Cheenu's Visit To....: March 2012

उग्रं वीरं महाविष्णुं ज्वलन्तं सर्वतोमुखं |
नृसिंहं भीषणं मृत्युमृत्युं नमाम्यहं ||

ugram viram mahavishnum jvalantam sarvatomukham |
nrsimham bhishanam bhadram mrtyumrtyum namAmyaham ||

I salute the God who is death to death itself,

Who is ferocious , who is valorous , who is great Vishnu,

Who shines with faces in all directions,

Who is Narasimha , who frightens and who takes care of.

[thanks to google transliteration facility for for devanagari typing and shri p.p.ramachander for translation of the sloka]

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Hi dear all...

On 8th March 2012, the HOLI DAY, a holiday, converted to holy place visit by me.

Though people told not to venture on this day to visit Yadagirigutta in my sahadharmacharini, I ventured the trip after routine Hanuman Temple visit at Lakdi-ka-pul, Hyderabad at 9.50 am and enquiring the route at 11.15 am reached SURENDRAPURI. The route taken by me - Lakdi-ka-pul - Khairatabad - Rajbhavan Road - SP Road to reach Marredpally from Somajiguda - Tarnaka - Habsiguda - Uppal to catch NH-202 going to Warrangal... a 78 km drive non-stop. One has to take left turn at the Rayagiri Junction at the NH. As a new flyover has been constructed, one has to be cautious not to miss the turn, as at present the indication boards are not available. Snaps taken in the highway.

BHUVANAGIRI

SURENDRAPURI:

It is on the way to Yadagirigutta [3 kms]. It is having "KUNDA SATYANARAYANA KALADHAMAM" which is the centre for mythological awareness [opened on 9th march 2009].

The timing is 8.30 am to 5 pm, with entrance fees Rs.250 for Adult and Rs.200 for children. As I was solo man, I did not visit and more so it would take more than 3 hours to cover the same - important pilgrim centres like Kashi, Gangotri, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Amarnath, Sapthaloka and scenes from epics - Ramayana and Mahabharata. No bag, No Mobile, No camera allowed inside. Some of the snaps of the Dhamam from outside.

In the open yard there are some gigantic idols of various Gods.

Back to back installation of Lord Hanuman and Lord Shiva

One can climb up and go inside the Lingam and see the following idols.

Before reaching the base of Lingam

View of Yadagirigutta from Mahalingam of Surendrapuri

After all these snaps and having a cup of timely tea in a shop opposite to the main gate of Kalamandapam zoomed to Yadagirigutta.

YADAGIRIGUTTA:

It is a popular hill temple of Lord Sri Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy in Nalgonda District of Andhrapradesh. The temple is open from 4.00 am to 9.30 pm with complete closure from 3.00 pm to 4.00 pm. During the day lots of aaradhanas are carried out at which time the darshan ques are stopped.

The annual 11 days Brahmotsavam is conducted in Feb-March which attracts devotes tens and thousands of pilgrims various parts of country.

In the foot hill Vaikunta Dwaram welcomes the pilgrims, from where steps to the top of the Gutta starts.

The road in the right side of this Dwaram leads to the top of the hill. One has to negotiate 2 hairpin bends to reach the top, where this arch welcomes all.

Apart from other ordinary hotels and rooms to stay, APTDC runs this for the pilgrims safe and comfortable stay

After reaching the top at 12.30 pm with much difficulty found a safe place to park the bike [a pooja material vendor] and handing over the helmet [a must one for safe travel, but extra luggage to carry], but had to oblige taking 2 coconuts from him, I climbed 10 steps to reach the temple area, to be welcomed by bhaktas crowd.

When I was standing looking at the crowd and sporting quizzical face, a passerby advised me to go for "athi seegrha darshan que" [fast darshan que]. Imagining that now it is only 12.30 by going through this fast que I can come out in half an hour after darshan and whilst returning visit Bhuvanagiri too. To reach the said que I crossed the following.

When I was about to reach the starting of the special darshan que, I had the fortune of witnessing the Rathaseva of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha offered by a Bhaktha.

After this unexpected darshan stood at the tail end of the special darshan que, which never moved "athi seegram" [very fast]. To reach the counter it took 45 mts. and after that had to wait for about 2-1/2 hour to enter the temple. During the waiting period what to do, nothing was better than chanting Bhajagovindam & Vishnusahasranamam - plugged in my mobile headphone, played the tracks of ever divine voice of Late MSS and did karoke of the slokams.

Gopuram of the Sanctum

At 2.45 pm the que moved and I reached the entrance of the Temple. The steps were taking me towards the cave temple of Sri Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy. After entering at the rightside saw Lord Hanuman's sannadhi. After climbing down further I reached the sannadhi of the sanctum. After entering the sanctum one should not deviate the attention to have darshan of swaymbu formation of - Lord Ghandabherunda Narasimha and Lord Jwala Narasimha, which are in the Rock right side of the NARASIMHNA-LAKSHMI idols.

Withstanding the push "jarugandi, jarugandi -- go, go" I could stand for around 10 mts to pray for my dears and nears, came out at 3.15 pm after passing through Andal and Aazhvar sannadhis, by which time the Sri Ramalingeswara's temple got closed. I waited outside the temple main door and had nap.

The temple opened at 4.15 pm. In the temple of Sri Ramalingeshwara in the sanctum idols of Sri Parvathavardhini [left side] and Sri LakshmiNarayana [right side] are installed. There are sannadis for GANAPATI, KUMARASWAMY, ANJANEYA and NAVAGRAHA.

After this darshan before returning to the bike parking place took these snaps.

Main Temples Gopuram and Mantap

Yadagiri Town from the top

View of Surendrapuri from hill top

A new temple under construction in Yadagiri - view from hill top

Thanking the pooja material seller for having taken care of bike and helmet safely started back at 4.50 pm to Hyderabad and gave a lift to a person at top to wished to get dropped at Yadagiri Bus Stand to catch a bus to Hyderabad [though I offered lift up to hyderabad, he did not have confidence]. Whilst passing through the railway over bridge near Rayagiri Station, saw a small temple built on the midst of the rocky mount with a ball rock being held my two others. With proper company have to climb up to see the temple and enjoy nature's creation.

By driving at 60 to 80 kmph on the empty highway could reach back Hyderabad at 6.15 pm and after distributing the prasadams to 3 bandhus who live on my way back to room, reached my den at 8.45 pm. with happiness of making a wonderful journey.

Those who visit Hyderabad do not miss the visit to Yadagirigutta and Surendrapuri by allocating sufficient time to enjoy both.

Bye bye to all till my next journey.

Hi to all dears and nears....

From the time I landed at Hyderabad in Feb.2011, I was assuring Shri Parthasarathy, of a Google Group, residing at RAINTREE PARK - MALAYSIAN TOWNSHIP that I would be visiting a day to his house. But some how the visit did not materialise.

On 3rd evening finally I made a visit to enjoy the fine hospitality of Parthasarathy Couple. The township where Shri Parthasarathy lives, looks like a separate world - High end security, recreation clubs of different level, reading rooms separately for senior citizens, restaurants, swimming pool, tennis court, music class rooms, medicine shops, clinics, super market and AASARA's room [after a gap of around 8 years had an opportunity to try my skill in carrom board - not bad could do well in patches].

Opposite to the Complex lies a small mount called GOVARDHANA GIRI, on its top is the Temple for "Sri Mahavishnu Swaroopa Venugopalaswamy".

Whatta fortunate soul I am.. to see the Lord Krishna I was taken in Maruthi by "Parthasarathy" as SARATHY.

GOVARDHANA GIRI is a small rocky mount with rough and non-metaled road. Vehicles can go up to the top. Few stop half way and climb the small stair way to reach top. As the way and the surroundings of the temple are to yet to be developed the Bhaktas can really feel the song of Ayyappa Bhaktas "kallum mullum kaalukku medhai..... the stones and thorns are like mattress".

I was given to understand that in 2007 during development of the area, this mount with small idol of Lord Venugopal was found and later on the asthigas started the work and in the year 2009 the present structure of the temple came up.

Those who wish to have Darshan of Sri Venugopalaswamy can visit during evening so that the weather is cool and after sun set to see the colorful Hyderabad.

Some of the pics are for your visual treat. Till next... bye bye have nice days....