TALES FROM THE PAST

SRI CHENGALAMMA DEVI, SULLURPET, NELLORE (AP) Chengalamma Devi was, initially, called Tenkali (Dakshina Kali). The left portion of Devi depicts Parvati, right portion Saraswati and central portion Sri Mahalakshmi, hence called Trikale Chengali. During 10th C, few villagers found Devi murti while swimming in Kalangi river. They could not move the murti from its place. Next day, they noticed that the murti was positioned straight. After performing poojas, they could lift the murti and they carried it to the present place. While villagers were trying to build door for the shrine, Devi appeared in their dream and told them that she was there to bless her devotees at all times and hence they should not build any door. The next day, the villagers found that the doors has become a tree. So the villagers decided to keep the shrine open for 24 hours. The murti of Devi faces the sea. Devotees come to witness Chengalamma Jatara in huge numbers. ISRO scientists visit this shrine for the blessings

SURYA NARAYAN SWAMY, ARSAVALLI, SRIKAKULAM (AP) One of the oldest Surya kshetra in India. It is a Panchayatana shrine (with Suryanarayana, Shiva-Parvati, Vishnu, Ganesh and Indra) Believed to have curative powers. It’s original name was Harshavalli (Abode of Joy) Once, Indra went to meet Shiva. He tried to force his entry at a time when Mahadev was with Devi Parvati. Nandi who was standing as dwarapalaka, kicked Indra. This left Indra wounded and senseless. Indra,then, had a dream that worshipping Surya would cure his wounds. Indra found this murti of Surya at Arsavalli where he prayed and got relief. Here, Surya is with his consorts-Usha, Chaaya and Padmini. The base has Mathara and Pingala as dwarapalakas. At the top, Rishis Sanak and Sanandana are holding an umbrella. The shrine is built such that the sun’s rays are focussed on the feet of the murti twice a year in March and September for a few minutes in the early hours of the day even when 5 entrance gates are closed. The main fe

KADRI MANJUNATHESHWARA,MANGALURU (KAR)  Kadri Manjunatha is believed to be the oldest Shiva Shrine in Mangaluru. It also has tanks with natural springs and laterite caves known as Pandava Caves. The Kadri Hill has the biggest centre of Natha Pantha (cult) in South India. After defeating and ending Kshatriyas, Parashurama donated all land to Kashyap. He, then, meditated upon Shiva. Shiva told Parashurama that he would incarnate as Manjunath and asked him to meditate at Kadalivana (today’s Kadri). Parashurama visited the new land and found a Kadalivana (plantain field) and one Rasakoopa (well). Shiva appeared in that Rasakoopa and later Vishwakarma created a shrine. Ma Parvathi also settled here and Saptakoti Mantras settled here as Sapta Teerthas (7 ponds). Much later, Kadri became a buddhist centre and after that the Natha pantha. The Jogis of Jogimutt still reside here and worship Manjunatha. The place has a natural spring called Gomukha. It is said that water flows in it from Ganga i

SIRSI MARIKAMBA DEVI, UTTAR KANNADA DIST. (KAR)  Also known as Doddamma (elder sister of all Mariammas). Marikamba of Sirsi is both Mari (terror) as well as Maremma (savior). She is terror in anger & Mother in love. That is why she is called Marikamba. There was a man by the name of Asadi/ Basava. He used to attend a fair at the neighboring village. Once, he was harassed by some men due to his poor status. So he did not go to the fair. Instead, he stayed in his village Sirsi and prayed to Devi. One night, he had a dream where Devi Kali informed him about her presence in a tank at his village. When the tank was searched, people found a box with parts of murti. The different parts were assembled together and since then Sirsi Devi became popular in the region. The kshetram has extremely striking murals in ‘Kaavi’ art. It is an art form of the Konkan region of coastal Karnataka. This stunning art involves creation of patterns in red colour against a white background. Marikamba rathyatr

SRI VARAHA NARSIMHA, SIMHACHALAM, VIZAG (AP)  One of the 32 Narsimha Kshetram of Andhra. It has a unique form of Narsimha, appearing like a shivlingam It is said that Narsimha’s fierce nature is soothed by worshipping him with Varaha, considered a peaceful deity The shrine is believed to have been constructed by Prahlada. With time, it crumbled. In Treta yuga, King Pururava was passing from here in his vimana. The vimana was attracted to this place by a mystic power. When the place was unearthed, the deity was found. Pururava’s wife, Urvashi, had a dream that the deity should remain covered in sandalwood paste for the whole year except on Akshaya Tritiya. This practice has continued till date. The mukhya mandap here, has a pillar kappam stambham believed to possess curative powers. Chandanotsava/ Chandan Yatra is the most important festival celebrated on Akshaya Tritiya. The sandalwood paste is removed from the moolavar deity and nijarupa darshan (original form of deity) for twelve hou

WHY DOES SHIVA WEAR SNAKES AROUND HIS NECK  The serpent on Shiva’s neck represents the endless cycle of birth and regeneration. Also, snake represents ego. Shiva uses this ego as an ornament because it doesn't find space within his body. Ego is powerless before Shiva. The three snake coils around Shiva's neck depict future, present and past. It highlights that Shiva is Independent of time and controls time. By wearing the snake, Shiva gives us the assurance that no evil can touch or destroy us once we surrender to him and seek his protection. The snake also stands for the power of kundalini, which is described as a coiled serpent lying dormant in the muladhara chakra of all human beings and descends upwards when one starts the spiritual journey and becomes increasingly divine oriented. Skanda, Padma and Matsya Purana mention that once Shiva gathered all the poisonous things in the world and made ornaments from them for Ma Parvati. Thus snakes took form of different ornaments. S

BANNARI AMMAN, SATHYAMANGALAM (TN)  Bannari Amman Kshetram is dedicated to Mariamman, known as the goddess of Rain. This divine place is located at the foothill of Thimbam. Bannari Amman is a form of Shakti. The murti is swayambhu (self-manifested). Some 300 years ago, cowherds used to leave cattle here for grazing. One day, a cow was seen shedding her milk under a Vengai tree. Next day also, the cow did the same thing. Villagers removed the thickly grown grass and found a sand-hill and Swayambu Linga near it. It is believed that a deity protected traders from Kerala who travelled through this place to Mysore. Fascinated by the beautiful surroundings, she decided to stay here to protect devotees. A shrine was built and Bannari Mariamman is worshipped here since then. Bannari Amman is the only shrine that faces the south direction. Instead of Vibhuti and Kumkuma, Bannari soil is given to the devotees. The Kundam festival (fire walk on heated charcoal) is most famous here.