About Rajarajeshwari Temple, R.R.Nagar, Bangalore

Main Gopuram

Sreechakram Shrine

                     

Statues of lions and elephants facing Sreechakram Shrine

                       

Gopuram at inner entrance

Lotus Well

Idol of Ganesh in the main hall

Main Hall (Mukha Mandapa)

Rajarajeshwari Statue in the inner sanctum

                             

Lion Statue on the temple tower

Mukha Mandapa with sculptured pillars

Sculptures on the temple tower

 

This famous temple is located in the southwest corner of the city on the banks of Vrishabhavati River which has now become almost a drain due to industrial pollutants released into it.  Previously this area was called Kenchanagiri or Champakavana or Kenchanahalli. Later it has been named after the famous temple as Rajarajeshwarinagar established here in early 1960’s. Sri Tiruchi Swamigal (formerly called Sri Sivaratnapuri Swamiji) set up Kailash Ashram Samsthanam when he was directed by his guru, Sri Sivapuri Baba, to go towards South India where he would do good work to the society. Accordingly he came to this place where it was said that Sage Atri and his spouse Anasuya lived and did penance. He established his Ashram and Rajarajeshwari temple which rapidly developed later into a complex with a free school for Vedic studies and also a Goshala for protecting cows. Sri Tiruchi Swami laid the foundation stone for this temple on 3^rd April, 1960 in the morning time between 5.30 a.m. and 6.15 a.m. In “Tantra Chudamani “this place was mentioned as one of the Shakti Peethams where Devi’s ear was fallen (Karna Bhaga). The Shakti Peetha of this place is also called “Jaya Peetha”.

 The temple was built in Dravidian style with five gopurams decorated with colorful figurines on the towers.  After passing through Rajagopuram a row of holy serpent stones (Naga Devatas ) are seen. Many devotees worship them with kumkum, turmeric and flowers. A little distance away a huge statue of a stone elephant with two couching lions are visible.The shrine for Sree Chakra is seen just in front of these statues. This is very unique since one cannot see a separate shrine for Sree Chakra Yantra anywhere else. The Sree Chakra Yantra is carved on a huge black shining granite stone and one can make pradakshinam around this sacred shrine. There is another gopuram leading to Mukha mandapam with many decorated figures and lotus –bud shaped cornices and pillars. Just near the entrance of inner gopuram two lion figures in sitting posture are seen.

 In the inner sanctum the beautiful statue of Rajarajeshwari is seen in sitting position. Her right leg is in folded and placed across the seat while her left leg is stretched below with her foot resting on a lotus in full bloom (Padma Peetham). The six-foot black granite idol is decorated with many ornaments and shining gems. One can see various incarnations of Rajarajeswari all around the circamabulatory path or pradakshina marga.  Gold-coated idols of Vinayaka, Dandapani, Lakshmi and Sarswati are seen along with other deities on a raised platform with separate enclosures. On the wall one can also see beautiful picture frames showing the various incarnations of Devi known as Dasa  Mahavidyas with various weapons and mounts like Matangi, Bhuvaneswari Devi, Tara, Kamala, Kali, Chinnamastha, Mohini etc.  In another adjoining room one can see Navagrahas on an elevated platform. In this temple worship is done as per Shaivagama tradition. Special poojas are done Tuesdays, Fridays and during Navaratri festiva amnd during Brahmostsava time. Chandi Homams are performed on these special occasions. On 27^th March every year the Sun's rays fall on the main idol at sunrise in a miraculous way.

 This temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. in the morning and from 4.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.in the evening. In this  temple persons wearing jeans, shorts, Berumudas, mini-skirts, sleeveless tops and short T-shirts are not allowed. Men should wear a dhoti or full pants and shirts. Ladies should wear saris, churidars with duppatas. Girls below the age of 18 should wear full-length gowns. Ladies should not let their hair hang loose. They should bind their hair with a clip or hair band.

At the main entrance a shoe stand and a bookstall are seen. Parking space is also available.Inside the temple there is a shop where prasadam is sold.In R.R.Nagar there are many other temples to see.The nearby temples are Nimishamba Temple (2kms)., Shringagiri Shanmukha Temple (4kms), Kalabhairava Temple (3kms.) and  Omkar Hills (4kms.)

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       15th September, 2018                                        Somaseshu Gutala
           

About Nimishamba Temple, R.R.nagar, Bangalore

                       

                                 

                              

This temple is located quite near to Sri Rajarajeshwari temple (850 m) in 12th cross,I Phase, Rajarajeshwari Nagar.The temple was built in Kerala style with a gabled roof with two big halls in the basement. One hall is used for meditation and another for performing vratams and homams.

The meaning of “Nimishamba”is that the prayers of devotees are fulfilled within a minute. This temple was constructed in 2006 by Sri Somavamsa Arya kshatriya Committee members. This temple was built with special red laterite stone. In the sanctum a Srichakra Yantra is seen in front of the presiding deity. Around the temple one can see shrines for other gods like Sri Siddhi Vinayaka, Sri Lakshmi Narayana, Sri Moukthikeshwara and Sri Saraswati. Nitya Chandika Homam and Nitya Annadaanam are done here. 

As per Varna Vybhava Kanda of SrimadBrahmanda Purana, Shri Nimishamba appeared to Mukta Rishi and helped his son, Shashi Bindu, to kill the most powerfulto kill the most powerful demon called Janumandala, grandson of Vrithrasura. Her incarnation took place on Vaishaka Suddha Dashami and on this day “Nimishamba Jayanti” is celebrated by Somavamsha Arya Kshatriyas in a grand manner. Special poojas are done here on Mondays, Fridays and on every Full Moon day. AmavasyaHomam is done on every New Moon Day. Apart from many homams, Sri Satyanarayana Vratam is performed here on every Full Moon Day.  In the meditation hall the idol of Sri Dakshinamurti and Sri Padukas are seen. The temple looks quite neat and clean and one can experience a serene and peaceful atmosphere here. This temple is open from 6.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and from 4.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. in the evening.Temples for Nimishamba are seen in Ganjam Village, just two kilometers from Sri Rangapattana and in Akkipet on OTC Road in Bengaluru also.

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         12th September, 2018                               Somaseshu Gutala

About my visit to Annavaram, E.G.Dist, Andhra Pradesh

Sree Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy Varu with Lord Shiva and Ananta Lakshmi Satyavati

Steps to reach the temple

Temple Garden

Vrata Mandapam

Gokulam

View from the hill

           

 In East Godavari District there are many historic temples to visit. Most of these temples are seen near the banks of rivers and hence one can enjoy the scenic views of paddy fields and orchards beside the flowing river. The temple of Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swami’s temple is the most well-known and most popular temple in this region. In Reva Khanda of Skanda Purana and in Maha Vaikunta Narayanopanishad the name of this famous lord has been mentioned.  Ratnakara and Bhadra are the two sons of Meru Mountain. Both of them did penance and got boons from Lord Vishnu that the Lord should dwell on their peaks. In Bhadrachalam Sri Rama’s famous shrine is there and in Annavaram Lord Satyanarayana dwelt on Ratnagiri. The River Pampa also got a boon from Sri Rama that he should dwell near her banks.

This holy place has got many special and unique features. Lord Vishnu here is a unified manifestation of the holy Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva). The idol of Satyanarayana Swami is self-manifested in the waters of Pampa River which flows near the foothill called Ratnagiri. The local Raja of Gorasa village Sri Inuganti Venkata Rama Rayanam dreamt about the presence of the Lord. His friend Sri Eeranki Prakasa Rao, a devotee of Vishnu, also got the same dream and so both went and unearthed the idol near the banks of the Pampa River on sixth of August, 1891. 

In 1934 the idol was installed on Ratnagiri hill with the help of a learned Vedic scholar, Sri Addepalli Krishna Sastry. He brought from Kashi a very powerful Yantra called Tripadvibhuti Maha Vaikunta Yantra.  After installing that Yantra in the main spot , a thirteen  foot-high stone pillar was placed above it and the idol of  Lord Satyanarayana was installed on the top of that pillar .On the right side of the main idol the idol of Shiva was placed and Goddess Ananta Lakshmi Satyavati on the left side . One of the priests there explained that  in the name of the Goddess “Anantha” refers to Durga, “Lakshmi” to Goddess of wealth and “Satyavati’ refers to Goddess Saraswati  thus implying the Goddess is a unified manifestation of three Devis. The Ratna Giri hill is nearly 300 feet above sea level and one has to climb 460 steps to reach the temple. One can also travel by buses run by Devasthanam or by taxi to reach the main temple.

  In this temple many devotees come to perform Satyanarayana Vratam which gives prosperity and fulfills all the wishes of the people. The meaning of Annavaram means Anina=whatever asked and Varam means given. So the Lord promises that he would fulfill the wishes of his devotees. For performing Vratams there are many halls with readily available pooja material. The cost of the Vratam fee is of various types like Rs.150/-, 300/-, 700/- (Special Vratam) and Rs.1500/- (Visishta Vratam) depending on the material used and prasadam given. The Vratams can be performed between 6.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m.  Nitya Kalyana Seva is done between 9.30 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. Just like Tirupati laddu, the prasadam of Lord Satyanarayana Swami called “ Bhogam prasadam”. It is also very delicious and it is prepared with wheat Ravva, cowmilk, cow’s ghee, sugar and cardamom. This prasadam is available in the sale counters of the main temple and also near the entry to the pedestrian way to the hill.

 The view from the hill gives a very beautiful view of the flowing river, green fields and gardens.  The temple was built at two levels. On the ground level one can see the lower portion of the stone pillar with the powerful yantra. The lower portion of the pillar is regarded as Brahma and the middle portion as Shiva. Here one can also see the idols of Aditya, Ambika, Ganesha and Maheshwara in four corners as per the conventions of Vishnu Panchayatanam. On the upper storey one can see the main deity Lord Sri Hari Hara Hiranyagarbha Trimurtyatmaka Satyanarayana Swamy along with Lord Shiva and Ananta Lakshmi on either side. Lord Vishnu here is seen with a moustache, a very rare feature seen in very few temples.  The main temple is built in the shape of a chariot with four wheels seen in four directions. On one side of the main temple tower, another temple tower with a trident on its top, a symbol for Lord Shiva and Ganesha is seen. Behind the main temple one more  temple tower (Vimana )is seen with a Chakra, symbolizing the Sun and Ambika.

On the right side of the main temple there is a temple for Lord Sri Rama and for Vana Durga. Lord Sri Rama is regarded as the guardian deity (Kshetrapalaka) of this temple. Just beside this temple there are many mandapas (halls) for performing Satyanarayana  Vratams and a dining hall. Nityannadanam is done here between 11.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. near the South Gopuram entrance. At the foot of the hill there is a temple for the village goddess called Nerellammavaru.

 On the north eastern side of the temple a sanctuary for cows called “Gokulam is seen. Many devotees worship cows here by paying Rs.116/- for Gopooja. The milk from this place is used for performing Abhishekam and for preparing prasadams. Just beside the temple there is a sundial called “Kaala Nirnaya Nirdesa Yantram “set up by Sri Pidaparti Krishnamurti Sastri  in August, 1943. Near it there is a beautiful garden with holy basil plants and in the middle of the garden there is an anthill. In 1970 a part of the temple was damaged by a lightning bolt. The temple was renovated later with a few changes to make the temple space wider and convenient for visitors. In2011-2012 also the temple was renovated at a cost of four crores.

The temple opens at 3.30 a.m. when Suprabhata Seva is done. Between 4.00 a.m. and 5.15 a.m. Abhishekam and Archana are done. Sarva Darshanam is from 6.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and Mahanaivedyam is between 12.30 p.m. and 1.00 p.m. Again Sarvadarshanam is from 1.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. Sarva darshanam is free for all. For Seeghra darshan one has to pay Rs. 50/- per head and for Antaralaya Darshan one has to pay Rs. 100/- per person. Online sevas are available through Mee-Seva (A.P.Govt’s portal) for booking Vratams, Kalyana Seva and accommodation. There are many choultries and hotels both on the hill and in the Annavaram town.  Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Temple Management runs Nitya Annadanam, a free dispensary, Nature Cure Hospital , a free Veda Patashala and Gokulam. Lockers and a canteen are also there for the convenience of the pilgrims. There is a river water barrage near Pampa River and one can enjoy boat ride in that lake which provides a panoramic view of hills and greenery around.

Special poojas and programmes are organized on festive days like Sri Rama Navami, Sri Krishna Jayanti, Sri Vinayaka Chaviti, Devi Nava Rathrulu, Diwali, Ksheerabdi Dwadashi , Ugadi and On Sravana Suddha Vidiya , the day when Lord Saya Deva appeared on this earth. Every year on Kartika Poornima day, the utsava Vigrahas of Lord Satyanarayana Swamy  and His consort are taken in a procession in a decorated palanquin around the hill (Giripradakshinam for 10 kms) in the morning time. On Ksheerabdi  Dwadashi float festival is organized in the river with colorful illumination in a grand manner. The nearby famous temples are Draksharamam (75kms), Simhachalam (128kms),Pithapuram (30 kms) and Talupulamma Thaalli (22kms).

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              6th September, 2018                       Somaseshu Gutala

WHAT HAPPENED ?

                                        (  I  )

                              What happened to this beautiful city?

                              All her broad streets appear now too shrunken

                              Squeezed in by many tall multi-storied mansions

                              Not an inch of space left free for air to flow

                              The city crushed by teeming millions of people

                              Choked by so many poisonous vapors

                              Seems a chaos of speeding vehicles

                              Congested with long heavy traffic jams

                               Hours of waiting exhaust their patience

                               And set their nerves on fire; none cared

                               For traffic rules and impending risks; 

                                 

                               Their goal only to overtake others

                               Caring not at all for fatal mishaps.

                                Driving helter-skelter with reckless feats.

                               The roads turned death-traps with broken trenches and pits

                                With shattered limbs and broken vehicles

                                None cared to stop and help the bleeding men;

                                The drivers click only snaps with frigid stony hearts

                                Exulting in catching real blood-soaked scenes

                                                                       

                                                 

                                                                ( I  I  )

                                 What happened to their inward human feelings?

                                 Once noble hearts did serve in selfless ways

                                 Helping the poor and needy persons a lot

                                 Founding big hospitals, shelters and schools

                                 Planning vast parks, playgrounds and shady trees

                                 Big lakes, wells and ponds filled with water pure

                                 True honesty coupled with kindly acts

                                 Made this place once a peaceful center of bliss;

                                 No cunning cruel acts upset the rhythm of life

                                 No greedy vice robbed ; no cheating tactics;

                                 Now safety and security nowhere seen

                                 Our daily papers thrive on sensational news

                                 Building mountains out of trivial things;

                                 Duping others now seems a daily pastime  

                          

                                 An unprecedented rise in various crimes

                                 Of murders, rapes,robberies and strikes.

                                 The dividing line between man and brute

                                  Vanishing, Alas! Who is to blame?

                                                         (  I  I  I  )

                                 What happened to her rivers and lakes?

                                 Once happy places with many clean stepped Ghats

                                 Where people swam with pleasure through waters pure

                                 Now turned to stagnant weed-grown pits

                                 With loads of contaminated chemicals foul

                                 And drainage pipes ejecting sewage stuff

                                 Storehouses of all diseases with swelling foam

                                 Shrunken by land-grabbers and dusty garbage fills

                                 In thousands these lakes existed in past 

                                 Esteemed as the pride and grace of this city 

                                 Now changed to dirty cesspools and septic tanks.

                                                              (  I  V  )

                                What happened to her lofty hills and vacant lands?

                                Bludgeoned to death by digging land sharks vile

                                Even temple stones now turned to building blocks

                                Our heritage proud gone to rubble and dust

                                Neglected lie old forts and monuments in shambles

                                With crumbling walls as dens for vicious men ;

                                No concern for glory and rich tradition

                                Many lands encroached and destroyed by looting folk

                                None to restrain and protect these structures great

                                Ruined by time and dug by treasure hunters.

                                                             (  V  )

                               What happened to her green spaces and wilds?

                               Once praised as a happy paradise

                               Now wears a bare deserted dreary look;

                               Gigantic trees with wide-spread branches

                               Now felled to dust by cruel mechanical tools

                               To build lifeless structures blocking light and air

                               An easy task to kill these precious gifts of Nature

                               How many years it needs to see these lofty trees

                               That give cool shade and purify the air;

                               Does development mean robbing nature green?

                               Does it mean indiscriminate destruction?

                               The vast lands filled with industries and flats

                               Turned this once happy place to a concrete jungle

                               Polluted with dust, sounds and poisonous air

                               Not a patch of ground left for men to walk with peace

                               Or for children to play on grassy lawns;

                               Those pretty gardens lost and the green spaces gone

                               And heaps of garbage infecting  villages too ;

                                                            (  V  I  )

                               What happened to colorful birds and beasts around?

                               Forests destroyed by expanding urban bounds

                               Lost their inhabitants too killed by men;

                               Just for their skin, meat, nails and feathers;

                               Many species became extinct and what more remain

                               Lead a wretched life with lurking dangers;

                               Sans shelter, water and food to survive;

                               Sheer promises hover like clouds above

                               Shedding no drop of rain with cunning show

                               Fooling the public for their own personal ends

                               Our leaders thrive in shady crooked deals

                               Our votes bartered for petty paper notes

                               Once elected none cares about our weal ;

                               Our ruling trends none contemplates to mend ;

                               Our cities stink with many unsolved problems

                               With narrow roads, potholes and foul clogged drains.

                               What happened to this beautiful city?

                               Once a true haven for spacious space and peace.

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              1st September, 2018                          Somaseshu Gutala