Sri Rama Anu Yatra !!

 

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

 

 

 

 

 

The re-produced below is an interesting soul filling travelling experiences of Dr.Kavitha.  I have to reiterate some comments about this wonderful travelogue.  My experience after reading the entire journey to the heavenly places on the Earth was marvelous and also felt myself as one amongst them.  Happy reading!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bittur (Kanpur) - Valmiki Maharishi Ashram - Tamasa River (Ganga)

 

Ayodhya - Rama Janmaboomi - Sarayu River - Hanuman Gaddi - Dhasaratha Bavan - Lakshman Ghat –

 

Vashista Kund - Guptar Ghat - Kanaka Bavan (where Sri Rama lived with Sita Devi )

 

Valmiki Bavan - Ammaji Mandir - thothadri Mutt - Nandi Gram

 

Bihar (Buxar) - Kamashram - Sidhashram -Thatakavan - Old Sri Vaikundhanatha Mandir

 

Chapra (Revalgunj - Goutham Ashram - Ganga Sarayu sangamam

 

Sonepur - Gajendramokshasthal - Ganga and Gandagi River meets - Ganga and sonakshi river Sangam –

 

Sitamarhi (Birth place of Sita)

 

Janakpuri (Nepal)

 

Allahabad - Triveni sangamam ( Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswathy river meets) -  Sage Baradhwaja Ashram –

 

Shrungaberapuram (Guha's place) - Temple of Guha, Sage Rishyashrunga and Shanta - Ramshayanasthal

on the way to Chitrakoot.

 

 

Ram Dharbar at Chitrakoot - Mandakini River - GuptGodavari - Sita Kund, Dhanush Kund, Ram

 

 

Lakshman Kund - Atri Anasuya Ashram - Hanuman dhara - Kamadgiri

 

 

Dhandakaranya - Viradhakund - Sharabanga Ashram - Sutheekshna Ashram - Sage Agasthyashram –

 

Kundinapuram (Sri Rukmini's birth place) - Sri Rukmini Temple.

 

Ramtek (2nd Agasthyashram) - Narmada River - Paduka Temple - Ramgiri and Ramtalab at the short vicinity of the Temples.

 

 

Mukthidham Dharmasala at Nasik (Panchavati) - Ram ghat, Kalaram mandir, Sita guha, Maya Mareecha museum, Parnakuti and Lakshman mandir.

 

 

Tapovan - Godavari River - Thaket (Jatayu Mokshasthal)

 

Hospet (Karnataka) - Ashvath Lakshminarasimha kshetra -Malaprabha river-Kishkinda (Anegundi) -Anjanadri temple, Vali vadha sthana, Lakshminarasimha temple, Ranganatha temple - Matangashram .

 

 

Hampi - Thungabadra River -  Sugriva guhe, Ram temple - huge monolithic Narasimha, ruins of Vijayavithala temple and Malyavan Raghunatha temple

 

Mysore - Lakshmana theertha (Irpu falls)

 

 

Rajapalayam - Kadayanallur Hanuman Temple - Swayampraba guhe

 

 

Thirukkurungudi - Malaimel Nambi Thirukoil - Nambi Perumal Thirukoil

 

 

Ramanadu - Sethukkarai - Thirupullani - Adijagannatha Temple - Dharbhashayana Ramar,Pattabhiramar,Santhanagopalan  and Ashvatthavruksha Perumal -Kadal Kattia Perumal Sannidhi at Devipattinam

 

 

Sri Rangam - Lord Ranganatha and Goddess Ranganachiyar,  Koorathalvan, Desikar and Narasimhar -Chakrattalvar sannidhi, Andal Sannidhi, Nammalvar sannidhi, Adijagannathar with mudhalalvars, Pattabhiramar sannidhi, Kodandaramar sannidhi, Andal in kalyanakolam in kannadiarai, Ramar sannidhi, Venugopalar sannidhi and Odeyavar sannidhi around Srirangam koil - Pundarikaksha at Thiruvellarai, Srinivasa at Gunaseelam, Purushottamar at Uttamar koil-Kattazhagiyasingapperumal, and Kamalavalli nachiyar in Nachiyar koil, Worayur.

 

 

 

 

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

 

11^th September 2010

Left Bangalore by air to New Delhi and met Krishna and Kavitha at New Delhi airport. From there we proceeded to Kanpur by overnight train to join the Mumbai group of yatris.

 

12^th September 2010

Reached Kanpur early in the morning and we were received by Bus no 5 -Dasharathan(A/C coach). The entire convoy of buses were named after Ramayana characters like Sitaram, Bharatan, Lakshmanan, Shatrughnan, Dasharathan, Kousalya, Sumithra, Vasishtar, Vishwamithrar, Guhan, Hanuman, Sugreevan, Jatayu and Vibhishanan from bus nos. 1 to 14. The 15^th bus was Kaikeyi (sparebus), 16^th   was an ambulance named Sushenan and 17^th bus was called Shabari which carried the caterers of the tour. Every bus had a volunteer and one associate volunteer who were constantly kept informed about the day to day programme and room allotment etc;. As soon as we got into the bus every yatri was given an ID card with his/her name, registration no., Bus no. and Bus volunteer’s tel. Nos. All were given a cap and two books with yatra details. Generally all the buses had 2 drivers and   a cleaner. The caterers were divided into 2 groups of which one group would go ahead to the designated places for cooking and keeping the food ready while every bus had a cook who would serve the passengers at the designated time. Generally they served coffee in the morning followed by breakfast (baala bhogam) around 8 am Lunch between 1 pm and 2 pm, again coffee around 5 pm followed by dinner at 8 pm every day. Certain days there would be early lunch (brunch) around 10.30am and snacks with coffee at 4.00 pm. The meal contents were mainly south Indian with rice based dishes, one curry, sambar, curd rice and sweet. Only once they served puris and sagu. The quantity was really filling. General accompaniment of curd rice was salted chilli or dried pickle of lime. Overall it was an excellent balanced diet.

 

 

Our bus had certain intra-bus activities and disciplines. Every morning we used to chant Thirupallandu, Thirupalliyeluchhi and Thiruppavai. Evening was the time for Vishnusahasranamam. In between people sang and participated in bhajans. We also had the Thiruvoimozhi chanting. Our bus volunteer Mr Ramanujam and his associate Mr Kulashekaran had inculcated a system by which every passenger would move one seat behind every day so that no one is continuously troubled by the back seat inconveniences and every one would experience it in turn. Mr Kulashekaran would keep a watch on all yatris and make sure that all were in the bus before it departed anywhere.

 

 

At every place we reached, we would have parayanam of the verses from Valmiki Ramayana relevant to that place followed by Upanyasam by Velukkudi Krishnan Swamy. The group was accompanied by 5 to 6 erudite scholars who would go from bus to bus during the road journey and would engage the yatris with relevant topics of discussion from Ramayana and Vishishtadwaita philosophy. The group consisted of young NRIs in bus no 1, Vaidikas in bus no 2 and others from Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai. Apart from these there was an excellent group of volunteers who had done extensive spade work right from locating many of these remote places and worked out strategies to navigate the convoy and making local arrangements regarding stay, food, basic needs and local transport arrangements for 600 yatris to have darshan at each and every place.

 

From Kanpur railway station we were driven to Bittur. This is the place where Maharshi Valmiki Ashram exists. We had our first holy dip in Ganga (Tamasa) River and given coffee and breakfast in a college premises As we had reached this place earlier we had all the time for leisurely bath coffee etc;. The yatris from Chennai and Bangalore reached in the afternoon and we all reached Valmiki ashram by midday. Here we had darshan and upanyasam and parayanam of Ramayana (Baalakanda 4^th sarga, Uttarakanda 49^th, 65^th, and 66th sargas). From here we travelled all through the night and reached Ayodhya in the morning.

 

13^th September 2010

At Ayodhya we were put up at Manasa bhavan which had comfortable rooms with attached toilets. Each room lodged 4 yatris. Only after reaching Ayodhya in the morning we realised that due to heavy security how difficult it was to enter Ayodhya and Sri Velukkudi Krishnan Swamy was extensively scrutinised by the local authorities. We could not have managed this but for the timely help of local DGP who deputed an officer to accompany the convoy. Due to this the programme changed slightly and we stayed in Ayodhya for two continuous days instead of two different days as per the earlier plan.

 

We all then went to Sarayu River for bath and there we had upanyasam about significance of Sarayu. Then we all left to visit Ram Janmabhoomi, Hanuman gaddi and Dasharath Bhavan by the local transport in groups. Due to heavy security we could not take any pictures in these places. Later in the evening we went to Lakshman Ghat which is the place from where Lakshman left this world to reach the heavenly abode. We also had Parayanam of Ramayana (Uttarakanda 106^th sarga). This followed by a visit to Vasishta kund. This is the place Ram Lakshman Bharat and Shtrughna went to Gurukul for their early education. Here we had Parayanam of Ramayana (Baalakanda 15^th sarga). Then we left to Guptar Ghat, a location where Rama left to his heavenly abode with all wiiling Ayodhyavasis. Here we had parayanam of Ramayana (Uttarakanda 109^th and 110^th sargas) and upanyasam. The day ended with a visit to Kanak Bhavan which was earlier the palace of Sita and Rama.





 14^th September 2010

After the morning bath etc; we visited Valmiki Bhavan which is a huge auditorium with entire Valmiki Ramayana inscribed all around on the wall. Here we had Parayanam of Ramayana (Baalakanda 18^th sarga) and upanyasam. Then we visited Ammaji Mandir which is a temple of Srinivasa and pooja goes on here as per south Indian tradition. Then the yatris reached Thothadri mutt where we were blessed by Vanamamalai jeer and the deity. Here there was a phenomenal sight of Rama in the cradle, rocked by Kulashekaralvar as Kousalya. Sri Sundararajar priest from Kumbakonam showed us his magnanimous profess in decorating the accompanying utsavar in various forms suitable to that occasion. This followed with lunch.

 

In the afternoon we left to Nandigram to see Bharat Milap, place where Bharat stayed for 14 years during Ram’s exile and met Hanuman who announced the return of Ram after killing Raavana. Here we had Parayanam of Ramayana (Ayodhyakand 115^th sarga and Yudhhakand 125^th sarga) and upanyasam. We also had darshan of the deity, decorated Bharata worshipping Sitaram and his Paduka. We left after this to Buxar in Bihar.

 

15^th September 2010

In the morning we left Buxar and reached Kamashram for a holy dip in the adjacent pond. This was the place where Kama was burnt by Shiva by opening his third eye. Ram and Lakshman stayed in this place while they accompanied Sage Vishwamitra and he sang them the famous suprabhatam (Kousalya supraja rama). Here we had parayanam of Ramayana (Baalakanda23rd sarga) and upanyasam. Then we visited Siddhashrama which was the place where Vishwamitra completed his penance successfully with the help of Ram and Lakshman. At present it is a part of Buxar jail and a special permission was obtained to visit.

 

In the evening we walked to Thatakavan where the demoness Thataka was killed by Ram. There we visited an old Vaikuntanath Mandir and had Parayana of Ramayana(Baalakanda of 25^th 26^th 29^th and 30^th sarga).Night was spent in Buxar itself.

 

16^th September 2010

 

The convoy headed to Goutham ashram in the morning which is at Chapra(Revalgunj). Here Ganga and Sarayu rivers meet as sangam. This is the place where Ahalya was blessed by Ram. Here we had Parayanam of Ramayana (Baalakanda 48^th and 49^th sarga). From here we proceeded to Sonepur which is also known as Gajendra moksha sthal. Here Ganga and Gandaki rivers meet. Ganga and Shonakshi rivers meet on the way. Rest of the night was spent on the road to Seethamarhi which is the birth place of Sita.

 

17^th September 2010

 

Reached Sithamarhi almost early in the morning and stayed for a short while at a Dharmashala and proceeded to the temple for bath in the nearby pond. This place is mentioned as Sita’s birth place in Bhagavatham and Vishnupuranam. We had short Upanyasam here about the place and proceeded to Janakpuri in Nepal. The planned Dhanushadham visit on the way was dropped as we were lagging behind time to reach Janakpuri. The visit to Janakpuri was unforgettable as we had traditional Seethakalyanam performed ritualistically in the  palace of Janakpuri. Huge pandal was erected and amidst lot of fanfare witnessed by thousands of people both yatris and locals, Sita wedded Ram with a bhajan group singing the appropriate bhajan. The decoration of Sita swayamvar and Sitaram wedding was beyond words to describe. After the function the yatris visited the actual auditorium where Sitaand Ram married and the adjacent temple and had the wedding feast. Then we took off to Allahabad in the night.

 



18^th September 2010

 

The day was entirely spent travelling in the bus. The expected 14 hours took 26 hours as the drivers were tired, road was longer and bad as the straight short route was not safe for night travel. However, food was supplied by the crew at the right time.

 

19^th September 2010

 

Landed at Allahabad at Bangur Yatrinivas early in the morning and went to Triveni sangam (confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati) for a holy dip. Visited Bharadwajashrama nearby and drove to Shrungaberapuram which was the place of Guha (king of boatsmen) on the bank of Ganges. Here we visited Guha temple and Temple of Rishyashrunga muni and Shanta. Had upanyasam here and went to a little remote place Ramshayanasthal, where Ram and Sita rested on their way to Chitrakoot Here we had parayanam of Ramayana (Ayodhyakanda 50^th sarga).Later we left from there to Chitrakoot.

 

20^th September 2010

 

We checked in Ram Darbar at Chitrakoot which was the best accommodation in the whole trip. Rooms were spacious with attached clean and roomy bathrooms. Yatris stayed here for 2 nights which eased all the fatigue of the earlier long journey. Morning we went to Spatikashila and bathed in Mandakini River. Then visited Guptgodavari from where the river originates. The approach is a small cave like opening in the hill which widens inside and there are multiple water origins called Sita kund, Dhanush kund and Ramlakshman kund. The scenic beauty of the approach path is explicit. After this we went to Atri Anasuya ashram which has been converted into a museum with models depicting the stories in the epics. Here Ram received divine armour from sage Atri and Sita received the code of conduct of a pativrata from Anasuya. In the evening we visited Hanumandhara which is again an origin of water from the hill top. We had to climb about 500 steps to reach the temple. Then went around Kamadgiri which is a small hillock around which there is a walking path of 5 kms as parikrama. Saw Bharat milap on the way where Ram and Bharat met in Chitrakoot. There are foot prints of Ram and Bharat, Lakshman and Shathrughna and Sita and Kousalya. Here Parayanam of Ramayana (Ayodhyakand 112^th 113^th sarga)

 

21^st September 2010

 

Drove along the Dandakaranya and passed through Viradha Kund. Couldn’t go to the actual place as it is 10 km deep in dense forest. Visited Sharabhanga ashram and had parayanam of Ramayana (Aaranykand 5^th sarga). Then proceeded to Sutheekshnashram and read Ramayana (Aaranyakand 7^th 8^th and 11^th sarga.The visit to Agasthyashram was most memorable as it showed the extensive spade work done by the volunteers. This place is inaccessible to the tourist without the help of the local villagers. The yatris here were warmly welcomed by the local school children, villagers and local politicians. Tractors were arranged to navigate 600 yatris till the small rivulet which flows at the foot hills of the ashram. From here we had to walk in knee deep water and then climb a rough and steep steps reach the temple on the top. Here about 108 sages were supposed to have performed penance. Here we had parayanam of Ramayana (Aaranyakand 11^th and 12^th sarga). VKS spoke to the villagers in Hindi and assured monetary help by the trust to renovate the place. Here Ram is supposed to have received divine armours from sage Agasthya. There is a unique archaeological sculpture of Ram in this place. From here we tried to reach Kundinapura (Rukmini’s birthplace) and visit Rukmini temple but could not make it as we got delayed. Hence proceeded nonstop to Ramtek (2^nd Agasthyashrama)

 

22^nd September 2010

 

As we could reach Ramtek only by afternoon, we stopped by Narmada River for bath. Ramtek has an ancient Ram, Lakshman and Paduka temples. No photographs were allowed. Ramtek is also considered as 2^nd Agasthyashram (3^rd Agasthyashram is near Manmad) and has Ramgiri and Ramtalab in the vicinity. Ram killed Shambuka here to maintain the balance of varnashramadharma. We had Parayanam of Ramayana (Uttarakand 73^rd 74^th and 75^th sarga).

 

23^rd September 2010

Our bus reached Mukthi Dham Dharmashala at Nasik (Panchavati) first and had an opportunity to visit Ram ghat, Kalaram mandir, Sita guha, Maya Mareecha museum, Parnakuti and Lakshman mandir. Here we had Parayanam of Ramayana (Aaranyakand 18^th and 45^th sarga).

 

24^th September 2010

 

Next day visited Tapovan with the rest of the crowd after a holy dip in Godavari. There was upanyasam and parayanam of Ramayana (Aaranyakand 15^th and 30^th sarga).This is supposed to be the confluence of Kapila and Godavari rivers. Here few of the yatris discontinued the yatra and few Mumbaiites joined us for short stay in Nasik. Visited Thaket which is Jatayu Mokshasthal and had Parayanam of Ramayana (Aaranyakand 67^th and 68^th sarga) and Upanyasam.

 

25^th September 2010

 

The convoy travelled overnight to reach Hospet in Karnataka, with a short stop at Ashvath Lakshminarasinha kshetra for bath in Malaprabha River. We reached extremely scenic Kishkinda (Anegundi) and visited Anjanadri temple, Vali vadha sthana,Lakshminarasiha temple, Ranganatha temple and finally Matanga ashram which has Shabari guhe. We also saw Pampa Sarovar in the dark.



 26^th September 2010

 

We started the day with a holy dip in Tungabhadra River and visited the ruins of Hampi, Sugriva guhe, Ram temple where all 4 Ram Sita Lakshman and Hanuman are carved in a single stone. Then we proceeded to see the huge monolithic Narasimha, ruins of Vijayavithala temple and Malyavan Raghunatha temple. Here we had upanyasam and Prayanam of Ramayana (Kishkindakand 5^th 26^th 27^th 44^th 66^th sarga and Yuddhakand 4^th sarga)

 

27^th September 2010

 

Reached Mysore early morning and drove to Lakshmana Theertha (Irpu falls) via Nagarhole wild life sanctuary by KSRTC buses. Here we had bath upanyasam and parayanam of Ramayana (Yuddhakand 4^th sarga). Returned to Mysore and left for Rajapalyam

 

28^th September 2010

 

We reached Rajapalyam in the morning and bathed in a local boarding school premises and proceeded to Kadayanallur Hanuman temple. Here we saw Swayamprabha guhe and her statue. From here we proceeded to Thirukkurungudi and visited Malaimel Nambi temple. Many of us walked up and down the hill, which was stamina testing. Then we visited Nambi Perumal koil where he is in three forms Ninra nambiKidanda nimbi and Veetrirunda nambi. Here we had Upanyasam on how Nammalvar sang the praises of the deity (in Parankushanayika bhava). From here we again travelled in the night to reach Thiruppullani.

 

29^th September 2010

 

We reached Ramnadu in the morning and drove to Sethukkarai for bath in the sea. We had Parayanam of Ramayana (Yuddhakand 17^th 18^th 22^nd and 123^rd sarga) at Setukkarai Veeraanjaneya temple. From here we were picked up by Mr Sundar(Dr Pandian’s brothert in law) and got us special seva in the Adijagannatha temple. Visited Dharbhashayana Ramar, Pattabhiramar, Santhanagopalan, and Ashvatthavruksha perumal. Here we had the concluding debate on the various debates posed earlier in the bus. Finally concluded by the Upanyasam. We also visited the Kadal Kattia Perumal Sannidhi at Devipattinam. Left Thirupullani and reached Srirangam by 9.30 pm.

 

30^th September 2010

 

We stayed in Dr Murali’s aunt’s service apartment and engaged a taxi for the local visits. Went early to the Srirangam temple for Vishvaroopa seva and had darshan of the lord Ranganatha and Goddess Ranganachiyar,  Koorathalvan, Desikar and Narasimhar. We attended the Ramapattabhisheka parayana (Yuddhakand 128^th sarga) at Odeyavar sannidhi. Group photos were taken bus wise with VKS and his wife. With this the program of the yatra concluded. We further continued our private visits to divyadesams nearby. We visited Pundarikaksha at Thiruvellarai, Srinivasa at Gubnasheelam, Purushottamar at Uttamar koil. Evening we had leisurely visit to all sannidhis like Chakrattalvar sannidhi, Andal Sannidhi, Nammalvar sannidhi, Adijagannathar with mudhalalvars, Pattabhiramar sannidhi, Kodandaramar sannidhi, Andal in kalyanakolam in kannadiarai, Ramar sannidhi, Venugopalar sannidhi and Odeyavar sannidhi around Srirangam koil.  Later visited Kattazhagiyasingapperumal, and Kamalavalli Nachiyar in Nachiyar koil, Oreyur which also had Thiruppanalvar sannidhi. We returned by the night train to Bangalore.

 

Over all it was a soul satisfying and divine experience. In all we had a dozen of holy dips and numerous temple visits. All these will definitely have a positive change in all the yatris . Thanks to the Kinchitkaram trust and Velukkudi Krishnan Swamy who organised such an extensive and exclusive trip. May we get many more such opportunities and have divine blessings.

 

 

I pray to Lord Sriman Narayana to avail His blessings on us to take up many many 'Theertha Yathras' like this.  For more details about the pilgrim tours like this please contact:

 

 

Kinchitkaram Trust. No: 6 Bheemasena Garden st., Mylapore, Chennai 6000 04Telephone: 00-91-44-24992728 or 0-98415-62646 kinchitkaram@yahoo.co.in

 

 

Jai sriman Narayana !!