After so many days, stepped into a village Dummugudem. It has its own uniqueness and background. Once, before our independence, the village staged a lot of action but remained serene now due to its destiny or whatever you say. Then here was a navigation centre nearby Godavari river for the convenience of colonial administration needs. Because of 1986 floods and its wreak havoc many government offices have been shifted to Lakshminagaram an adjacent village, almost 5 miles away.
Now the place looked calm and deserted but the statues erected long back were gentle and glorious to look at. Subhashandra Bose statue is the trade mark of this place. Many times it was damaged by hooligans and vehicles but the villagers never tired in keeping it intact. Be it by repaired or painting or something ,always they got it right and maintain its dignity. As it is in the heart of the village, whenever visitors come here, would get connected with it at once.
There were also statues like Gandhi ji, Nehru ji and Potti Sriramulu in he same village. All they got erected long back, eased many odds like floods and natural calamities. Apart from it, newly constructed temple was also seen at the entry point. In the canal, some people were fishing after the floods got receded. Greenery was everywhere to see. This is something with a sense of Deja vu. I will give some pics here for you all. See and imagine how nostalgic all about it.
Historical Significance of Sri Bhadrakali sametha Veerabhadra Swamy Temple,
Tegada Village, Charla Mandal
------------ Compiled by Y. Bhanu prakash
( English translation done by Murthy Kvvs)
Sri Veerabhadra Swamy, with the consort of Bhadrakali Ammavaru, now the reigning deity of Tegada village. In fact, they had been worshipped at the village of Gommugudem village earlier, almost for more than two hundred fifty years. Lakhs of devotees were used to worship the deity , on the occasion of Mahasivaratri festival celebrations. Such was the glory in those days. Two "Vibhuti Balls" were worshipped as the two deities in lieu of idols.
We, being hailed from Veerasaiva Jangama, have to adorn Sivalingam around our neck which was considered as our Atmalingam. That means Lord Siva is our Clan's deity and all in all for us. We should perform rituals and ablutions every morning to the Sivalingam that we wear around neck. In line of that, our ancestors were said to be worshipped "Bhadrakali sametha Veerabhadra Swamy".
Our Veerasaiva community is blessed with Peethams at Srisailam, Kaashi, Rambhapuri,Ujjain and Kedarnath. All these are called illumined Pancha acharya Peethams. Each principal temple inducted us as the chief priest , So we are fortunate to serve Lord Parameswara and As Veerasaivas, this is a great boon for us.
1st Generation : Our ancestors had been sent to Lingala village to perform traditional rituals at the Lord Siva's temple. Sri Yallmandala Sivayya garu came to this place on the order of Kakatiya rulers in that line. In fact, our ancestors were serving in the Thousand pillars temple, located at Warangal. With the donation of 600 acres of land for the purpose of expenses towards the temple, our ancestors were appointed as priests in those days.
They have started performing pujas to the Vibhuthi Balls earlier. The Holy deities installed in that form instead of idols. They also keep doing pujas to the Atmalingams that they have on their bodies. And at the same time, they were performing their priestly duties. Arrangements were made on large scale on the occasion of Mahasivaratri festival.
2nd Generation : In the time of Sri Yallamandala Bhadrayya garu (s/o Sivaa garu) also worship had been done for Vibhuthi Balls , considering them as holy deities. Mahasivaratri Jatara started on a grand note at Gommugudem in this phase.
3rd Generation : Sri Kantayya garu (s/o Yallamandala Bhadrayya garu) shifted his base to Gommugudem and several other kinsfolk also followed him to serve in the work of the God. He performed Mahasivaratri in a grand manner at his residential place. With Vibhuthi Balls inside the teak box, they would offer Prasadam.
When ,one day, sri Kantayya garu was out of the place to meet the zamindar of Venkatapuram,some burglars barged into the house and tried to destroy iron box and other boxes but no harm happened. Desperately the evil people had set ablaze the house but by the grace of Almighty their effort went futile.
Sri Kantayya garu came to home and slept happily, leaving everything to Sri Bhadrakali and Veerabhadra Swamy. How could evil be won when the grace of the God was with pious people..? In the same night, Swamy appeared in the dream of Sri Kantayya garu and ordered to make Panchaloha idols. Artisan was in Dhowleswaram, so he has to bring Artisan secretly to make the idols. It was a revelation of the Almighty.
There was no road facility to Dhowleswaram in those days. He took boat upto Dummugudem and from there travelled by steamer upto Dhowleswram. Artisan Narasimhachary was brought and made the Panchaloha idols secretly. With penances of 5 day long, taking only water and using 16 kgs of ghee, the Panchaloha idol was made. It was created so elegantly.
Sri Kantayya garu paid the Artisans more than what he promised earlier. He placed them safely back at Dhowleswaram. That's how the Divine couple made their journey from Vibhuthi Balls to Panchaloha Idols. Mahasivaratri celebrations drew people in a large way, right from Ummidaaram to Gommugudem.
4th Generation : Mahasivaratri celebrations had done in a grand manner during the life time of Sri Lingayya garu (s/o Sri Yallamandala Kantayya garu). Large gatherings were seen all across the banks of Godavari, at the side of Gommugudem.
5th Generation : Sri Yallamandala Lingayya garu had three sons., Somaya garu,Sivaya garu,Bhadraya garu. Bhadrayya garu was more pious and he performed pujas. Being a zamindar by birth, he conducted Mahasivaratri with great pomp and gaiety. During the floods of 1953, base of divine couple shifted to Tegada village. Bhadrayya garu served as a district president of Congress party. He was a humble and down to earth person. He was always applauded by his brothers for his devotional nature.
While shifting, the people of Gommugudem pleaded with him not to do so, he promised them that the holy idols would come here to have offerings on the festival of Mahasivaratri. In that way, the holy idols would stop here for a rest and accept their offerings even to this day, especially on the occasion of Mahasivaratri.
Right from 1954, the same custom has been going on, having done ablutions in the nearby Godavari waters and stopping at Gommugudem is still in vogue. Then only Swamy moves from here to Tegada village with a great procession.
Sri Bhadrayya garu, in the same year, wanted to build a huge temple, own house and to buy two cars but unfortunately he attained Sivasaaujam and his dreams remained unfulfilled. Sri Kasu Brhmananda Reddy and Sri Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy came to the house to solace the spouse. One can understand his stature through this incident.
6th Generation : Sri yallamandala Somaya garu has two sons, named by Sri Kantayya garu and Nagendrayya garu. Sivaa garu has no issue. Nagalingayya, Sivapratap, Somasekhar, Sravan kumar, Veerabhadra swam garlu are the sons of Bhadrayya garu. Nagalingayya garu performed priestly duties for more than 3 decades. Along with siblings, he conducted Mahasivaratri celebrations for 5 years.
Dignitaries of Tegada and remaining villages of Charla mandalam started to provide their contributions to help Nagalingayya garu since his financial position was not in good condition. All people, barring age differences, had extended their wholehearted support as the were very responsive in nature. Even 10 days before to the Mahasivaratri, Tegada village would become joyful with festive atmosphere.
During 1977-78, Sri Maddi Ramayya garu took Sravan kumar garu (fourth son of Sri Yallamandala Bhadrayya garu) to devotees for a rapport and he taught Sravan garu what he had learnt from Bhadrayya garu. He was always with Sravan garu in disbursing priestly duties with the help of Nagalingayya garu. From that onwards, Sravan kumar garu started to shoulder the work of Mahasivaratri celebrations every year.
It was 1987. Just 9 days before to Mahasivaratri festival, Veerabhadra swamy appeared in my father's dream ordered to build a new temple. My father met elders at once. Sri Datla Ramachandra Raju garu donated 30 bags of cement with kind heart. Sri Nadimpalli Suryanarayana Raju garu provided a tractor. With all these new construction had been done and Swamy vaaru entered the new temple on the Mahasivaratri festival, after having completed ablutions performed with the Godavari waters.
All pujas have been performed in this temple during 1987-2018. Since Swamy was Utsavamurthy, devotees were unable to have Darshanam when the idols went to Godavari for ritual bath. My father, then, thought of "Alaya sikhara nirmanam" and "Mulamurthy" installation. Another temple has to be built to start Sikharam because older one has some flaws in its foundation which was suggested by expert sculptor.
New temple sankhusthapana had taken place on April 30, 2008. And completed by 2018. Under the aegis of Sri Vilaparti Veera venkta satanarayana murthy garu (Machavaram) installed Sri Bhadrakali sametha Veerabhadra Swamy and all Sivaparivaram in the temple, all it has done during June 30 and July1 and 2 of 2018. Now it has become a Panchayatana Kshetram.
Sri Padala Ramakrishna garu and his team built the temple and financial assistance rendered by Sri Doddi Lakshminarayana garu. Right from 1987, the elders of Tegada village and remaining villages of Charla mandalam have been helping Sri Sravan kumar garu with their contributions, which are collected from the people.
Brothers of Sravan kumar garu and children of his brothers like Maddi Bhaskar Reddy,Yenuganti Chadrasekhar, Kona Murali, Kandrapu Chittibabu keep helping him apart from the people of Tegada village.
Present Generation : Children of my father's brothers keep extending their co operation to me. Mandapam, Mukhadwaram, Wall around the temple have to be constructed in the future. So I, Yallamandala Bhanuprakash, request you all earnestly to extend your financial support to get completed the due works. My heartfelt salutations to one and all.
Yours
Sri Bhadrakali sametha Veerabhadra Swamy vaari Devasthanam
Narsapuram, a small village is just about 16 km from the temple town of Bhadrachalam. It's the place for which I wanted to write a few words long back. But time permits me now to do so. Here a temple was built in a small way and with the donations from the philanthropists evolved into a considerable temple construction. The temple is named as Chinna Arunachalam. Chief deity is Arunachaleswara and additionally several sub shrines were also there dedicated to different Gods.
There is some person named Siva guru swami behind all this gigantic construction. He is a staunch devotee of Arunachaleswara and with his strong desire the construction got mostly completed. All the needed inaugural rituals like Kumbhabhishekam and other things fulfilled some months back. There are many acres of land donated by father of Sivaguru swami. And some other land was purchased for different purposes like Nitya Annadaana satram and other requirements.
There were many beautiful idols of Lord Siva and other ones, all these have been sculpted by experts in traditional art form. Food is always ready to serve the devotees free of cost as there is a Nitya annadaana satram attached to the temple. Not only that, a school for studying of Vedas is also in the premises. From here, Parnasala is almost 20 km, so the devotees or visitors who are starting from Bhadrachalam can also visit it in their return journey.
With the start of this temple, the place has turned into a busy hub with several small hotels, shops and other outlets. Recently, the temple provided Rudrakshas to the interested devotees to wear. Day by day, it is getting attracted by devotees. On special days and festivals, visitors come in large numbers. And one more thing is a shelter for protection of cows, there we can find a beautiful Lord Krishna's statue. That was really a great idea. Altogether, this is a place of calm, serene and spiritual ambiance.
Sri Somaraju Ramanuja Rao(1896-1934), a name that definitely be a most widely known one amongst the Telugu playwrights. He secured a great place by writing a number of historical, mythological and social playlets. And some of his plays tasted the ire of the British government as they had provoked national ideology in those days.
But most of the people don't know about the great writer that he had brought up and educated at Dummugudem and Bhadrachalam, although he born in Vijayawada. Their ancestor's home still at Dummugudem but in worn-out condition. His most famous drama is "Rangoon Rowdy", every drama lover might have known it. Without it, the history of Telugu drama would never be completed.
He penned stories along with almost fifty dramas. Also played a significant role in the Library movement. Somaraju participated in the freedom movement and met Tilak,Gokhale and Gandhiji in course of it. To avoid the arrest by the British government, he fled to Burma (Now Myanmar) and passed away there with ill health.
This generation hardly knew about him and his contributions to the Telugu literature and freedom movement. He lived only 38 years and brought laurels to the area of Dummugudem, nearby Bhadrachalam.
I am not an accomplished Guitar player but yes an immense enthusiast when it comes to the instrument of strings at times. Got trained somewhat playing major and minor scales apart from strumming passionately. It really would stir the inner realms of soul and give us joy when we start playing. There is lot of subject, having based on seven musical notes CDEFGABC just like what sa ri ga ma pa da ni sa for our Indian traditional music. Learning on surface is different from getting the core subject of the Guitar. This is what I understood from my little knowledge.
Without having hours of practice daily it's impossible to master over any instrument. But many people think that having grip over an instrument is as simple as that of an online or offline course. Truly which needs lots of love and dedication along with the practice. As myself is many things rolled into one went through the road of music and grasped all these nuances from my experience. I have never resorted to eke out a living nor have seen a sought after profession in it but gave a try out of my passion on the stringed instrument for a while. Really those were the moments of inexpressible mirth and joy.
Coming to the point, leaving my ramblings aside, Today is an important day for me and something to remember as I have donated a Guitar to the Music instructor Eliya sir, who happened to be the director of Shruthilaya Academy. My sole aim behind this is, it can be useful as a teaching instrument for many pupil in the future and which is to be garnered in the hands of music virtuoso. Do all this really deserve encomiums whatsoever...? Not a bit in my view, just an opportunity to give back to our society.
The other day, date is not striking, went to Dummugudem. It has now nothing great to say but some old buildings which had been built during the ruling of the British. A small sleepy village situated close to the banks of river Godavari. Senior citizens told me many times about the unique existence of this place, though it looks small and nondescript now, once upon a time, lot of action had taken place with busy bazars and colonial British employees. A navigation work shop had been built nearby it to have communications through the river. Here, on the road, A building in dilapidated condition attracted my attention. And I captured the same to post on my social platforms. Once the feudal families lived in it to execute the farming in the villages around it.
After passing the construction, there were some cattle so leisurely taking rest under a banyan tree. Heatwaves souring high but these bovines remained cool. Why should I lose the chance..? Immediately captured that pose for my blog. Village was calm with serene ambiance and mysterious past. Many tales could have been told but nobody was there at the moment to make further inquiries. There were some tombs of colonial employees just a couple of miles away. And they would say historical dates and other details about the place.
Cricket fever started at the temple town by kicking off the 21st Bhadradri Cup, today in the premises of Junior college pavilion ground. Bhadradri Cup tournament has been on every year for the last 20 years and this is the 21st year. Teams are used to participate from several other states apart from both the Telugu states. Donors, dignitaries and sport lovers thronged here in the inauguration event.
All the ground was decked up with welcome banners and enthusiastic vibes. Usually this ground is the one where daily walking people attend here to have rounds briskly. That was the case with mornings and late evenings, just as a unmissable ritual. With this Cricket event, all sports lovers could enjoy watching the playing skills of cricketers hailed from different places.
Having united for a cause is one thing and getting support from donors is another important thing. Both seemed to be going hand in hand and to make it possible without fail. This time, though it's not high with mercury levels, a bit of heat one could feel by the midday. However, the players would never fail giving their best as usual.
