desired to reside in Yadagiri. He then appeared as a Swayambu Lingam on the banks of the Brahma kund in the Easanya (East) Direction. 

Shiva Temple at Yadagiri Gutta
Photo Courtesy: Sri Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy Temple

About Yada Rishi:

In Threta Yuga, there was a Rishi named Yada Rishi. He was an ardent devotee of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha and was looking for an ideal location to meditate on him. After searching in several places, he reached a forest. Tired and exhausted, he spread his upper garment on the floor under a tree and fell asleep. 

In his dream, Lord Hanuman appeared and told him that his search for the ideal place to worship Lord Narasimha was over. He further mentioned that when Yada Rishi got up and crossed the forest of Ashoka Trees, he would reach a mangrove, from where he must proceed through a forest so thick that even getting air to breathe would be difficult. He would then come across a desert, where hot air would burn his body and his feet would be lacerated by the sand beneath. If he were to move further without losing hope or turning back, he would reach the beautiful and serene forest of Yadagiri - the abode of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha which would be the ideal place for Yada Rishi to meditate on him.

The Rishi woke up and did as suggested by Hanuman. After great difficulty, he reached the banks of a Sarovar in Yadagiri and set up a small Kutir there to meditate. Several hundreds of years passed. The Rishi increased the intensity of his penance by giving up food and water, standing on one leg and meditating in the middle of fire. One day,Hanuman appeared before him again and told him that his prayers had been answered. He then directed Yada Rishi to go up the hill and find Lord Narasimha.

The Rishi ran towards the direction shown by Hanuman. As he moved up the hill, the vegetation was so thick that he could hardly breathe. Thorns from the overgrowth on either side poked at him and tore his flesh. The darkness was so intense that he could not even see his own hands. As he neared the cave, the Lord appeared before him as a ball of fire.

Unable to bear the intensity of the Lord, Yada Rishi requested him to appear before him in a Shanta Roopa. The Lord, pleased with his devotion, asked him to seek a boon. Yada Rishi asked for the Kshetram (place) to be named after him and also that Sri Lakshmi Narasimha should always give him darshan there. The Lord granted him the boon he sought for and said the hill would come to be called Yadagiri after him.

The Lord gave Yada Rishi the divine vision to see his Viswaroopa. Yada Rishi asked Narasimha to show him his Archaroopa (worshippable form). The rock behind the Lord broke into two pieces with the sound of thunder and the Lord appeared as Jwala Narasimha. Yada Rishi was delighted and started worshipping Narasimha with appropriate mantras.

Yada Rishi wanted a Kshetrapalaka (Guard) for the hill and prayed to Lord Hanuman for nine days. Pleased with his devotion, Hanuman appeared before him and agreed to be the Kshetrapalaka. He then appeared on a rock before Gandaberunda Narasimha wherein he continues to be worshipped till date.

Kshetrapalaka Hanuman at Yadagirigutta
Photo Courtesy: Sri Lakshminarasimhaswamy Temple

One day when Yada Rishi was bathing at the Vishnukund, a hungry and thirsty Brahma Rakshas came there. He grabbed the Rishi with an intention of gobbling him up. But the Rishi shouted out loud, seeking the help of Sri Narasimha. Immediately, the Sudharshana Chakra came buzzing through the air and chopped off the head of the Brahma Rakshas in a jiffy. Yada Rishi requested the Sudharshan Chakra to stay at Yadagiri and save devotees from evil spirits.That is how the Chakra has taken its place on top of the Vimana twirling with its divine glow.

The temple as we know it now:

Over time, no one knew about the existence of the Lord within the forest of Yadagiri. The Lord decided to reveal his whereabouts. So he appeared in the dream of a Mukhiya (Village Chieftain) and showed him the way to reach him.The Mukhiya called the villagers and told them about his dream. They set out to the hill to look for Narasimha. After searching high and low, they still could not find him. After many hours of searching they were able to find the Vishnukund. On searching further, they found the Kshetrapalaka Hanuman. The path now became narrower and dense with thorns on either side.They cut down the bushes, making way for the others as they went up. Finally they approached the cave where Sri Narasimha was found. There were dangerous reptiles creeping in and out of the cave. Singing the praises of Narasimha, the Mukhiya urged his men into the cave with lit firewood torches.

In a flash of lightening,the Namam mark that the Mukhiya had seen in his dreams appeared and he was able to see the Lord. From then onwards, arrangements were made to worship the Lord appropriately through Pancharatra Agama which continues till today.

Way to enter the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Shrine at Yadagirigutta
Photo Courtesy: Sri Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy Temple

 The Lord first appeared before Yada Rishi as Jwala Narasimha and when he could not bear the intensity, he appeared as Yogananda Narasimha and finally as Lakshmi Narasimha. The manifestation of the images of Lord Narasimha are seen in the cave which forms the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. A normal queue would take a few hours for the devotee to reach the main shrine where just like Tirumala there is a queue control system that does not allow anyone to stand in front of the Lord for more than a few seconds. There is also an Seegra Darshan queue (with a Rs.100/- ticket) which can help one join the main queue in a few minutes.

The Cave has two rock faces stuck to one another formed a deep U shape between them. On one face of the rock, is the form of a hooded serpent which is said to be the form of Jwala Narasimha. It is believed that the Adisesha still moves about this form. On the other rock face, one can see the yogic posture of Yogananda Narasimha and Lakshmi Narasimha. The Ugra Narasimha is said to be the entrance to the Sanctum Sanctorum whereas the fifth form Gandaberunda Narasimha is found opposite to the Kshetrapala Hanuman. As the forms of Narasimha are not very clearly visible from the view of the devotees and they also do not have the luxury of waiting for more than a few seconds before the Lord, a silver Utsava Moorthy of a standing Narasimha with Lakshmi welcomes the devotees.

If you happen to be in Hyderabad for whatever reason, do take time out to visit the wonderful temple at Yadagirigutta.

Utsavar Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy at Yadagirigutta
Photo Courtesy: Sri Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy Temple

How to reach the temple:

The temple is about 60 kms from Hyderabad on the Warangal route, 13 kms from Bhongir and 6 kms from the Raigiri Railway Station.

Temple Timings:

4 am in the morning to 9.45 pm at night

Contact details:

Executive Officer : 08685 - 236755

Acknowledgements:

The official website of the temple www.yadagirigutta.in for use of some pictures in the blog post which have been individually acknowledged too.

Shri. Prabhakar Reddy, Hyderabad for all his assistance in visiting the temple.

Santhana Prapthi Kaalabhairava!

A portion of the Ramagiri Valeeswara Temple

At the end of the Ramayana war, Rama was affected by Brahmahathi Dosha (the curse of killing a brahmin) after killing Ravana. Ravana had a brahmin father,Vishrava and a Rakshasa mother Kaikesi. Killing a son born to a brahmin had resulted in Rama acquiring the Brahmahathi Dosha. Rama requested Hanuman to bring a Shiva Linga from Kashi so that he could worship the Lord and rid himself from the curse.

Hanuman dutifully obeyed Rama and brought a Shivalingam for Rama to worship at Rameswaram. On his way back, he was passing through a place called Thirukaarikarai. Kaala Bhairava was the Kshetra Palaka of this place. He saw Hanuman coming back with the sacred Shiva lingam. He was desirous of having Lord Shiva stay permanently at Thirukaarikarai. It was mid day and the sun was shining brightly. Kaala Bhairava sought Lord Surya (Sun God)'s co-operation in increasing the temperature further. The heat made Hanuman thristy and he got down and looked around for a water source.

Kaala Bhairava appeared before him in the guise of a young boy. Hanuman asked him if there was water nearby for him to bathe and drink. Kala Bhairava was able to make water run down the hill and collect in a pond nearby. He agreed to hold the Shivalingam till such time Hanuman returned. A happy Hanuman got down into the pond to bathe. The idyllic surroundings, and the cool,refreshing water made a weary Hanuman enjoy a long and thorough bath.

The Nandi theertham created by Kala Bhairava at Ramagiri

When he got out of the water, the little boy was nowhere in sight. He looked around to find the Shivalingam placed on the ground. In panic, he rushed to the spot and tried to lift the lingam and continue with his journey. But, despite several attempts, he was not able to even move it an inch from where it had been grounded. As a last ditch effort, he looped his tail over the Baana (top portion) of the lingam and tried to uproot it. All that he could do was to tilt it a bit, but the lingam would not budge. When Hanuman removed his tail from around the lingam, he saw the impression it had created on the Baana. He understood that it was divine will that the lingam was to stay there forever. So he worshipped it, and started back towards Kashi to get another lingam for Lord Rama.

Sthalapurana Mural of Sri Valeeswara Temple, Ramagiri

The place came to be known as Ramagiri as Hanuman had brought the Lingam for Rama and the Lord is known as Valeeswara as Hanuman tried to uproot him with his Vaal (Tail). Even today one can see the huge lingam slightly tilted to one side with tail marks on the baanam.

Although Lord Shiva is found here, this is one of the few temples where Kaala Bhairava is worshipped as the main deity. In this temple, he is worshipped as "Santhana Prapthi Kala Bhairava" - a Bhairava who grants boon of childbirth.

Several hundreds of devotees throng this temple through the year to offer prayers to Kaala Bhairava and be blessed with the boon of a child.

Stone Puppies offered at the Ramagiri Temple

Procedure for performing pooja for childbirth:

The Nandi Theertham created by Kaala Bhairava is perenially filled with cool water that flows from the hill and collects in the pond from the mouth of a Nandi. The water is said to bring with it the herbal goodness of the various medicinal plants that grow on the hill.

• Couples desirous of performing poojas for child birth at Ramagiri, have to come to the temple, early in the morning on an empty stomach. 
• They must both bathe in the Nandi Theertham and with wet clothes, go into the temple, light eight lamps in the specified place, and perform archana to Sri Kaala Bhairava. 
• The priest then gives the couple a stone puppy which they both carry around the shrine and peform eight circumambulations.
• They feed biscuits and food to the several dogs that are found within the temple complex. It is surprising to see the dogs not fighting with each other, or getting excited when people try to feed them. They do not eat anything that falls on the sand. When food is respectfully placed, they take turns to come and quietly eat the food.
• Once their prayers are answered,they come back with the baby and perform abhishekam to Kaala Bhairava and place a stone puppy as a token of gratitude.

Several puppies offered by devotees are found in the Ramagiri temple

Special poojas and abhishekam are performed on Theipirai Ashtami (Eighth day after Full moon) every month between 9 am and 11.45 pm. It is better to arrive early in order to find seating space within the Artha Mandapa.

About the temple:

The temple is said to have been originally constructed by the Pallavas, and renovated over time by King Vira Rajendra Chola. From inscriptions, one can understand that a king called Sangama Kula Virupaksharaya tried to construct a Raja Gopura at the temple.
It is probably the only temple where Lord Hanuman can be seen in front of the Shivalingam in a worshipping state in the place of Nandi.
Thirukaarikarai  is a Devara Vaippu thalam sung by Sundaramurthy Nayanar.
There is a Murugan temple atop the hill and there are steps leading to it from near the pond.

Steps leading to the Murugan Temple on top of the hill

How to reach here:

Ramagiri is about 100 kms from Chennai on the Periyapalayam - Uthukottai - Suruttapalli - Nagalapuram route and about 3 kms from Nagalapuram.

Temple Timings:

Morning 8 am to 11.45 am
Afternoon 3 pm to 5.45 pm

Contact Details:
Shankarraj Gurukkal - 09490008887

Yaganti Ne Kanti!

Yaganti Sri Uma Maheswara Swamy Temple

There are some temples that have a wonderful mythology attached. Some are rich in architectural splendour, others in the divinity and vibration that they generate. Very few have all these things intact even after several hundreds of years.  One such temple is the Yaganti Sri Uma Maheswara Swamy Sivalayam.

The story associated with the temple:

Sage Agasthya after completing his Uttara Desha Yatra was coming towards the South when he reached this site. Seeing the beauty and serenity of the location, he wanted to install an idol of Lord Venkateswara here. Once the idol got ready and when preparations were being made to install it, he found that the big toe of the idol was broken. Disheartened, he prayed to Lord Shiva seeking the reason. Lord Shiva appeared before him, and told him that this place was Dakshina Kailash and hence more suited to be an abode of Lord Shiva.

Swayambu Shiva Parvathi:

Happy on hearing that, Agasthya sought a boon from the Lord that he should ever remain there, along with his consort Parvathi, granting blessings to all those who prayed to him. Pleased with his devotion, Lord Shiva appeared along with Parvathi Devi in a single stone as a Swayambu.

Yaganti Sri Uma Maheswara Swamy
(Photo Courtesy: Yaganti Sri Uma Maheswara Swamy Temple)

It is indeed amazing to see the distinct roopas of both Lord Shiva and Parvathi Devi on the Swayambu moorthy in the Sanctum Sanctorum. The two distinct images are also smeared with Vibhooti (Sacred Ash) and Turmeric to distinguish Lord Shiva and Parvathi. When we reached the temple, it was around 6 pm in the evening. There were very few people in the temple at that time. It was absolutely an electrifying experience to stand before this magnificient Lord and pray.

Three caves in the hill adjacent to the temple:

One is the Agasthya Cave. This is the cave where Sage Agasthya did penance and Lord Shiva appeared before him. One has to climb 120 steep steps to reach the cave. As it was close to 6 pm when we reached the temple, we were not allowed to climb up to the caves. With a disappointed sigh, we had to return after taking pictures from below.

The way up to the caves. 

The second of the caves is the Lord Venkateswara Swamy Cave. The cave houses the Venkateswara Swamy that was created by Sage Agasthya but could not be installed because of a broken big toe. This idol is supposed to be older than the one at Tirumala. On Saturdays, several hundreds of devotees climb up the steps to this cave to have a darshan of the Lord.

The damaged toe nail of Venkateswara Swamy
Photo Courtesy: Sri Uma Maheswara Swamy Temple 

The third cave is the one where a renowned saint, Potuluri Sri Veera Brahmam had stayed for many years, and written portions of his renowned work, Kala Gnanam. The saint had predicted several instances in time, similar to Nostradamus, through this work. (www.kalagnani.com). The height of the cave is really low and one has to stoop down in order to enter it.

The priest at the temple mentioned that there was a tunnel leading from this cave to Kandimallayapalle in Cuddapah District where he attained Jeeva Samadhi.

Another story of how this place came to be known as Yaganti :

There was a great devotee of Shiva named Chitteppa, who was praying in this lovely location. His love and devotion for his Lord was so great, that he saw Lord Shiva in everything. Once a tiger walked before him. Chitteppa saw it as Lord Shiva appearing before him in the form of a tiger. He jumped up in joy, shouting, Ne Kanti, Shiva Nu Ne Kanti! (In Telugu, meaning I saw Shiva, I saw!) Ne Kanti has over time, changed to Yaganti, says the priest at the temple.

Unique features of the temple:

When one walks into the temple complex, it is amazing to see a number of people from the village gathering in front of the temple and singing hymns in praise of Sri Uma Maheswara Swamy. It was indeed heartening to see the villagers not spending time in front of the television set as is the case in many villages now, but on a sunday evening, congregating at the temple and spending time in community bhajans.

Pushkarni:

The temple in its current form is said to have been built by King Harihara of the Sangama Dynasty in the 14th Century. One of the significant features of this temple is the Pushkarni (temple tank). Not only does the temple tank look so beautiful, and the water feel so refreshing cool, it is also really amazing how so much water gushes into the temple tank from the bottom of the hill through the small mouth of a Nandi.

The beautiful pushkarni at the temple. The water gushes from the mouth
of a nandi in the small dark enclave that you can see right across

A Close up view of the Nandi inside the alcove

Amazing growing Nandi:

The Nandi in this temple is perhaps the most amazing Nandi in the whole world. I, for one, could not take my eyes off it till the priest actually asked me to move because I was obstructing the way for people behind me.

Some say it was sculpted but keep growing, while others call it a Swayambu that appeared along with the Uma Maheswara Swamy. Whatever be the case, this is one awesome Nandi.

The awesome Nandi at the Temple
(Photo Courtesy: Sri Uma Maheswara Swamy Temple)

This Nandi does not sit on a pedastal of any kind, but is sprawled on the ground. The ASI has observed it growing at the rate of one inch in every 20 years and so he has moved from being directly in front of the sanctum sanctorum to its right. They have already removed one of the pillars of the mandapa since it was obstructing the Nandi's growth. The priest mentioned that very soon another pillar will have to be removed.

According to Sri Potuluri Veera Brahmam, the Nandi will come to life at the end of Kaliyuga and shout!

Just look at him, what an adorable creature he is!

Veerabadra swamy:

Veerabadraswamy at the temple

The Kshetrapalaka at this temple, as in many other temples in this part of India, is Veerabadraswamy. The gigantic Veerabadraswamy with his glittering sword protects the temple and safeguards its sanctity.

Akasha Deepam:

Just behind the Veerabadraswamy temple, on top of the hill, on a ledge which looks so steep and narrow, an Akasha Deepam is lit every evening. This lamp glows from 6 pm to 6 am every day. The priest mentioned that four litres of oil and two metres of wick is used every day to keep this lamp glowing for twelve hours.

It is indeed amazing how the lamp burns in the open air on top of a hill, amid the strong winds blowing. It is equally amazing how the priest is able to climb up every day, with barely any foothold, carrying all these materials to light the lamp, with practically just enough space only to put one of his feet. We all contributed towards the cost of oil and felt extremely satisfied about it.

No crows in Yaganti:

The priest also mentioned that while Sage Agasthya was performing penance here, Kakasura, an asura in the form of a crow, had been disturbing the sage's penance. Angered, the sage cursed him, saying that no crows should exist within Yaganti. Even today, they say that they have never seen a crow within the village. Moreover, since crow is the vahana (vehicle) of Shani Bagavan, they say that Shani does not bother anyone who is within the vicinity of the Uma Maheswara Swamy temple. People come and worship here to be rid of the dosha of Shani.

Mouth-watering Laddoos:

Last but not the least, I must mention that this temple has by far the most delicious laddus I have ever tasted. Although I lost one to a monkey, that jumped from above me and plucked it from my hand before I could bat an eyelid, I made sure I went into the counter, and tucked two more away in my handbag to eat them within the safe confines of the car. Hmmm....absolutely heavenly!

How to get here:

By Road:

Yaganti is in the Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh. It is
14 kms from Banganapalli
53 kms from Nandyal
70 kms from Ahobilam
85 km from Kurnool
100 kms from Mantralayam

The landmark is an old Nizam's palace after a few kms from Banganapalli. There were several tourists who were looking around the Nizam's palace. But to me, it looked like a set from a recent special effects Telugu movie. So I did not step out to visit it.

Nearest Airport: Hyderabad
Nearest Railway Station : Nandyal

Contact Details: Main Priest Mr. K.U.S.D Sharma - 094403 34003

Temple Timings: 7 am to 11 am after which lunch is available free till 2.30 pm at the Annadana Hall
                         5 pm to  8 pm  again dinner available free till 9.30 pm

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Budumuladoddi and Basaladoddi

The Palike Devaru Temple at Budumuladoddi

Every New Year starts for us at Mantralayam in the holy presence of Sri Raghavendra Swamy and while we are there, we try and visit other temples close by. This year, we decided, instead of visiting the same places again (which we normally do if there are a number of newcomers) we would go somewhere we have not seen before.

Thanks to Thamby Raghavendra, at the Mantralaya Temple, we got to see two beautiful Hanuman temples, both of them on the way to Adoni, and quite close to Mantralaya. The similarity does not stop there.

Sri Vyasaraja, the previous Avatara of Sri Raghavendra Swamy was the Raja Guru of Sri Krishnadevaraya.
During his time on earth, he has created 729 Hanumans (some say 732) and installed them at various places. Aalayam Kanden has, in the past covered some of these temples. Both the temples that we went to had Hanuman idols created by Sri Vyasaraja.

The first temple was Budumuladoddi Sri Palike Devaru Temple at Surikeri Village. This temple is about 40 km to the South of Mantralayam. We drove on the road towards Adoni and turned right at the road that leads to Kosigi and further to Urukunda Narasimha Swamy temple. This very old temple belonging to 16th Century has been renovated in the year 1995.

Dasavathara Entrance at the Budumuladoddi Temple

The temple has been renovated without disturbing the main shrine which really merits appreciation. The temple complex is small with a front vahana mandapa, a dwajasthamba, a small shrine for Lord Shiva and the main sanctum sanctorum for Palike Devaru, apart from a long dining hall to the right of the temple complete with stone tables and benches where Annadhana (distribution of food) is done every day.

Madhva, Bheema, Hanuman panel on Dwajasthamba

We talk about the previous avataras of Sri Raghavendra Swamy as being Sanku Karna - Prahalada - Pahlika Raja - Vyasaraja. Similarly, the avataras of Hanuman are said to be Hanuman - Bheema - Madhvacharya.  This has been depicted in the Dwajasthamba with a Koorma Peeta in front of it.

But what is really unique about this temple, is the Hanuman himself. Why is he called Palike Devaru? The photograph below is one given by the temple. I apologise for the poor quality. The temple does not allow the main deity to be photographed. 

To go back to our question of why is he called Palike Devaru, do you see the leaves on either side of the Hanuman? Near the shoulder and over the raised hand on the left and similarly, near the left shoulder and below the tail? These leaves are placed on the idol by the Poojari every morning. Those devotees who wish to seek Agnya (Direction) from the Lord about their prayers, come to the temple and inform the Pujari who then sits down and starts talking to the Lord.

He asks Hanuman to let the devotee know if his appeal will be granted or not. Within a couple of minutes, the leaves on the idol start falling. The ones on the right fall if the prayer would be granted and the ones of the left fall if there is no likelihood of it happening. If the issue is to be delayed for long, then the leaves do not fall despite the Pujari talking to the Lord many times over. We followed the ritual and found that it does indeed work that way.

The Pujari told us that on Saturdays several people come from far and near to pray to the Lord and find out if their prayers would be answered. If they got a positive signal, the prayer would be fulfilled in about 48 days after which they come back to offer thanks. This has given the Hanuman the title of Palike Devaru (The God who talks).

The other temple we went to next is the Pairaiah temple at Basaladoddi. This temple is even closer to Mantralaya and is only about 25 kms south of the temple town.

Sri Pairaiah Swamy Temple, Basaladoddi

The Hanuman at Pairaiah Swamy temple is also installed by Sri Vyasaraja. This temple has a very interesting story attached to it. The priest Shri Chandrasekhar was also a very enterprising person. He made us all sit around and started narrating the story which goes like this:

Basaladoddi was primarily a place where cows were grazed. The Villagers wanted to install a Hanuman in their area and so started making an idol on a rock in a nearby hillock. While they were doing so, one day, the cows grazed by one Govindaiah tripped on an anthill. As they stumbled, their horns broke the anthill and the idol of Hanuman which had been installed by Sri Vyasaraja was discovered. Now, the villagers were in a fix. They were not sure as to whether they must start worshipping this Hanuman, whose existence they had not been aware of, or the other Hanuman who was in the making.

Sri Pairaiah Swamy installed by Sri Vyasaraja

One of the villagers who was a staunch devotee of Hanuman, had a dream that night, wherein Hanuman told him that the villagers must worship the idol installed by Vyasaraja and build a temple around it and the other Hanuman could be installed on the hillock where it was being made. The villagers followed the instructions, and did as suggested. Govindaiah, who had been instrumental in identifying the idol and his family took the lead in building the temple and till date his descendants worship at the temple.

Some years after the temple was built, Hanuman again appeared in the dream of the devotee, and said that he did not like the people eating and sleeping in the temple or consuming meat close by and that he would show the villagers a place where they could build their settlements and he would stay outside the village, where people could visit and worship and then go back.

He is said to have then taken the devotees several hundred metres away from the temple and then appeared there is a miniature form as Mukya Prana Devaru, where by people knew that that was where they had to build their settlements. Even today, the miniature form of the Lord can be worshipped at the Basaladoddi Village while the Pairaiah Temple (meaning the Lord outside) is close to the hillocks and away from the Village.

The Priest comes to the temple early in the morning and stays there till dusk so this temple could be visited at any time of the day.

Contact Information of the priest : 96529 79836/ 96038 62211

If you happen to visit Mantralaya, you can very easily visit these two temples as well. For transport facilitation, you may contact Mr Srinivas at 98850 27919/98859 72488. He has a good fleet of jeeps and cars and charges nominally. He is a very reliable transport operator in and around Mantralayam. He also helps with accommodation and food.