2nd part of the Padha yatra. In fact Bhuvana completed typing all 4 parts and I am running slow in mapping those places. Hopefully will try to complete this sooner!! As I keep mapping the places He visited, it is frightening to see the map (see at the end of this post).
Highlights in this phase::
- Entering Karnataka
- Stayed at Hagari at 68 days – pretty much the longest stay since He started
- Navarathiri @Sandhanur
- Sivarathiri @Hampi
- Periyava gets the made-shift rickshaw – i thought the rickshaw was in use for a much earlier time!
- 5.7.78. Wed.: Kondapuram (4 km). After snanam in the canal and biksha, stay at a road-side mantapam. Went to Ravi Venkatapalle, making a detour of 2 km and Yerrangundapalle.
- 6.7.78. Thur.: Reached Venkatesaperumal temple at Tadpatri (7 km). A place of architectural beauty. Bucca Ranialingeswara Siva Temple, on the banks of Pennar river, is in a dilapidated condition. All the idols are mutilated. Both the temples belong to the 13th century. Guava trees in plenty. Monkeys here are friendly and playful.
- 9.7.78. Sun.: Went to Chuvulurchanna Kesava Perumal and Anjaneya temples (6 km) and then to Iduguru (4.5 to 0.5) for night stay.
- 10.7.78. Mon.: Midday at a roadside mandapam (chatram as it is called by local police at Seemaldavankpalle (5.5 km) and night stay at Anjaneya temple at Vemalpade (5 km).
- 11.7.78. Tue.: Rayalacheruvu (6 km). Night stay at Kishtappadu.
- 12.7.78. Wed.: Kondapad Ranganathaswamy temple (10 km). Kannikaparameshwari temple (10 km) at Gooty for night stay (8 km).
- 13.7.78. Thur.: Stay in a tent at Rajapuram (8 km) proceeded to Anjaneya temple at Thimmam Cherla, in spite of the pleading of all not to proceed further. There was a heavy downpour. Though the sky was clear at the time of starting, it was very difficult to lead the rickshaw or the cycle. If we had remained in the originally intended camping site, it would have been completely inundated. People say that they never had such a heavy rain in the past so many years. Every one including H.H. and all the things were completely drenched.
- 14.7.78. Fri.: Kannikaparameswari temple at Guntakkal (6.5 km). Night stay at P.W.D. quarters at Panchvadi (11.5 km). (Hanchanahalu in Kannada) (5 km).
- 15.7.78. Sat.: Gadekkal Eswaran temple (5 km). Night stay at Joladarsi (14.5 km) after snanam in the stream on the way. Entered Karnataka state.
- 16.7.78. Sun.: Reached Hagari (5 km). Ekadasi snanam in the Hagari river. Stay at Hagari for 68 days.
- 20.7.78. Thu.: Vyasapuja Mantrakshada given to all by H.H.
- 15.9.78. Fri.: F.R.P. Rickshaw delivered. Lot of incomplete works – rectified.
- 16.9.78. Sat.: Viswarupayatra went on Kurnol road (1.5 km). Exposition of Bhagavatgeetha Viswarupa Adhyayam at water works.
- 23.9.78. Sat.: Stay at Hagari for 68 days. During the stay at Hagari, all persons of Panyam Cements, right from Sri Ramana, Mg. Director and Sri Chenna Veerappa, General Manager, down to the workers were hospitable and cooperative. People from Bellary and Hospet came for darshan in good numbers, during weekends. Left Hagari for Bellary Kannika Parameshwari temple (18 km).
- Very large crowd. Morning 8 am to night 10 pm. H.H. gave darshan without rest.
- 24.9.78. Sun.: Sankara Mutt and then to Alhipuram. (8 km).
25.9.78. Mon.: Veni Veerapenam and then to Kudithani Nityanandaswami Mutt. Stay among Harijans (11 km).- 26.9.78. Tue.: Thoranagal T.B. bungalow (11 km). Morarji Desai who came for darshan at 10.30 a.m. meditated for 45 minutes. Night stay Tharanagaram (12 km). P.W.D. quarters. Very bad road. Heavy rain during night.
- 27.9.78. Wed.: Started in the evening and reached Sandhur Siva temple (12 km).
- 1.10.78. Sun.: Mahalaya Amavasya – Madyanika Snanam at Harisankar – Continuous flow of spring water – small Siva temple. Proceeded to Kumaraswamy (12 km). Main deity Subramanya. Women not allowed. Beautiful idol. Very famous temple for districts all around. Siva Parvathi Sannidhis also in the same compound.
- 2.10.78. Mon.: Came back to Sandhur for Navarathri.
- 11.10.78. Wed.: Vijayadasami day. Went to Sankara Mutt (1.5 km). On way back visited palace temples, Dattatreya etc.
- 14.10.78. Sat.: To Donimalai (11 km).
- 16.10.78. Mon.: Back to Sandhur (11 km).
- 21.10.78. Sat.: Left Sandhur (23 days stay). Very good dairy farm with cows yielding as much as 35 litres milk. Mid-day at Siddhapur Anjaneya temple. Night stay at Chintamani mutt at Amaravathi in Hospet. (34 km).
- 22.10.78. Sun.: To Venugopalaswamy temple and back to Chintamani Mutt.
- 23.10.78. Mon.: Night stay at Kaddirampur Subramanyaswamy temple built by Palaniappa Pillai (9 km).
- 24.10.78. Tue.: Reached Hampi and stayed at Vidyaranya Mutt (3 km). Went to Lakshmi Narasimha and Badru Lingam surrounded by water.
- 27.10.78. Fri.: Went to Kamalapurani via Hazara Ramaswamy temple where there were carvings of Ramayana on the walls – stay at Anjaneya temple (5 km).
- 28.10.78. Sat.: Dwadasi – went to Anegundi (5 km) after crossing the Tungabadra at Talarikadu. In the evening went to Pampasarover – Sabari Ashram; Risyamukha, Hemakutam, Malyavantam, Anganadi are all within a radius of about 6.4 km on both the sides of the river. Night stay at Pampasarover after darshan at Lakshmi temple. Sabari Guha – a calm place.
- 29.10.78. Sun.: Back to Anegundi (3 km) after seeing Gani Ranganatha Swami and Durga temples, on the way, lot of caves.
- 30.10.78. Mon.: Deepavali Annapurani and Rudrakshamandapam.
- 1.11.78. Wed.: Gangavathi Ram temple (12 km) built by Manohara Chetty.
- 3.11.78. Fri.: Rama temple belonging to Sugar Mills. Night stay at Malyavantham (11 km).
- 4.11.78. Sat.: Moolam – Ramathirtham and Lakshmanathirtham.
- 5.11.78. Sun.: Back to Hampi via Vittalaraya and Kondandarama temples (6 km).
- 6.11.78. Mon.: Skanda Sashti at Kaddirampur.
- 7.11.78. Tue.: Heavy rain.
- 9.11.78. Thur.: To Hampi and back (6 km)
- 10.11.78. Fri.: Ekadasi – to Hampi and back.
- 11.11.78. Sat.: Brindavana Dwadasi. To Kodanda Ramaswami temple and back, (7 km)
- 12.11.78. Sun.: Pradosha darsanam at Hampi and back (6 km).
- 13.11.78. Mon.: Went upto Chandrasekara temple at Kamalapuram. On return, stayed at Vidyaranyar Samadhi (13 km).
- 14.11.78. Tue.: Pournami snanam at Tungabadra and as usual after japam at Sarada Sannidhi returned to Kaddirampur – Upavasam – Annabisheka (3 km).
- 15.11.78. Wed.: Kadamuzhukku at Tungabadra and as usual after japam at Sarada Sannidhi returned to Kaddirampur (6 km).
- 16.11.78. Thur.: To Hampi (6 km).
- 23.11.78. Thur.: Breaks mounam.
- 10.12.78. Sun.: To Malyavantham via Kamalapuram to attend the concluding discourse of Ramayana by 30-year old Purani Das in Gujarati, organized by Gujarati Mandal. About 1,500 persons attended. (6 km).
- 12.12.78. Tue.: Dwadasi and Pradosha Madyanhika biksha at Madhuvanam. Went to Kaddirampur for Karthigai darsanam (8 km).
- 13.12.78. Wed.: Pournima puja at Hampi (3 km).
- 14.1.79. Sun.: To Kaddirampur.
- 17.1.79. Wed.: Hospet Nageswara temple (8 km).
- 18.1.79. Thur.: Reached Kali temple at Tungabhadra dam site (6 km).
- 20.1.79. Sat.: Anjaneya temple.
- 21.1.79. Sun.: Reached Munirabad (5 km). Kamakshi Vimanam Vigraham was brought.
- 22.1.79. Mon.: To Rangan Gowd’s H.R.G. oil factory at Hosa Halli near Munirabad (3 km).
- 23.1.79. Tue.: Sivapuram (9 km). Then to Gangammagudi near I.B. at Sonapuram (15 km).
- 24.1.79. Wed.: Reached Hampi via Virupakanda after halt at Reddy’s house and crossing Tungabhadra.
- 25.2.79. Sun.: Sivaratri.
- 27.2.79. Tue.: Guru Aradhana.
- 24.3.79. Sat.: Night stay at Anantharayanagudi.
- 25.3.79. Mon.: Venugopalaswami temple (3 km).
- 26.3.79. Tue.: Renukamba temple at Hosur (6 km). Nice place, famous temple. Body of the Devi fell here and head on the other side of the river at Huligi.
- 7.4.79. Sat.: Left Hosur after remaining for Vasantha Navarathri. Sandhur Yuvaraja came daily and presented silk garments to Ranganatha Sastrigal and other pundits and vastrams to others – reached Sonapuram ( 30 km) via Huligi. Noon stay at Huligi – Nice bathing ghat among rocks.
- 8.4.79. Sun.: Crossed the river to go to Hampi.
- 11.4.79. Wed.: Vidyaranya Mutt Swami arrived and had discussion with H.H.
- 12.4.79. Thur.: Car festival of Virupaksheswara. Newly fabricated car after the old car broke six years back. In the evening Thoda to the sthapathi and shawls to all the sthapathi’s assistants and pandits were presented in the presence of H.H. Sandhur Maharaja presented an Emerald Necklace with Diamond embedded Gold Pendant to Eswara and mangalsutra in pearl to Bhuvaneswari worth about (Rs.25,000 & Rs.7,000) and Jari Vastrams to Eswara and sarees to Devis. Arakonam Parasurama Iyer also presented shawls and sarees to Eswara and Devi.
- 13.4.79. Fri.: Last day of the year Kalayukthi.
( We have presented in two parts, till now, the last Pada Yatra of Sri Sri Maha Swamigal, to be continued.)
We intercept here, to solicit your attention to note that – ‘wants’ can be multiplied a million-fold. But to set an example of austerity, coupled with a naturalness in following it every moment, is a lesson to us to follow to have a meaningful life, rich in righteousness.
It was this single thought that prompted us to carry the above diary notings of Sri Mettur Swamigal, in HRD TIMES.
Categories: Devotee Experiences, Mahesh's Picks
SriSri,
I am talking about the huge photo at Kanchi Mutt Periyava’s Brindavan..that was taken by the Sandur Rajah finding a permanent place at His adhishtanam.Tks.
Yes Sir,
I know about this photo …I was standing little away when this photo was taken near Sandur where SRI SRI SRI PERIYAVAL TOOK BATH IN THE MORNING ON 16/10/1978.
I was referring about the one kept in Sandur Shiva Temple where SRI MAHA PERIYAVAL STAYED FOR SOME DAYS.
ELLAM ANTHA SRI MAHA PERIYAVAL ANUGRAHAM
Sandur Maharaj was such a great devotee,that Periyava Himself allowed the Rajah to take some rare photos on the Thungriver bed.The one which is inviting all of us into Him at His anushtanam@kanchi mutt was taken by Rajah.
Pls make a correction on 7/4/79′. it can’t be Hosur?
Yes! There is a Great photo of SRI SRI SRI PERIYAVAL (Taken by Sandur Maharaja) with gracious smiling (showing His bony chest….without upper covering) kept inside the SHIVA TEMPLE AT SANDUR(near the palace)..I was witnessing this pose when OUR GOD was sitting in the stairs of the temple facing south as that of LORD DAKSHINAMURTHY……this photo must be available in a studio in HOSPET( I vaguely remember as that of Alanjar photo studio) As I don’t have the copy to post that particular photo I request any of our members residing near Bellary/HOSPET to look for and oblige us with posting here.
I am sure that by the GRACE OF KANCHI MAHAN we would get it soon.
With pranams o MAHA PERIYAVAL.
In 78,He was75!To cover 35KMs in one stretch ,after Sankara,who is none other than Parameswara Himself,whether anyone in Human History otherthan our Mahaperyava has made it?He is Parameswara Himself..For those who are still in doubt shd see Mahaperiyavas CD walking across Manadapam Bridge connecting Rameswaram,w here between the deep rocky seas and a very high wind ve locity ,with only small wooden planks(train .tracks u can imagine)He crosses that 2KM to the astonishment of all those present!
Nadamadum Deivam!
Mahesh’s effort to map is Treasure for posterity!
Grateful indeed!
I remember when He was returning to Sandur from our project He was accorded a welcome in the village by name Hosahalli (enroute to sandur from donimalai) at about 7 AM or so.ON 16/10/1978….the village folk kept a small stone(washed and kept) and our great great SRI SRI SRI PERIYAVAL stood on that stone and blessed the villagers who have gathered there.I very much remember how HE allowed AND BLESSED some of them to touch HIS LOTUS FEET.
Again I was told how SRI SRI SRI PERIYAVAL COVERED THE STRETCH OF 35 KM OR SO FROM SANDUR TO HOSPET, AT ONE GO WITH A BRIEF HALT ENROUTE TO BLESS SOME “LAMBADA PEOPLE” AT THAT AGE..SOMETIMES IT WAS DIFFICULT TO KEEP PACE WITH HIM.
OH! TO WITNESS HIS PADAYATRA ITSELF IS A DIVINELY SCENE..
HE USED TO READ THE SIGN BOARDS ON THE ROAD (BE IT IN WHATEVER LANGAUGE >>AS HE KNOWS EVERYTHING BEING GOD)
AND ONCE HE SPENT MUCH TIME ELABORATELY STUDYING THE PURANDARADASA MANTAM ON THE BANKS OF RIVER THUNGABADRA NEAR HAMPI.
THERE IS NO END IN NARRATING ABOUT THAT GREAT MAHAN, LORD SHIVA WHO WAS IN PHYSICAL BODY WITH US AND WE ARE ALL BLESSED BY HIS GRACE ALWAYS.
JAYA JAYA SHANKARA! HARA HARA SHANKARA!
We are indebted to Mr Mahesh and Smt Bhuvana for enlightening us with so much delightful information
and certainly Maha Periyava’s Blessings will always be with them.
Balasubramanian NR
Excellent narration of minute details and my pranams to all those souls who made this chronicle happen! I have a small doubt! There is an entry on 28/10/78 of visit to Pampasarovar! As an Iyappa devotee, it was my impression that Pampa is in Kerala. But this reference sort of baffled me. Will someone clarify? Thanks.
[Dear Mahesh, Pl. print this one. Spell-checked! Thanks.]
Excellent narration of minute details and my pranams to all those souls who made thic chronicle happen! I have a small doubt! There is an entry on 28/10/78 of visit to Pampasarovar! As an Iyappa devotee, it was my impression that Pampa is in Kerala. But this reference sort of baffled me. Will someone clarrify? Thanks.
Please post this picture in a new post. These are indeed rare pictures and requires some unique power, art and what you name it.. amazing guru bhakthi and is inspiring..
http://www.kamakoti.org/kamakoti/news/newsgallery/data11/images1/img_3308.jpg
http://www.kamakoti.org/kamakoti/news/newsgallery/data11/images1/img_3328.jpg
Great pictures Sir! Very divine! Thank you! Jaya Jaya Shankara, Hara Hara Shankara!
Brilliant effort by you and Bhuvana, Mahesh. Sarveshwara.
“We intercept here, to solicit your attention to note that – ‘wants’ can be multiplied a million-fold. But to set an example of austerity, coupled with a naturalness in following it every moment, is a lesson to us to follow to have a meaningful life, rich in righteousness.
It was this single thought that prompted us to carry the above diary notings of Sri Mettur Swamigal, in HRD TIMES.”
Golden words indeed! Mettur SwamigaL is seen in Part 1 front and in Part 2 behind Maha SwamigaL near the cycle rickshaw! Stupendous service by this Mahaan to His Guru, Maha SwamigaL. Thanks to Mahesh and Smt. Bhuvana for bringing these chronicles to light. Looking forward to read the rest of the chronicles. Great service! God Bless you! Jaya Jaya Shankara, Hara Hara Shankara!
Time and distance has no meaning for such IMMORTALS. He IS the personification of Shri Dakshinamurthy himself.
Thank you for bringing out such a hidden treasure. Such meticulous record keeping (an Engineer’s perspective) This requires and lot of effort and dedication and last but not the least blessings from Periyava.
What made him to undertake such a journey? Inner calling may be. If you read Sow.Sasikala’s experience in the other post, you can easily visualize the ambiance, the settings.
Once again, thanks and let us all prey for his continued blessings.
Whnever I go to Kanchipuram I wd never miss a chance to touch the feet of Balu mama,tho’ he wdn’t like it..These are people blessed by Him!Nice to see Balu mama’s face!
wonderful mahesh for bringing back nostalgia. yes periava entered Hagari and there is a peripheral factory of a cement factory where he stayed near the hagari river. it was here that there was a wonder. there was no rain and no water. periava/we used to walk through sand for quite some distance to find water. people there cried that it was a long time that there is no water. periava smiled, prayed. never asked anyone to do any varuna japam or any such thing. lo, in the evening it started raining and raining and raining and the river water!!!!!!! there was an unfinished temple where HH was staying. what a darshan. then so many incidents but what a walk to hampi from hospet. sandur (pronounced as sunder) the maharaja is so help ful that throughout the journey he helped and afterwads also till last minute there was a para (sentry)by name Pawar paid by them. sri gowda arranged for the pathsala at hospet and looking after and even now doing service! when Periava was at Hampi there was an occassion when me and periava were alone (all alone and no bodyelse)and when periava was peeping inside that big well i was standing by His side and was telling jaagrathai!!!!oh it was He was taking care of me from falling into this well. it was there i asked him very very sincerely” periava Hubli Eppa Varaa’ and lo his reply was as usual ‘ennapoi kekkariye, adho anda virupakshappava kelu’. when are you coming to Hubli, oh you are asking me ask that virupakshappa!!!!
thanks and blessings of periava be with you always mahesh and your wife!!!!! n.ramaswami
I am much delighted to go through.I remember those days (14 & 15/10/1978)vividly as I was in Donimalai (employed) when SRI SRI SRI MAHA PERIYAVAL graced our project with HIS visit and stayed with us for two days, after HIS visit only we could construct a temple …..VARASIDDHI VINAYAKA(HE ADVISED US TO TELL SRI Ganapathi Sthapathi to make this IDOL) and the temple is still maintained well ny HIS grace and a Kannada Vedic pandit is performing pooja etc.,
I was blessed by HIM to have HIS DHARSHAN at various places in Karnataka.
Many many thanks for this post.
I could recollect the places where I had dharshan of HIM with my wife, children ,parents,brothers and sisters.
BLESSED INDEED I AM.