The journey from Srisailam starts with a boat ride of more than one hour. We had taken a local guide with us. He accompanied us for all the 3 days. While going through the waters of holy river Krishna with scenic beauty around, we got to witness Lord Datta Guru, Lord Vishnu, Lord Ganapati, Devi Durga in four different directions in the sky standing tall as if blessing us for the journey. I could never take out the Huge Figure of Lord Datta Guru out of my eyes or mind throughout the whole journey while he was standing at Kardalivanam. The first stop is at Akkamahadevi Caves (Leni).(These are the first caves during the journey, there are another ahead witht the same name.) It has a temple of Akkamahadevi who meditated on Sri Mallikarjuna for years. The place has a shivling naturally created inside a very narrow cave. The cave is so small that only 1 person can go through one side at once. When 3 of us reached the shivling, we decided to switch off our torch and feel the darkness around inside. The moment we did it, I suddenly got a flash in my eyes and saw a cobra with red pearls on its head. I wondered what I saw, but left the thought for time to explain it to me. We spent some time down there and later on moved above the caves. There is an aashrasm of Sadguru Ganeshwar Maharaj. We got to hear his story from one of his disciples sitting there. To my surprise, all the statues of Sadguru Ganeshwar Maharaj were guarded by a large serpent statue. The story narrated the significance of that serpent. It was there to protect Sadguru Ganeshwar Maharaj as seen by people first time. Then it just went away. I got it. The Cobra in flash was that one. What a great experience it was. Wonderstruck! Sadguru Ganeshwar Maharaj was a devout of Lord Mallikarjuna who in time gave him The Knowledge of The Supreme and ordered him to perform his duties for the rest of the life.
On the pathway to purity lie lots of hurdles but what we should see is the destination not the road.
Further we moved to the next stop Venkatesh Kinara. A bunch of huts were there. And small, but great place more than like a home, Appaswami’s Aashram. Anyone going to Kardalivanam must halt here for some time. The Sadhu Appaswami there has taken up the cause of serving all those on the way to Kardalivanam - to and fro. He with some of his mate whole heartedly feed you and give you shelter for the time you want. We landed there at around 5 pm. It is just near to the Caves number 1 around 5 minutes drive by boat again. The place has a small shivling installed in its veranda with cows moving around near their shelter. A small open temple of sheshnag gives the holy site a different angle. And far so ahead, it is at the banks of holy river Krishna. What all you want here? All the material beauty is at its best here. But what mind is always looking for is the eternal beauty which is nowhere else than at the feet of Sadguru. For the same, we decided to come in Kardalivanam at his order only. We were welcome very well at the aashram with tea.
By the time, Sun set, we started preparations for our dinner. We had already carried rice and needed spices with us. We borrowed some vegetables and a pot to cook from the aashram people. By setting our burner with wood logs in the open passage, we enjoyed cooking in moonlight at the banks of Krishna. As if she was staring at us watching her kids learning to cook the food of life and for life. The rice cooked had never before taste. After feeding well we had a good sleep in cold winter.
The next morning we woke up around 6 am and had tea. We started marching towards Kardalivanam at 7 am. 7 adults and 1 child walked in search of Lord Datta Guru. At first we have to climb two small mountains and later a plane region. After a walk of around 2 hours came the holy imprints of Shri Nrusinh Sraswati. This he left while roaming in the Kardalivanam, a sight of feet of Sadguru. Moving ahead takes one to Akkamahadevi caves 2 after 1 and half hour. These caves are bigger than the previous. Idols of various deities are installed here. There were some dogs too with few people reading Guru charitra there. It is good cold inside caves. It is a peaceful place to rest. One can stay here at night as well provided we carry the food items and bed with us(?). And of course somewhere in deep forest we may feel fear but what fear can tease you when you are in the hands of your Sadguru. He is here to ward off all your anxieties and fears, get you across this ocean of worldly existence. Water drips down from above the caves. We drank some of it and found it sweet. But the thirst of being at the feet of Sadguru doesn’t let us stop. Keeping the march ahead, a dog accompanied us and the other one which stayed back at caves, I felt like she was somebody. The next stop is Swami Samarth Prakat Sthan. The journey to this place is through a small flow of water. The water has sulphur in it. It leaves reddish marks on the stones. This patch of journey is more exciting as it passes through very dense region of trees and heaps of soil made by ants. They are around 8-10 feet high. On the way some places are little slippery and I slipped at one of them. We slip at all the times in life but Sadguru never lets us get hurt and always puts us back on track. Body and mind have tendency of getting diverted but one whose hand is hold by Sadguru can never get away far from the path of purity. The path is hard, maybe rocky, thorny, slippery, wild, and tiresome. All adjectives dissolve when we chant Sadguru’s name. What I and me talk about it, when there isn’t any of it in reality. Swami must have arranged for me to slip off the path to make me realize this. A few minutes passed and finally we arrived at the site of Swami Samarth Prakat Sthan. It is beautiful and fantastic place. It is a small cave with a water source nearby. We wonder why Sadguru chose this place to live. A herd of dogs girt us while we were eating, before we took bath in the water source. We deed pooja and aarti of Sadguru. There are two sets of padukas here and idols of Swami Samarth Maharaj, Lord Datta Guru, Shivling, Lord Vishnu and many more. It is a place called home. Nobody wanted to return from it. We fed ourselves and the dogs too. A while just passed, we had to pack bags and return. The dog followed us till the caves 2 back. And Swami gave an instance of his presence with us through another dog. Matters of realization!!! But I was little upset at the end near aashram as the sign of visit given didn’t yet happen. Thinking of this I again faithfully marched towards aashram and reached there in 5 minutes and sat waiting for Sadguru. All of us were having tea and suddenly a woman working in the aashram went to pooja ghar and came out with kumkum and pasted it on the forehead of the child with us and just went away. Wonder!!! Sadguru was there. He was with us always. I felt nothing for some while. What would I when he was with me and I was still upset. Mind plays very blunder games, doesn't let you see the truth. We see what is not true and we feel it is reality. But the truth is Sadguru is always with us watching us and giving us the right directions in life.
On the pathway to purity lie lots of hurdles but what we should see is the destination not the road.
Further we moved to the next stop Venkatesh Kinara. A bunch of huts were there. And small, but great place more than like a home, Appaswami’s Aashram. Anyone going to Kardalivanam must halt here for some time. The Sadhu Appaswami there has taken up the cause of serving all those on the way to Kardalivanam - to and fro. He with some of his mate whole heartedly feed you and give you shelter for the time you want. We landed there at around 5 pm. It is just near to the Caves number 1 around 5 minutes drive by boat again. The place has a small shivling installed in its veranda with cows moving around near their shelter. A small open temple of sheshnag gives the holy site a different angle. And far so ahead, it is at the banks of holy river Krishna. What all you want here? All the material beauty is at its best here. But what mind is always looking for is the eternal beauty which is nowhere else than at the feet of Sadguru. For the same, we decided to come in Kardalivanam at his order only. We were welcome very well at the aashram with tea.
By the time, Sun set, we started preparations for our dinner. We had already carried rice and needed spices with us. We borrowed some vegetables and a pot to cook from the aashram people. By setting our burner with wood logs in the open passage, we enjoyed cooking in moonlight at the banks of Krishna. As if she was staring at us watching her kids learning to cook the food of life and for life. The rice cooked had never before taste. After feeding well we had a good sleep in cold winter.
The next morning we woke up around 6 am and had tea. We started marching towards Kardalivanam at 7 am. 7 adults and 1 child walked in search of Lord Datta Guru. At first we have to climb two small mountains and later a plane region. After a walk of around 2 hours came the holy imprints of Shri Nrusinh Sraswati. This he left while roaming in the Kardalivanam, a sight of feet of Sadguru. Moving ahead takes one to Akkamahadevi caves 2 after 1 and half hour. These caves are bigger than the previous. Idols of various deities are installed here. There were some dogs too with few people reading Guru charitra there. It is good cold inside caves. It is a peaceful place to rest. One can stay here at night as well provided we carry the food items and bed with us(?). And of course somewhere in deep forest we may feel fear but what fear can tease you when you are in the hands of your Sadguru. He is here to ward off all your anxieties and fears, get you across this ocean of worldly existence. Water drips down from above the caves. We drank some of it and found it sweet. But the thirst of being at the feet of Sadguru doesn’t let us stop. Keeping the march ahead, a dog accompanied us and the other one which stayed back at caves, I felt like she was somebody. The next stop is Swami Samarth Prakat Sthan. The journey to this place is through a small flow of water. The water has sulphur in it. It leaves reddish marks on the stones. This patch of journey is more exciting as it passes through very dense region of trees and heaps of soil made by ants. They are around 8-10 feet high. On the way some places are little slippery and I slipped at one of them. We slip at all the times in life but Sadguru never lets us get hurt and always puts us back on track. Body and mind have tendency of getting diverted but one whose hand is hold by Sadguru can never get away far from the path of purity. The path is hard, maybe rocky, thorny, slippery, wild, and tiresome. All adjectives dissolve when we chant Sadguru’s name. What I and me talk about it, when there isn’t any of it in reality. Swami must have arranged for me to slip off the path to make me realize this. A few minutes passed and finally we arrived at the site of Swami Samarth Prakat Sthan. It is beautiful and fantastic place. It is a small cave with a water source nearby. We wonder why Sadguru chose this place to live. A herd of dogs girt us while we were eating, before we took bath in the water source. We deed pooja and aarti of Sadguru. There are two sets of padukas here and idols of Swami Samarth Maharaj, Lord Datta Guru, Shivling, Lord Vishnu and many more. It is a place called home. Nobody wanted to return from it. We fed ourselves and the dogs too. A while just passed, we had to pack bags and return. The dog followed us till the caves 2 back. And Swami gave an instance of his presence with us through another dog. Matters of realization!!! But I was little upset at the end near aashram as the sign of visit given didn’t yet happen. Thinking of this I again faithfully marched towards aashram and reached there in 5 minutes and sat waiting for Sadguru. All of us were having tea and suddenly a woman working in the aashram went to pooja ghar and came out with kumkum and pasted it on the forehead of the child with us and just went away. Wonder!!! Sadguru was there. He was with us always. I felt nothing for some while. What would I when he was with me and I was still upset. Mind plays very blunder games, doesn't let you see the truth. We see what is not true and we feel it is reality. But the truth is Sadguru is always with us watching us and giving us the right directions in life.
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