Hebbur and Goravanahalli trip.15th Aug 2012

Posted by Poornima Belawaadi

        It was a two days prior plan to visit Hebbur -Shri Kamakshi Sharada temple but to visit Goravanahalli Mahalakshmi temple was not in our plan until we got to know that there would be lot of time on the same day afternoon..So, added it :) Myself and mom left home at 7:45 AM , took a bus to Tumkur and landed there at 9:00 AM.Hebbur is 28 kms from Tumkur on the way to Kunigal.It took about 40 min to reach Hebbur via bus. 
Inside the temple.
Hebbur temple entrance 
Yummy Idli vada for breakfast :)
        Temple is managed by Shri Kodandashrama Mutt and very near to bus stand .It is believed that the place had a large population of tigers and hence came to be known as Hebbur. It is said that the Shri Chakra, which has a unique presence at the Mutt, was found in a well in the olden days by a devotee and was handed over to Sri Kodandaramashrama Swamiji, who got a temple constructed for the Sri Chakra.The main deity of the temple is Goddess Kamakshi Sharadamba. The image of Goddess Kamakshi Sharada is a beautiful stone idol with intricate sculpture. Kamakshi Sharada with her four hands holds Pasha, Ankusha, Pustaka and Akshamala.The ancient Sri Kamakshi Sharadamba Temple was slightly renovated during the years 1939-43 by the then Peetadhipathi Sri Sri Sridharanandashrama Swamiji.Sri Chakra is known as the abode of Adi Parashakthi and is of three types :1. The platen type called Bhooprasthara.2. The convex one is called as Kailasa Prasthara. 3. The conical structure is known as Meru Prasthara. The Hebbur shrine has Sri Chakra of Maha Meru type made in Pancha loha (a mixture of five metals).Though there was lunch available in the temple, we did not wait ; had our breakfast in a small hotel and left Hebbur by 11:00 AM .We reached Tumkur by 11:45 AM.
Goddess Mahalakshmi
       
Goravanahalli Mahakalshmi temple
entrance.
         Our next destination was Goravanahalli which is 26 kms from Tumkur.Since there was no direct bus, we had to take a bus to Kortgere and reach Goravanahalli(12 kms from Kortgere) through private vehicle.We reached temple at 1:00 PM..since the roads were horrible, it took a lot of time for the journey :( It is said that Abbayya, a poor man was blessed to get the idol of Mahalakshmi. After worshipping Mahalakshmi at his home, Abbayya became rich. He started doing charity work and his home earned the tag ‘Lakshmi Nivasa’. Later Abbayya’s brother Thotadappa joined Abbayya in his charity work. After the death of Abbayya, Thotadappa was performing poojas to the Goddess. One day in his dreams, Mahalakshmi asked him to build a shrine for Her. So, Thotadappa built a shrine for Mahalakshmi. After Thotadappa, Chowdayya was performing poojas.But from the year 1910 the temple was in a neglected state. In the year 1925,Kamalamma on arriving at Goravanahalli, saw the neglected state of the temple. She started performing the poojas for the Goddess. Then again after a year temple was in a neglected state, when she left the place. But then in 1952, Kamalamma was back in Goravanahalli and settled there. After this regular poojas were performed by Kamalamma.Darshanam got over by 2:45 PM.Long queue for temple lunch made us stay away from it and head towards Tumkur.We left the Goravanahalli by 4:30 and reached Tumkur at 5:30 PM..Since it was a govt holiday we couldn't get a bus easily and had to make way through a private bus to Bangalore and we landed Bangalore at 7:30 PM.

 Information : Though temple lunch is available in both places,it is advised to carry snacks as there are no good hotels available on the way.Alight at Kortgere circle bus stand(next stop after the main bus stand) since private vehicles are not available from the main stop to Goravanahalli temple. 

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Tirupati-4,5th Aug 2012

Posted by Poornima Belawaadi

On the way to Tirumala
         Journey to Tirupati this time was memorable.Though it was my 5th visit, i was visiting after 12 yrs.65 members all together (Neighbours & friends)were all set to see lord Balaji.We had reserved the train 3 months ago.Left home @ 6:00 PM on 4th and reached Bangalore city railway station @7:30.Took train at 8:30.I had prepared sand witches for dinner.I could hardly sleep in the train because of excitement. Landed Tirupati at 5:30 AM.From there we hired 4 tempo's to reach Tirumala (Hill) and reached Tirumala @7:30.
         There was hell lots of changes when compared to my previous visit.It took lot of time for us to book rooms since we could not book before as they were all full..Meanwhile i had yummy idlis while waiting for rooms.Finally we got three rooms.One of them was very far from the other two and we had to travel through free bus :) ..We reached our rooms in groups and got ready by 10:30.Entered for darshana at 11:00 AM...People with 300 Rs ticket were in the queue for 7 hrs and we just had 50 Rs ticket and joined them later.Luckly we finished darshana @ 1:00 PM(in 2 hrs) which was beyond our expectation ;)Then we ate temple prasadam and went to take laddus :) .. Few of them spent lot of time in buying extra laddus which was irritating.
          The main intention for visiting Tirupati was to recite the Vishnu Sahasranaama..After buying laddus me,mom and other 3 people went to have free lunch in temple.Rest followed us later.By that time it was 3:30 PM.Then we went to a big hall to recite the mantra which got over by 5.We almost did it for one hour.From there we moved to our respective rooms.Few among 65 halted in Tirumala because they had plans to visit Kalahasti(1/2 an hour from Tirupati) the next day.We had to leave rooms by 7 but since it started raining, some of them left late and took bus lately to reach Tirupati.Luckly our bus reached there(Tirupati) just in time.Myself ,mom and 10  more ran to catch the train since it was already late and the train had just arrived.Amomg 52 who had to accompany us, 18 members missed the trian :( and had to catch bus to reach Bangalore.I had chapati's for dinner.We got down in Cantonment railway station at 6:45 and reached home at 8:00 AM on 5th.It was an awesome journey and very nice experience.I felt blessed after the darshana.

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Vellore,TN - 22nd July 2012

Posted by Poornima Belawaadi

Our vehicles
        It was a cool Sunday morning on 22nd July 2012.Around 25 people visited Golden Temple @ Vellore ,Tamil Nadu.It was my second visit to the temple.We had booked two Tempo travellers for 14 members each.My neighbour Mr. & Mrs.Phatak's family of around 20, me , Saroja aunty and family all started  at 7 AM in a Tempo Traveller.Another TT with 15 people who accompanied us was from a different route.We went to Deepti's house at Peenya to pick her family.On the way, in Mathikere, we packed breakfast and started the journey.I enjoyed talking to Parineeta(Deepti's 3 yr old daughter).We played antyakshari until we stopped for breakfast at roadside at 11 AM. We had idlis,vada +chutney and kesribath.It was super yummy.
Breakfast

Jalakanteshwara temple
       












Later on the way we watched Arundhati movie in our tempo traveller and also sang songs and enjoyed.Few people went asleep but i was enjoying the movie.We reached Vellore @ 2:30 PM and halted in Mr.Phatak's relative's house.We had also packed bisibelebath,curd rice,obattu(sweet dish),cucumber,rice+rasam for lunch.All 25 members had lunch there along with kheer prepared buy the house owner.Then, we got freshed up and left that place at 4:00 PM to Jalakanteshwara temple which is located in Vellore city.After visiting the temple, we left to Golden temple and reached temple at 5:00 PM.We drank coffee/tea and entered temple at 5:30 PM. There was no much waiting for our luck.We had to walk around 5-6 kms to reach the main temple (part of darshana or queue ).I enjoyed thoroughly and was guiding few people(who accompanied me) about the temple and surroundings.Alankara of Goddess Narayani was mesmerizing.We finished darshana at 8:00 PM, had temple prasadam which was really tasty and left by 9:00. PM .I wanted to do some purchasing but could not since i left my purse in my Tempo traveller.
          On the way we stopped for dinner at a hotel and  I had masala dosa . We reached our home around 2:00 AM the next day.I thoroughly enjoyed the one day trip since I was with all new people around me.As said earlier it was my second visit to Vellore and this time i saw the temple in evening light which was marvelous when compared to morning darshana during my first visit.
Some important information :
Distance - around 5-5 1/2 hours from Bangalore.On the way you can also visit Krishnagiri dam but takes lot of time there since the dam and park is huge.Adjust time acccordingly before starting.
Places of interest in Vellore apart from Golden temple : Jalakanteshwara  temple,Vellore fort.
Timings for Golden temple : 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM(camera, mobile,food and electronic devices strictly not allowed.There are separate counters to keep them.). Special darshana with much less queue will cost  250 or 300 Rs per head.Entire darshana will take 2-3 hrs.
   

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