Suryakshetra 97 - Spirituality is not to reject reason but to go beyond it

SURYAKSHETRA –97
Dr P V Sesha Sai
E-Mails: shodasisai@rediffmail.com, shodasisai@yahoo.com, shodasisai@hotmail.com,
Phones: 91-40- 27661613, 55581368 Cell: 94404 22613
2nd May 2005

What this little man speaks…

Quote: To remain spiritual is not to reject reason but to go beyond it.

Now it is time for us to go Narayanavanam where Lord Sri Venkateswara got himself married to Goddess Padmavathy. Goddess Padmavathy is the daughter of Akashraju – the king of the area. Narayanavanam is around 5 kilometers from Puttur. This is another highway to Chennai from Tirupathi. Puttur is nearly 65 kilometers from Tirupathi on Tirupathi-Chennai Highway. One road goes to Chennai via Narayanavanam and the other is a bye pass. Goddess Padmavathy was traced on Golden Lotus while developing the land for performing a Yagna by the name of PUTRAKAAMESHTI. The Lotus is called as PADMAM and since the Goddess is seen on a Lotus she is named as PADMAVATHY. In due course of time Lord Sri Venkateswara desired to marry Goddess and their marriage was performed at Narayanavanam. In token remembrance of the great incident, a temple was constructed for Lord Sri Venkateswara. Their marriage was performed on bright Dasami – the tenth day of Vaisakha month of Sri Vilambi Naama Samvat. That was a Friday.

Today we can see Lord Sri Venkateswara with a long Knife – Khadgam in the left hand, kalyana kankanam to the right hand. This temple was taken over by TTD from Karveti Nagar Samsthan on 29th April 1967. One can comfortably visit the temple from Tirupathi by the timings of the temple are of little inconvenience. The temple remain closed between 12 noon and 4.p.m.

According to the local aged people, the area was a thick forest till recently and now it is turned out to be a concrete jungle. Weaving appears to be a major activity for the villagers here.

Just a few yards from the Main temple, we can see SORAKAAYA SWAMI SIDDHAYOGI JEEVA SAMADHI. One great sage used to stay in these parts helping the villagers with his Sorakaya – an Akshaya Paatra. There is no mention about the age of the sage and finally on the Hasta Star – Saturday, Garuda Panchami of Sobhakrit Samvat i.e. on 29th July of 1903 – to say 102 years ago he went into his Jeeva Samadhi.

A little more than 50 yards from the temple we can see Goddess Champakavalli Sametha Sri Paraasareswar Swamy Shiva Temple appear to have been installed by the great sage Agastya of ancient times. Interestingly for all Lord Shiva Temples of these parts, we find Lord Vishnu as Anga Devata. This again speaks that there is no difference between LORD VISHNU AND LORD SHIVA. It is quite an ancient temple and it is worth visiting.

Six Kilometers from Narayanavanam – around two kilometers from Tirupathi-Chennai highway, we find a wonderful waterfall in the nooks of a hill called as KAILASA KONA. We have visited the place and found seven wells with water coming out of them constantly. The wells are situated on the hilltop and the waterfall is generated from this point. At the bottom, we find a small cave where in Lord Shiva grants us darshan. The great Sage Agastya appears to have worshipped the idol for long time. The presiding deities are named as KAAMAKSHI SAMETHA KAILAASANADHEESWARA SWAMY. It is KAILASAKONA and I request all of you to enjoy the waterfall and a nice bath. Fortunate we are, people are available there for massaging the body. It is a spiritual and re-energizing spot.

I shall be back again soon…

HARA HARA MAHADEVA DR P V SESHA SAI