******* ONLY THY GRACE *******

         

   

               1)              You wake me up with Thy gracious smile

                                To witness a new morn with a fresh sunrise

                                And one more chance for me to realize

                                To mend my guilty ways and guiles.

              2)               A billion times you looked with self-same grace

                                A billion times I slipped and went astray

                                You gave me unsought so many days

                                Yet still I fumbled and fell far behind the race.

              3)               My crooked mind confined in darkest room

                                Did not view Thee standing at the door

                                Due ways to reach Thee, I find no more

                                Wake me, Oh Lord, from this engulfing gloom.

              4)              So many times You showed me means and ways

                               So many years, months, nights and days ;

                                I could not come out of this mysterious maze ;

                               Too bright for me to see Thy wisdom’s rays.

 

              5)              I wonder at Thy patience sublime

                                How long dost Thou pursue this tedious game ?

                                We err so many times and yet we blame

                                Unaware of Thy form, ever flowing time.   

  

               6)             Our miseries to Thee we attribute

                               Our victories ourselves we proudly claim

                               We roll in trivial pleasures, no noble aim ;

                               And if we fail, we curse our destiny mute

               7)            Unaware of Thy omnipresence

                               We do so many sins losing our sense

                               Our origin forgot, from whom and whence

                               We feel the woes of hellish ignorance.

               8)             Without Thy grace, oh Lord ! Our life is nothing

                                In every form Thy glory shines so bright

                                Our sense-bound soul can’t see Thy might

                                We cling to our vain pleasures as everything.

               9)              Our earthly bonds long-lasting we deem

                                About Thy selfless Love, we never thought

                                We turn to Thee, disillusioned when all is lost

                                Our lives mere shades before Thy eternity supreme.

 

            10)                Behind my breath and flowing blood you dwell                                                                           My eternal soul mate since creation ;

                                 We did forget Thy touch losing discrimination

                                 Enslaved like beasts by surrounding magic spell.

            11)               Even in death you show compassion sweet

                                Uplifting us from worldly woes and bonds

                                Thy mercy shines like a soothing angel beyond

                                Thy motherly clasp we sense as You lovingly greet.

            12)               Only Thy grace to break this Maya’s role

                                Only Thy grace to cross this magic maze

                                Only Thy grace to curb this sensual craze

                                Only Thy grace and help to reach my ultimate goal.

                                          

                                        ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

          13th march, 2018                                                  Somaseshu Gutala

                                                  

Let us go --- Let us fly ---

                                                                     (  I  )
                                             

                  Far from this slashing din, far from these roaring crush

                  And fretful rush, streaming fast with unending gush

                  Incessantly flowing, incessantly leaping;

                  Far from these smooth seeming roads with hidden pits and potholes

                  Far from these smothering towers and sky-touching spires

                  Far from these white mansions knitted close like cells

                  Far from these bustling vehicles and nudging crowds

                  Far from crowded bars, restaurants and harsh cries loud;

                  Far from shops, theatres and congested market squares

                  Far from these parks and gardens where people rush fast

                 To spoil the space with littered plastic cups and cans

                  While children play unaware of impending perils

                  As elders sit on stone-benches in dreamy mood

                  Discussing faded events with nostalgic looks;

                  While pedlars lure kids with their ice-cream cones and candy bites;

                  While jobless vagrants loiter and smoke with reckless looks.

  

                                                            (  I I  )

                                              Let us go -- Let us fly--

                   To some cool tranquil place where bushes and bowers abound

                    Near some murmuring brook flecked with red lotus-buds

                    Where silver-tinted fish twirl and swim through ripples

                    Where white-winged birds nestle and twitter serenades;

                    On some black stone to sit and muse glancing at the blue hills

                    Viewing the green swell of lush waving grassy plains

                    Pacing slowly as fluttering butter flies welcome with colorful wings

                    As breezes cool pass wafting our cheeks with refreshing smell

                    While the setting sun on yonder hill burns with vermilion hues

                    Shedding a rosy glow tinged with yellow, purple and saffron shades. 

                                                     (  I I I  )

                                           Let us go --- Let us fly---

                    Let us return to the city as noisy rush slows down

                    When the city shines like a diamond-studded crown

                    With vibrant colors of bright electric lights

                    As roads and pathways shine with rows of fluorescent lights

                    Amidst the din of rushing vehicles with bright focusing bulbs;

                    Amidst the home-bound people dressed in various styles and ways

                    Chattering, chuckling and laughing with friends and co-workers;

                    When night summons us with moon-lit glimmer and starry sky

                    Refreshing us with smell of night queen and musk- rose

                    Like two swans flying through crystal sky--- let us go—let us fly.  

                                              *************************************

        5th march, 2018                                                            Somaseshu Gutala

                      

A Visual Treat

               

                                                       

                   1)          The wintry chill is gone – a bright and warm

                                 Weather comforts the morning calm ;

                                 Nature, too, seems to feel the change of time

                                 A dynamic thrill I feel in this clime .

                   2)          The dew-cleared grass in freshness shone

                                 Welcoming the golden rays of dawn ;

                                 A flood of violets sprang up far and wide

                                 Spread all over like a swelling tide .

                  3)            Like festive pilgrims crowded all at once

                                To participate and swing in ritual dance

                                 In a hamlet remote in jungles dense

                                 Echoing cheer and piety immense.

                  4)            The shades of purple painted every herb and nook

                                  Every bower and bush with jubilant look

                                  Who called these merry fluttering fairies bright ?

                                  With delicate silky faces —a thrilling sight !

                 5)              What message lurked behind these bursting hues ?

                                  What intimations this season renews ?

                                  My hardened feelings under the daily grind

                                  Woke up again with a sympathetic mind ;

                 6)               My lost sensations began to sprout again

                                   Free from stress, vexations and strain

                                   True joys lost long ago under the mire

                                   Of unending strife and struggling desires.

                 7)              This carnival of mirth I find nowhere

                                  Their laughing looks perfumed let me share ;

                                   Let me forget and leave these worries behind

                                   Like these flowers let me be happy and kind :

                 8)               Let these charms unfurled in vibrant colors inspire

                                   My bosom with hopes like Spring with festive fires

                                   When I view these purple lavish bunches sweet

                                   A sensuous feast I felt —a visual treat.

                                       ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

28th February, 2018                                                Somaseshu Gutala

                                          

                                         

                 

                                         

                                            

About Antarvedi Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple, East Godavari Disrict (A.P.)

                      

Outer View of the temple

                        

 

Lakshmi Narasimha in the inner sanctum

View of temple pillars

Utsava Vigrahas

Idols of gods on temple tower

Vasisthalaya

Vasistha and Arundhati

Sapta Rishi Mandir

Sagara Sangamam

This famous temple is located at the place of confluence where Vasistha Godavari joins the Bay of Bengal. This temple was constructed in 15^th or 16^th centuries by Pallava kings and later by Peddapuram Reddy kings. The present structure is said to be built by Kapanati Krishnamma of Agnikula Kshatriya clan in 1823. The temple tower has five storeys depicting various incarnations of Vishnu and sculptures of lions on four sides. Though the temple is not so big it is one of the most primitive thirty-two Narasimha  Khestras in A.P. The Lord is seen with His consort Lakshmi beside the banks of holy Vasishta Godavari.

 Sage Vasistha brought Godavari and dwelt here in his ashram. He prayed to Lord Narasimha when the demon Rakta Vilochana, son of Hiranyaksha, killed all his hundred sons. Lord Narasimha fought with the demon and killed him using His Sudarshan Chakra. He created Maha Maya, also called Ashwaroodambika or Gurralakka to suck the blood of the demon as he got a boon from Brahma that blood falling from his body would produce another demon of equal strength. After the death of Rakta Vilochana the stream of blood was let out by Maya to form a pond called Rakta Kulya. Lord Narasimha washed His chakra (discus) at a place called Chakra Thirtha. Sage Vasistha prayed to Lord to stay there along with Lakshmi. On the roof of this temple the picture of Vatapatrasai (Krishna sleeping on a floating banyan leaf) is seen.

 The statue of Lord Narasimha is seen along with Lakshmi seated on His left side. On the east side of this shrine there is a separate shrine for Rajya Lakshmi and Lord Venkateswara. On the north side there is a shrine for Ranganatha swamy and His consort Bhudevi. On the west side Santana Gopalaswamy’s shrine is seen. On the south side of the main shrine one can see a shrine for Lord Anjaneya with four hands who is the Kshetrapalaka or guardian deity of this temple. The sannidhi of Alwars is also seen here. On the other side of the main temple Lord Neelakanteswra’s temple is seen.This shrine is more primitive than the main temple and Lord Brahma is said to have performed Yagna  and  installed Shiva Linga here. Hence this place was called Antarvedi which means a place with a sacrificial altar. Later Lord Sri Rama worshipped Neelakanteswara.  Arjuna during his pilgrimage is said to have visited this temple.

 This temple was managed by Peddapuram Rajas during 18^th century and later by Mogaltur Rajas in 19^th century. Now it is under the management of Religious Endowments Department. Just a little distance from here a very beautiful building called Vasisthalaya is seen which was constructed in 2005. In this circular 54-foot high two-storeyed structure, one can see the sacred Saligrama Kurma ( the idol of sacred tortoise found in the pond by a fisherman)on the first floor and the statues of seven sacred sages on the second floor. This is the only one Narasimha Kshetram where daily Panchamrita Abhishkam is done every day between 8.00 a.m. and 9.30 a.m. One can see Nijarupa Darshanam (main idol without any decorative shield) between 6.00 a.m. and 8.00 a.m. To avert vaasthu and bad effects of planets, many devotees perform Narasimha Sudarshana Homam here between 10.00 a.m and 12.00 p.m. The darshan timings are from 6.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 2.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. Other ceremonies like Annaprasana, upanayanam and Gopuja are also done here. Nityaannadanam is also organized here. The T.T.D. choultry provides accommodation for devotees coming to this place.

 The nearest town is Narasapur just 20 kms from here. The nearest railway stations are Palakollu and Bhimavaram. Located in the scenic surroundings this temple provides a very peaceful and pious holy spot for devotees. Other places to see at this place are Sagara Sangamam, Raktakulya, and Gurralakka temple.  One can also travel from Rajahmundry (100 kms.)and Amalapuram(65 kms.)  to see this famous temple.

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26th February, 2018                                             Somaseshu Gutala

Mandapalli—the famous temple for Shani Dosha Nivaran

Uma Brahmendra Swamy shrine

Mandeswara Swamy

Uma Brahmendra Swamy

Parvati Ammavaru

Uma Nageswara Swamy

                         

From Amalapuram this temple is just thirty kms and the road winds through fertile fields, coconut groves and gardens revealing the sylvan beauty of Kona Seema region. As it was Shani Trayodashi day the temple was littered with heaps of banana leaves, gingelly seeds, pieces of jaggery and black cotton strips everywhere. As it was late afternoon very people were seen. We walked very cautiously avoiding to tread on things scattered all over the temple premises. Later we came to know that nearly forty thousand devotees visited the temple on that day. No surprise that the premises were completely flooded with so many things. As there was no shoe stand we left our sandals near the temple compound and entered the temple. Later one of our members had to walk barefooted as he lost his chappals and had to console himself thinking that the loss of his chappals meant that his Shani Dosha was gone.

 This temple is very famous as a holy spot where Lord Shani Himself installed Mandeswara Swamy to get rid of the sins of Brahma Hatya when He killed two Asuras called Pippala and Aswathha who tormented Brahmins and sages and cruelly killed them. After getting divine power from seven sages Lord Shani fought with these two demons for one year and finally killed them. In the inner sanctum a black Shiva Lingam is seen over which a pipe is seen. Devotees who pour oil flows through the pipe and falls over the Shiva Lingam. People who have Shani Dosham perform Tailabhishekam (doing Abhishkam with gingelly oil) to get rid of bad effects caused by the adverse position of Lord Saturn in their horoscopes. Homam for averting Shani Dosha and Ekadasa Rudrabhishekam are also done here. People who cannot personally visit this temple can avail these sevas by sending money through online. Just beside this temple there is a shrine for Parvati , the consort of Lord Shiva. There is one more shrine near it where one can see Uma Brahmendra Swamy which was installed by Lord Brahma. Near the Shiva Lingam one can see a tiny idol of Goddess Uma. The seven sages and their wives worshipped Brahmendra  Swamy 

At this place there is another temple for Uma Nageswara Swamy which was installed by Karkotaka, one of the mighty serpent-kings. Worship of this Lingam will neutralize Naga Dosha. On the left side of the main shrine one can see a beautiful idol of Venu Gopala installed by Sage Gowtama who made holy Ganges flow here to extinguish the blazing sacrificial fire of the Homa Gundam. Lord Venu Gopala is the Kshetrapalaka of this temple. Special poojas and Abhishkams are done on Shani Trayodshi days, Masa Shiva Ratri days, Devi Navaratrulu, Kartikamasa poojas, Maha Shiva Ratri and on Magha Bahula Ekadashi.

Just near the temple there is Aswatha Theetha , a holy pond where having a holy dip confers merit equal to performing Hema Dana. The temple authorities should provide basic facilities such as shoe stand, toilet facility, queue system and maintain clean surroundings. Otherwise this will create a very bad image and also cause inconvenience to devotees who come from far off places to get rid of Shani Dosham.

 The temple timings are from 5.00 a.m to 12.00 p.m.when Abhishkam poojas are done. In the evening the temple is open from 4.00 to 8.00 p.m. when only Darshan is provided. On Saturdays the temple is open from 4.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. and from 4.00 to 8.00 p.m. in the evening. The nearby temples are Ainavilli,Pithapuram,Samarlakota, Annavaram.,Ryali, Kotipalli and Draksharamam.

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20th February, 2018                                                    Somaseshu Gutala