As we embarked upon this trip, uppermost in our minds was the fact that we can have good dharshan of the HH Jeer of Sri Ahobila Mutt there, as he observes his Chaturmasay vrath.
Little did we realise that even before checking into an old drab house (ant infected) which was offered as a guest house ( makeshift). We would enjoy nature at its unspoilt best…...but more about this later.
Nearing Tiruttani, we came upon 4 standing rocks...which looked very much like 4 men standing around a table and discussing some serious issue.
My very imaginative ,very articulate brother in law has a theory about this. He says, these four stones are actually men and they have been discussing land matters till such time that they turn into stones!!!
The more interesting part of our drive to Ahobilam happened when we stopped at Vontimitte Ramar temple, just before Kadappah.
This old temple boasts of being built by Jambavan and as Rama, Lakshmana and Sita come roaming the forests of Bharath desh, Jambavan is said to have worshipped them here and he built this temple to honour them, hence there is no Hanuman inside the sanctum.
A huge temple maintained very neatly by TTD.
After eating lunch, which we had brought near the temple , we left for Ahobilam. Thalapakkam Annamacharyas birthplace is also along this route. There is a huge statue right on the highway of sri Annamacharya.
Nearer Alagadda town, our driver stopped over at a Rajasthani dhaba and we hesitated to step out but the more pressing calls of nature pulled us out and much to our surprise we found very clean toilets, but much more than that , a very hospitable,friendly man who ran this dhaba, he made wonderfully refreshing lemon tea, normal tea and after looking at something very yellow ,gooey we left, this yellow dish is I believe a speciality here, called sev doodh, promising ourselves to try it on our way back we moved on and our very considerate ,sporty driver drove us straight into the woods of Ahobilam.
Reaching at 3pm , we drove straight into the hills of NallaMala range, to venture into the dense forest temple…
En route to the hills, we stopped at Sri Karanja Nrisimha temple. Here the legend is that Hanuman did not want to see Nrisimha but see only Rama. But Nrisimha shows in his hands a Bow and other hand a Chakra.
It is here that we experienced real forest time, greenery everywhere, we were surrounded by mountains green ,tall, short, rolling and mighty,
Jwala Nrisimmha....The trek up was along the Pavanasini river...rocks and boulders paving the way.
The car took us nearest to the climbing point and we had a guide come with us. The way up was slippery, watery and paved by nature with only boulders of different sizes. The guide , a local boy. who knew his way well and helped us walk along the river .
City bred that we were, we ventured up in our normal footwear.
Slipping in places falling into the stream in places, we slumbered on ,determined but not prepared.
Iron footovers have been constructed in a few places over the stream which runs into gorges and little did we realise that even before checking into the guest house, we would enjoy nature at its unspoilt best.
Quaint wooden and iron bridges are built over the flowing Pavanasini river. Thrilled to be treated to such beautiful views and clean air ,we push on upwards.
The way up was green ,dense forest with a path hewed out by walkers no doubt.
Now straight into the hills which proclaim cheetahs , bears and elephants on boards ,kept by the forest department.
Walking along the river path is very thrilling as we have to walk ,step over wet boulders,slippery most times but very thrilling. Some of the temples have to be accessed by walking in the river with flowing waters and the waters were so inviting that after a point we could not resist stepping into a beautiful small water fall. We could just walk into it sit on the boulders with water just gushing out and falling on us.
We trekked up planning to go into Jwala but, it started raining and the doli bearers were doubtful if we could make it before dark,hence we decided to return.but even as we watched it rained gently like ”the Quality of Mercy is not straind it droppeth as the gentle rain even and soothing”.
We watched as the rain dropped on us but didn´t feel very wet as we were already walking in the waters.
We came upon a beautiful small waterfall . Me and Rangaji simply walked into it though we had to manoeuvre some uneven pebbles and boulders. It was unbelievably refreshing with the merciful rain dropping in a gentle shower.
Once we changed we went into the cave temple where we saw Shri Ahobilesan, where there is a Lingam on the left and Nrisimhar sitting on a raised platform inside a cave….as lions are wont to be,
Here a temple has been built now called upper ahobilam, halfway up the hills…..its a cave hence the name bila…..
H. Davies says
"What is this life
If full of care
We have no time to stand and stare"
So true that there is so much undiscovered beauty out there waiting to be explored.
The trek done and dusted to an extent, we reached the guest house and settled anyway, all tired. A hot cup of tea was served and after refreshing we headed to the Lower Ahobilam temple, near the Mutt. The mutt is busy with HH Jeer camping and after worshipping Sri Prhladavaradan we reached the mutt and paid obeisance to HH Jeer , had darshan of the last aradanai for the day at mutt and reached the guest house to have dosai with chutney.
Everyone went to bed with dolo, crocin, olini etc., and
woke up fresh for an early start to go up the hill to
Pavana.
Day 2
Morning, the cook mami made pongal, gotsu and
packed the same and we set off to Pavana hills. One
can either trek or go by jeep/tractor..
The jeep ride was an experience that has to be had
to believe. Our jeep was totally ramshackle with just
wheels and a steering.
A trip into these hills warrants a courageous heart more because the Jeep is actually a small roof over four wheels. And no self-starter..Horn .. ....It ran purely on faith.
But the driver a young boy did an excellent job of bringing us back alive....Which we thought was a big feat.
A distance of about 20 KMs though crevices, boulders, slushy ground was covered in about2 hours and we reached Pavana Nrisimha.
At the shrine we had the privilege of seeing a huge Saligrama moorthy which was big as a small turtle and had beautiful markings inside and we could see a pillar beautifully carved with chakra peetam. A baktha has brought it from Nepal to be worshipped in this holy shrine .
Breakfast of pongal and gothsu was relished and we left with great relief. but no....we were in for more surprises,on our way back downhill,the jeep stuttered and sputtered and stopped.
We got down to push and heave it and after some sweating and swearing the jeep did start and we came back in one piece and sat ourselves down with much relief.
The driver also said the brake pipe had been cut when climbing down the hill !!!
We had lunch at the Mutt, reached the guest house, rested and around 4pm went to see the three Nrisimhas in the plains and returned to the guest houe.
After a lot of crocins and dolos we went to bed early and were ready for our ride back.
On our way back we saw some green fields and some chilly harvesting going on. We stopped to buy off from the farmers and then we drove on to alagedda market....which was small but neat vegetables were fresh from the farm and not too expensive.
This achieved,we went back to our rajasthani friend for a hot cuppa but ended up trying out his doodhsev which , believe me,was out of this world recipe.
A good 1 litre of milk and a half kg of sev went into it with green chillies crushed ,it was a rustic dish which aimed straight at our hearts with rotis hot from the chula.we ordered more and fully thus equipped made our way back...hearts and stomachs filled with fun,frolic food and laughter.
Last but not the least after all, the fun that we had, in all honesty I should say that this trip must be done in one´s 40s.
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