Sunday, February 26, 2012

TEMPLES IN SECUNDERABAD-HYDERABAD


Dear All

Namaste.

In my last Blog entry I concluded that I would be meeting you all after visiting Yadigirigutta – Sri Lakshminarasimha Temple.  But could not make it though I had planned to visit there due to ongoing Brahmotsavam – well-wishers from Hyderabad advised me not to venture during the festival.  I really missed the darshan of Swamy’s Jaganmohini Alankaram [do not dream of Vittalachari’s Jaganmohini].

But not to waste the day, with my ever-loving pillion rider of sahadharmacharini, planned to visit some of the temples in Secunderabad-Hyderabad.


SRI TADBUND VEERANJANEYA SWAMY DEVASTHANAM  located in the road connecting Bowenpally and Sikhvillage in Secunderabad.

The main deity is Veera Anjaneya in swayambu form [self existent] on the sacred rock.  The temple if very spacious with marble flooring.  Also has sannadhis for Lord Ganesh and Shiva and also Navagraham.

For the first time in my life I saw a Ushtra(उष्ट्र) [Camel] housed opposite to Anjaneya Sannadhi near Dwajasthambam  [also seen like this in Shyam Temple opposite to Kacheguda Railwaystation].  But I churned my little brain but in vain to fix this.  On return to room googled and above all talked to my Pithashri, who in his own style replied “sarthanda, sarthan…. atleast in Mahabharath there is a reference to Camel, but no such reference in Ramayana.  When Anjaneya himself can travel and high speed, there is no need for him to have a special Vahana.

The custom in this temple is after darshan and pradhaksihnam [perambulation] one has to go out through the back door [as we visited during morning session, we were given sumptuous quantity of steaming hot ven-pongal, chanting Jai Sri Ram].




SRI UJJAINI MAHAKALIMATHA DEVASTHANAM à located in General Bazaar, Secunderabad.  The history of the temple can be read in http://sriujjainimahakalimatha.org/abouttemple.php

Though the temple is small in size it attracts good crowd.  Opposite to the main deity MAHAKALI a small shrine having replica of the main deity, in front of which ladies were lighting lamps in the lemon shells and offering pongal.  There was also a goat ready for sacrifice.  In the upper platform, idols of Simhavahini and Muneeswar are available.




Opposite to this temple across the road, is SRI MAHAKALESHWAR SHRINE with dhara pouring continuously.




SRI UGRA NARASIMHA SWAMY DEVALAYAM RP Road, Secunderabad à though small seems to be famous.  When you visit the temple, without fail keep your bag/helmet outside so that the pandit does not get ugram. 




SHRI VENKATESHWARASWAMY DEVASTHNAM [CHIKKADPALLI] which is the nano version of Tirumala Temple – Kalyana Utsavam was going on – Hundi similar to that of Tirumala –Tonsure Offering Section.  Availability of Lingam and Navagraham [with hanuman] is addition.   

Near the place where I parked my bike, I could see the base of a tree looking like the feet of an elephant [check yourself in the pic].





SRI KANCHI KAMA KOTI PEETHAM SRI SHYAM MANDIR [a small hillock opp.to Kacheguda Railway Station]

          This place is known as VEERANNA GUTTA for the locals has Shrines of Lord Krishna, Anjaneya, Shiva, Ganesh, Veerabhadhra, Navagraha and Naga Devatha.

          Though number of steps are less from road to the first level, to facilitate Senior Citizens there is a lift [I availed the facility too though I am not SC, as I had SC with me].  








After darshans in all these temples, visited Shri Chincholi Sarvotham Rao [85yrs], one of the senior most netted bandhams I have.  We know each other through two different Yahoogroups since 2006. Could meet him briefly on 4th Dec 2011.  He is from the first batch of Indian Forest Service and after retirement worked as consultant, still sought after by environmentalists. I could see the joy and happiness flowing from his eyes when he briefed us of his service expereinces and above all to receive Athithis, in the form of Rajen Babu – Cheenu, sight which I felt as icing on the cake for the day.  After devouring sweet, mixture, buttermilk and juice, we bid adieu to Shri Rao and left his house with load of his blessings.




Bye, Bye…….

Sunday, February 19, 2012

SANGHI TEMPLE, HYDERABAD

During a discussion with a hospital representative at Office, visits to temples at Hyderabad came up.  I was asked whether I had visited Sanghi Temple.  Thus the quest for visiting the Temple filled my heart.The trip has been finalised for 19-FEB-2012 morning with Shri Rajen Babu, who loves to come as pillion in my Sahadharmacharini [term learnt from Shri V.Venkatraman, Air Vice-marshal Retd., Bangaluru] Bajaj Pulsar 150cc.  Unfortunately Shri Babu could not make it due to his ill health.
Sahadharmacharini
But I got another Babu, Shri Ankem Narendra Babu, Nampally Park Walking Friend, retired official from SC Railway, as my pillion.I started from my room at 8.00 am and picked up Shri AN.Babu opposite to Nampally Station and started our tour. 

On the way at HOTEL SUPRABHAT, Easamiya Market had delicious Karnataka style set dosa with mixed veg curry & chutney and aromatic filter coffee. Then proceeded directly to the temple via Malakpet, Dilshuknagar, LB Nagar, Inner Ring Road, Hyat Nagar, Peddamberpet from where took right turn [near Dr.Ambedkar Statue] to Koheda X road and took left turn and  via underpass of Outer Ring Road to reach Sanghi Nagar, developed by SANGHI TEXTILES GROUP.  The temple complex is in south indian style  on the top of PARAMANAND GIRI HILL.   The temple can be seen from the distance before reaching Sanghi Nagar. 
Temple Complex  from distance
Once we reach the main gate in the foot hill [45 deg steep] vehicles have to stop to pay ticket fees [2 wheelers Rs.10 and 4 wheelers Rs.20].  It's better that the pillion rider/other person in the car pay for the tickets so that the person in the driving seat does not strain for the balancing, etc., of the vehilce.

On crossing the gate, on the right side we can find the ANJANEYAR Sannadhi.  After praying in his sannadhi for greater strength [budhir bhalam yasho dhairyam...] one can climb up the Hill.  

After crossing this sannadhi we find the Foot Step path on the right side.  With steep road and a blind curve one can reach the top of the Hill to have the darshan of Lord Venkateshwara.  On reaching the top,  I looked into my odometer which showed 40 kms.  the distance we covered in one hour [excluding waiting time to pick up Shri Babu and breakfast time].

The complex has 3 large gopurams - the center is taller than the other two opposite to Lord Venkateshwara's Sannadhi.    The other two are opposite to the sanctums of  Goddess Padmavathi and Lord Ramalingeshwar. The idol in the sanctum is about 9-1/2 feet tall.    Opposite to the sanctum dwells Perumal's primary bhakta-cum-vahana Lord Garuda.  

On the right  side of Lord Venkateshwara's sannadhi,  Ashtalakshmi Temple with Adhi Lakshmi in the center and rest of the Lakshmis around her in the outer wall and to its Goddess Padmavathi's sannadhi.

On the left side are sannadhis for Radha-Krishna, Sita-Rama, Lord Ganesh, Lord Subrahmanya, Goddess Durga and Lord Ramalingeshwar-SriKamalambika.  On the north-east corner of the complex NAVAGRAHAMs are situated.

One can spend as much time as possible in each sannadhi and do prayers as per one's wish.  Though the SUN was hot, it was offset by the cool breeze.  One can also enjoy the surrounding scenic beauty - road leading to Ramojirao Film City, Sanghi Mills, colourful bougainvilleas.

The general darshan is from 8 am to 8 pm with a break from 12 noon to 4 pm.  Archanas are performed at 9.30 am, 10.30 am, 11.30 am, 5.30 pm, 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm.

Though photography is prohibited as per the NOTICE BOARDS, people were clicking (including me).
Some of the clix of mine are given below.   Visitors have to be careful with the monkeys. 
Lord Venkateshwara Sannadhi [from Goddess Padmavathi shrine]

Lord Venkateshwara Sannadhi [from Lord Ramalingeshwar shrine]












As guided by Shri Rajen Babu, to whom I talked after darshan, during return journey we visited Ashtalakshmi Temple @ Dilsukhnagar.


Return drive was faster than the onward, as the route became familiar.  After dropping Shri AN Babu at his house and drinking steaming filter coffee, returned to room and started planning for the next visit - YADAGIRIGUTTA [60 kms from Hyderabad on the way to Warrangal - Sri Lakshminarasimhaswami Temple].

See you all after that visit... Till then bye bye...