Sadgurudeva in Ganagapura
April 19 & 20, 2005
Sri Swamiji made the opening prayer line"Sri Ganeshaya Namaha Sri Sarasvatyei Namaha Sri PADAVALLABHA - NARASIMHA SARASWATI - Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha - a daily feature in thousands of lives.
The 19th and 20th of April 2005 were spent in the spiritual pilgrimage center of Ganagapur in northern Karnataka. This small town is the place where Narasimha Saraswati, the 13th century saint, considered as the incarnation of Dattatreya, lived.
Sri Swamiji has established Ashrama branch in this town. During this visit, Sri Swamiji performed BHU SHUDDHI (place cleansing) for the developmental works planned in Ganagapur Ashrama.
On 20th early in the morning at 4 AM, Sri Swamiji visited the Nirguna Matha in the town where the NIRGUNA PADUKAS established by His Holiness Sri Narasimha Saraswati Swamiji were installed. The town is situated on the banks of Bhima river. The Nirguna Matha is situated in the centre of the town. The Nirguna Padukas are in the main shrine. To the south of the temple is a small Audumbara tree and under the tree are small shrines of Maha Ganapathy, Shiva and Parvati. To the west of the Temple is a Peepul tree with NAGA (serpent) statues under it. It is said in the sacred book GURU CHARITRA that a Brahma Rakshasa used to live in that tree. To the north of the main temple are small shrines of Hanuman and Ganapathy.
700 years ago, His Holiness Narasimha Saraswati Swamiji installed the PADUKAS here. The same Puja method he started is continued to this day. It is said that no one has seen the original Padukas as they always are smeared thickly with saffron mixed sandal paste. No Abhisheka has ever been done to the Padukas.
The north flowing Bhima river meets AMARAJA river couple of kilometres away creating a SANGAMA KSHETRA (place where these two rivers meet). It is said that Narasimha Saraswati Swamiji took daily bath in this sacred spot of two river meeting. Even today, bathing in this place is considered very holy and sin removing. There is a Datta Temple at this place of Sangama.
Sri Swamiji has instructed to construct a clothes changing room for use by pilgrims who bathe in this place.
Sri Swamiji personally performed Puja for over one hour inside the shrine of the Padukas from 5 AM to 6 AM. Emerging from the tiny Garbhalaya, Sri Swamiji had smeared red paste on his forehead.
Later in the morning, at the Ashrama site, Sri Swamiji performed BHU SHUDDI by excavating earth and sprinkling water and sacred Puja materials. After the Sri Chakra Puja, Sri Swamiji in his speech mentioned that a proper lodging facility for visiting pilgrims to this town would be built here.
Later Sri Swamiji discussed the developmental plans with architect and committee members of the Ashrama.
On 19th afternoon before reaching Ganagapur, Sri Swamiji received Pada Puja from Sri Dayanand Rangdale in Gulbarga.
On 20th afternoon the journey from Ganagapur towards Hyderabad started. On the way, Sri Swamiji visited the monastery of Sri MANIKYA PRABHU (1817-1865) a great saint of Dattatreya lineage.
Later, Sri Swamiji visited a Ayyappa temple near Zaheerabad and in the night stayed in Patancheru.
Sri Swamiji standing by the small Datta Shrine in our Ashrama in Ganagapur
The Ashrama land
The Nirguna Matha shrine where the Datta Padukas were installed by Sri
Narasimha Saraswati Swamiji (the central silver hole is where devotees
look through for the Paduka Darshan)
The main entrance of the temple. The priests had put up a banner welcoming
Sri Swamiji
The road leading to the temple and the temple tower
Sri Swamiji emerges out of the Garbhalaya after one hour Puja and meditation.
To the left is the Ashwatta tree.
The famous Ashwatta tree
Parama Pujya Sri Swamiji after the Puja
Bhu Shuddi in Ashrama site - 20 April 2005 - 09.34 AM
Free
medical camp was held in the Ashrama site on 19th April 2005. More than
300 villagers received professional medical checkup, advice and medicine
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