VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT

Friday 26 February 2016

Golkonda Fort / Golconda Fort, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh - Jyotirlinga Yatra.

26^th February, 2016.

DAY -10, 11-02-2016.

After a peaceful darshan of Sri Mallikarjuna, Srisailam, returned to Hyderabad around 21.30 hrs through Srisailam Dam, and accommodated in hotel Maharaja ( mobile number 8977717467, 040 2460888, 8977035551) near Kacheguda Railway station. Our yathra of Jyotirlinga darshan came to an end with this local sight seeing at Hyderabad. Under the local sight seeing we had the darshan of Sri Balaji at Birla mandir, Golkonda fort, Salar jung Museum and on the way we had seen the NTR’s Samadhi and the Buddha Statue in the middle of the lake.

GOLKONDA FORT / GOLCONDA FORT

Golkonda derives the name from the Telugu word ‘Golla – Konda’, which means a Shepherd’s hill. Initially the fort was under the control of Kakatiyas but passed in to the hands of Mahamani’s in 1363 CE. After their downfall it was made capital in 1518 CE, by the Sultan Quli the founder of the Qutb Shahi Kingdom. He was succeeded by Jamshid ( 1543 -1550 CE ) Ibrahim Qutub Shah ( 1550- 1580 CE ), Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah (1580 – 1612), Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah ( 1612 – 1626 CE ), Abdullah Qutb Shah ( 1626 – 1672 CE ), Abul Hasan Tana Shah ( 1672 – 1687 CE ).

Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah was a great Patron of Telugu literature and a Pioneer of Deccani Literature. He built Charminar and founded the city of Hyderabad. Abul Hasan Tana Shah the last sultan patronised a form of Dance – Drama, which subsequently became popular as Kuchipudi. In 1687 Aurangzeb annexed the kingdom to his mughal empire and appointed Asif Jab who proclaimed independence as Nizam- Ul-Mulk in AD 1713. His successors are known as Nizams and ruled Hyderabad till 1948.

The massive fort with three tired fortification protected by a Moat and Eight entrance gates played a remarkable role in the medieval Deccan. The Golkonda fort with its impregnable citadel is characterised by armouries, magazines, granaries, reservoirs, mosques and well planned Township and above all ab immaculate water supply system. Some of the important structures of Golkonda include Bala Hissar, Clapping portico, Matuary bath, Silaikhana, Nagina Bagh, Taramati mosque, Guard lines, Akkanna-Madanna offices, Ramdas Jail, Durbar Hall, Ambar Khana, Ibrahim mosque and Baradari on the summit.

LOCATION OF THE FORT:CLICK HERE

Entrance gate

Taramati Mosque

Light and sound show will be conducted here

Hyderabad City view from Top

Top Darbar hall

A Hall A Hindu temple on the top of the hill

A Hall

ASI maintained garden beautiful view.

Small canons and ball kept in arms storage room

Is it used for grinding? Lying in the first level

Excavated articles under display

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---

.............To be continued.

Birla Mandir, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, - A Jyotirlinga Temples Yatra.

26^th February, 2016.

DAY -10, 11-02-2016.

After a peaceful darshan of Sri Mallikarjuna, Srisailam, returned to Hyderabad around 21.30 hrs through Srisailam Dam, and accommodated in hotel Maharaja ( mobile number 8977717467, 040 2460888, 8977035551) near Kacheguda Railway station. Our yathra of Jyotirlinga darshan came to an end with this local sight seeing at Hyderabad. Under the local sight seeing we had the darshan of Sri Balaji at Birla mandir, Golconda fort, Salar jung Museum and on the way we had seen the NTR’s Samadhi and the Buddha Statue in the middle of the Hussain Sagar lake.

BIRLA MANDIR

This temple is dedicated to Lord Balaji and Constructed by Birla group.

The temple is on the banjara hills facing east. The complete temple is constructed with white marble. At the base of the temple sannidhi for Lord Shiva, Vinayagar and Anjaneya. A lift is installed for those who cannot walk.

In the middle level sannidhi for Sri Saibaba and alwars. There is Saraswathi statue too.

On the top level is the mandir/ temple with a 5 tier Rajagopuram.

When we climb up on both side relief of Ramayan episodes and geetha upadesam. On the side reliefs of Shiva’s marriage, devas and asuras churning the milk ocean to get the amirtha.

After the Rajagopuram balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Garudalwar sannadhi. Moolavar is like Tirupati Balaji and urchavars are Sridevi, Bhudevi samedha Sri Balaji. In the front mandapam reliefs of Saraswathy, Lakshmi, Parvati, Krishna, Vishnu, Shiva, Guru and brahma.

On the left of the sanctum sannadhi for Padmavathi thayar on the left and Andal on the right. Both sannadhis are facing east. On the sanctum wall out side the reliefs of Vishnu's 10 avatars, Buddha, Mahaveer etc.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---

..........To be continued.

Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple / Mallikarjuna Temple, Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh, India. - A Jyotirlinga Yatra.

26^th February, 2016.

DAY -9, 10-02-2016.

After the darshan at moola Brindavana of Sri Raghavendra, started our Yathra to our next destination of Srisailam around 03.30 Hrs and reached Srisailam by 11.30 hrs to the forest and hill. This is the third visit to this temple. Since we are 38 yathris and considering the time we had not undertaken the local visit, which we had done during our earlier visit and even we skipped the Pathala Ganga bath also.

SRI MALLIKARJUNA SWAMY TEMPLE AT SRISAILAM

East side Rajagopuram

Moolavar : Sri Mallikarjuna swamy

Consort : Sri Bramarambika.

Some of the important details during this yathra are follows….

There are not much changes inside the temple except the Q complex. Considering the time we went through the Rs 100 darshan Q. This time I had the darshan of Ramar Prathista sahasra lingam, Arthanareeswarar, Veerabhadra, Shiva Parvati in the corridor, Naagars, Sila roobam of King Shivaji gets the sword from kali matha. Virutha Lingam ( Virutha- srisailam hill ) near theertha kulam and the moolavar seems to be of a tree trunk.

The north side damaged Rajagopuram is under reconstruction. And observed from the excavation that the north side wall sinks to a depth of 5 feet or the floor level might have increased.

LOCATION :CLICK HERE