Pilgrimage to Udipi and Dharmasthala

Pilgrimage to Udipi and Dharmasthala

1.

We three went on pilgrimage to Udipi and Dharmasthala from Chennai between 27^th and 29th in October. Though we had worshipped Sri Krishna three times before, we hadn’t been to Pajaka kshetra and other temples and Dharmasthala.  For, we went to Subramanya, Mookambika  then. Now that tourist programmes are at our will, everything has become possible. Udipi is a big city now with all facilities.

This visit was special to us because we were able to manage time as we travelled from Chennai by air to Mangaluru. First we thought of West Coast express and my elder daughter in Bengaluru also wanted to join us from there. My son in law suggested air travel to spend more time in the kshetras. Thus my elder daughter joined us from Bengaluru at Mangalore airport..

In 1980’s we four ie. My wife , two school going daughters and I had covered almost all khestras in India during  summer holidays. It was by trains and buses. One tour consisted of 22 days in summer. Others for 12 days. Train journey was very cumbersome then, but economical for a teacher like me.

I am 73 now and my daughters repay me by engaging us on tours.

I booked rooms at Sri Adamar Mutt in Udipi  . The Manager asked me on phone if I wanted cab facility. I agreed readily and at Mangalore Airport the cab was waiting for us on the arrival day. Sri Gopal Rao’s  sister , my sambanthi, suggested us to visit Mulki Ugra Narasimha temple on way to Udipi. As the driver knew all places in and  around Udipi, he diverted the cab to Mulki temple. A beautiful temple as it is, three deities are in one Shila rupa. People call this Sri Venkatanarayana temple. On Top

Sri Ventanarayana, in the middle Sri Ugra Narasimha and at the bottom Sri Krishna are in shila rupa there. Sri Krishna is the urchava murti. The temple premise is vast and Madhwa priests do pujas. We paid for a seva and the priests perform it sincerely, and not like TN pujaris who do in Dravidian style at Siva –Vaishnava temples. In all places Madhwa madi is famous and so they are sincere..

Then we continued our journey to Udipi as we wanted to see Sri Krishna in time and take Thirtha Prasada before 1 PM. We worshipped at the temple peacefully and I could see some changes in devotee management over the years  at the temple. At TP hall some Brahmin ladies, gents and children ate on the floor and not on banana leaf. It was a hareke done before or after fulfiment, said the lady who ate on the floor next to me. Providing food for devotees in batches after batches is service to God Krishna indeed. For general crowds there was another hall for TP.

At 3.30 the same driver took us to Pajaka Kshetra nearby. He said lot of sightseeing temples are around. He took us to all places. (Details later)

To be continued)