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Bhadrachalam temple on the banks of the Godavari

Silent and smooth is Her movement! With the monsoon on, Godavari one of the ‘saptha punya nadhis’ (Seven Holy Rivers- others being Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Cauvery) is in full flow. One crosses Her over a long bridge to reach the quiet little Holy Town of Bhadrachalam, situated on her banks. Godavari borders the little Town on three sides - North, West and South. Just as Sri Swamiji says, “It is the Bhakta that one is reminded of when a Holy Kshetra is spoken of. When one speaks of Chidambaram (S.India) one thinks of Nandanãr - the great devotee of Lord Nataraja of Chidamabaram”, there is no Bhadrachalam without the great Bhakta Ramadas. As Sri Swamiji points out, “But for this great devotee of Lord Rama the world would neither know Bhadrachalam nor its presiding deity”. Lord Rama with His consort Sita Devi on His (left) lap and Lakshmana waving the wafter for Rama and Sita is seated on a little hillock facing west and enjoying the smooth swan-like movement of the Godavari. Bhadrachalam still retains ‘the Nature’ to a certain extent though not covered with the dense forest as in earlier times.

Lord Rama with Sita Devi     Lakshmana

Sri Swamiji arrived at Bhadrachalam on 10th July, Monday, around 6.00 p.m. Some of the devotees had already gathered here for the Satsang. Sri Swamiji and His personal attendants took a holy dip in the Godavari around 6.30 p.m. and performed ‘Sandhya vandanam’. Sri Swamiji then visited the Temple (of Lord Rama). One of the priests of the Temple explained to Sri Swamiji that ‘Kalyana Utsav’ (marriage festivity) is performed for the Lord everyday (‘nitya kalayanam’). The priest also informed that ‘Divya Prabandam’ is rendered daily as also the Kirtans of Ramadas. It is on Sunday that ‘Thirumanjanam’ (abhisheka) for the ‘Moolavar’ (Main Deity) is performed. On other days it is done to the big rock depicting Lord Rama’s Lotus Feet on the head of Bhadra.^* Sri Swamiji at first had darshan of the presiding deity and then went over to the ‘Thãyãr sannidhi’ where Sri Swamiji performed japa for a while. Sri Swamiji along with the devotees then enjoyed the rendering of Bhadrachala Ramadas’s kirtans to the ‘Utsavar’ (Deity who is taken on procession). Sri Swamigal spent some time in the Temple precincts before retiring to His place of stay.

Sri Swamiji with devotees at the temple | Bhadrachala Ramadas

11th July, 2001 --- Morning - All the devotees had arrived and around 7.00 a.m. gathered in the K.S.R. Block at the foot of the little hillock. Sri Swamiji was atop the hill walked down to join and lead the devotees to Godavari for the holy dip. All the way, led by Sri Swamiji, the devotees sang loudly ‘Rangesa Mãmpãhi Rangesa Mãmpãhi Rangesa Mãmpãhi Ranga Prabho’!

A view of the Godavari

The deep slush on the banks caused due to heavy rains for the past three/four days and the construction of a bund by the Government to safeguard the little Town from flood did not wet the enthusiasm of the devotees. Following Sri Swamiji joyfully all the devotees, young and old, took a holy dip after making ‘sankalpa’ with the help of Sri Mallikarjuna Sarma, our Mission’s Veda Patasala ‘Mukhya Adhyapak’. Replete with joy herself, Godavari, though fresh with the downpour, offered a ‘warm’ welcome! Not to be out beaten, the Sun who had been hidden for the past few days came out with a pleasant demeanour to enjoy the ‘Nama Sankeertanam’ by Sri Swamiji and the devotees in the precincts of the Temple. Sri Swamiji commenced the Bhajan with ‘Bhajare Bhadrachalam! Manasa bhajare Bhadrachalam!’ Sri Swamiji then sang ‘Janmani Janmani tava Bhaktim dehi me kripaya Raghava!’ followed by ‘Janaki Ramana Kalyana Guna Sajjana vana nipunna’, ‘Charanamule nammithi nee divya charanmule nammithi!’and the ‘Nãmãvali’ ‘Ramachandra Raghuveera Ramachandra Rannadheera!’

The devotees then had Darshan of Sri Rama-Sita and later gathered in the ‘Chitrakoot’ (a big hall in the Temple precincts) to enjoy the address of Sri Swamiji. The whole ‘Chitrakoot’ resounded with the Nãma of Sri Rama-Sita as Sri Swamiji led the chanting of
‘Rama Rama Rama Sita
Rama Rama Ram!’
‘Rama Rama Rama Sita
Rama Rama Ram!’
Sri Swamiji then, through His address, reminisced the devotion of the great Bhakta Ramadas as also of Vasudeva Thatha, Bhakta of Lord Rama who lived in the recent past. “This little hillock is echoing the ‘Tãraka Mantra’ (Rama Mantra). Every bit of the Holy Hill is soaked with Rama Mantra!”, said Sri Swamiji

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At dusk, Sri Swamiji went to the ‘joyfully awaiting’ Godavari and had a Holy Bath. After the bath Sri Swamiji performed ‘Japa’ ‘drowned in the warmth’ of the Godavari. The dipping Sun, very soft on the skin, spread His ‘lustrous silver’ rays on the Godavari. How blessed were the devotees who witnessed the ‘Sight’! - Godavari spreading out as widely as one’s vision could reach, fringed with greenery and a long range of mountains at the far end, the Sun gleaming far above, Sri Swamiji with a single personal attendant by His side and a few devotees behind performing Japa! Add to this the floating of lamps, as an offering to the Holy One! Even the boats (and their men) forgetting their jobs were ‘anchored!’

‘Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare!’

-- the light clapping of the ‘jalra’ (cymbals used in bhajans) and the soft chanting was heard as Sri Swamiji and the devotees returned to the Temple. Sri Swamiji rushed toward the direction of the Sound and found the small house, situated just behind the Temple, where an old lady was chanting the Maha Mantra and also calling out ‘Rama Rãve! Rama Rãve!’ (Telugu - Rama come! Rama come!) looking at the ‘Perumal’ and His consorts idols placed in a small wooden mandap. Sri Swamiji sat on the little mat spread in the 8’x 6’ hall, opening directly to the street, picked up the pair of jalra placed beside and joined the chanting - ‘Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare! Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare!’ A few devotees who had managed to keep pace with Sri Swamiji also joined the chanting. For the past 12 years the chanting of the Maha Mantra has been going on round the clock in this little house that bears the words at the entrance ‘Shashvata Akhanda Hare Rama Hare Krishna Nama Sankeertanam’.

Sri Swamiji, Bhagavatas and the devotees reassembled in ‘Chitrakoot’ at 8 p.m. Nãma Sankirtan was led by Sri O.S. Sundar Bhagavata. Sri Malli Bhagavata, Sri Rayar Bhagavata also participated. At the behest of Sri Swamiji, Sri O.S. Sundar Bhagavata melodiously rendered numerous Kirtans on Lord Rama, particularly of Sri Bhadrachala Ramadas -------
----- ‘Diname Sudinaumu’ - (Sãveri)
‘Rama Dayajudave Bhadrachala damananubrovave’ - (Banduvarãlli)
‘Paluke bangãra mãyane’ - (Ãnanda Bhairavi)
‘Sri Rama Nãmame maravãmu maravãmu’
‘Sri Ramulu divyanãma smarana sechunna jãlu’ - (Varãlli)
‘Charanumule nammithi’(Kãpi)
‘O Rama nee nãma memi ruchirã - (Banduvarãlli)
‘Deena dayãlo deena dayãlo’ - (Kalyani)
and several other Kirtans.

Divya Nãma Sankirtan was performed from around 10.30 p.m until the early hours of (12th July) Thursday (2.30 a.m.). In line with the tradition set up by Bhadrachala Ramadas, the Bhagavatas danced singing the Name of the Lord around a ‘Kuthu villakku’.

On the 11th, Wednesday, around 7.30 a.m. Sri Swamiji and the devotees once again visited the Temple before leaving the Bhadra (auspicious) Achalam (Mountain/hill) and the Holy Godavari.

^*Pleased with the severe tapas performed by Bhadra, Lord Rama appeared before him and asked, “What is it that you seek?” Bhadra prayed, “Oh! Lord! Please place Your Lotus Feet on my head!” and Lord Rama blessed him with the touch of His Lotus Feet. The hill has thus taken on the name of this Bhakta Bhadra and is known as Bhadrachalam. ‘Bhadra’ also means beauty, auspicious.

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