On 4 January early morning there was a fire ritual in the basement of Radhamadhavam.
Later, our group traveled to Rajahmundry, about 4 hours drive. I had been there several times in the past but not the last 10 years. There is a beautiful center of WTT on the banks of the Godavari River. The government of Rajahmundry had given land to the WTT and other spiritual organisation for free who are doing substantial service during the big pilgrimage gatherings – the WTT is proving meals for thousands of pilgrims during the Kumbha Melas which take place each time when Jupiter passes through Leo / Virgo.
On the top of the house there is a huge statue of Master CVV and you have a beautiful view over the entire area.
In preparation to our journey to the temple town of Bhadrachalam the next day, we had seen a 2006 Telugu video on Ramadasu, “Sri Ramadasu“, which Guru Prasad had explained to us in detail.
Next morning, two busses brought us to the embarkment place, about an hour ride.
For a long time, we drove through settlement areas, then came desert-like areas with big excavators and mountains of stones – we asked ourselves where we were. A group member searched via mobile and informed that a huge construction project is building a connection between the Krishna River, which suffers from draughts, and the Godavari River, which has enough water. Suddenly the scenery changed and we arrived at the landing place and boarded.
A beautiful boat ride started.
We had already done part of the journey in 2009, and we made again a stop at an hermitage of the Ramakrishna movement (Perantapalli Sivalayam, see photos). However, the tourism there had largely increased. Many visitors from other ships came to the temple and a number of shops with handicraft work and kiosks were along the short footpath. A little brook was flowing close the temple – I took a footpath – the ground was very slippery and some Indians helped me not to fall into the water.
Afterwards, our boat ride continued. Later our busses picked us up at a landing place in a forest area and brought us to a site where Rama and Sita are said to have lived at the times of the Ramayana – according to Master EK, this was more than a million years ago – the great epos Ramayana being written by Valmiki by way of inner impression.
Nearby was a temple site where it says that the Rakshasa (demon) Ravana had abducted Sita, the wife of Rama. (The same is told about a place some hundred kilometres further up the Godavari River – mysteries of the past.
Later we continued to the temple town of Bhadrachalam where we stayed overnight in the hotel Nandini. In the evening, we went for the first time to the temple (no photos allowed now, at our visit with Master KPK in 2013 it was still possible). For the visit of the inner of the temple, the men now also had to wear a lungi which we did not have. Guru Prasad went to a nearby shop and bought a “quick-dress one” for all the male members and helped us dress.
Next morning, we went again to the temple. Inside, we had a detailed explanation of the temple. Later, we drove back to Rajahmundry and returned then to Visakhapatnam the next day.
You can see here a short video clip of the Bhadrachalam temple, and about Rama and Sri Ramadasu.
