UGRA NARASIMHA TEMPLE - KADIRI

  

Sri Ugra Narasimha Swamy temple at Kadiri in Ananta Puram District of Andhra Pradesh, 176 KMs from Bengaluru, has been a house deity of many Telugus, Kannadigas and others in Andhra and Karnataka regions. The grand old temple in this hilly region where several Indian Mulberry trees ( Khadira)  existed in the thick forest.

The town Kadiri bears its name from the Sanskritized version - Khadira, has a recorded history of at least 650 years. There are a few inscriptions on the walls of this temple in Telugu. One such on the southern wall of the shrine records that this was built by one Narasa Nayaka, a Mandalik of Bukka I of early Vijayanagar dynasty dated 1332 AD. Some inscriptions dating around 1415, also mention entry of Sc/Sts to the temple during Devaraya I, which is much prior to such an Act in later India. 

This temple has the main deity Ugra Narasimha, 4^th Avatar of Lord Vishnu, to kill Hiranyakahipu, while his son Prahalada was his great devotee. The black Saligrama  stone image has 16 hands, 8 on either sides, holding Shankha, Chakra and other weapons. Prahlada the prince,  stands with folded hands on his right. Narasimha here holds his enemy Hiranyakashipu ( the demon with golden hued hairs) on his lap, and peeling of his intestine with his nails. This story from the 7^th Skandha of Srimad Bhagavatam narrates how the demon proclaimed himself as supreme, and his son Prahlada,  born to Kayadu, his queen disagreed to follow his arrogant father, as he was a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu, and was taught Vaishnava practices by the sage Narada, when his queen  Kayadu was carrying him in her womb. When the demon  Hiranyakashipu’s misdeeds on his own son Prahlada, trying  to kill him, and several people of his kingdom reached intolerable, Lord Vishnu manifested from a pillar in his court hall, and saved his devotee.

The inscriptions in the temple belong  mostly to the Vijayanagar period and another of them, dated 1333,  records the gift of a crown  jewel to the idol by one Gopanna,   an officer under Kempanna Odeyar, probably a  contemporary of the great Sri Vaishnava saint, Vedanta Desikar. Another   inscription of 1529 A.D. mentions  the development of the temple by a prominent ruler   of Tadipatri,  Ramanayaka, who  constructed the Vasanta mandapam for the summer festivities, when the Annuual Rathotsavam,  in Vaishakha Month ( March-April)  occurs. adjacent to the prakaram, called Veyyi Kambhala  mandapam, a hall with one thousand pillars,  in which mass feeding is done on festivities of the temple. This is built in Dravidian style with intricate carvings of Dashavataras of Vishnu and stories from Vishnu Purana and Bhagavatam.   Earlier, Krishnadevaraya and his son Tirumalaraya had modified this shrine.  The temple in its present state was renovated a couple of times, the prominent one in 1953.

One such occasion is special Abhishekam ceremony to Lord Narasimha on the day of Swati star, considered as star of his manifestation.   The temple car  is believed  to be the biggest in weight in South India  has erotic carvings. The present  temple was built by  Ranganayudu, a Palegar of Pathapatnam, from the far away Srikakulam, to show his gratitude to the lord for blessing him with a son.

A big banyan tree, near this town has entered Guinness Book of world records for its height. This town has great Telugu Poet Vemana’s Ashram, churches and Masjids as Muslims live here in sizeable numbers.

A Kannada Vaishnava poet  Thippanarya,   is the author of  the popular Hanumadvilasa, a poem, dedicated his poem to Khadri Narasimha,  which was popularly sung during the month of Shravana  and Saturdays,  till recently in Kolar and adjoining districts of Karnataka. He lived in Gudibande, now in Chikkaballapur Disrict as an Accountant with a chieftain in about 1785, and was a staunch devotee of Lord Ugra Narasimha of Kadiri.

He was very humble and kind towards the poor farmers of this semi arid region, and exempted taxes from them during the drought and bad times. This made the Reddy chieftain of the place furious, who put him in jail. He is supposed to have composed Hanumandvilasa, in praise of Hanuman, during his 41  days of imprisonment, when a monkey released him from the jail. This poem used to be sung in houses and temples  during evening Bhajans,  in my childhood.

Temple Timings :  6:30 to 12:45 & 04:30 to 8:30

Best season to visit: All months of the year.

Car Festival & Narasimha Jayanti: March/April- Vaishakha month of Hindu calendar.

Special Abhisheka: Swati star.

How to reach there: By road on Bengaluru- Hyderabad Highway, take a deviation after Gudibande, as shown by the Name plate. Kadiri has a kaccha approachable road from Highway, of 9 Kms.  Drive carefully.  Lodges are available nearby.

 

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UDUPI SRI KRISHNA

 

Sri Krishna statue at Udupi was conscrated by Acharya Madhva, after establishing a firm foundation for his Dvaita Philosophy, travelling across Bharat twice. His clarity of thought about the Supreme Brahman as Vishnu, His supremacy over other dinities was an epoch making appraoach in 13th century. 

The Salirama shila idol of Balakrishna, was dicovered by Madhva near sea shore, Malpe, Udupi. He personally brought this wonderful image of Krishna, which was earlier at Rukmini's personal garden, Dwaraka. It was lying in the sea for a long time, which only Madhva could visualise. This image is a bit unusual form of Krishna, as an 6 year old boy, standing with a  Curning rod, walking straight from his mother Yashoda, along with a rope tied to him to avoid mistake of stealing Butter and Milk to feed monkeys and animals. 

The Dhyansloka says: Bhyshmmi- Madhva kararchitam- Bhagavan Krishna worshipped eralier by Rukmini, and now by Madhva at Udupi . The image is worn out due to years of salt contact in sea, hence not clear. Moreover, due to Abhisheka each day with Milk, Honey and curds have made it corroded, otherwise it is a beautiful image of a boy smiling. 

There were earlier rumours about the identity of image as Skanda, Devi and so on, which is utter lie and fantacy. It is Dandadhari Krishna, in his childhood. He has marks of Upavita, crown of a prince, and ear rings. 

SRI VENUGOPALA KRISHNA, MULABAGILU.

Sri Vyasatirtharu was a student of Sri Lakshminarayana Yogi ( Sripadarajaru) at Mulabagilu, before he moved to Kanchipuram. There are at least 3 monuments related to Vyasarajaru at Mulabagilu. He has consecrated Sanjiva Rayaru at Sripadaraja Matha, and one at Narasimha tirtha also, There's a cave in Narasimha tirtha vicinity next to Narasimha srine, where he did daily ahnika and manana. He had a Mutt at the town where he appointed one Sri Prajna tirtha to manage a Gurukulam for students, being one among 9 he started. A beautiful statue of Venugopala is inside the Matha in the town.

ನಮ್ಮೂರು ಮುಳಬಾಗಿಲಿನ ಒಳಗೆ ಮತ್ತು ಹೊರವಲಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಲವಾರು ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನಗಳಿವೆ; ಕೆಲವಕ್ಕೆ ನಿತ್ಯ ಪೂಜೆಯಿಲ್ಲದೆ ವಾರ ಪೂಜೆ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತದೆ. ಪ್ರತಿ ಭಾನುವಾರ ಗುಡಿ ಸುತ್ತುವುದು ನಾವು ಕೆಲವರ ಕೆಲಸ. ನಮ್ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿಸ್ಟರಿ ಓದುವುದು, ಬಿಎ ಮಾಡುವುದು ತೀರ ಶ್ರೀಮಂತರ ಸೋಮಾರಿಗಳ ರೀತಿ; ಸೈನ್ಸು ಓದುವರು ಬುದ್ಧಿವಂತರು, ಬಹುಶಃ ಈಗಲು ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಇದೆ. ಇಂಜಿನೀಯರಿಂಗ್ ಓದಿದವರು ಪರಮ ಬುದ್ಧಿವಂತರು! ಮ್ಯಾಥ್ಸ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರನ್ನು ಹಿಡಿಯೋರೇ ಇಲ್ಲದ ಹಾಗೆ!

ಹೀಗಿರುವಾಗ, ದೇವಾಲಯ ಸುತ್ತುವವರಲ್ಲಿ ನನ್ನ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಎಂಜಿಕೆ ( ಅವರಿಲ್ಲ), ಕುರುಡುಮಲೆಯ ನರಸಿಂಹನ್ ( ಕಾಲೇಜು ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಇಲಾಖೆ ಉಪನಿರ್ದೇಷಕರಾಗಿ ಈಗ ನಿವೃತ್ತ, ಆದರೆ ಕಾರ್ಯ ನಿರತ) , ಪ್ರಭಾಕರ ರಾವ್, ಹೀಗೆ ಹಲವರು ಇರುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ನಾವು ಪರಮ ಕುತೂಹಲಿಗಳಾಗಿ ಅಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಹೋದಾಗ, ಬಾಗಿಲು ಮುಚ್ಚಿಯೋ, ಯಾರೋ ಒಬ್ಬ ವೃದ್ಧ ಬೀಡಿ ಸೇದುತ್ತಾ, ತೆಲುಗುನಲ್ಲಿ ಆ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ತನಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಕಥೆ ಹೇಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ಶಾಸನಗಳು ಒಗೆಯುವ ಕಲ್ಲುಗಳಾಗಿ ಅದರ ಮೇಲೆ ಬಟ್ಟೆ ತೊಳೆಯುವ ಸಾಧನಗಳಾಗಿದ್ದವು. ಅಕ್ಷರ ತಿಳಿಯುತ್ತಲೇ ಇರಲಿಲ್ಲ.

ನಮ್ಮ ಮನೆಯ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ದೂರದಲ್ಲಿ ವ್ಯಾಸರಾಜ ಮಠವಿತ್ತು, ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ವೇಣುಗೋಪಾಲ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಅತಿ ಸುಂದರ ವಿಗ್ರಹವಾಗಿ ಪೂಜೆಗೊಳ್ಲುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ಅಲ್ಲಿ ತುಳಸೀ ಕಟ್ತೆಯೋ ವ್ರುಂದಾವನವೋ ಇದ್ದು, ಅದರ ಮುಂದೆ ಕರವ ಮುಗಿದ ಮುಖ್ಯಪ್ರಾಣ ವಿಗ್ರಹ ಮುದ್ದಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಶ್ರೀ ವ್ಯಾಸತೀರ್ಥರು ಮುಳಬಾಗಿಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀಪಾದರಾಜರ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದಾಗ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ವಾಸ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಿರಬಹುದು. ಈಗ ಕಟ್ತಡ ಹಳೆಯದಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ, ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ದುರಸ್ತಿಯಾಗಿ ವೇಣುಗೋಪಾಲನ ಸ್ಥಳ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಬದಲಾವಣೆಯಾಗಿದೆ; ಮುಂಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಪೀಠದ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಪ್ರಾಣನಿದ್ದಾನೆ. ಸುಮಾರು 1550-80 ರ ಅವಧಿಯ ಈ ಸುಂದರ ವಿಗ್ರಹ ಸುಮಾರು ಜನರ ಕಣ್ನಿಗೆ ಬಿದ್ದಿಲ್ಲ. ಯಾಕೆಂದರೆ ಇದು ಮಠದ ಒಳಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿದೆ.

MADHVA SECTS - SHASTIKAS

 Madhvas in Karnataka are mainly comprised of Deshastha and Aruvattokkalu sects. While some Deshasthas spoke Marathi in those areas, others spoke onlly Kannada. Shasthtikas are 60 families of various Gotras migrated to Karnataka from Ahichatrapura, Punjab, during Pre-Vijayanagar period.

ಷಾಷ್ಟಿಕ ವಂಶ ಪ್ರದೀಪ ( Aruvattu Okkalu) of Dr Ranya Raja rao, published in 1981 says Madhva Gurus like Sri Akshobhya tirtha, Jayatirtha, Sripadaraja, Vyasaraja, Vijayindra, Vibudhendra- Raghavendra Tirtha  (Bigamudre - of keeping keys ) were  born in the celebrated families of Ministers of Jamakhandi Province, ruled by various rulers. 

The ancestors of Yatis, belonging to 27 Gotras were highly intelligent, wise, some warriors, finance advisors, Commandants of the Empire. Sri Akshobhya was paternal uncle of  Jayatirtha, Rajendra Tirtha,  Sripadaraja, Brahmanya Tirtha, Vyasatirtha were born in matrilineal line of the family. The 227 Page book is now relegated to the background.

Sri Jayatirtharu ( 1365- 1388)

 

Sri Sri Jayatirtharu represents  second generation of madhva successors. Anyone desirous of keeping thoughts of Madhvacharya intact, will have to be highly grateful to his second generation successor Sri Jayatirtha. He is the Master Commentator on 18 works of Acharya Madhva which are the only source now to us to understand clearly  the cryptic style of Madhvacharya, unlike other Acharyas. He is rightly honoured as Tikacharya, master commentator to Madhva's works ( Sarvamula) 

We have only some stories about the great Saint’s life. Though we have 3 biographies- Vijaya Granthas, two by Vyasatirtha, his disciple and another by Chalari Sankarshan Acharya have more fiction than facts. Even his place of birth is not properly recorded, Mangalvedhe, near Pandharpur or  as Vrishtiketha instead of Manyakheta! He is believed as son of a local ruler, and himself a horse rider. He is said to have got married at about 17 to two girls from a  rich familiy. We have to believe it as a story and move on! 

We might be wrong in identifying his mother tongue as Marati, as the area where he was born and taught had Kannada as native language since Marathi is of later origin to prevail upon as a spoken, administrative language there. 

Sri Jayatirtha is the celebrated author of 22 books, out of which 18 are available  commentaries on Madhva texts. Nyayasudha,  Vadavali and Padyamala are his independent works. He is a master logician, grammarian and presenter of Madhva thought of all times, honoured rightly as Teekacharya. He is remembered with utmost respect by Sri Vyasaraja as:

चित्रैः पदैस्च गंभीरैः वाक्यैः मानामखन्दितैः  

 गुरु भावं व्यञ्जयन्ती भाति श्री जयतीर्थवाक् |

( Nyayamritam)

श्रीमध्वः कल्पवृक्षस्तु जयार्याः कामधेनवः 

चिन्तामणिस्तु व्यासार्यः मुनित्रयमुदाहृतम्  

( श्रीमुष्ण माहात्म्यम्) 

Sri Jayatirtha is one among 3 stalwarts of Madhva school, as is said along with Sri Madhvacharya and Sri Vyasatirtha as Munitraya. in fact, he is the common Acharya Yati for most of Madhva Mathas as exist now. His Sriman Nyayasudha is a master manual of Madhva philosophy which stands unique even today as an inspiration to all seekers who look to understand Acharya Madhva. 

His Aradhana is observed in all Madhva centers on Ashadha Panchami, each year with fervour and reverence. Sri Jayatirtha's Brindavan is at Malakheda along with his Guru Sri Akshobhya Tirtharu. 

 

 

 

 

 

Unidentified Madhva Brindavans

 

There are 25 Madhva mathas, with the present head as 34 or 35th in line of succession. Madhvas have a tradition of daily Puja, Naivedyam and Aradhanas, to their Samsthana Pratimas and also  earlier Gurus who have entered Brindavanas.  In case of vrundavanas in field, temples, river banks, which are occassionally under water, it is difficult to maintain daily rituals.

Famous Brindavanas like those of Sri Sripadaraja,  Vadiraja, Sri Raghavendra, Sri Satyabodha, Sri Raghuttama, and 9 Brindavanas at Anegundi  attract devotees round the year, 

Brindavanas of famous saints like Vidyadhisha Tirtharu, and many Udupi pontiffs ach ( direct disciples of Sri Madhva)  are not available now.  There are at least 50-60 unidentified such monuments, earlier possibly pujas done by local teacher/ archak, scholars or retired person of our community. with changed circumstances, youngsters have shifted to cities, and Puja stopped, or once a week. 

Only respective Mathas have a list of Gurus, and are supposed to take care of them. Government will not fund such things, Particularly in TN, AP, TS, Karnataka villages, we cannot expect any support. Each place needs at least 20000/ month to manage such monuments. It is up to Mathas to take up such projects so that tradition is not ignored.

Sri Svaapna Vrindavanakhyanam

लक्ष्मीकान्तं भूवराहं भजेऽहं बादरायणम्

वादिराज ह्रुदंभोज मन्दिरं वाजिकन्धरम् ||

Sri Svaapna Vrindavanakhyanam, is a highly spiritual effective Paarayana Text, an esoteric work on Sri Sri Vadiraja Swamiji and his immediate Mahimas, revealed in a Dream-experience, in 22 chapters composed by himself, after his disappearance from public view to a mooka brahmana, later brought to light by Sri Vedavedya tirtha, a later pontiff of Sode Vadiraja Matha, Udupi-Sode. This edition is published by Sri Vadiraja Matha, during Paryaya of Sri Vishvottama Tirtharu, in 1997. The Book serves as Parayana Book for daily chanting by ardent devotees of Sri Vadiraja Gurusarvabhoumaru.

The contents of this book are astonishing to a new reader as it is a highly mystic & confidential information on future occurrences in Madhva Matha circles, like Srinivasacharya, Mudgala Narasimhacharya as ardent devotees of Sri Vadirajaru born again as Sri Satyadharma Tirtharu and Srinivasacharya as Jagannatha Dasaru. . All the chapters are a good reading for a believer and others too with the help of another trusted devotee of Vadirajaru. Logic never works in such esoteric texts.