HOW TO TREAT A VAIDHIKA BRAHMIN(VEDIC PRIEST)

 

HOW TO TREAT A VAIDHIKA BRAHMIN(VEDIC PRIEST)-

A Startling Fact

The following incident which I am bringing to your notice had occurred a few decades back. The time of it's happening has no relevance with the content. My intention is to bring about the greatness of 'Jagadguru Chandrasekhara Saraswati Swami' with the following episode. If the reader closely follows this incident, he can get reply to certain chronic doubts.

1. The greatness of SWAMIJI for that matter any swamiji who is devoted and dedicated, we can say surrendered to God can think of the good of any human being who is pious.

2. There are virtuous persons in our neighborhood but we seldom recognise them as we are mentally disinclined to acknowledge such people as we always think that we are the only virtuous.

3. Once a group is selected for a specific purpose all of them are to be treated equally by the organizer.

4. Anybody being a human being should never deviate from his humanitarian outlook.

5. All said and done the greatness of this SANATANA DHARMA is sheltered and safeguarded by the real pontiffs like MAHASWAY who are connected to God throughout their life.

We are to be more careful with the duplicate goods that glitter more than the originals. As you know a 'Jarini' will have more array of magnetism than a SAMSARINI whose heart mind and sole contain only the Prudence.

The source of this incident is given here under. This is brought by Sri Ramani Anna (In Tamil)

Source: *Sakthi Vikatan* issue dated Nov 05, 2006. Please note that the non-English spellings are according to the pronunciation of Tamil Language. Please start reading now.

A *Citra* full moon day, many years back. An *abhiSekam* was performed in a grand manner with *mahAnyAsa rudra japam* at Sri Mahalingaswami Temple, Tiruvidaimarudur. The person who conducted it with 11 Vedic pundits was the landowner Narayanaswami Iyer of Tiruvarur. The *rudrAbhiSekam* that started

at eight in the morning came to a completion around one in the afternoon.

The landowner Narayanaswami Iyer was extremely devoted to Kanchi Maha SwamigaL. He decided 'this *rudrAbhiSeka prasAdam* should be submitted to Periyavaa somehow.' He reverentially kept the *prasAdam* on a banana leaf and folded it inside a new silk cloth. That same evening, he boarded the Madurai Madras passenger train at Tiruvidaimarudur railway station. He got down at Chingleput station in the early morning, took a bus and arrived at Kanchipuram.

There was a large crowd at the *maTham* on that day. Finishing his bath and other chores, the landowner waited for Periyavaa's darshan. At about 12 o'clock in the noon, Maha SwamigaL came and sat down, after finishing his Chandramouleesvara puja. The crowd of devotees rushed forward. The landowner couldn't approach SwamigaL. He showed the *prasAda* bag and begged everyone, "All of you please make way! I have brought Tiruvidaimarudur Mahalingaswamy*rudrAbhiSeka prasAdam* for Periyavaa. I

have to submit it to him."

No one seemed to make way. An employee of the *maTham* who saw the anxiety and haste of the landowner, created a trail for him among the people and brought Narayanaswami Iyer near PeriyavaL. When he saw PeriyavaL, the landowner became insensate, dropped down heavily for a prostration and got up. Maha SwamigaL looked at him raising his head. He raised his brows as if

he inquired what the matter was.

With his hands shaking, the landowner babbled, unpacking the *prasAdam* bag, "*prasAdam, prasAdu* Periyavaa". "What*prasAdam*?" asked PeriyavaL and looked at him. In the meantime, the landowner managed to extract the *

prasAdam*. He kept it on the cane plate found there and submitted it to PeriyavaL. On that plate were found in a small banana leaf, *vibuti, kuN^kumam*, sandal paste together with some *bilva dalam*, two parts of a broken coconut, and some *poovan* banana fruits.

Maha SwamigaL asked, "All these are *prasAdam* of which *kSetra*?" and looked at the landowner once again. The landowner calmed himself and said with humility, "Periyavaa! I performed the *rudrAbhiSekam* for Mahalingaswami at Tiruvidaimarudur yesterday. It was a large *abhiSekam*

with *mahAnyAsa rudra japam*. This is that *prasAdam*. Since Periyavaa would be happy, I have rushed here to bring it, boarding a train; you must receive it and bless me."

Looking at that *prasAda* plate sharply for sometime, Periyavaa asked: "Narayanaswami! You are a big landowner yourself. Even then you performed this *rudrAbhiSekam* for Swami, teaming up with some other people to meet the expenses?"

The landowner replied, "No, Periyavaa! I performed it *myself*, out of my own expenses," stressing the 'myself' part a little.

PeriyavaL smiled to himself. He did not leave it at that. "So you did for

for *loka kSema* at Madhyaarjuna kSetra", he added.

The landowner replied with some uncertainty, "No, Periyavaa! For the last two or three years there was no yield in my fields. Some fields were even barren. I checked up with Tiruvidaimarudur Muthu Josyar. He advised me, 'On a *Citra* full moon day perform *rudrAbhiSekam* for Mahalingaswami. That will give you an abundant yield!' Only on that belief I performed it, Periyavaa".

The *prasAda* that was kept before the sage remained untouched. AcharyaL did not  accept it. Saying, "So it seems that you did not perform this act either for *AtmArtam* or for *loka kSemArtam*", he closed his eyes and

dropped into meditation.

AcharyaL opened his eyes after fifteen minutes. There was such a clarity in his face! And a knowing look of having understood many things within those fifteen minutes. Everyone around was very quiet. SwamigaL continued, "Alright... How many vedic brahmins attended the *rudrAbhiSekam*?"

"I had arranged for eleven vedic pandits, Periyavaa!"

SwamigaL persisted, "Did you know who were the *vaidikaL*s and which place they belonged to? Was it only you who made all arrangements?"

The devotees who were witnessing the scene were surprised at the detailed inquiry Periyavaa was making. They also understood that he wouldn't do anything without a reason. The landowner took a piece of paper that he had tucked in his waist.

 

"I am reading out, Periyavaa. Tiruvidaimarudur Venkatrama SastrigaL,

Seenuvasa Ganapadigal, Rajagopala ShrautigaL, Marutthuvakkudi Santhana Vaadyhar, Sundaa SastrigaL, Subramanya SastrigaL, Tirumangalakkudi Venkittu Vaadhyar, and then--"

AchargaL interruped him and asked easily, "All experts only, who you have arranged. Alright, check if your list has the name Thepperumaanallur Venkatesa GanapadigaL."

Seething with happiness, the landowner replied, "It is there, Periyavaa! He also attended the *japam*", showing surprise in his voice.

Though the devotees were taken by surprise at such detailed inquiry about an *abhiSekam* that was over, no one said anything. Everyone was silent and attentive.

SwamigaL said, "Besh, besh! So you had engaged Venkatesa GanapadigaL also for the *japam*! A very good thing. Maha Veda *vid*! GanapadigaL is now very aged. Even difficult for him to raise his voice. He would feel it hard to control his breathing and intone the *japam*."

As if he waited for this remark, the landowner replied, his tone raising,

"Yes, Periyavaa! What you have said is very correct. He did not chant the * rudram* well. Sometimes he was siting silent with closed eyes. Often he yawned. All these resulted in the shrinkage of the counting of the *japam* numbers.

He gave much trouble yesterday. I regretted having engaged him for the*japam *."

 

SwamigaL swelled with indignation. "What you said... What did you say? So you have the temerity to talk anything because you have the money? What do you know about the *yogyatAMsam* of Thepperumaanallur Venkatesa GanapadigaL? Would you match the dust of the feet of that veda *vid*? How can you talk such words about him? I have now understood what happened yesterday at the Mahalingaswami Sannidhi! You answer my question now! When

the GanapadigaL was sitting quiet with closed eyes at the time of the *japam * yesterday, did you not shout harshly at him, '*EngaaNum*, are you not getting the money, you are sitting still with a shut mouth without doing the *japam*?' Tell me, did you shout these words to him or not?" The landowner was appalled. The crowd was amazed.

Narayanaswami Iyer fell at SwamigaL's feet, his eight limbs touching the ground. SwamigaL did not say anything. The landowner got up himself. He closed his mouth and replied shivering, "My mistake, Periyavaa! It is true that I used the very same words you spoke know to the GanapadigaL in the Swami Sannidhi yesterday. Periyavaa should kindly pardon me."

Periyavaa did not stop. "Wait, wait. Did you do that mistake only? You did honour the *vaidikaL*s with money, right? How much did you give each * vaidikaL*?"

The landowner gulped and said weakly, "I paid ten rupees for each head, Periyavaa."

SwamigaL did not leave him with that. "Tell me correctly! *I know

everything!* Did you pay all the *vaidikaL*s equally with ten-ten rupees each?"

The landowner stood silently. But the AcharyaL did not relent. "Listen,

shall tell you* what you did yesterday. Perhaps you feel shy to talk it

out. You seated the *vaidikaL*s in a row at the Sannidhi and was giving the *sambhAvanA* of ten rupees to each of them. When the turn of Thepperumaanallur Venkatesa GanapadigaL came, you decided, 'This man did not chant the*rudram* properly. Why should I give him ten rupees as I did for the others?' and gave him just seven rupees. You had the thought that somehow you had taken revenge on him. Did he care anything about it all? He just accepted what you gave him and tied it to the edge of his *vastram*."

AcharyaL asked him hotly, "Tell me, is not what I am saying correct?"

The devotees were stunned. No one did say anything. They wondered how PeriyavaL came to know what took place in Tiruvidaimarudur temple yesterday.

The landowner prostrated to the sage and said, "A gross mistake, Periyavaa! It was out of ignorance that I behaved like that! I won't behave in such a fashion henceforth! Kindly parden me!" Before he finished, PeriyavaaL continued, "Wait, wait! It would have been

less worse had it ended there." He asked, "For the*japa* brahmins, you arranged for the meals at the house of Ramachandra Iyer of Mahadhana street, right?"

"Yes, Periyavaa!"

"You served sumptuous meals, of course, with a feeling of immense

happiness. You had arranged for cooking very tasty sweet *pongal*, with lots of cashew nuts and raisins added to it, and you served it with your own hands, with ghee dripping from it in the meals session, right?"

Narayanaswami Iyer was more and more appalled. He closed his mouth and spoke with uncertainty, "Yes, Periyavaa! In the session I served only the sweet pongal with my own hands."

"Alright, does your conscience admit that you did it with the dharma for serving a meal?" SwamigaL asked him sternly.

The landowner did not open his mouth. AcharyaL said himself, "You need not tell me, I shall tell you! When you served the sweet *pongal*, since it was very tasty, the *vaidikaL*s asked for repeated helpings. And you obliged them. But when Thepperumaanallur Venkatesa GanapadigaL, giving up his

reticence asked you many times, 'Serve me more of the sweet*pongal*, it is very tasty...' did you not carry on without serving him more, though you heard him? How many times did he ask you, giving up his normal reticence! And you did not serve him more! You committed the sin of partiality in a meals session! Was it dharma? You insulted a great sadhu!" SwamigaL fell into silence, overwhelmed with distress.The landowner stood with bowed head. The devotees were amazed and speechless. Closing his eyes and folding both his legs behind him, AcharyaL

sat upright. His divine frame looked like the Lord Parameswara Himself. He sat motionless. Fifteen minutes passed by in complete silence. Then AcharyaL opened his eyes. Everyone was silent. AcharyaL continued his talk, looking at Narayanaswami Iyer: "*MirasudarvaL*! You should know one thing. GanapadigaL is eighty-one years of age now. He had done *rudra japam* in countless * kSetra*s since his sixteenth year. Sri Rudram is always coursing his veins and nerves and breath. He is such a *mahAn*. The way you behaved to him is an act of great sin... an act of great sin!" PeriyavaL stopped, unable to continue further, and closed his eyes.

He resumed again after sometime: "Your act of partiality in the meals

session affected him deeply. You know what he did? I shall tell you, listen. He did not go back to his native place Thepperumaanallur yesterday evening. Instead, he went to Mahalingaswami temple. He did *pradakSiNa* of the outer courtyard three times. Went straight to Mahalingaswami and stood before Him. You know what he prayed for, joining his palms?" PeriyavaL

couldn't continue. He steadied himself and then resumed his talk.

"With tears streaming down his eyes, he spoke to the God, 'Appa, Jyoti

Mahalingam! I am your steadfast devotee. Since my early days I have recited *mahAnyasa rudra japam* countless times in your *sannidhi*. You have listened to it. I am now eighty-one years old. I have the mental strengh, but that strength is gone in my speech! It can't be that you wouldn't know what happened this afternoon when we were dining. I asked that landowner many times, leaving my shyness aside, for more of that *pongal*, since it was very very tasty. Though he heard me, the landowner moved away as if he did not hear my request. You know that I have an immense fondness for sweet

*pongal*. Though I asked him out of temptation, I was grieved that he did not serve me more.

'But then only after I had finished my meals, washed my hands and sat on the *thinnai* it occurred to me whether I could have such a *jihvA sabalam* at this age. Which is the reason I am now standing before you, Appa Mahalingam! With you as the mediator, I take a vow from this moment.

Everyone gives up some favourite edible when they go to Kasi. It is only

You who is in Kasi, as well as here. Therefore I take a vow before you that I will not touch the sweet *pongal* or any other sweet dish from now on until my soul goes out of the body! This is a promise Mahalingam.' With that *vairAgya pramANam* he said, 'Appa Jyoti Mahalingam! I take leave of you now," and did *shASTaaN^ga namaskaram* twelve times. Tears were flowing down GanapadigaL's eyes, as he left for his place. Now, you tell me... What you did was dharma? Will Mahalingaswami agree to it?"

Periyavaa stopped. It was then three o' clock in the afternoon. "I don't

want any *bhikSA* today", said SwamigaL. No one moved from here. Not even for their lunch. Total silence prevailed. Tears were seen in everyone's eyes. The landowner Narayanaswami Iyer stood transfixed. He could not raise his tongue to speak. Everyone's wonder was, 'How does Periyavaa narrate everything that happened yesterday at Tiruvidaimarudur as if he witnessed them personally?'

Falling down to Periyavaa's feet, the landowner started sobbing vehemently. His tongue slurred as he said, "Periyavaa! What I did was a great sin! I did it out of vanity. Kindly pardon me. Never again shall I behave this way in my life. You should say 'I have pardoned you'!" The landowner patted his cheeks loudly.

AcharyaL did not open his mouth. The landowner was persistent. "I pray to you, Periyavaa! You should accept this Mahalingaswami *rudrAbhiSeka prasAdam *. Kindly pardon me!" He pointed his hands towards the *prasAdam* plate.

AcharyaL said, "Let it be, let it be there. That Mahalingaswami Himself

will give me the *prasAda anugraham*."

Before he finished his words, a voice was heard outside the crowd: "Make way, make way!" Everyone moved to make way.

Only a tuft of hair knotted at the end on the head. A bright five-folded

dhoti on the waist, with a silky green cloth covering it. A large *rudraksha * garland on the neck. A noble man who could be around sixty-five years old, arrived near PeriyavaL, carrying piously a brass plate on which was the *prasAdam* preserved in a silk cloth. He submitted the *prasAdam* plate reverentially to AcharyaL and said, "My name is Mahalingam. I am the *arcakA * of ruvidaimarudur

Mahalingaswami temple. Yesterday a*rudrAbhiSekam* was

performed for Swami. A landowner conducted it. My elder sister is given in marriage to this place. I came to submit the *prasAdam* to AcharyaL and then look her up. Periyavaa should do me the *anugraham*." SwamigaL prevented him as he proceeded to prostrate.

Saying "You people have been given *shiva dIkSA*, you shouldn't do

namaskaram* to me", AcharyaL accepted the *prasAdam*s brought and asked the Shivacharya to be given the *MaTham*'s honors in return. Meantime, the SivacharyaL saw the landowner who was standing at some distance.

"Periyavaa, it is this man who had conducted the *rudrAbhiSekam* there yesterday. He has come himself come here!" With these words, Mahalingam Shivacharya left the place, taking leave of the sage.

The landowner Narayanaswami Iyer again prostrated AcharyaL and patted his cheeks loudly. He pleaded, "Again and again I pray to you, Periyavaa. It is a great sinful act I have committed. Only you should tell me the remedy for this act."

SwamigaL got up briskly. "I cannot tell you the remedy for this. Only

Thepperumaanallur Venkatesa GanapadigaL can tell you the remedy."

"Will the GanapadigaL tell me the remedy for the deed of this *paavi*, Periyavaa?", the landowner asked with grief.

SwamigaL said in a slightly raised voice, "If you have the *prAptam*, he will certainly tell you!" and hurried inside. He did not come out at all.

The landowner waited for a few hours. And then, having come to a decision, he left the place and arrived at Chingleput boarding a bus. He caught a train and arrived at Tiruvidaimarudur on the next morning. He finished his bath in the Kaveri river there and with firmness of heart started walking towards Thepperumaanallur. He walked briskly with the resolution that he would somehow meet Venkatesa GanapadigaL, fall *shASTaaN^gam* at his feet, ask for his pardon, perform the remedy he would suggest and obtain *paapa

vimocanam*.

The landowner entered the Thepperumaanallur *agrahAram*. He inquired the first man he came across, the address of the GanapadigaL. The man pointed

to a house on the street before which was a crowd of people and said, "You have come to offer your condolences? That is the home of Venkatesa GanapadigaL. Early this morning, he suddenly passed away. A painless, peaceful death. Go and have a look."

Narayanaswami Iyer was stunned. He felt as if someone had hit him on the head. The firm words of AcharyaL at the MaTham yesterday seemed to ring in his ears. *If you have the prAptam, he will certainly tell you!*" He now understood that PeriyavaaL known yesterday itself that the landowner would not have the *prAptam*.

The landowner went to GanapadigaL's house, offered his condolences, and prostrated to the gross body of the GanapadigaL, seeking his pardon mentally. Then he moved away from the place.

Swasti.

Sanatana Dharma Prevailed All Over The World – A Concrete Example

 Sanatana Dharma Prevailed 

All Over The World – A Concrete Example

https://ramamohanraocheruku.blogspot.com/2024/11/sanatana-dharma-prevailed-all-over.html

Unknown to many is the fact that Halloween is actually descended from the ancient Hindu worship of the god of death, Yama, and a festival called as Yamadeepam, held each year on Dhanteras day, which falls roughly in the same week as Halloween.

Since the Vedic calendar is calculated based on the moon, the exact date varies each year, between the last week of October and the first week of November. On this day every house keeps a ghee lamp outside of their front door for Yama (the god of death), and this has eventually transformed over thousands of years into the modern pumpkin jack-o’-lantern light we see today in the west.

Prior to the use of the famous orange pumpkins of today, the Celtic traditions of Ireland were to use turnips and other vegetables to make the lanterns. After carving them, they would place burning embers or a candle inside, and this was supposed to provide light for the deceased spirits to be able to return to the earth during a special time when the veil between the netherworld and earth was thin enough for them to travel – provided they had light to cross the darkness.

In the Vedic tradition, on the day of Dhanteras a sacred lamp is placed in front of the house and kept burning the entire night to please Yama, the God of death. This is also called as Yamadeepam. Following Yamadeepam (which is held on trayadashi, the 13th day of the moon), is Bhuta (“Ghost”) Chaturdashi (also called Naraka (“Hell”) Chaturdashi) where one worships the deceased forefathers. On this day one shows fire lights to guide the souls of the departed back to earth, and delivers them from hell through offering of pinda danam (spiritualized food offerings).

Traditionally special grass reeds are used to make a bonfire, and this is known as ulkahasta or ulkadana. It is believed that this giant bonfire of burning grass reeds will be visible to the spirits of the forefathers and show them the way to come back to earth to visit you.

On this particular day the two worlds become aligned, allowing communication and interaction between the living and the dead – provided they are shown light to cross the vast darkness in between the two realms. This tradition of burning grass reeds for the forefathers still exists and is followed in many villages in India, though people in the larger cities have forgotten it. You can see an example of ulkadana (burning grass reeds for the forefathers) in the video above.

A similar tradition was followed by the Celtic people during a festival known as Samhain, where giant bonfires were lit on the night of October 31st. It is believed that this festival of Samhain later evolved into the modern festival of Halloween. The importance of this festival to the spirits of the forefathers is illustrated by the fact that some Neolithic tombs in Ireland were aligned to the position of the sunrise on the morning of Samhain. During the festival of Samhain the burial mounds were opened, and offerings of food and drink were made to the spirits of the forefathers, just as we offer pinda danam (spiritual food offerings) to the forefathers on the day of Naraka Chaturdasi.

In the Christian religion on November 1st or 2nd they observe “All Souls’ Day”, wherein they pray for the departed souls of the forefathers by lighting candles on their graves and offering food. They also pray for those who are in purgatory for deliverance, similar to Naraka (“Hell”) Chaturdashi, where Hindus deliver their forefathers who may be in hell by offering them sanctified food (pinda danam) after guiding them to it with lights (ghee deepams and burning of grass reeds).

Even the use of the pumpkin and turnip has its origins in Hinduism. White ash gourd deepams (oil lamps) are a traditional offering in South Indian temples, especially for ferocious forms such as Bhairava and various goddesses. The white ash gourd is also used as a type of “bali” (animal sacrifice), offering it in the place of real animals (thereby causing no violence), with the pumpkin often being painted with the face of an asura (demon), and red sindhur smeared after cutting it to represent blood.

The ancient Vedic worship of Yama (the god of death), the forefathers, the spirits, etc., through the offering of sacred ghee lamps and bonfires of grass reeds to guide the spirits of the forefathers, has transformed through thousands of years to become the modern festival of Halloween in the west.

If we look at some of the older rituals of Halloween in various places, there have been the same customs of lighting candles and bundles of hay to guide the dead souls with light, as well as leaving plates of food for the dead relatives. These are the same customs as ulkahasta (burning jute reeds to show light), yamadeepam (keeping a ghee lamp burning in front of your house the entire night), and pinda danam (food offerings for the dead to deliver them from hell) held during the same period by Hindus going back thousands of years. All of this shows that originally in ancient times there was one spiritual culture spread throughout the entire world.

Swasti.

Pushpagiri

 Pushpagiri 

https://ramamohanraocheruku.blogspot.com/2024/10/pushpagiri.html

Pushpagiri is a temple town in Kadapa District of Andhra Pradesh.  It is just a few Kilometers away from Kadapa City.The town lies on the banks of river Penna and is famous for its ancient temples. The main attraction of Pushpagiri is the Chenna Kesava Temple, a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, which is situated on the other side of the river Penna.

Whatever is the legend if is associated, it is now widely acknowledged that the temple of Sri Vaidyanatheswara has been in this temple complex from at least around 7th Century BCE.

There is a lot of documented history about the Pushpagiri Temple Complex. This is corroborated by various Puranas including the Srisaila Khanda of Skanda Purana and Sriranga Mahatmya of Garuda Purana The place was said to be mentioned in the Valmiki’s Sundarakanda chapter of Ramayana.

snake sacrifice, King Janamejaya performed a pilgrimage to the South India and in the process visited Pushpagiri. The hamlet of Chintalapatturu has an inscription in old Tamil that talk about the pilgrimage of King Janamejaya.

The kings and rich people erected many temples here as there was an ancient belief that building a temple in this place would bring them prosperity. And hence nearly hundred and one temples adorned Pushpagiri in ancient times.

About 10 kilometres from the confluence of Papagni and Pinakini rivers, there used to be an ashram of Agastya Maharishi. Sage Agastya after crossing the Vindhya mountains, vowed not to return to stop the range from growing in competition with Himalayas. While the sage himself stayed in the South, his disciples installed a Linga in the nearby place and left for the Ganges plains. The temple for the Linga came to be called after the great saint Agastya as Sri Agastheeswara Swamy temple.

also called as Pushpagiri Peetam, which is said to have been established by Aadhi Sankaracharya, a renowned Hindu Saint, to promote his philosophy of Advaita. This is only Advaita Mutt in Andhra Pradesh. Another interesting thing, Sri Jagadguru Aadi Sankaracharaya Swamy installed Sri Chakra Yantra here.

There are various Legends being told here about temple history. According to one story, When Garuda carrying Amrutham (Necter) from Indra Loka , a drop fell down and turned into a holy theertha. Power of this theertha came to know when a farmer in distress tried to suicide by jumping into this theertha and found himself turned into young man. He then made his wife and oxen to take dip in this theertha and they all regained their youth. When the news of the theertha reached Satya Loka (Braham Loka), Brahma worried about its existence and sought help from Lord Maha Vishnu and Lord Siva. Lord Siva ordered Lord Hanuman to drop a mountain on top of it. Astonishingly, the mountain started floating instead of sinking. Then Lord Vishnu and Siva clamped their feet at it’s side so that mountain will not float again. Imprints of Lord Vishnu and Siva can be seen here. The foot print of Siva became famous as Rudra Padam and Maha Vishnu as Vishnu Padam.

Another legend claims that during the time of Treta Yuga, Lord Rama worshipped Lord Vaidyanatheswara here and the flowers used in the process have accumulated so high that a flowery mound is established and hence the name Pushpagiri.

And the story of Hanuman bringing Sanjeeva mountain and a flower petal from mountain felling in to the lake here and got sanctified is also widely popular.

The temple complex covers an approximate area of 7.5 square kilometres. There is lush greenery surrounding the hamlets that include in the temple complex with crops watered from the rain as well as the river year round. Despite the hot tropical summers in the region, there is always water in the area due to the underwater level butted by the river. During the rainy season, the area is quite a sight for the beholders. The river Pinakini flows from west to east, changing its course towards the south at Pushpagiri and soon after the hamlet of Sivalapalle, the river changes its course again to travel east finally opening into the sea in Nellore District.

Pushpagiri temple complex has hundreds of  varieties of inscriptions ranging a wide range of periods. Various kings, rulers and local chieftains that ruled the area have endowed the temple complex with grants and monuments.  In the year 991 CE, Trailokya Malla Raju has noticed that the main idol of the Chennakesava Swamy temple was in a dilapidated situation and has undertaken a restoration work. An inscription to this effect is visible on the temple walls. A stepped route from the river to the temple has also been built during this time. The inscription has been written in old Kannada and Tamil scripts. In the year 1509 CE, as soon as Krishna Deva Raya was instilled on throne at Vijayanagara, he has presented the village of Chinnamachupalle to Pushpagiri Chennakesava Swamy temple A Kannada inscription to this effect has been found in the village of Chinnamachupalle

The architectural styles of the Pushpagiri temple complex range from the age of Ikshvakus to the modern chieftains that subordinated to the kings of Vijayanagara empire. To name a few, it has remnants of the past belonging to Ikshvakus, Pallavas, Cholas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Vaidumbas, Kayasthas and Vijayanagara empires.

The sculptures and carving on the outer walls are marvellous, Dancing statues with 8 hands, Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy , Nataraja Swamy, Family of Siva with Vahanams, Bhakta Kanappa, Vishnu forms, Krishna preaching Gita to Arjuna, Mahisasura mardini,  and many more interesting carvings on the outer walls.

Long before the struggle between Shaivites and Vaishnavites started, there was a sense of communal harmony amongst the people of Cuddapah district, especially those in the Pushpagiri region, It is evident from a variety of undamaged structures in the region that have stood side by side with no vandalism instigated by the various communal philosophies. The Vaishnavaite temple of Chennakesava and the temples surrounding it are of Indranatha, Bhimeswara, Trikuteswara and Vaidyanatheswara.

The pilgrim centre brims with devotees during Sivarathri and Vaikuntha Ekadasi.

In 2012, The suspension bridge of 285 metres length and 2.50 metres width, estimated to cost Rs. 5 crore, was approved by the State government under the Heritage Tourism Circuit programme from Sri Kamakshi Vaidyanatha Swamy temple on the banks of Pennar river to Sri Lakshmi Chennakesava Swamy temple on the other bank. But we can clearly see that there is no sign of any work of it with is very shameful.

SWASTI.

A tribute to my wife

A Tribute to My Wife

https://ramamohanraocheruku.blogspot.com/2024/08/a-tribute-to-my-wife.html

 This is the feeling from the core of my heart about my WIFE

(Try To Read If You Find Time and don't be carried away by my jokes)

I am the body she is the soul

Who plays main role my life as a whole

She is my wife

For my miseries she is the knife

She rules over me without commanding armies

She can wound and heart me without swords and arms

But she loves me to the core and on me showers it more and more

Her smile is a boon and weep is a typhoon

I can't bear her tiff but titter

She is my everlasting spring weather

Spell bound I stare at her face

That always glows in innocent grace

She is the fret of my guitar

Guiding me to press the string of life

To give sweet sound reminding me the raport

And only shrill noise without such support

She is the source of water and light

For my garden to my delight

She craved for my progress and prosperity

Always and all along with the almighty

She is not a lady of shapes and curves

And never makes sudden swerves

How can I equate her with a lean Lilly

She is my rose actually

Taking me out of the den

And making me enjoy the fragrance of the garden

Like light to the sun and flight to the bird

Let me be the meaning of her every word

I promise and swear to God above

I adore her always with my pure love

Nothing she asked except children

For which I took twenty years to run

To her I gave grief and agony

In lieu of jewels and money 

Still she loves and lives for me

Even in dreams I was never her enemy

children are her priority 

I come under minority

But never she shows any superiority

She is a  lady with all veracity 

She loves all and loved by all

They help at her beck and call

She is, she is my guarding wall

If she not there I will spall (breaking into pieces)

From her I draw all the yare (liveliness)

Without her my life is a night mare

Here or there, for that matter any where

With her I want a berth to share

CHERUKU RAMA MOHAN RAO

 

THIS IS HOW WE HAVE TO BE

 

THIS IS HOW YOU HAVE TO BE

https://ramamohanraocheruku.blogspot.com/2024/08/this-is-how-we-have-to-be-this-is-how.html

Please read carefully and relate with our life....you may enjoy more...

1) Heavy rains remind us of challenges in life. Never ask for a lighter rain. Just pray for a better umbrella.That is attitude.

2) When flood comes, fish eat ants & when flood recedes, ants eat fish.Only time matters. Just hold on, God gives opportunity to everyone!...

3) Life is not about finding the right person, but creating the right relationship, it's not how we care in the beginning, but how much we care till ending.

4) Some people always throw stones in your path. It depends on you what you make with them, Wall or Bridge? Remember you are the architect of your life.

5) Every problem has (n+1) solutions, where n is the number of solutions that you have tried and 1 is that you have not tried. That’s life.

6) It is not important to hold all the good cards in life. But it’s important how well you play with the cards which you hold.

7) Often when we lose all hope & think this is the end, God smiles from above and says, `Relax dear it’s just a bend. Not the end'. Have Faith and have a successful life.

😎 When you feel sad, to cheer up just go to the mirror and say, `Damn I am really so cute` and you will overcome your sadness. But don’t make this a habit because liars go to hell.

9) One of the basic differences between God and human is, God gives, gives and forgives. But human gets, gets, gets and forgets. Be thankful in life!

10) Only two types of persons are happy in this world. First is Mad and second is Child. Be Mad to achieve what you desire and be a Child to enjoy what you have achieved.

 

Swasti.

 

KARMA - ACTION

 https://ramamohanraocheruku.blogspot.com/2024/07/karma-action-spare-little-time-and.html

Spare a little time and think for a while about action(Karma). Don't you feel that 'Action' is the insignia of life. Can you think of a fraction of a second yourself abstaining from any sort of action? Impossible. For that matter even remaining static is also an 'action'.

We can compare action with water of a perennial 'Ganga' river which will not laze till culminates into the sea. No impediments,no hindrances, no hurdles can stop its floe till it reaches its destination viz. the sea. So many impurities join with it. Still it remains pure. It has a purpose and it will not rest till it attains its resolution or commitment. That should be the attitude. The more the brisk your the more perfection you get in your action.

Having come into the world with somany 'Vasanas' and various permutations and combination of 'Trigunas(Satwa,Rajas,Tamas)'

we are destined to do our KARMAS good or bad. The control and concentration of our MANAS can help us move in the right direction. This can be attained by YOGA(Not the one on which we spend thousands or lakhs of rupees for want of health,beauty or tranquility.) It is a sincere effort to connect 'Self' to God.

Instead if you want remain as water in a pond with less action or no action, sooner or later you will become filthy,dirty coupled with foul smell. A stagnant water personifies inert, static or actionless person who is useful neither to himself nor to the society.

Bhagwan in Gita says:

na hi kascit ksanam api

jatu tisthaty akarma-krt

karyate hy avasah karma

sarvah prakrti-jair gunaih (Chapter3- Shloka5)

All men are forced to act helplessly according to the impulses born of the modes of material nature; therefore no one can refrain from doing something, not even for a moment.

Hence let us dedicate to do good.

 

Swasti.

Maha Nirvanatantra On Duties Of Parents Towards Children

 

Duties towards Parents, children, and things in general (MAHANIRVANATANTRA)

https://ramamohanraocheruku.blogspot.com/2024/06/duties-towards-parents-children-and.html

No one should retire from the world who has an old father or mother, a devoted and chaste wife, or young and helpless children (8:17).

He who becomes an ascetic, leaving mothers, fathers, infant children, wives, agnates and cognates, is guilty of a great sin (8:18).AGNATES: Relations whose chain of relationship to the propositus  (A person to whom descendants are commonly related.) can be traced uninterruptedly through males. in other words: Agnates is a relation, who is related to the deceased wholly through MALES. For Example: son, Son's son, Son's son's son, son's daughter, farther's mother. there must be a male in the start of each line of relation. Hence, it will be held as Agnates. COGNATES: The relations in which , when a person id related with the deceased through one or more female link, the relation is said to be as COGNATES. For Example: daughter's son, sister's son, sister's daughter.

He who  without first satisfying the need of his own parents and relatives and make them mendicants, is as good as owning  the sins of killing his father and mother, a woman, and a Brahmana (8:19).

A householder should not tell an untruth, or practice deceit, and should ever be engaged in the worship of the Devatas and guests (8:24).

Regarding his father and mother as two visible incarnate deities, he should ever and by every means in his power serve them (8:25).

According to their requirements, one should offer seats, beds, clothes, drink, and food to mother and father. They should always be spoken to in a gentle voice, and their children’s demeanour should ever be agreeable to them. The good son who ever obeys the behests of his mother and father hallows the family (8:28-8:29).

If one desires one’s own welfare, all arrogance, mockery, threats, and angry words should be avoided in the parents’ presence (8:30).

The son who is obedient to his parents should, out of reverence to them, bow to them and stand up when he sees them, and should not take his seat without their permission (8:31).

Even if the vital breath (Prana) were to reach his throat, the householder should not eat without first feeding his mother, father, son, wife, guest, and brother (8:33).

*The man who, to the deprivation of his elders and equals, fills his own belly is despised in this world, and goes to Hell in the next (8:34).

*The householder should cherish his wife, educate his children, and support his kinsmen and friends. This is the supreme eternal duty (8:35).

The body is nourished by the mother. It originates from the father. The kinsmen, out of love, teach. The man, therefore, who forsakes them is indeed vile (8:36).

For their sake should a hundred pains be undergone. With all one’s ability they should be pleased. This is the eternal duty (8:37).

These are all things to read keeping mind and sole on it. Hence read thoroughly and then click a like if you like.

Tomorrow we will consider the duties of the householder towards wife,children, and things in general

 

Swasti.