G18-THE CHINTAMANI WATER SPRING -2

 

By  PRAGYANSHARAMA   POLAVARAPU(VRS.SOMANCHI)

The “Chintamani” spring/ slow flowing stream which is only a few yards away from the temple is the point  where the fine hill stream becomes visible .The flowing water is temporarily channeled through a small cement concrete trough and from it further channeled through a  ten meter long hollowed tree trunk to fall like a stream of tap water into a small sand filled cement basin  .The water is transparent  like tap water and has a nice taste and aroma . All people who visit the temple enjoy drinking the Chintamani spring water and collect it in bottles. It is said that the water stays very fresh for even weeks.

The unseen reservoir of water in the marshland may perhaps be quite a big natural  trough in the hill range and  perhaps not even a drop of water sinks into the soil there .During heavy rains the trough overflows and water may flow down the hill sides just like other hill streams. It is said that in ancient times centuries ago great kings under advice of sages who knew about the medicinal herbs of a particular  area got hundreds of thousands of the herbal plants and herbal bushes planted in the marshy places. At such places water flows throughout the year in small trickling streams and helps in making such parks of  medicinal plants self-sustaining.  Most probably many persons do not know of those great achievements of the ancients. Of  such wonderful achievements we can be very proud.

Another most interesting thing about the hill temple is that there are one or two gigantic   mango trees near the temple providing cool shelter to the  people coming there. Seeing their unusual height and dense mass of branches we may perhaps say that the  trees are  a few hundred years old .They provided a canopy of thickly leaved branches. I saw them 23 years ago and find them in internet photos still existing . I wonder at their unusual height and extent. They provide a very cool canopy .There were already quite  many devotees by the time we reached. They must have easily reached  by auto, car, motor-bike etc travelling on the road existing right  up to the temple.