Sudhan sir - maha Periyava bakthar and blessed painter

From a blog
https://mahaperiyavaa.blog/2017/04/07/with-sudhan-the-master-pencil-artist/

With Sudhan – the master pencil artist!

BY MAHESH on APRIL 7, 2017 • ( 19 )

9 Votes

I had a great opportunity to meet Sudhan – the man behind the daily dose of Periyava pencil art. Camera-shy, soft-spoken and humble personality is Sudhan. As I understand, he is normally very quiet but chose to talk to me for few hours.

Sudhan is doing a selfless job of drawing. To him, these drawings are pujas. He is doing work until midnight and he draws these at 3 AM etc. When devotees contact him, he spends his money to frame the picture and gives them so that they do not roll these drawings and keep it somewhere. He wants ummachi thatha picture to be worshipped. For that he had traveled to far away places to deliver these photos. I told him not to spend his money on this.

All he knows is Periyava – he did not learn Vedam etc. So he chose to do this daily painting of Periyava as his way of concentrating on Him. As we all know with His blessings, his drawings in his initial days were lot more simple and now he is focusing on lot more details and shading work etc, which are starting to give amazing look.

Great devotee, great blessings…We pray Mahaperiyava to bless him with health, wealth and more strength to draw!

Hara Hara Sankara Jaya Jaya Sankara!

Periyava has been interacting with him through dreams. He narrated two incidents

Incident #1 (as posted by Sudhan in FB)

ஒரே கூட்டமா இருக்கே, பெரியவாள பார்க்க முடியுமா?….
மாமா கொஞ்சம் வழி விடுங்கோ ஓரமா நின்னு பெரியவால பார்த்துக்கறேன்…
ஆஹா என்ன அழகா இருக்கா பெரியவா…..இதுக்கு மேல என்ன வேணும்..
பெரியவா உன்ன கூப்புட்றா பா…
என்னையா? பக்கத்துல வேறயாரயாவதா..இல்லை கையசச்சு என்ன தான் கூப்புட்றா…. 
பெரியவா பெரியவா பெரியவா….
என்ன? படம் எல்லாம் போட்டுண்டு இருக்கியா?
ஆமா பெரியவா… எனக்கு அது ஒண்ணு தான் பெரியவா தெரியும்.
ஓ சரி போட்ர படம் எல்லாம் என்ன பன்ற?
அது பெரியவா பக்தாள்க்கு கொண்டு போய் கொடுத்துடுவேன் அவா பூஜை பன்றதுக்கு…
ஓ பூஜை பன்றாளா எல்லாம்..!!!
கை நிறைய விபூதி பிரசாதம் தரா பெரியவா…. 

When Sudhan woke up, the room was filled with viboothi smell.

Incident #2

One day he went to adishtanam to keep a new drawing at the feet of Periyava and few people around there reached out to him to look at the photos etc. While he was starting to do his pradakshanam, a small vidyarthi or a kid came running towards him and asked if he could do a drawing for him. Sudhan apparently nodded his head and kept moving. Subsequently, he forgot this whole thing. On that night or so, Mahaperiyava came in his dream and asked “Why didn’t you give that kid a drawing?”. Sudhan apologized to Him that he forgot. He pointed a specific photo and said “Give this to that kid”. Immediately he woke up and started drawing that image and called that kid, who happened to be living very close to Sudhan and gave it to him. His family members were so excited about Periyava’s anugrahams to their family.

Sudhan does not need any more approvals. He is truly blessed. He was kind enough to present me with two of his drawings. Out of that one photo was chosen by Mahaperiyava Himself. I felt blessed to receive this from Sudhan. Although he is camera-shy, I requested a photo with him so that I could say “I know Sudhan!”.

Here it is: (sitting outside of the Ayodhya mandapam).

Sudhan sir is reachable @ +91 89390 40285

Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha

Sri Manikarnika Gunja Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Temple - Sri Narasimha Darshanam 16 - Narsipur

Related post : http://murpriya.blogspot.com/2013/10/sri-manikarnika-gunja-sri-lakshmi.html

Where is Sri Manikarnika Gunja Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Temple

Kethavaram - Sri Lakshmi Nrusimhar temple

Related link http://murpriya.blogspot.com/2018/08/kethavaram-sri-lakshmi-nrusimha-swamy.html

Kethavaram is an ancient Narasimha Kshetra situated on the banks of River Krishna in Andhra Pradesh.

LEGENDS

Kethavaram was named after the King Ketha Varma who ruled this region. Kethavaram is also called as Kaataaram or Kethaaram in the scriptures.

Once, during the reign of KethaVarma, the Lord appeared in the dream of a Yadava King who ruled a nearby land and told him about His(Lord’s) presence in the hill of Kethavaram. The Yadava King immediately conveyed this message to King Ketha Varma, who conducted an extensive search in the hill and finally discovered the Swayambhu Moorthy of Lord sriNarasimha.

Kethavarma constructed a temple at the place and arranged for NityaPooja. Festivals began to be celebrated at a grand splendour. Lord Narasimha graces the devotees with Mother Mahalakshmi. There is also a shrine for Sri Anjaneya in this temple.

Vajralaya – While digging the land here for a tank, one worker was hit by a stone and it began bleeding. Testing the rock, it turned to be a diamond rock. Further digging brought out some idols also. Hence, Lord Narasimha is praised as Vajralaya., vajram meaning diamond.

DEITY

Sri Narasimha Swamy at Kethavaram is a Swayambhu Moorthy (self-manifested deity). The Mother Goddess is Chenchu Lakshmi. There seems to be 2 temples here. One is at the foot of the hill and the other is at the hill top.

There are 600 steps to reach the hill temple.

TIMINGS

As the temple is situated in a dense jungle area, the temple at the foot hill temple is open during the visit of devotees. A family is staying near the temple.

FESTIVAL

Sri Narasimha Jayanthi is grandly celebrated in this temple.

ADDRESS

Sri Narasimha Temple, Kedavaram, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh

Source - http://srinarasimhakutumbam.org/temples/divya-kshetra/kethavaram/

MATTAPALLY : Sthala Puranam - From Narahari Hrudayam

MATTAPALLY : Sthala Puranam

This, like many other materials, was provided by Sri Vijayaraghavan Bashyam referred to as Vayasya by Sri Mukkur Swami. He maintains the site www.vijayaraghavan.cjb.net a MAGNUM OPUS site on Lord Lakshmi Nrusimhan (unfortunately not able to track that site now)

Location :Mattapalli is situated on the banks of river Krishna, in Huzurnagar taluq of Nalgonda District in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Presiding Deities :
Sri Yogananda Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy, Sri Raajyalakshmi Thaayar and Sri Chenchu Lakshmi Thaayar

Sthala Puranam :
The Maha Kshetram is in the midst of a dense and lovely forest, which instills awe and inspiration in the minds of the visiting pilgrims. In one of the caves adjoining the pilgrim town, the image of the Lord has been radiating glory from times immemorial. Legend had it that Sri Bharadwaaja Maharshi worshipped this deity everyday accompanied by several other sages. In those unknown times, only sages and gods could worship the self revealed images of Narasimha in the cave. Later the sages who had the welfare of this world at their heart, decided to throw open this holy place to the common man. An auspicious time for it came in Kali Yuga.The deity was revealed in a dream to the devotee Sri Anumala Machireddi, the ruler of Thangeda which is 3 km off Mattapalli on the opposite bank of the Krishna river. The Lord wished Machireddi to reveal his image for the good of the mankind during Kali Yuga. The ruler accompanied by his pandits, searched all the caves on the banks of river Krishna, as ordained by the Lord, but could not trace the location of the deity. Sad and depressed, he fell asleep in the forest. Again the Lord appeared in his dream and ordained him to search further, in a designated area near an "Aare" tree hidden behind the foliage in a cave. Waking up, the ruler found the cave and the image of the Lord in a seated posture, with the wellspread hood of Sesha over his head, fully adorned with Shankha Chakra Gadha and as if the Lord was being worshipped regularly, with flowers, sacred leaves, fruits etc. Overjoyed, the ruler revealed the Maha Kshetram to the general public and constructed a Mukhaalaya.

More about Sri Anumala Machireddy :The name and fame of Machireddi has lived down to this day and we still see his benevolence and benefaction inscribed in the golden kalasams in the Siva temple of Srisailam,and others like Kasi Visheswara, Lord Gopala in Thangeda etc.However the fort of Thangeda is now in ruins.

An incident in history :Chennuri Sri Narasimha Rao, Chairman of the temple committee, said that one " Chennuri Giramma", belonging to his great-grand-forefathers was an ardent devotee of Sri Mattapalli Narasimha. She lived during the period of the Mughal emperor Aurangazeb. When Mughal forces were to attack the temple, she prayed to the Lord to dispell the danger. Then the Lord created countless bees which attacked and drove the Mughal soldiers away. Their attempt to capture this temple proved a futile exercise.

Description of the Garbhagriha ( sanctum sanctorum ) :
There is a rock above the door to the sanctum sanctorum. On it is the sculptured motif of Gaja Lakshmi with two elephants raising their trunks upwards on either side. The sanctum is a cave. The roof of the Garbhagriha is a big rock.

The Lord manifested Himself on a rock, which is on the backside of the Garbhagriha. Another rock is spread like the hood of Sesha over it. The Lord is 1 foot in height. Seated in Padmasana, He holds, Chakra in His upper right hand and Sankha in His upper left hand. He has kept His lower left hand on His left knee, and His lower right hand is not visible. On the left side of the Lord, ther are decorated three Namams ( Thirumann ), and two eyes, which are considered as the form of Prahlada, the ardent devotee of the Lord. There is a small lengthy rectangular rock of about 1 foot length at the feet of the Lord. The rock is said to be "Chakri", an ardent devotee of the Lord who was not given mukti when he requested for the same because the Lord did not want to be separated from him. So he was made into a rock like form and placed in the sanctum. Daily the abhishekam is performed to this rock also.

To the left of the manifested Lord, there is a black, stone image of Lakshmi which is 1.5 feet in height, in a sitting posture on a lotus. She holds lotus flowers in her upper hands. Her lower right hand is in Abhaya posture and the left hand is in Suchi posture. Below the Lakshmi image, there is another image of Lakshmi, which is carved on a rock. As Lakshmi is not visible to the visitors, the image of Rajya Lakshmi is installed for the 'darsan' of the devotees. It was consecrated in 1975. She holds chakra in her upper right hand and Sankha in her left hand. She holds lotus buds in her lower hands. She is in sitting posture. She is 1.25 feet in height. She wears a makuta on Her head. 

Before the presiding deity, at a lower level, the utsava idols of the Lord are installed. There are also copper images of Sudarsana and Nammazhwar

To the right side of the sanctum, leading to the north door, there are eleven black stone images of the Azhwars, seven of which face the west and the remaining four face east. There is a trench on the left side of the Lord at some distance in the cave, which it is believed to lead to the river Krishna through an underground passage.

Description of the temple :
The sanctum faces the west. The mukhamantapam has 21 pillars with a cement roof. Before the Vaikunta dvaara ( North door ) there is a mantapa with five pillars with a cement roof. It was built in 1973-75. It measures 21feet X 18 feet. The mukhamantapam before the sanctum measures 24feet X 45 feet. Teh height of the mukhamantapam is about 20feet. As there is mo convenience to go around the sanctum, the devotees perform circumambulation ( pradakshinam ) around the Dhwajasthambha and the stone image of Hanuman which faces the Lord. There is a Ramanuja Kutam ( Madapalli or kitchen ) to the north of the temple in the same premises where in, the naivedya to the Lord is prepared.

There is an entrance to the temple which faces the south. There is a fleet of steps leading down to the river Krishna just outside the main temple but within the compound.

Temple Traditions :
Vaikhaanasa Aagama is followed here. The priest is a Sri Vaisnava who is a heriditory priest. There is a Vedic pandit who recites Vedas and other mantras at appropriate occasions. The daily programme of the temple is as follows:

05.00 Suprabhatam
0600 Viswaroopam and Abhishekham after removing kavachams
0700 - 1000 Darsanam
1000 Sahasranama Archana
1130 Balabhogam and Viniyogam
1200 Dvarabandhanam
1600 Reopening of Temple doors and Archana
1700-1900 Darsanam
1900 Naivedyam and Viniyogam
1930 Kavaatabandhanam

Special Events :On every friday, ther is a seva of Andal at 1800 hours with the procession by devotees.

Adhyayana utsavas precede the annual festival of the Lord for 3 days from Chaithra Sudhdha Dasami to Dvadasi. The annual festival is celebrated from Chaithra Sudhdha Trayodasi to Bahula Tadiya.

The following festivals are celebrated in the temple viz., Ugadi, Sri Raama Navami, Sri Nrusimha Jayanthi, Sri Krishna Jayanthi, Vijaya Dasami, Vaikuntha Ekadasi, Dhanurmasa Aaradhanam and Sankaranthi.

On the occasion of the Brahmotsavas, Mukkoti Ekadasi and Nrusimha Jayanthi, about 5000 devotees from local and other areas congregate. During these days, one-act-plays, dramas, dances, harikatha, bhajan and songs afford entertainment to the devotees. The special feature of this temple is giving free food to all the pilgrims on these days.

Temple Trust :
The temple committee associated with the Andhra Pradesh Endowments Department runs the temple with liberal contributions from the pilgrims. The chairman is Sri Chennuri Narasimha Rao who stays at Huzurnagar buts visits the temple almost daily. He can be contacted for arrangements to be made for the devotees.

Boarding and Lodging facilities :Stay facilities are available in the form of Choultries. There are Brahman Chathtrams and Vysya Chaththrams which are given free of cost to the devotees who visit the temple. However it is desirable to offer nominal contributions to the Chaththram Authotities.

Once reaching Mattapalli, one may inform Brahmana Chaththram for food requirements. Here again food is given free of cost. However devotees may donate nominal amounts towards expenses according to their will.

Near the temple, there is only one shop for general items. Therefore it is advisable to take all personal requirements especially medicines when one visits Mattapalli. The nearest town is Huzurnagar which is 25km away.

Importance of this Kshetram :
There is a popular verse which goes thus :- " Ekameva Kshetram, Mattapalli Kshetram, Na Anyat Kshetram, Mattapalli Tulyam, Ekameva Tatvam, Mattapalli Naatham, na Anyat Tatvam, Palli Simha Tulyam" which means that "Mattapalli is the only pilgrim spot. There is no secondary whatsoever and there is no equal to it. There is only one Lord and He is the Lord of Mattapalli. There no secondary whosoever and none is comparable to HIM."

There is a belief that incurable diseases will be cured and the evil spirits will be driven out and all desires will be fulfilled by the Lord if one stays in Mattapalli for 11 days and 11 nights and performs 32 pradakshinams thrice a day with wet clothes having bathed in the Krishna river each time.

Another important feature is the possession of a rare type of conch by the temple called Dakshina Vriththa Sankha. It is said that if one keeps it near his ear, a booming sound of the sacred Pranava also called Taaram, echoes out of it. This type of conch is present only at the Kasi temple and nowhere else.

Route to reach Mattapalli:
Mattapalli is 25km from Huzurnagar. Huzurnagar can be approached from Kodada or Miryalaguda. Kodada is on the Vijayawada - Hyderabad Highway and is 15km from Huzurnagar. Kodada is 175km from Hyderabad and 100km from Vijayawada.

ஸ்ரீ பரமசிவேந்த்ர சரஸ்வதி ஸ்வாமிகள் அதிஷ்டான புனருத்தாரணம். Renovation and Kumbabishekam of Adistanam of Sri Paramasivendra Saraswathi Swamigal

Related links
https://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.com/2017/01/parama-sivendra-saraswathi-swamigal.html

Very soothing chants - must hear after understanding the meaning

1. OM SHANTI OM  00:00
peace for the all human kind, peace for all living and non living beings, peace for the universe, peace for each and every things in this whole cosmic manifestation

2. ANTARJAMI PURAKH BIDATE 14:52

Anṯarjāmī purakẖ biḏẖāṯe sarḏẖā man kī pūre.

O Inner-knower, Searcher of Hearts, O Primal Being, Architect of Destiny: please fulfill this yearning of my mind.

Nānak ḏās ihai sukẖ māgai mo ka▫o kar sanṯan kī ḏẖūre.
Nanak, Your slave, begs for this happiness: let me be the dust of the feet of the Saints.


3. SARVESHAM SVASTIR BHAVATU 30:17
Om Sarvesham Svastir Bhavatu,   Sarvesham Shantir Bhavatu,   Sharvesham Purnam Bhavatu,    Sarvesham Mangalam Bhavatu.

May there be well-being and happiness in all
May there be peace and tranquility in all
May there be completeness and happiness in all
May there be success and prosperity in all


4.  TAN MAN SHAANT 45:17
Ŧan man shāʼnṯ hoi aḏẖikāī rog kātai sūkẖ savījai
My mind and body are calm and tranquil; the disease has been cured, and now I sleep in peace


5. LOKAH SAMASTAHA SUKHINO BHAVANTU 59:45
May all beings everywhere be free and happy

6. GAYATRI MANTRA 1:14:00

oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
tatsaviturvareṇyaṃ
bhargo devasyadhīmahi
dhiyo yo naḥ prachodayāt
– Rigveda 3.62.10

Swami Sivananda: "Let us meditate on Isvara and His Glory who has created the Universe, who is fit to be worshipped, who is the remover of all sins and ignorance. May he enlighten our intellect."
( Om - Para Brahman; Bhur - Bhuloka (Physical Plane); Bhuvah - Antariksha Svah; Svarga Loka Tat - Paramatma Savitur; Isvara (Surya); Varenyam; Fit to be worshipped; Bhargo - Remover of sins and ignorance; Devasya - Glory (Jnana Svaroopa); Dheemahi - We meditate; Dhiyo - Buddhi (Intellect); Yo - Which; Nah - Our; Prachodayat - Enlighten )

Maharshi Dayananda Saraswati (founder of Arya Samaj): "Oh God! Thou art the Giver of Life, Remover of pain and sorrow, The Bestower of happiness. Oh! Creator of the Universe, May we receive thy supreme sin-destroying light, May Thou guide our intellect in the right direction."[24]

Swami Vivekananda: "We meditate on the glory of that Being who has produced this universe; may He enlighten our minds."[21]


7. ASATOMA SADGAMAYA 1:24:55

Sanskrit in English
asato mā sadgamaya
tamasomā jyotir gamaya
mrityormāamritam gamaya
Oṁ śhānti śhānti śhāntiḥ

Meaning in English
From ignorance, lead me to truth;
From darkness, lead me to light;
From death, lead me to immortality
Om peace, peace, peace


8. SHANTI MANTRA (Also called Shanti Paath) 1:39:30


Om dyauh shanti rantariksham shantih
Prithvi shantirapah shantih
Oshadhayah shantih Vanaspatayah shantih
Vishvedevaah shantih Brahma shantih
Sarvam shantih Shantireva shantih
Saamaa shantiredhih
Om shaantih, shaantih, shaantih!

May peace radiate there in the whole sky as well as in the vast ethereal space everywhere.
May peace reign all over this earth, in water and in all herbs, trees and creepers.
May peace flow over the whole universe.
May peace be in the Supreme Being Brahman.
And may there always exist in all peace and peace alone.
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti to us and all beings!