SRI PANDURANGA-RUKUMAYI TEMPLE

In Srimath Bhagavatham, Sri Krishna has told Uddava, that in Kaliyuga, Bhakthi through namasankirthan is the only easy way to attain spiritual salvaation and that there is no separate Avatar in Kaliyuga. All the great souls like Narada, Valmiki, Vyasa, Sukha etc. of the pervious three yugas will be appearing in the earth in different parts of the country as Purandaradasa, Jayadeva, Thulasi, Kabir, Namdev, Gnaneswar etc. to spread the cult of Bakthi and Lord Krishna will descend as Lord Panduranga at the request of Saint Pundalika and He will be gracing these saints and Bakthas to spread the greatness of Bakthi cult through His different Leelas in their lives. That time onwards devoteesstarted thronging to pandarpur to have the Blessings of Lord Panduranga, particularly on Ashada Ekadasi and Karthigai Ekadasi.

With Gurunathar's Blessings, Sri Guruji started visiting the places of these Bakthas and saints to know about their lives and infuse the same to the devotees as Maha Baktha Vijayam during his discourse sessions. On one occasion, in the course of his travels, Guruji visited the village around Pandarpur and wanted to know more about the bakthas there. In his dream, Sri Gnanananda appeared and directed him to go to pandarpur. As per this direction, when Guruji arrived at Pandarpur, the priests (Pandas) of the Panduranga temple received him and took him round the temple; after perfirming Archana and Abishekam gave him the idols of Sri Panduranga and Sri Raghumayi (Utsava Murthis) which were worshipped there for their doing so, the priests said that Sri Panduranga appeared in their dream and wanted them to do so.

From that time onwards, the idea to have a shrine for the idols, sprouted in Guruji's mind. It is the materialisation of this idea that is now making it possible for us to have this alayam for our worship at Thennangur.

As one can see, it is the blessing of His Guru alone, accomplished out Guruji to build this great alayam which provides access to the bakthas from the south to easily reach and pray here instead of going to Pandarpur. The North-South meet at the temple signify our national solidarity and integration.

The uniqueness of this alayam is reflected in the following. The Garba-Griha, Gopuram (sanctum-sanctorum) on the model of puri jagannath; the Chola type of Rajagopuram in its artistry and the presiding deities from Maharashtra. The tiny idols of Panduranga-Raghumayi manifested to a big-size (viswarupam) are a feast to the eyes. The main mandapams are decorated with mural paintings of the leelas of Sri Krishna. Bhajans and Kirtanams could be performed at the sankeerthana-mandapam, a gigantic construction with life size statues of the saints.

The Sankeerthana-mandapam presents a beautiful panorama of bhakthas of Panduranga. Is it any wonder that this comples attracts devotees of all classes, castes and creeds every day ?

As in Pandarpur, Ashada-Ekadasi in the month of Adi(June/July) Brahmotsavam is celebrated as Bhakthotsavam with bhajans in the morning and evening and the idols taken around the streets. All these festivities are for five days every year.