Glory of Kurugadda(Kuruvapuram)--Please hurry to visit this place.

[Guest guest]

Dear Datta-Bandhus,

 

 

 

Last posting we saw Sripeethikapuram's glory.This email let me concentrate on Kurugadda Kshetra Maahathymam.

 

SriPaada Sri Vallabha lived in Gokarna for three years. From there he proceeded to Sri Parvata (‘Sri’ Mountain) with a desire to bless the world and help the suffering humanity. The mere sight of Sri Guru’s feet confers the benefits of visiting all the holy places because all the sacred rivers lie in his lotus feet.

 

Even though there is no necessity for them to undertake pilgrimages great people tour extensively to do good to mankind. Sri Pada Sri Vallabha lived in "Sri Parvata" (Sri Sailam) for four months. He granted devotees his benign appearance during that period. He uplifted many seekers of spirituality there. From there he went to Kuravapura. River Krishna joins river Veni and flows here.

 

 

 

Kurugadda/Kurugaddi/Kuruvapuram/Vallabhapuram(as it is variously called) is the seat of Sri Pada (It is situated in the present Karnataka State and is 10 kms away from Raichur. It is a small island in the river Krishna). Those who worship the divine feet of Sri Pada there,will be blessed with affluence, good children and advancement.This has been tested even recently. In short, all their aspirations will be achieved and they become spiritual seeking only moksha.

 

Please watch some ametuer videos taken by devotees who had gone to the place:

 

1.

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj1Npf4d06U & feature=related

3.

 

You get the co-ordinates and an areil image of Kuruvapuram here:

 

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=16.3533944 & lon=77.5455379 & z=16 & l=0 & m=a & v=2 (Wikimapia for a satellite image of Kuruvapuram)

 

 

8th and 9th Chapter of SriGurucharitra concentrate on the Leelas of SriPada Srivallabha in Kuruvapuram.Im narrating below what happened in Kuruvapuram from Chapter 9:

 

" Namadharaka humbly requested Siddha to inform him some more details about the life of Sri Pada at Kuruvapura. Siddha started to recount the extraordinary life of Sri Pada at Kuruvapura. "In Kuruvapura a washerman was serving Sri Pada with loyalty. Sri Pada was daily going to Krishna river for taking bath. One day Sri Pada was standing in the middle of the stream and was about to take bath. He saw the washerman washing the dirty clothes on the banks of the river. The washerman was prostrating before Swami everyday whenever he came across him. Sri Pada took pity on the washerman and said, "What do you expect from me? You are prostrating before me everyday. Oh, devoted one! I will grant you a kingdom to rule". From that moment the washerman became a staunch servant of Sri Guru. He was sweeping the residential premises of Sri Guru and was sprinkling water all over. During

one spring season, a Mohammedan King came to the river along with his wives to enjoy fun and frolic there. The king and his wives were enjoying the water sport greatly. Troops were in attendance and musical bands were playing several musical instruments to the great delight of all. The washerman saw all this. He was captivated by the regal splendour and the bevy of beauties bedecked with precious jewels surrounding the King. The washerman wondered as to which God the King worshipped or the Guru whom he served, in his previous birth to merit such a magnificent fortune. He met Sri Guru and prostrated before him. He stood up reverentially and expressed his exclamation at the grandeur of the King. At the same time he submitted to Sri Guru that Sri Guru’s feet will give him more happiness than all the worldly pleasures. The all-knowing Sri Pada said, "You are suffering on account of your present birth. You harbour a strong desire for Kingly luxuries.

Unless your sensory organs are satiated in full your mind cannot remain tranquil. Residual influences carried forward to the next birth will create difficulties during that birth. So you take birth as a Mohammedan in your next birth very soon. You will be born in "Vaidurya"(now Bidar) town. You will fully satisfy all your irrepressible desires during that life. I will reincarnate myself as Narasimha Saraswathi on the earth in future. You will be granted my ‘darshan’ during the fag end of your life in that birth. Then spiritual knowledge will again dawn upon you. Anyway, do you want to get your desires satisfied in this birth or in the next birth?" To this the washerman replied that he bacame old and his body decayed. So he cannot enjoy sensual pleasures any more. As youth is the proper time to indulge in all sorts of cravings he expressed his desire to enjoy in the next birth. The merciful Sri Guru then ordered him to be born immediately in the

royal family of "Vaidurya" and to have an unchallenged rule over the Kingdom. The fuller immediately died and was reborn in a Muslim family in the town ‘Vaidurya’. Lord Sri Pada lived for some time in physical body in Kuruvapura. As the place is associated with the life of Sri Pada for some time all the desires of the people will get fructified there very soon. After some time Sri Pada disappeared in Kuruvapura. It was the month of ‘Aswayuja’, ‘Dwadasi’ of second fortnight of Lunar month and in ‘Hasta’ star on the banks of Krishna river Sri Guru vanished to incarnate at another place. Still he is there in subtle form and is manifesting his divine powers. Those who go there with devotion will see him even now. That is why Kuruvapura has become famous in the world."

 

There is also an interesting story in the 8th Chapter regarding a Brahmin woman and he woes with a moronic child.

 

 

 

 

Sripada SriVallabha performed penance at about 35 years for Gnana and Viragya siddhi at Kuravapur and closed his avathara-dharana on Ashweeja bahula dwadasi (Hastha star) in Krishna river of Kuravapur . The day is known as “GURU DWADASIâ€. Interestingly,He did not stop breathing nor did he enter into any samadhi.He simply disappeared into the waters of Krishna river.

 

But till today he is said to roam about in sukshma rupa there and giving indirect darshan to the devotees who are having full faith on him.

 

His Karmabhoomi is Pithapuram and His Tapobhoomi is Kuruvapuram, presently known as Kuruvapur or Kurugadda of Raichur District, Karnataka. His incarnation is started in Pithapuram and completed in Kuruvapuram. The tenure of Sripada Srivallabha incarnation is too small, but its prominence is that much high; which is not possible to explain even for celestials and seven sages. He is the support for all visible and invisible forces.

Sripada Srivallabha’s is a comprehensive yogic incarnation. His body is an embodiment of holy fire and yoga. The Divine Sripada Srivallabha was very bright, very lustrous, very handsome and very tall. Infinite love and mercy were flowing from His twin eyes as a big stream. He satisfies only with inner feelings.Sripada Srivallabha is superior to ‘Dwaadasa Aadityas’. His divine gross body is endowed with wonderful divine vibrations.Sripada Srivallabha is an embodiment of all Deities. His nature is a magnificent One which transcends all the forms of Deities. He is the Emperor of the fourteen worlds. He dwells in all countries and at all times. Sripada’s descent will always take place in the subtle worlds of higher regions.This incarnation is Formless but appearing as a Human Form of Sripada Srivallabha. It is Attributeless but appearing as One with

Attributes; it is a comprehensive Form of All Deities but looks like a Single Deity. It is a great miracle that the para tattwa which is really Formless and that maha tattwa which is not known in what position it remains in the imperceptible state; incarnated in a Human Form in Pithikapuram.To protect devotees Incarnations and sub-incarnations always take place in this earth, emerging from a fraction of Sripada Srivallabha’s infinite powers.Sripada Srivallabha’s incarnation came to dispel the darkness of ignorance. It arrived to remove the limping progress of people in physical and spiritual matters.

Sripada Srivallabha looks like a small Boy but it should be known that He is the great resolve that administers the entire creation.It is impossible even for a thousand hooded Aadisesha to describe vividly such great Sreepada Sreevallabha.There are no yogic traditions, religious or ethical regulations in the entire creation which do not owe their origin to Sri Sreepada.The stature of Sri Sreepada cannot be perceived by intellectuals, however, great they might be. He is His own equal. All theories and traditions find synthesis in Him. He is the first point and the last point for the entire creation. He is the one who supervises, who proposes and who sets in motion all the affairs of the world which are pulsating in nature.That formless, attributeless form having infinite strength, infinite knowledge and infinite prevalence granted vision in a human form having

qualities and shape as Sreepada on account of His free and infinite compassion. To understand this, man should achieve perfection and comprehensiveness.

No action takes place without a cause in the presence of Sripada Srivallabha. He will decide the actions, their consequences, the time and the place of their occurrence.

Sripada Srivallabha is the One who shine with self-effulgence in all dharmas, religions, and theories! He is the One who is perceived by different philosophies according to their preferences, tastes and the paths they follow! Sripada told that, “As I am independent in all respects and as I am not subject to possibilities or impossibilities I do not have any specified policy. Mine is a great incarnation that grants instantaneous results.There are no nicities of dharma unknown to Sri Sreepada. There is nothing which is not possible for Srivallabha.He is the ancient phenomenon which teaches us what jnaana (knowledge) and ajnaana (ignorance) is!Sripada is an easily accessible golden treasure for righteous people. The suffering of a devotee will move Sreepada.

Sreepada is the one who rushes and protects with thousand hands and the succour of those who call Him in distress.Sripada is the sole refuge in times of hunger, in times of total exhaustion, in times of troubles from lenders, when caught between the horns of dilemma not knowing what to do what not to do, in critical circumstances.He is very close to the physical, mental and consciousness of the soul of all living beings.He is omnipotent who removes troubles, losses of all His devotees and dependents. He grant them comforts of this and the other world.

He is a servent to those who serve of His devotees.Sreepada is absorbed in Japa, meditation and penance in Kuruvapuram. He will not keep that result from penance for Himself. He donates it to the entire creation. He declares the fruits of His penance for saving His devotees from sorrows and diseases; and release them from the shackles of kharma.

Sri Sreepada is consciousness personified. When He feels it necessary, He turns dust into sky and sky into dust and displays His capacity for reconciling the irreconcilable. He can exhibit any extraordinary miracle. There is no load which He cannot lift. There is no problem which He cannot solve. There are no boons which He cannot offer. There are no works which He can not perform. These are very natural things for Him.

He accepts crores of prayers every moment from not only his limited worldy devotees but also many yogis and siddhas. He replies to every righteous prayer which is just. He remedies the trouble. He grants every just wish.

The speed of His supra-mind is highly fierce, and beyond thought. The speed of light is also not equal to the speed of His supra-mind. Even a small prayer of a man or any livingbeing must reach His countless rays of brillance!

Sripada Srivallabha told that, Even though He was in a human form in Pithapuram for 16 years, and later in deep penance at Kuravapuram upto 30 years of His age i.e. between 1320-1350; He did many miracles, He showed His many Sportive Plays to grant boons to His devotees and to protect His devotees by making them to visit His birth place in Pithapuram and making them to worship His Pious Feet installed there only after Sripada Srivallabha Maha Samstanam is formed, and later, after releasing the Sripada Srivallabha Charitaamrutam Book to glorify His Avataaric place in the 33rd generation of their grandfather and 33rd generation of their maternal uncle.

 

 

Sripaada Srivallabha

 

He also said thus,

 

“People of all countries in the world; people from all races and all traditions; will come to Pitapuram in any birth, on any day and have the darshan of Sri Sripada. Great personages, great yogis and people of all countries come to My Darbaar to have My darshan, like rows of ants. The moment I give permission all due tasks will be done at once. If, necessary, I throw the people whom I consider as My own, in Pithikapuram by dragging them with their hair, however rich he might be or however great yogi he might be."

 

( This is confirmed and true in many recent cases too)

 

"All of you remain in your positions following My intention only. I can make a beggar as a king and I can change a king into a begger also. I will grant whatever a devotee dependant on Me requests. I will examine before granting, whether that devotee can retain so much superior power and whether he will use his capacity and power for the welfare of the world or not."

 

"Plenty of virtue is required to step into my birth place and to participate in any event, activity, occation or programme of Mine in the Samsthaan. Great fotune is required to make even any sort of financial assistance to My Samsthaan.â€

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interestingly, this place is also referred to as Gurudweepa(dweepa meaning island in sanskrit) in Skanda purana. Skanda purana explained that 28000 yogis and siddhis of Himalayas visit this place and have darshan of lord Dattatreya regularly, which goes in an unbroken pattern till today.This is the reason why Sripada Garu chose this place for his avatharic dissolution.

 

This place was named as Kuruvaalaya in the days of Nizam government Period. The place is completely surrounded by Krishna river as mentioned supra.

 

 

Tyembe Swami.

 

 

Even Tembe swamy majaraj (Sri Vasudevananda saraswathy) performed “Chaturmasya vratha†here in the year of 1911.It is notable that the disciples of Tembe swamy Sri Rangaavadhootha, Gunavani maharaj were also performed penance here.

 

 

Important places to visit at Kuruvapur : Sripada Srivallabha padukaa mandir, 1000 yearold vata vriksha(Banyan Tree) under which Sripada Sri Vallabha Garu had rested, cave where Tembe swamy maharaj performed penance, oudumbara vriksha(Indian Fig Tree,sacred for Datta devotees), Sreepada mudras on otherside of the river, Datta mandir at Sri Vithal Baba ashram.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1000 yearold Banyan tree

(vata vriksha in sanskrit)

 

 

 

 

Cave in Kuravapur

 

 

 

 

Sripadasrivallabha garu's padukas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sree pada with alankara

Important festivals performing at Kuruvapur :

 

 

 

Sreepada vallbha jayanthi (Bhadrapada suddah chavithi)

 

Gurudwadasi (the day of anthardhan- ashweeja bahula dwadasi)

 

Datta jayanthi (margashira shudha thrayodashi to margasira bahula paadyami- triratrostavam)

 

Sri nrushimha saraswathy swamy aaradhana ( the day of anthardhaan of second incarnation of lord dattatreya).

 

 

 

 

Teppa...

 

 

How to reach Kuruvapuram : This is about 30 kms distance from the district head quarter Raichur of Karnataka. There is bus facility from Raichur to Aathkur which is 1.5 hours journey. From Aathkur to Kuruvapur, every Person has to travel in Krishna riverfor 20 minutes in small boats or “buttiâ€. (charge around 15 to 20 rupees).This "butti"(Teppa) conveyance is available for each bus reaching Aathkur.

 

Alternative routes: This is about 2 and half hour journey from the district headquarter Mahaboobnagar of Andhra pradesh. Mahaboobnagar is about 2 and half hours journey from state capital Hyderabad.So totally it takes 5 hours to reach Kuruvapuram from Hyderabad. The persons can catch direct buses from Hyderabad to Raichur and have to get down at Makthal. From Makthal to Kurugadda (kuravapur) autos and jeeps are available. The devotees have to engage an auto or jeep to reach Krishna river. From there also buttis and small boatsAre available to reach temple.

 

 

 

 

Accomodation at Kuruvapur : No lodging and boarding facilities are available at Kuruvapur. It is better to reach in the morning hours and return in the evening by 5.00 p.m. Food packets, snacks, tiffins etc., have to carried beforehand as not much is available in the small river island,Kuruvapur. If at all someone is adamant to stay at nights, the Pujaris of temple might arrange food (with prior intimation after reaching there) for some payment but one has to make do sleeping in the temple premises.

 

Daily pujas at mandir: Daily abhisheka will be performed to Swamy paadukas and paaduka darshan will be available upto 9.00 a.m.only. After completion of abhisheka the paadukas will be covered by flowers and clothes.

 

 

Pallaki utsav will be performed on every thursady at night hours in the temple premises only.

 

 

 

Latest information: The Government of Andhra Pradesh intends to construct “JOORALA RIVER PROJECT†which is about only a distance of 10 kms from Kuravapur. The people who are staying in the sorrounding areas narrate their woes and fear that the Kurvapur Kshetra will be submerged in water due to this callous project. So it is the time for every one of us to pray Lord dattatreya not to give any trouble on the powerful Kurvapur due to this proposed project.I'm sure Lord Dattatreya would save the Kshetra and ultimately He decides what has to happen.Please visit this sacred place before it submerges in the waters.

(http://www.indianetzone.com/33/joorala_project_andhra_pradesh.htm)

 

Yours Yogically,

Shreeram Balijepalli

 

 

 

Hreem Rajarajeshwari Paradevatha!

Purity, Powers, Parabrahmam...