Sri Swamiji visits the BIRTH HOUSE of
JAYALAKSHMI MATA

The decision was sudden and unplanned. Still it became a historic decision. To visit the birth place and birth house of Jayalakshmi Mata in the Sogala village - just off the Bangalore - Mysore high way near Chennapattana. So, starting from Mysore on the 16th July 2004 (Friday). Yet the un planned visit had no unplanned welcome. Thousands were there and were waiting for the Darshan of Sadguru Deva. Then on the 17th, Sri Swamiji drove from Bommeparthy to Sogala village in Karnataka state. This village is quite near Mekedatu. This was the historic occasion. Sri Swamiji visited the birth house of Jayalakshmi Mata. Sri Swamiji was quite emotional as he wandered through the rural and rustic hutment.

Arriving in Sogala village at around 11.30 AM, Sri Swamiji was received by almost all of the entire population of the village which numbers around 4000. The two hefty persons donning the VEERA BHADRA guise (pertinent to the old Mysore region culture) led the procession which had temple pipers, etc. Sri Swamiji entered the house at 11.59AM. Just before noon. Sri Swamiji was shown around the house by Sri Nagaraju who gave the house by a registered document to Mysore Ashrama. Parvathamma (aka Chikamma who is the younger sister of Jayalakshmi Mata) and her cousin sister Jayamma were there along with Sri Swamiji. Jayamma who was the eldest remembered how the house was in those years when Lingannayya (Jayalakshmi Mata's father) lived in that house. In fact the house was built by their fore fathers and measured at least four times the present size. But with families getting larger came the principle of divide the property. Now the house measures 35 feet wide by 55 feet deep.

Jayamma took Sri Swamiji to the middle room's corner where Jaya Lakshmi Mata was born. Sri Swamiji stood there and remembered his return to the house when he was a lad of three to attend the thread ceremony of a relative. It should be recalled that Linganna left the Sogala village when Jayalakshmi Mata was a girl of seven and moved further close to Cauvery river and settled on the banks of Mekedatu village. Sri Swamiji was in a very happy frame of mind.

Later Sri Swamiji visited the public school in Sogala, to which Datta Peetham donated furniture to all class rooms. Sri Swamiji spoke thus:

" Today is a special day in my life. I have done a pilgrimage. In the morning I had Darshan of the Jayalakshmi Mata and Narahari Teertha Brindavanas in Bommeparthy. Then I have come to your village, Sogala to see the birth place of my mother and Guru - Jayalakshmi Mata. From here, I will go and visit the Brindavana of the great saint in my lineage, Yogi Subbayya. From there I will go to Mekedatu and visit my birth place. From there, I will go to Mysore and have Darshan of the Dattatreya temple. So, it is possible to complete this pilgrimage circuit in one day. I want you all to realise that if you have the will, you can do it. Sogala occupies a special place in my heart. I feel proud to be one amongst you all. Practice spiritual life as part of your regular life. Most of you are farmers. Don't aspire for city life. It may seem glamorous, but the pitfalls and problems are great and dangerous. Enjoy the laid back life you all have. But don't forget to have a part of spirituality in your life. I am so happy to see the happy faces of children. WHen I came here last time, I was appalled to see that the school children here sit on the floor the whole day. I wanted to help and that is why Datta Peetham has donated the furniture for children to sit in class rooms.
Regularly visit the Brindavana (tomb) of Yogi Subbayya and meditate there".

There after Sri Swamiji visited the tomb of Yogi Subbayya situated in the Sogala village outskirts, just after the water tank. Subbayya was the uncle of Lingannayya and was the royal physician who frequently treated Maha Raja in Mysore. Many come to this shrine to carry home some earth as sacred healing Prasadam. Sri Swamiji said that the energy of a saint would linger about 170 years in the tomb. Sri Swamiji meditated for a while.

Later Sri Swamiji visited Mekedatu and saw the developments of the Ashrama there. They are

1. Removal of the harmful asbestos sheet hall in front of the Datta temple and construction of a proper prayer hall measuring about 4000 square feet.

2. COnstruction of dining hall and kitchen facilities for about 500 persons

3. Construction of living quarters for the priest and watchmen

4. Construction of storage room

4. Construction of water tank

Sri Swamiji was pleased with the developments and Blessed those associated with the projects.

Sri Swamiji returned to Mysore at 8.30PM.

The living room of the house where Jayalakshmi Mata was born and lived for about 15 years.
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Sri Swamiji stands in the corner where Jayalakshmi Mata was born. It was in this exact place said the cousin of Jayalakshmi Mata, Jayamma Srikantaiah, who lived in the house in that time. She is the daughter of Lingannayya's elder brother Subbayya (not Yogi Subbayya). She is standing to the right of Sri Swamiji. To the left of Sri Swamiji is Chikkamma aka Parvathamma- sister of Jayalakshmi Mat. Jayamma Srikantaiah's father continued to live in the house after Lingannayya left for Mekedatu region.
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Sri Swamiji addresses the villagers in a school in Sogala village
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Sri Swamiji in front of the Adhishthana (sacred tomb) of Yogi Subbayya in Sogala village
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Sri Swamiji meditates in front of the Adhishthana
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The prayer hall under construction in Mekedatu.

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