Penukonda
Ananthapur
Penukonda is located
70 kms from Anathapur. There are several
temples in this village. It is also said
that there are around 365 Anjaneya swamy vigrahas were installed by a king around the village, though very few
are visible at present. This region was
controlled by chalukyas, vijayanagar rajas and nawabs etc. but the town was established by Hoysala
kings.
Some prominent places to visit here are Penukonda fort,
Anjaneya swamy huge vigraham, Gagan mahal, Sri Ramabhadralayam, Sri
Muktheswaralayam, Sri Kanyaka Parameswari temple.
Due to time constraint we restricted to visit few places
from above list which are unique in their prominence. By the way, the village is also best place
for mountain trekking.
Sri Kanyakaparameswari temple:
The first place we visited is Sri Kanyakaparameswari temple where we wanted to meet “Amma” a blessed
woman by Goddess Parameswari. She was initiated by Kanyakaparameswari goddess
to write Devi Bhagavatham though she was never been to schooling. By the grace of goddess she (locally called
as ‘Narasamma’ avva) could write up entire grantha in a single night without
her bodily consciousness. She is very
humble and motherly caring lady. After
taking her blessings we wanted to move to our next place, but she insisted us
to take lunch and move ahead. By the
time the lunch was prepared we took her permission and moved to further. We also enquired about place of “Seethamma
Padam” (Sita devi left foot print) and started.
Gaganmahal:
We reached “Gagan Mahal” an old architectural resembling
cultural heritage. Many religious and
secular structures have been added at this place during Vijanagara Kings
period. It was summer place for the
rulers. The pyramid roof built up in
tiers is adopted from Sikhara of Dravidian style. Palace was built by a combination of
Indo-Persian architecture.
Ramabhadrayalam:
A very unique temple of Sri Ramachandra murthy in Yoga
mudra. Perhaps this might be the only
temple with Sri Rama in this posture.
We felt blessed to reach this place, but disappointed to
find that the temple doors were closed.
By the grace of god we could get pujariji’s(Priest) phone number and
requested him to come and open the temple doors. It was around 11.15 am. Fortunately pujariji came and opened temple,
our souls got immediately connected to god after seeing Sri Rama with his
parivar (family). A very pleasant and
spiritual inner feeling flourished as soon as we stepped in. Very decently decorated with colorful flowers
and graceful moorthys (idols).
Sri Ramachandra prabhu is seen in padmasana with yoga
mudra, showing his right hand in abahayamudra raised his palm to his middle of
chest (a gesture of protection) and left hand in vara mudra. Seethamma is on his left side in padmasana
and with dhyana mudra. Laxmana swamy is
little behind, standing on right side of Sri Rama, with mukulitha hastha
(folded hands with respect). Anjaneya
swamy on left side Seethamma in veerasana with mukulitha hastha. A very rare and unique of posture of Sri Rama
parivara. Our souls immersed in bhakthi
paravasa (devotion).
Sri Muktheswaralayam:
In uttara disha (north side) of Sri Ramabhadralayam, Sri
Shiva temple depicting our Indian historical heritage can be seen. The Shiva Linga in this temple is brought
from Kashi (Varanasi) and established by Sri Krishnadevaraya. Very
powerful gods with many proofs of his glory are seen even today. The present priest in the temple is a devoted
pujari to this god and through generations their family is serving the god.
Their family did not think about other occupation for their lively hood but
totally dedicated to this god and taking his blessings. The four side walls of inner temple (garbha
gudi) are sculptured depecting shiva purana and shiva kalyaana. Sri Dakshinamurthy is also sculptured on
south wall.
By seeing these glorious places we forgot about our initial
task of seeing “Seethamma padam” (left
foot) that happened to be stamped by her when Ravana taken over her
(stolen). While the right foot print is
available in “Lepakshi”. But none of
the people in those areas could direct us, but by the gods grace the priest in
the Shiva temple could explain its where about.
There is huge hill behind the temple where Sri Narasimhaswamy temple is
available. There also about five wells
(bhaavi) on the hill in which the devetas had dipped get rid of their sins or
banes. Seetamma padam is present in
“Veeranna konda” (a hill called Veranna) to which there is not proper path to
reach. Disappointed but happy for seeing
such glorious places and confirmation about Seetamma padam. Then we started our
return journey to “Sri Kanyakaparameswari” temple “Amma” was getting our lunch prepared.
Our entire troop tiered and enjoyed the meal as it was
more than just a food a blessing prasadam for us. We have rush fast as we have to catch train
at 5.00 pm in Ananthapur. Amma insisted us to take meals dinner parcel for our train journey. With lots
of her love and blessings being bagged by us, hearts filled with joy we back started our journey.