శివ సంకల్పమస్తు

Rama Narayanam is located near Vizianagaram.  Here, Sita Rama Kalyanam is performed on every Punarvasu Nakshatra day (Lord Ram's Janma Nakshatra). We went there to Rama Narayanam on 25th Apr and participated in Sita Rama Kalyanam. నా పూర్వ జన్మ సుకృతం కొద్దీ, రాముల వారి పల్లకి మోసే భాగ్యం దక్కింది.... ఆహా !!!,  నాది ఎంత అదృష్టమో కదా...

On Apr 19th, we visited Sri Mukhalingam, Ravivalasa (near Tekkali), Srikurmam and Arasavilli.  We started from Vizag at 6AM in the morning and went to Sri Mukhalingam first.  After the great Darshan of Sri Mukhalingeswara swamy, we went to Ravivalasa via Tekkali.  There, we saw Endala mallikarjuna swamy.  From there, we went to Srikurmam at around 1PM.  We offered prayers to Sri Kurmanatha swamy and then visited Sri Suryanarayana murthy temple in Arasavilli.  By the time, we droved back home, it was around 7PM. Temples visited: ముఖలింగం  - శ్రీ ముఖలింగేశ్వర స్వామి - 10AM  రావివలస (టెక్కలి) - శ్రీ ఎండల మల్లికార్జున స్వామి - 11:30AM  శ్రీకూర్మం  - శ్రీ కూర్మనాధ స్వామి - 1:30PM  అరసవిల్లి  - శ్రీ సూర్యనారాయణ స్వామి - 4:30PM ముఖలింగం లో మా అమ్మాయి తో...

On Apr 11th, we visited Anantha Padmanabha swamy temple in Padmanabham village, Visakhapatnam dist.  From Madhurawada, it is around 30km.  There are 1278 steps to reach the temple.  Steps are steep and a great experience.   Here is more detailed information about the temple. కొండపై  శ్రీ అనంత పద్మనాభ స్వామి - స్వయం భూ దేవాలయం... మొత్తం 1278 మెట్లు చిన్న పిల్లలు మా కన్నా త్వరగా ఎక్కేసారు... నిజంగా నిజం..  దేవుని కొండ కదా అని, చెప్పులు లేకుండా ఎక్కాం.. తిరిగి వచ్చేటప్పుడు, మెట్లు దిగడానికి చాలా ఇబ్బంది అయింది, ఎండకి కాళ్ళు కాలిపోయాయి.. తస్మాత్ జాగ్రత్త... మెట్లు ఎక్కడం మొదలు పెట్టిన కొద్ది సేపటికి తీసిన photo ఇది...

Padal Petra Sthalangal are those Swayambhoo temples where Nayanars  wrote and sang songs on Lord Siva.  There are 274 Siva temples across India.  We visited 40 of them during this trip.  The list of 40 are here . We started from Vizag on 6th Mar.  We started temple visits on 7th Mar early morning at Arunachalam and concluded it on 9th Mar at 9PM at Mailaduthurai.  We visited 40 padal petra sthalams and 5 Divya desams.

OM NAMASSIVAYA !!! OM NAMO NARAYANAAYA !!! Started from Vizag on 6th Feb via Tirumala exp and got down at Srikalahasti railway station at 3:30AM on 7th Feb.  We have our friend () there.  We got ready and went to temple for Darshan at 5:30AM.  It was awesome !!!! Later, we took bus and reached Tirupathi.  From there, we went to alamelumangapuram and visited padmavathi temple.  Then, we went to Tirumala via bus.  We e-booked rooms in Tirumala.  We have our friend () there.  We dropped our luggage in the room and went for 300Rs darshan at 1PM.  We forgot to go in traditional dress (Dhoti) and hence, had to buy one (100Rs each). Next day (8th Feb) morning, we went to VIP Darshan L2.  In the queue, we learnt from others that Suprabhata seva really gives us pleasure of seeing Venkanna very nearer.  We have to go for that seva next time. VIP darshan was good.  But, it did not last long.  It was only for few seconds...