An Epistle to his Friend

                    

 

    Dear Friend! Which muse shall I invoke

    To praise your magnanimous acts? A stroke

    Of luck it seems for me to have in you

    A helping, noble-minded soul: in you

    A humane understanding do I find

    Unasked you blest me with your favour kind;

    Like the radiant sun which warms us all

    And breathes vital life without our call;

    Like the rain that pours itself from skies

    To water our fields and touches us with love

    Like God-sent benediction from above;

    Like the fruit-trees and flower-laden bush

    Like the cool moon in cloudy silver hush;

    A noble trait of God, to help unasked, I know;

    In you I find with gratitude I bow;

   How oft we see men with supreme intellect keen?

   How oft we see shrewd statesmen with jealousy green?

   And yet they lack the sincere spirit to feel

   The pulse of people and work for their weal;

   Your fluent speech on various occasions I hear

   Your wide horizons of knowledge I cheer;

   Your fond memories of old friends commend

   Your timely assistance to me a god-send;

   Reminds me of Krishna’s love and noble act

   Of blessing his friend with wealth, unsought;

   May God with all His might and mercy bless

   Thee as you did to me to ease my stress;

   May God bestow real peace and prosperity

   In all your walks of life with amity;

  This humble soul’s weak poetic greeting, may

  Please accept with a friendly smile, I pray.

           **************************

   28th February, 2022                     Somaseshu Gutala 

 

 

  

 

        

ODE TO Solitude

 

                               

   1)     Thou, dark mistress of silent tread!

            Afraid of thy grim looks I fled

            Yearning for human touch and tongue;

            No heavenly peace from thee has sprung

            No saint-like blessed mood

             No angelic revelation stood.

 

2)       Shadow of me wherever I go

           I dread to see thy tight-lipped face

           Thou hast not unlocked thy breast

           No heart-throbbing outflow

           Of feelings or friendly grace

           To stir my lonely bosom’s nest.

 

3)        No rosy passionate glow

           A sullen frowning brow; a slow

           Dragging pace as if ages passed

           With stony silence embossed;

            No lilt of dynamic warmth infused

            Thy iron grip makes me confused.

4)        Where are the charms that sages found in thee?

            What bliss serene that saints in thee have seen?

            What poetic zeal uplifted bards with glee?

            What made lovers seek relief in their grief?

            What made them in thee repose their belief?

            A dreary desolate island thou art

           With dreadful stillness in darkness caught.      

 

5)       Like a beast confined in a den

           Bereft of worldly vision;

           Thou, creature of the underworld

           Dark denizen of mystery hurled

           No friendly smile unfolds thy heart;

           Wedded to dark stillness thou art

           I know of weakened souls who depart

           Unable to forbear thy sickly state;

           Thy touch, a chilling reminder of our final fate.

 

6)        No praising paeans can I write

           Dumb, devilish sprite thou art;

           Breeding dark, melancholy thoughts;

           Gorgonic terror breeds thy sight

           No hopeful warmth, no prospects bright

           No philosophical magnitude

           Of noble thoughts, no positive attitude.

 

7)        Thou, sister of old age and death!

            Our final destination cold;

            Let loose thy weighty fetters hold;

            Before thy black gaze my weak breath

            Aggrieved runs like a deer

            Thy presence, a spine-chilling flash of fear;

             Thy bitter cup—none relishes, no cheer;

             May be a sage with godly mystic vision

             May be a bedlam fit for derision.

 

8)          And yet I keep thee in my bosom’s shrine

              Beyond the maddening din of reality;

              I choose thy serious, silent dusky mien;

              Untouched by transient fleeting levity;

              In thy dark depths I delve to find

              Thoughts too deep to my shallow mind;

              Like a diver I give up myself

              To view undiscovered precious pelf;

              Beyond the outer gleam of things

              Thy presence plucks my poetic strings.

  

9)           Welcome, dark denizen of my heart!

               Thy hard gaze hath its benign part;

                Show me thy mystic charms

                Glide swan-like with unseen tremor

                Into me with smooth gliding murmur.

 

10)           Like hard-shelled fruits with sweetest core

                 I feel thy delicious touch; no more

                 I shun thy serious looks that seem unkind;

                 A placid joy beyond outer veil I find

                 Be my life-long companion; come along                

                 Teach me thy peace and fortitude strong.

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

                            (O Solitude! where are the charms

                         That sages have seen in thy face?) – William Cowper.    

Gorgonic – monstrous : derived from the Greek monster, the Gorgon, who could turn anyone who looked at her into stone.

  Mien --- appearance   

          

     18th February, 2022                 Somaseshu Gutala

ODE TO MY MIND

 

          

                                               

  1.    How oft should I admonish you, Oh Mind!

         With you, I do not wish to be unkind;

         Though to my warnings you turned blind

          Oft crossing the limits meant for good

          You raged like a beast out of mood.

2.       How oft I warned you like a friend

          You rashly frowned, your ways you did not mend;

          With sense of defeat, you filled your heart

          And made others too sad for want of thought;

          In easy snare of pleasures, you were caught.

3.       What use your knowledge and wit I say

           You made your life a sordid play

           Of vicious thoughts and went astray;

           No ideals you have kept, a sheer pell-mell   

           No system, no rules, a confounded hell.

4.         A creature of chance in jig-jag ways

            You spent your fleeting days in idle ways

            Your words mismatched with your deeds

             A stagnant pool of idle creeds;

            While idle thoughts grow rapid like weeds.

5.         Of moral ways and goals so much you raved

            And yet to fleeting pleasures yourself enslaved;

            A road to hell with good intentions paved

            No more can I stand thy ways and wait

            I have to check thy ways and set you right.

 

6.         No more can I let loose thy senses free

            No more can I allow thy flippant spree

            Guided by reason you should strive

             In fickle ways you cannot thrive

             Listen to me; your hopes revive.

7.         Vain arguments lead you nowhere

            No reckless freedom can I spare;

            The yoke of morals you have to bear

            No tearful appeals, no pleading looks

            No clever allusions from learned books.

8.         No noble feelings you felt within

            In vain illusions do you spin;

            No feel of repentance or sin;

            No service motive for mankind

            In trivial worries yourself grind.

 

9.        Oh, Mind! Be calm like a bird in cage

            A beast deprived of furious rage

            Listen to me: my advice sage

            Haste not; be not a passion’s thrall

            Be wise and patient; act for good of all.

10.       Cool down, my mind, listen to noble call

            Find peace in helpful acts, though small

            You need not crave for ideals tall

            Please act with earnest faith in God

            He will guide you- no more discord.

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

     8th February, 2022                       Somaseshu Gutala

 

 

 

            

A Prayer

                  Prayer is the nearest approach to God

 

                              

  1)  A feeling gushing out like a water spring

       A feeling that moves our bosom to tears

       A feeling that strengthens and removes our fears

       A feeling that inspires us to merrily sing

       A feeling that lightens our hearts to swing

       A feeling that soothes our souls and comfort brings.

 

2)   A feeling that makes us forget our self

      A feeling that fills our hearts with joy unknown

      A feeling that makes us secure, and not alone;

      A feeling that makes us free from power and pelf;

      A feeling that makes us see a spark of Thine

      A feeling that gives relief from stress and strain.

 

3)  A feeling that gives satisfaction sweet

      A feeling that wipes off dividing lines

      A feeling that removes our worries vain

      A feeling that shows thee in every bird and beast.

      A feeling that strikes at our egoistic pride

      A feeling that broadens our vision clear and wide.

 

  4)  A prayer is not a social bargain     

       A prayer is not a business pact

       A prayer is not a mutual contract     

       A prayer is not a struggle, a craving for gain.

       A prayer is not just asking favours from God

       A prayer is not just offering gifts and praising Lord.

 

5)  A prayer is not doing rituals with expense great

     A prayer is not chanting Thy name without a break

     A prayer is not sacrificing beasts for Thy sake;

     A prayer is not to show off one’s status and state;

     A prayer is not a competitive trade

     A prayer is not a provocative tirade.   

 

6)  A prayer done with a sincere heart     

     A prayer done with no egoistic show;

     A prayer done with spontaneous feelings’ flow

     A prayer done irrespective of creed and caste

     A prayer done with noble and selfless thoughts

     A prayer true--with no diversions fraught.

 

6)   Wide knowledge and learning cannot reveal

       Adamant votive rites and sacrifices huge

       Will not lead us to seek God’s grace and refuge;

       Neither philosophy nor artistic skills;

       Neither visiting shrines or sacred spots

       Only surrender with a sincere selfless heart.

 

7)    A prayer reveals Thy all-pervading powers

        A prayer manifests Thy mysterious grace;

        A prayer transforms and checks our wayward ways;

        A prayer bestows peace and blessings showers;

        A prayer our sole support to reach Thy lotus-feet

        A prayer humbles our pride with devotion sweet.

 

8)    A prayer is the rising rose of dawn within

        A prayer is the star that shows our goal

        A prayer is the spiritual bread for our soul

        A prayer unfolds our hearts to repent for our sins;

        A prayer nourishes hope and strengthens our trust

        A prayer resurrects our soul from earthly dust.

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

              Prayer should be the key of the day

              and the lock of the night." George Herbert

                                                              

          25th January, 2022                         Somaseshu Gutala        

     

    

                       

       

       

 

    

 

 

     

 

     

                                 

My Visit to Kaleshwara Mukteshwara Temple, Kaleshwaram (Telangana)

  

Prowda Saraswati

                                            

Sculptures on Saraswati's temple

                                  

Haritha Hotel

                             

Sub-shrines around Pradakshinapatha

 Banks of Godavari and Pranahita rivers

This famous temple is located in Kaleswaram in Mahadevapur Mandal, near Ramagundam. It is one of the three sacred lingas (Srisailam, Draksharamam, and Kaleshwaram) in Telugu states from which the region got its name as Trilinga. The special feature of this Shiva temple is that one can see two lingas on the same pedestal. To the south of this temple the river Godavari flows in confluence with Pranahitha. So this is called Sangama where the Godavari and the Pranahitha join with Saraswathi that follows underground from the temple. This place is revered as second Kashi and many devotees perform holy ablutions and tarpanams for the liberation of their ancestors. The presence of Kala and Shiva at the same place signifies the rare combination of life and death, implying that life and death are not different.

 There is a spacious corridor leading to temple premises. The welcome arch is decorated with two lingams. After passing through the main tower at the entrance, Nandi Mantapa is seen in front of the main temple where one can see a beautiful idol of Nandi. There are four doorways to enter the temple from four directions and four Nandis are seen near four doorways. In Mukha mantapa the idols of Shringhi and Bhringhi are seen. In the sanctum two Shiva Lingas are seen on the same pedestal. The first Shiva Linga was installed by Kala or God of death. The second Shiva Linga is called Mukteshwara which has two holes on its crown. The water poured over this, flows through a secret passage and is said to join the Godavari River outside. Devotees have to worship Kaleshwara first and later Mukteswara as per tradition.

 Devotees can themselves enter the sanctum and do pooja and Abhishekam to the main deities. One has to take Rs.300/- to perform abhishekam in inner sanctum. Abhishekam is done here from 7.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 3.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.  Shiva Parvati Kalyanam is done daily from 9.30 a.m. to 10.3o0 a.m. other poojas like Satyanarayana Vratham, Kalasarpadosha Nivarana pooja and Navagrahabhishekam,  Navagrahahomam are done here. The temple is open from 4.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and from 3.30 p.m.to 8.00 pm.The temple is crowded during weekends, Mondays and during Maha Shivarathri and during  Navarathri festival days. 

Adjacent to this temple there is another shrine for Goddess Parvati who is called “Shubhananda Devi.” A little further one can see another temple for Saraswathi with a mukhamantapa. Around the circambulatory path one can see many sub-shrines of gods and goddesses. Idols of Durga, Dattatreya, Lord Vishnu, Sri Kashi Vishveshwara, Sri Bala Rajeshwara, Vijaya Ganapati, Maha Ganapati, Swarnakarshana Bhairava, Kala Bhairava, Sri  Bhairava, Veera Bahdra, Sri Kartikeya, Anjaneya, Mastyavatara Murti , Jyesta Devi and Lord Surya. A little further one can see another temple for Saraswathi with a mukhamantapa. The Goddess is named “Prowda Saraswathi”.There is a separate temple for Rama along with Sita and Lakshamana.

There is Adi Mukteshwara temple just two kms away from this temple. One can see a Shiva Linga with two holes in the sanctum. The temple priest said that Lord Mukteshwara moved from here to the present temple after Kala did penance. Here white Vibhuti stones were found on digging. Now one may not locate them.

In Skandapurana, the Kaleshwara Khanda mentions that River Goddess Godavari did penance here and requested Lord Shiva to stay here and give salvation to people who take bath in the river and worship Lord Shiva. Hence lord Shiva stayed here as Mukteshwara that is one who gives Mukti or moksha to devotees. Lord Kala finding that no one came to his world, requested Shiva to help him. Lord Shiva suggested that he should also install a Shiva Linga on his name as Kaleshwara beside Mukteshwara. Those people who do not worship Kaleshwara first before worshipping Mukteshwara would go to hell. The God of death installed a Shiva Linga (Kaleshwara) beside Mukteshwara on the same pedestal.

 As this temple is on the banks where two rivers which join just like in Kashi, this place is considered as another Kashi. Just before entering the temple on the western side, one can see a four-sided arch for devotees to pass through. This is called Yama Konam with Akhanda deepam called “Ganda Deepam”. People believe that people who go through this passage are saved from sufferings of Yama Loka. People pour oil into the vessel containing “Ganda Deepam”. Just a few steps down there is a large area where one can see an Audumbara tree (fig tree) with a statue of Lord Dattatreya. Many devotees come here and light lamps and go round the tree.

The temple was constructed by the Kakatiya king, Rudra Deva in twelfth century. The temple was constructed in Kakatiya style of architecture. Later Kakatiya kings and Vengi rulers also worshipped Lord Shiva and developed this temple. In 1140 A.D. Kakatiya king, Prolaraju II, visited this temple. Vellanki Gangadhara, Minister to King Ganapatideva, did much to improve this temple. In Kolipaka edict it was written that the daughters of Sri Vishweshwara Shivacharya, Kundamamba and Yelamamba (Guru of King Ganapatideva) were said to have installed one thousand and one hundred and sixteen Shiva lingas here.

Kakatiya king, Prataparudra, distributed gold worth his weight by performing Tulabhara ritual. In 1397 King Devaraya visited this temple and performed Pooja here.   Sri Shankaracharya came here and spent some time doing penance here. In 2000 A.D. Sri Bharatitheerthaswamy, Head of Shringeri Mutt, came here and installed various gods and goddesses in sub-shrines and also participated in renovation activities and Mahakumbhabhishekam. The Telangana Government also spent liberally to improve the facilities in this temple. The temple authorities and T.T.D.  provide accommodation facilities here. There also many private hotels also to provide accommodation here. It would be better if water and toilet facilities are provided here for the convenience of devotees. 

There are not many shelters for devotees to sit and relax. There are very few trees on the road leading to temple. So, there is much scope to develop greenery in and around. There are three routes to reach Kaleshwaram. The route from Hyderabad to Kaleshwaram via Warangal is 265 kms by road and via Karimnagar is 295 kms. Now there is a shorter route from Chennur and recently two bridges have been constructed over Pranahita river to reduce the distance and duration of travel. The road runs through a dense forest for nearly 30 kms. One can enjoy viewing the dense forest where many monkeys are seen playing on the  branches of the trees.

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

          11th January, 2022                          Somaseshu Gutala

 

 

My Visit to Cheeryal Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, Cheeryal (Telengana)

      

      

      

Sri Mallaram Eshwarayya, the founder of this temple

         This temple is located very close to Hyderabad. It is 10kms from ECIL Cross Roads and 5 kms before Keesera Gutta. It is connected to ECIL X Road by a four-lane road. Many city people visit this temple to enjoy the peaceful surroundings. The big lake before we enter the temple, with green paddy fields and trees refreshes one’s mind. The temple arch one of the biggest arches in Telengana region is very attractive with colourful carvings. On the top of the arch the idol of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy along with Lakshmi is seen flanked by idols of Ganesh and Hanuman bearing the Sanjeevani Mount. On the extreme ends two idols of Abhaya Anjaneya Swamy are seen. On the pillars of the arch the idols of Jaya and Vijaya and Garuda are seen. This is an exquisite specimen of architecture which captures the attention of the devotees.

         The parking space before the temple is very spacious and there is a place assigned for breaking coconuts. There is a shoe stand just beside the parking place. On the way to the temple one can see stalls selling pooja material and a hotel. The temple hall is very colourfully painted with sculptures of various gods. Around the Pradakshina Patha (circambulatory passage) one can see the ten incarnations of the Lord Vishnu. The idol of Lakshminarasimha in the centre is very attractive. The idol of the founder (Sri Mallaram Eshwaraiah) is seen in a niche. There is a tortoise-pond behind with a beautiful statue of Lord Vishnu reclining on the serpent-bed in the middle of the pond. Inside the sanctum the idol of Shanta Narasimha with Lakshmi is seen under the shade of Adi Sesha.

         There are many sevas done here. Every Friday Abhishekam is performed. Swarnapushparchana is done to the main lord. In every month on Swathi Nakshatra day, Swamy Kalyanam is done. There is a big hall for performing various rituals Satyanarahyanavratam, Sudarshana Homa, Annaprashana and Upanayanam. Many people make their wishes (Sankalpa) standing before Dwajha Stambham with a coconut in their hands and go round the temple for eleven, twenty-one or forty-one times. After their wish is fulfilled, they again come here and go round the temple for forty-one times. Many devotees come here on Saturday and spend the night here. The following day they do pradakshinas. Devotees believe that their wishes would be fulfilled if they sleep five Saturdays in this holy temple. The devotees who come here should not close their eyes before the main deity but look at the Lord with devotion. Here the devotees should come in traditional dress.  People wearing T-shirts and jeans are not permitted.

          In 2015 the temple authorities constructed a choultry with 41 rooms with all facilities. On the days of Poornima and Amavaasya also, many devotees come here to spend the night and do pooja on the following day. So, this Lord is called “Sankalpa Siddhi Narasimha”. On every Tuesday special poojas are done to Lord Anjaneya and Lord Subrahmanaya. Kalasarpanivarana Pooja is also done on this day. On every Wednesday special poojas are done to Maha Ganapati. Special Poojas are done during the months of Kartik and Margasirsha months and on Vaikunta Ekadashi. In this temple Brahmostavams are celebrated in the month of April every year for three days. 

          There are many sub-shrines in this temple like, Maha Ganapati andAnjaneya. At the back of the temple near the choultry, one can see the shrines of Bangaru Mysamma, Nalla Pochamma and Subrahmanhya. These idols were found in the field of Ishwaraiah. 

          Regarding the founding of this temple, the credit goes to Mallaram Eshwarayya who is a staunch devotee of Lord Narasimha. He had a vision of Lord Narasimha who asked him to go to Yadagiri and worship the Lord there. He went there and brought a picture of Yadagiri Narasimha and kept it in his pooja room and lit Akhanda Deepam. Many people visited his pooja room and worshipped the Lord. Later His son, Mallaram Lakshminarayana too worshipped the Lord and received Narasimha mantra from Guru. Inspired by Lord’s vision he got Narasimha idol made on April19th 2007, and kept it in his pooja room. Later he thought a temple would be a suitable place to worship the Lord. So, in his field guided by the Lord he selected a suitable place and laid the foundation stone and did Pranapratishta on May 1^st 2008. While digging the field, he saw a serpent as if blessing him. So, a shrine for Naga devata is seen in the temple. The shrines of Grama Devatas (Village goddesses), Bangaru Mysamma and Nalla Pochamma have been renovated.

          In this temple the traditions followed by Yadagiri temple priests are followed here since devotees believe that Cheeryal Narasimha is a manifestation or Amsha of Yadagiri Lakshmi Narasimha. Many temples of Narasimha are seen in hill-caves. But here the Lord is seen on the ground floor and so devotees can go round the Lord to get their wishes fulfilled. Many Telugu serials’ shooting is done here. Telengana Chief Minister, Sri K.C.R visited this temple to fulfil his vows. The working hours of this temple are from 6.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.  On Saturdays and Sundays, the working hours are from 6.30 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. For city people this is a very nearby place to visit and spend peaceful time and worship the Lord who is regarded as very powerful and who removes obstacles and fulfils the wishes of devotees who pray to him with sincere devotion.

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

     

       29th December, 2021                                                     Somaseshu Gutala

My Visit to Kotilingeshwara Temple (Siddipet)

                 

                          

                           

Kotilingeshwara temple was established in 1979 by Swamy Sri Madanananda in Indira Nagar located nearly 2.5 kms from Siddipet bus stand on the highway towards Medak. A welcome arch with idols of Lord Shiva and Parvati with Lord Ganesh and Lord Subrahmanya on either side greets the devotees. The temple tower is beautifully decorated with figurines of Lord Shiva and his Parivar (family). On the back side of the tower one can see the figurines of Sri Kalahasthiswara and that of Kannappa worshipping Shiva. A beautiful Nandi statue is seen in the hall facing the inner sanctum.

 Sri Madanananda Swamy had a vision to build a temple with one crore Pardhiva Lingams (lingams made of clay). Searching for a suitable place  Swamiji arrived at Koppole village  by the blessings of Koppole Sangameshwara. He asked his devotees to write the name of the village where they want a temple on a piece of paper and keep at the feet of Sangameshwara Swamy. He ordered one of his devotees to pick up one piece of paper. The piece of paper contained the name of Siddipet. So Swamiji arrived at Siddipet and stayed at Sharabeshwaralayam. His devotees made one crore Shiva lingams made of clay (Parthivalingams).   Philanthropists and people at Siddipet also extended financial support. In May 1979, Swamy performed Yantrasahita Vigrahapratishta.The main idol was brought from Varanasi. In the sanctum Shiva Panchakshari-written manuscripts were buried beneath the main idol at a depth of one foot. Divine symbols of Chandra Rekha, Bhasma Rekhalu, Parvathi and Ganga Devi are seen on the main idol in the temple. Once a cobra with Shiva lingam mark on its hood arrived on the bag containing the Parthiva lingams and stayed there for four hours to shower blessings on the devotees. 

There are twelve sub-shrines in the temple hall. The central hall or mukha mantapa is supported by thirty-six pillars. The mukha mantapa is beautifully painted with green, pink and gold colours.  The temple walls are decorated with beautiful carvings and designs. There are other halls like a sacrificial hall to conduct homams and yagnas, a library and a function hall to conduct marriages.

 The Sadananda Ashram where Swamy lived provides accommodation facility. There is an independent Vedic Patashala in Ashram premises. The subshrines in and around the temple are those of Sri Raja Rajeshwari, Gayathri Devi, Anjaneya, Dattatreya, Subrahmanya,  Santoshi Mata,Adi Shankaracharya, Murali Krishna, Navagrahalu, Sri Pashupainath, Sai Baba,Tulasi Mata, Chandishwara and Madanananda Swamy and Sri Shiva Sthupam. Just near the entrance before entering the Mukhamantapa. 

There is a big hall where one can see one hundred and eight lingams along with idols of Uma Maheshwara. Every Monday Shiva Kalyanam is performed here. Special poojas are done during festivals and on Shiva Rathri. The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. This temple has become a holy pilgrimage spot for all devotees. One can spend peaceful time in the serene surroundings of temple which has many beautiful shrines with exquisite sculptures and idols. The nearby tourist places are: Sarabheswaralayam(2 kms), Kondapochamma Sagar, Sangameshwara Temple (20kms), Ananthasagar(30kms), Siricilla Textile City(34kms) and Vidya Saraswathi Kshetram(60kms) from Siddipet.

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

    19th December, 2021                          Somaseshu Gutala