Golden letter etched paragraph was written
in the history of Dattatreya tradition. The much awaited Kumbhabhisheka
& Pratishtha of Viswaroopa Dattatreya were performed by the sacred
hands of Parama Pujya Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji.
Ganagapura is the sacred place of Dattatreya
where Swami Narasimha Saraswati, the incarnation of Dattatreya, had his
Ashrama called “Nirguna Matha”. Even today Swami Narasimha Saraswati’s
Padukas are worshipped in the temple. But for this, there are no Datta
temple or shrines which indicate this pilgrim town as Dattatreya’s
Kshetra. Sri Swamiji made the Sankalpa to build an Ashrama here and
construct a Datta temple. After four years and service by Dr.D.R.Rao
family, a beautiful circular stone temple with a shrine of Marakata
(emeraldsque) stone Dattatreya idol, Manikya (ruby red stone) Padukas
are consecrated. In the place of temple tower stands a 18 feet tall
monolith Dattatreya statue. From now on, any pilgrim who visits
Ganagapura will identify Dattatreya with this town.
The Ganagapura Ashrama consists of circvular
Datta Temple with a circular Garbha Griha. There is a stone Mantapa
inside the Garbha Griha in which the Marakata Dattatreya is installed. A
Manikya (red stone) Datta Pada has been installed in front. Devotees
are allowed inside the Garbha Griha and can personally worship the Datta
Pada. In the circular temple Pradakshina area, 32 large paintings
telling the story of Swami Narasimha Saraswati have been put up. This
would educate a visitor about the life and impact of Swami Narasimha
Saraswati. Underneath the paintings, texts of Guru Gita, Guru Ashtaka,
Datta Stava, Guru Stava and Datta Shodashi have been chiseled on stone.
A towering 18 feet single stone Dattatreya
statue stands above the temple. This tall statue is the temple tower.
From two sides of the circular temple two stairs go up to the feet of
the 18 feet statue above. The temple has four entrances. In front of
the temple are two small stone shrines with marble idols of Swami
Narasimha Saraswati and Swami Sripada Vallabha. Three meditation coves
are under construction. This would enable a meditator to gaze at Datta
statue and meditate.
There is a Annadana Hall, Kitchen, Gurunilaya and couple of cottages for visitors.
For the purpose of Kumbhabhishekam a huge
pendal (marquee) with a seating capacity of 5000 persons had been
erected behind the temple. Large kitchen and dining facilities for
visitors had been planned. More than 200 volunteers of SDHS had arrived
in Ganagapura to clean and prepare the Ashrama to host the thousands of
visitors who would start arriving. The road from Gulbarga to Ganagapura
requires extensive road repairs. But once a visitor arrived in
Gangapura, the road leading to Ashrama had been decorated with large
photos of Sri Swamiji’s activities and colorful decorations.
Sri Swamiji reached Ganagapura from South
Africa on the 9th FEbruary 2011 evening. A welcome function was held at 7
PM. Sri Swamiji honored the donors – D.R.Rao and family, architect –
Sri.Madhusudan, civil contractor – Sri.Prasad, Temple sculptor –
Sri.Subramanyachary, Marakata Dattatreya sculptor- Sri.Thirumalachary
and others.
Sri Swamiji has named the Ashrama as “Viswaroopa Datta Kshetra“.
10th February was Ratha Saptami. Pujya Sri
Swamiji offered prayers to Sun God. Ratha Saptami is the day the family
ancestor Sri.Surappa Poundareeka Yaji. He was remembered by pujya Sri
Swamiji in his speech after Sri Chakra Puja. Sri Swamiji also gave away
Prasadam (food) to all devotees who had come.
The countdown began on 10th February as Sri
Swamiji commenced the installation rituals in a special purpose built
“Yaga Shala” in Ganagapura Ashrama. Three days and many rituals later,
the important day of Kumbhabhisheka arrived. Sri Bala Swamiji visited
the Narasimha Saraswati’s Nirguna Matha and took Darshana of his sacred
Padukas. He also sought permission and Blessings for the Kumbhabhisheka
and Pratishthapana of Marakata Dattatreya idol. Sri Swamiji arrived the
the circular temple complex at 8.40 AM. Precisely at 8.47 AM, amidst
roaring Mantra chants, ringing bells and blowing conches, Sri Swamiji
placed the sacred “Dattatreya Yantra” in a small pit carved in the
pedestal of the Datta idol. Sri Swamiji poured / placed auspicious and
sacred materials like Nava Dhanya (nine different grains), mercury,
Navaratnas (nine gems) etc., Thereafter, Sri Swamiji climbed up to the
roof of the temple and placed Datta Yantra in a small opening at the
base of the statue. After Sri Chakra Puja, Sri Bala Swamiji spoke on the
greatness of the occassion and offered to Pujya Sri Swamiji, CD titled
“Sri Guru Parampara” containing Datta Ashtottara, Jayalakshmi Mata
Ashtottara, , Narahari Teertha Ashtottara, Sri Swamiji’s Ashtottara,
Skanda Ashtottara, Sri Guru Stuti & Subramanya Bhujanga Stotra.
Music by Jaitra Varanasi.
Sri. A. Ramdas, Karnataka state minister for
Medical Education offered garland to Sri Swamiji and in his speech
thanked Sri Swamiji for installing the magnificient Ashrama in
Ganagapura. He declared that Ganagapura Panchayat villages would be
brought under “Aayush” scheme and offer medical help.
Sri Swamiji later released “Daily prayers at Datta Peetham” –
audio book CD prepared by Smt.Heera Duvvuri. It contains all the daily
prayers sung in Ashrama. Smt.Kumthekar offered for released the book,
Marathi translation of Sri Swamiji Neeti Mala. At 12 noon, Sri Swamiji
offered Purnahuti of the Pratishtha Homas and Dattatreya Mala Mantra
Homa. Sri Swamiji carried the Brahma Kalasha to the temple and performed
the sacred ritual bath to Marakata Dattatreya and Manikya Datta
Charana. Sri Swamiji and the priests then climbed atop the 18 feet Datta
statue and performed the Abhisheka to the idol. Pots after pots of
water were poured until the idol was almost wet. Sri Swamiji then poured
flowers, Rudrakshas, coins and Aralu. Thousands of devotees spread all
over the place witnessed this divine spectacle. Sri Swamiji then spoke
and said that today was a historic day and people should record this
event in the life book and face book. (perhaps another historic first – A
Saint speaking about a social media like Facebook from Kumbhabhisheka
platform). Sri Swamiji climbed down and performed detailed Abhisheka to
Marakata Dattatreya. Thereafter devotee crowds surged to personally
perform Abhisheka to Manikya Datta Padas. (please note that this is not
Paduka. It is the impression of Dattatreya’s feet. Hence Datta Paada).
At 4 PM, Smt.Savita Sriram of Chennai sang
Marathi Abhangs. This was the first concert in Ganagapura Ashrama. In
the evening, Sri Swamiji performed the first Kakadarati to the newly
installed Datta. Sri Swamiji also climbed up and performed Kakadarati to
Datta. Sri.Vamshi also participated in the Kakadarati.
On 14th, priests performed Ekadasha
Rudrabhisheka to Dattatreya. Being Bheeshamikadashi, Vishnu Sahasranama
was chanted. Scintillating Bhajan programs were held. Local Bhajan group
from Ganagapura sang Datta Bhajans.
15th was the final day of this amazing
Kumbhabhishekam week. Sri Swamiji performed Sri Chakra Puja inside the
temple. About 108 local priests were invited to come and receive Sri
Swamiji’s Blessings and Prasad. In the evening local children danced to
Bhajans. Sri Swamiji too joined them and stepped along. Sri Swamiji
expressed happiness over the Kumbhabhishekam programs and the
arrangements. Special mention should be made about the SDHS volunteers
who selflessly served in all activities. Members of BDL Ashrama took
full responsibility of the Annadana Seva.
Reaching Ganagapura, one would be stunned to
see the town still in the iconic 18th century times. The life seems to
have been evolving much slowly than the rest of the nation. But the
Datta energy of the palce in incomparable. Every saint, follower,
Bhairagi of all orders and sect who honors Dattatreya has visited this
quaint place and felt the peace that Datta alone can give.
Perhaps it is for this mystical reason that
Sri Swamiji never finalized the Kumbhabhishekam date even after all the
buildings were ready (almost a year). Only during Kumbhabhishekam did
Sri.Vamshi surprisedly said that the Muhurtam of Ganagapura Pratishtha
was exactly the same as Peethapura Datta Pratishtha held nine years ago.
Datta’s mystical methods indeed.
Sri Guru Datta
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