G20-THE MAIN TEMPLE

 

By  PRAGYANSHARAMA   POLAVARAPU (VRS.SOMANCHI)

The main temple and four or five smaller temples are situated in a   flat area which is at a little height above all the surrounding land. The  temple area is reached by a flight of about a hundred steps. I see from new videos that the old gigantic mango tree continues to provide cool shade to the pilgrims. It appears to be the same tree which I saw two decades ago. Perhaps some wise minister or soldier serving the local king in old centuries planted the seed and thereby rendered great service to subsequent generations of visitors. Even in hot summer it is very cool under this giant tree .Many smaller temple structures, welcome arches etc have been built in the last few decades. They are painted in bright colors especially in orange and yellow the colors linked to religion and liked and respected by traditional Hindus as most holy. In the new temple structures there are artistically designed big concrete pillars , fine artistic designs on the ceilings and walls and also nice shining smooth   flooring. Since it is a jungle frequented by groups of monkeys all through the day and perhaps visited even by some wild animals in the  nights, strong iron mesh enclosures are constructed for all the temple structures.

There are also very huge shade giving trees in the area where the autos, cars, motor bikes etc are parked . There is  a nice concrete welcome arch at the start of the stair way. Altogether there are three cement concrete welcome arches at different points on the long stairway of about 100 steps. The welcome arches bear brightly colored  statues of gods. Little shops selling flowers, fruits, camphor, joss-sticks, oils, little metal tumblers etc( required for the worship of gods) are established  beside the  stairway. There is one small building with strong wire mesh doors. It is  for the “prasadam” counters.Prasadam is the sacred “tamarind rice”(pulihora) and sweet “laddos” and such preparations blessed by the god. These preparations are  kept before the god  inside  the central temple while the priests conduct long sacred rituals  and recite sacred hymns . The preparations are hygienically packed and sold at special counters. After the sacred rituals huge quantity of Prasad is distributed to the hundreds of devotees by the priests.

At the big vehicle parking area there is a vast  circular enclosure with cement flooring and a strong circular high iron  fence. In its center  under a big tree and on a high pedestal there is a  four feet high  black granite statue of  the Mother Goddess Parvathi called “Ashta-Bhuja-Shakthi”( the great Mother of the Universe with eight hands ) .The goddess holds many weapons in her raised hands . She looks most majestic and is   dressed in red  and has red mark on the forehead and has red “kumkum” powder smeared on her body.  All people entering the temples pray at the statue of the majestic goddess who is treated as guardian of the temple of Lord Narasimha. People travelling up the hill roads to the temples take a little respite under the big trees there and feel refreshed.

Another set of about 20 narrow stairs with strong iron railings leads up to the main temple. Also constructed subsequently and adjoining the  main temple (which exists at a good height from the surrounding ground), there is a vast open verandah  with a parapet wall all around. It  perhaps serves as a watching platform to see the surrounding beautiful jungle and has cement-concrete sofas. All the temples are painted mainly in bright orange and yellow the temple colors.

As already mentioned there are many monkeys in the temple  area moving in little groups. If devotees are careless the monkeys snatch away prasadam, food stuffs , kernel of broken coconuts etc and disappear in a second and eat them fearlessly right before our eyes sitting on high branches of trees to our utter amusement. Monkeys are widespread everywhere in India and monkeys near temples are treated like representatives of Lord Hanuman.