Lord mallikarjuna, Srisailam

“Om Namah Shivaya ” is the slogan where you will listen when visited this temple. As per our good plan we started in car as we are 4 members suitable for nice and safe journey. We started at 6’o clock in the morning, and on the way saw a beautiful sunrise after a long time.  Our first halt is at Dindi Dam, there we got some captures of ours & water as well which is at low level, but the flow is continuous.  And after an hour we started to srisailam, through the nalla malla forest, which is very dense, that I felt pretty excited as it was the first time to travel through the forest.  As some of our ancestors (monkeys), were beside the roads we gave them some stuff to eat, and travelled along the roads which were tiny lengthy way, and came out from Nalla Malla forest and reached deep high hills, where the temple is located.

srisailam, srisailam dam panoramic
         
  Then on the way to temple, we Visited sakshi ganapathi temple, there we came to know about an interesting fact that if anyone once visited srisailam temple, this lord note down’s these report as a proof, it is told that sakshi means a “proof”.  As we got a good accomodation on recommendation, in the early morning @ 5’o clock, we had a peaceful darshan of Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy (Lord Shiva) and Godess Bramarambha, as the previous day was the lunar eclipse the temple was well cleaned on the next day. And after that we went on a rope way to pathala ganga and had a holy dip bath, and went for the jyothirlinga darshan, as it is said that taking a holy dip in patala ganga will clean the sins of devotees.  After that we returned our room and next day morning we left to our home. While returning on the way we visited paladhara panchadara and drank water, were mountain water flows from that hill i.e is very pure, natural and hygienic. After that visited shikaram, which is the highest peak place in srisailam, one can view all over surroundings from there took some fine snapshots. And by the evening we returned to our residence.

sraisailam dam flow, panoramic view of srisailam dam


                One who have plans to visit srisailam, it is advised to take holy dip in patalaganga first, and then darshan of the lord Mallikarjuna and Bramarambha.

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Holiday @ Glorious India


Last month I spent my Christmas holidays in India with my friends. I want to share my experience with travel buddies…

A holiday in glorious India is a truly incredible experience. India is an immense country with unique traditions, cultural heritage and a mix up of variety religions. The India is a home for amazing tourist destinations; including sightseeing, historical forts, national parks, and pilgrimage centers, beaches and tiger safaris, more and more extraordinary spots. Historical Royal Rajasthan, cultural astounding Andhra Pradesh and traditional Tamilnadu, God own city Kerala, Goa, beautiful Taj Mahal (Delhi), chilled Jammu - Kashmir, and Martyr Punjab, are the major tourist destinations in India.

The architecture magnificence around India astonishes which represents the great Mughal and Rajput constructions like Taj Mahal, Forts, temples, and modern buildings in the cities. The panorama is dazzling from the mountain peaks of the Himalayas in the north (Jammu), desert on the west (Rajasthan), the tea plantations on the West (Kerala), to the backwaters, palm groves on the south (Tamilnadu). There are also few top class wildlife sanctuaries, national parks (biological and zoological) in India. So you can see tigers, big cats, monkeys, various types of birds and number of animals while visiting these parks.

Cuisines of India take you out from the routine junk food world. You can come across hundreds of non veg varieties while traveling around India. The succulent South Indian and yummy north Indian food varieties brings a different experience to your tongue.

It was a great experience with my friends to visit India. I assure that a trip to India take you to the world of heritage, cultural, historical and pilgrimage world

Lashkar-Patnam Bonalu...


About Bonalu
Bonalu (బోనాలు) is a term derived from “bhonam” (Bhojanalu Tel: భోజనాలు). On these days a Traditional Meal is offered to Mother Goddess (అమ్మవారు). This festival is very famous in Twin cities of Hyderabad – Secunderabad and many parts of telangana region of Andhra Pradesh. Festival is celebrated during Ashadam (june/july), Women from each home carry a Bonam to offer it to the Goddess with great devotion for her blessings to look after the world with care.
Hyderabad bonalu Lal darwaza
Hyderabad Lal Darwaza Bonalu.

Bonam and its speciality
Bonam is prepared with the most common south Indian ingredients. A medium sized earthen pot is decorated with Turmeric (పసుపు), KumKum (కుంకుమ), KADI. A white thread with mango leaves is tied around the neck of pot, and carries neem leaves in hand. The pot contents cooked rice, with turmeric, oil and some other cooking ingredients. Another pot a bit smaller contains water kept over the main pot; both pots are carried on head from starting at home to temple. This is due to respecting the basic requirement and also it is believed that these pots are filled with powers.

While carrying, women dance with spiritual feeling and mood. Dance is rhythmically to the drum beats, also a person with strange costumes called Pothuraju (usually referred as brother of Goddess) dances in temple premises.
Pothuraju bonala dance
Pothuraju bonala dance
History
Hyderabad-secunderabad twin cities have historic significance of this festival. During Nizam’s rule 1860-70’s an unknown disease spread across the places and resulted in huge loss of life. Then people started believing that situation is due to ire of Goddess, then immediately began worshipping Goddess to show pity and cure them.

Cholera broke out in twin cities during 18th century AD making dreadful deaths in thousands. A ‘doli’ Bearer Suriti Appaiah of local, used to be in military was moved to Ujjain as a part of military job. By knowing this, along with his associates went to Ujjaini Mahankali temple prayed with great devotion. This disease has started vanishing slowly and was happy. Also promised an idol would be installed in the city and fulfilled it in 1815 by installing an idol in Secunderabad as soon as returned. Originally which was made of wooden replaced with rock statue in 1964. Tradition continued to celebrate every year.

Local festival 
Unlike other festivals, Bonalu is celebration starts only based on the first Sunday of Aashadam at Golconda and every Sunday till end of Aashadam in different places. Goddess Shakti or Kali is popularly known with various names as Yellamma, Pochamma, Renuka Amma, Peddamma, Mysamma, Poleramma, Ankalamma and Maramma who gives strength and cures many diseases. Pothuraju is considered to be the evil destroyer.

Outside the temple devotees sacrifice Hen or goat, so that blood makes the evil spirits to calm down. Also believed that women carrying Bonam posses the spirit of Goddess.

First Sunday: Celebrations starts and held’s at Sri Jagdamba Mahankali temple in Golconda. Huge devotees visit to participate in event. Along with common people, politicians, celebrities also offer Bonam. Minister of endowment dept offers “Pattu Vasthralu” (silk clothes) to the deity on behalf of Government.
Golconda Sri jagadambha Mahakali Temple
Golconda Sri jagadambha Mahakali Temple
Second Sunday: Ujjain Mahankali temple in Secunderabad, people visits in such a way that roads will be blocked. This festival at secunderabad Ujjain Mahankali temple is also known as “lashkar Bonalu”.
Ujjain mahankali temple bonalu Secunderabad
Ujjain mahankali temple bonalu Secunderabad
Third Sunday: The Matheswari temple of Lal Darwaza in Old City. A special security is arranged to avoid anti social elements, as it is a sensitive place. This festival at Matheswari temple of Lal Darwaza temple is also known as “Patnam Bonalu”.
Balkampet Ellamma temple is also famous for Bonalu. As per mythology, Mother goddess self established in a well. Now a great temple constructed over the well.
Yellamma temple bonalu balkampet
Yellamma temple bonalu balkampet

Rangam
Rangam (Forecasting of the Future), women filled with Goddess spirits standing on wet clay pot tells the fortune of the place for the current year. It took place on next day of the festival.

Ghatam
Ghatam is a copper pot which is decorated in the form of Mother Goddess, carried by preist. It is taken out of water on the first day of festival and kept for worshipping till the end of festival days. This precession is accompanied by drums.

Ghatam is immersed on the last day of festival. Ghatam is placed on elephants top during procession. This is a carnival to the people of Hyderabad secunderabad.

The list of Ghatams procession
The Mahankali temples in Haribowli Akkanna-Madanna
Laldarwaza, Uppuguda, Miralam Mandi and Kasaratta
The Jagadamba temple of Sultanshahi
Bangaru Mysamma temple of Shalibanda, Alijah Kotla and Gowlipura
Sultanshahi, Darbar Mysamma of Aliabad
Mutyalamma temple of Chandulal Bela.

 తల్లి చల్లగా చూడు

Guru Dhevo Bhava - Guru Purnima

The person taught us and makes us awareness about life!! The person who lights our life!!

we call them as GURU. A Sanskrit word represents " remover of darkness in life". In India we respect our culture and respect our tradition to save our great history and celebrate many festivals. one among them.


Guru Poornima (Guri Pournami) is celebrated on first Pournami (Full-Moon day) of "Aashadam" (june-july). Buddhists celebrate this as a major festival with great devotion, as Lord Buddha started it in Sarnath of UP. Not only Buddhists, As per Hindu Mythology Vyasa Maharshi was born on this day. He is a great Guru as per Hindu history, introduced GURU-SHISHYA Parampara (teacher-student) relation. He is honored with Maharshi (person with great knowledge) and also composed Brahma Suthras. Datthathreya who is known as Guru of gurus, was under the teachings of Vyasa. This day is also celebrated as Vyasa Purnima.




Many Vedas and historical events describes about the Day. Lord Sri Rama's relation with Vashista. Lord Sri Krishna's relation with Sandipani Maharshi are some of the examples shows Guru-Shishya parampara.

GURU DHEVO BHAVA


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