VISIT TO JAGANNATHA DASA TEMPLE @ MANVI

 

Ref: ATB: Raichur: 17112021:03

Place of visit: Jagannatha Dasa Temple,

Manvi, Raichur district, Karnataka, India

Period: November, 2021

Temple Entrance 

Birth name of Jagannath Dasa was Srinivasa. Even as a child he was radiating brilliance. He grew up to be a very great scholar, very well versed in Dvaita philosophy of Madhwacharya. He always disliked other dasas as he thought they all misinterpreted the Dwita Siddhanta. During his life time, Vijaya dasa was among the most known for his interpretation of Dwaita philosophy in Kannada and had won hearts of many for his simplicity and pious nature.

Once, Srinivasa was invited for a feast by Vijaya dasa himself, where he was honoured. Srinivasa said he cannot attend the feast due to stomach pain. Then Srinivasa developed a ‘real’ pain in the stomach for a very long time until he realised his mistake, met Vijaya dasa and requested Vijaya dasa to pardon him for the arrogance shown to him. It is said that immediately after this, his stomach pain vanished. Later, Vijaya dasa directed him to Gopala dasa who would be his Guru. Srinivasa went to Sri Gopaala Daasaru and spent some time with him.

Later, Sri Gopaala Daasaru and Srinivasa visited Tirupathi, where another miracle happened. Due to ill-health, ealier stomach pain and the strain of travelling to Tirupathi, Srinivasa expired on Bhadrapada Shukla Navami . Then, Sri Vijaya Daasaru appeared in an astral form before Sri Gopala Daasaru and directed him to donate 40 years of his life-span to Srinivasa and revive him. Sri Gopala Daasaru immediately complied, and by the grace of the Lord, Srinivasa came back to life again.

Deeply affected by the events in his recent past, Srinivasa decided to become a Haridaasa. Sri Gopala daasaru gave him Haridaasa Deekshe and directed him to Pandarapur for ankitha. There Srinivasa found a stone bearing the words “Jagannatha Vittala”. From that day, he started composing devotional works with that ankitha. He became renowned as Jagannatha Vitthal Daasaru.

He lived for 40 years after his miraculous rebirth. His life was full of incidents that reveal that he was an Aporaksha Gyani and a great Bhaktha with whom the Lord performed many leelas.  Jagannath Dasaru gave us several compositions and the most important one is ‘Harikarhamrutasara’. It is written in the Bhamini Satpadi meter and is an epitome of Madhva theology, in 32 sandhis (chpaters). Again, on the same Bhadrapada Shukla Navami, exactly 40 years after his rebirth, he reached the Lord’s lotus feet.

Jagannath temple in Manvi is a very sacred place to all Hindus especially Madhwa Brahmins. This is the place where Sri Jagannatha dasaru was active in composing his many of the greatest kirthanas in his life time.

 Also visited Chikkalaparvi, near Manvi. This is the place where Vijaya dasaru (1682-1755) who is the adhyatma guru of Jagannatha dasaru lived.

Inside Temple (Garbha Gruha)

Tamboori used by Jagannath Dasaru

With the Priest

Pallakki used by Jagannath Dasaru

 

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VISIT TO MY OLD SCHOOL

 

Ref: ATB: Raichur: 17112021:02

Place of visit: Government Middle School, Manvi, Raichur district, Karnataka, India

Period: November, 2021

Recently I addressed a batch of Government School teachers at Manvi (Raichur district) as a part of NEP 2020 training. The school was about 70 years old as they claimed. Though most of the school was renovated, one lone standing stone pillar in the central court yard which looked like a clock tower without a clock, caught my attention and touched the files of my forgotten memory. 

With Children studying in grades 1 to 7

By the time the session got completed, I was convinced that this is the same school I had studied during 1968-69, about 50+ years back, my 6th grade. When this was disclosed to the Headmistress and teachers, there was no bound to their joy though, many of the faculty present at that moment were probably not even born in 1967.

Felicitation in HM's Chamber

Teachers Training in progress

Suddenly the roles changed, from resource person, I was their Chief Guest and a small felicitation followed in the HM’s chamber. Those were truly the joyous moments of my life. As my father was in PWD, his post was transferable and we had to change our schools too. Till my 10th standard, my schooling was in such rural, Government, Kannada medium schools only. A few snapshots of those moments.

RAICHUR FORT VISIT

 

Ref: ATB: Raichur: 14112021:01

Place of visit: RAICHUR FORT, Raichur, Karnataka, South India

Period: November, 2021

I had to visit Raichur and other nearby places on work related to training of teachers. I used this opportunity to explore a few of my dream destinations after completing my work. 

Raichur, now a district city in the state of Karnataka, about 425 km from Bangalore, eight hour drive by car, is situated between Tungabhadra and Krishna rivers. On way to Raichur from Bangalore, we touch Mantralaya, a sacred and religious town of Sri Raghavendra Swamy. With a population of about 2.5 lakhs, it is a town that occupies an enviable place in Indian history.

 Raichur region has been ruled by several dynasties at different times in Indian history- the Mauryas, the kakatiyas, the Rashtrakutas, the Vijayanagar Kings, Sultans of Bahamani, Adilshais and the Nizams. More details of Raichur history can be found in www.raichur.nic.in/en/history/

 I could not visit any of the historical places in Raichur except the ‘Raichur Fort’ due to heavy rains. This fort was built in 1294 AD by the Kakatiyas and subsequently saw several rulers of different dynasties. Every ruler added a new safety feature making it almost invincible. Even today, we find stone inscriptions in Arabic, Persian and old Kannada here.

Weather in November is quite pleasant. There are a few hotels of OK type. It has Taxis and Autos available for taking you around the city. Food is no problem. Do not forget the typical local delicacy- Jolada (Jawar) rotti with mouthwatering side dishes…..

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MY TRAVEL BLOG

 

Just a brief….

The very purpose of this blog is to record the experiences of my solo travels in India and outside India. While doing this, I aspire to keep before the readers the glory of India, its diversity, its hidden treasures in the remote corners of untouched India and the ravaged landscapes of our ancient towns and cities. I wish to keep this blog simple with adequate number of images and very brief descriptions - more can certainly be drawn by the enthusiasts from reliable sources.

I shall be numbering my blogs based on the number of places I visit ........                 

- Ajit Sabnis